Special to The Mike Report: With Israel under fire where was Seattle’s Federation?
Guest writer Steve Hemmat ponders the response of Seattle’s Jewish Federation to an Israel under attack.
For nearly three weeks, the people of Israel have been under a relentless barrage of rocket and missile attacks from Hamas in Gaza. Fortunately, Israel has developed a defensive system called “Iron Dome” that has destroyed many of the rockets before they hit populated areas. However, Israel has suffered civilian casualties as well as a population terrorized by incessant sirens and hurried flight to bomb shelters. Israel has sent the Israel Defense Forces into Gaza in a ground operation, sustaining dozens of casualties in order to stop the Hamas attacks as well as eliminating the many tunnels dug by Hamas throughout Gaza with the intent of infiltrating Israel and murdering its people.
Throughout major metropolitan cities in North America, Jewish communities have banded together to hold large public rallies in support of Israel to send a clear and unequivocal message: “We support you and stand in solidarity with you.” Photographs and videos of these rallies bolster the morale of those under attack by Hamas missiles and rockets.
Philadelphia’s Jewish Federation sponsored a large pro-Israel rally earlier this week.
A large pro-Israel rally organized by Rob Jacobs of StandWithUs Northwest, was held at Occidental Park in Seattle on July 20th and was attended by well over 500 people. However, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle was conspicuously absent as a co-sponsor of the event.
Seattle’s Jewish Federation opted out of participating in Seattle’s rally for Israel (pictured above).
When this author contacted the CEO of the Seattle Jewish Federation, he was told that the Federation wasn’t given enough time to plan and execute the rally. He explained that when one works with multiple organizations, it takes a lot of time to get the needs and wants of everybody met and to come to consensus. While the Seattle Federation sent out email notices of the rally, it did not cosponsor it.
Instead the following Monday after the rally. the Seattle Federation reached out the Washington Coalition of Rabbis (constituting Conservative and Reform Rabbis), the New Israel Fund and J Street among others to discuss and plan a proposed program. Here is the result:
“A Community Gathering for Israel will be held in Seattle on Sunday, July 27, from 11 am to noon, at Congregation Beth Shalom. Gather with members of the Seattle Jewish community as we join in solidarity with the people and state of Israel and the families of soldiers who grieve, mournful at the loss of all human life and prayerful about a lasting and sustainable end to conflict.”
So after three weeks of conflict in Israel and the deaths and injuries of dozens of IDF soldiers, the Seattle Federation is organizing a “Gathering” behind closed doors at Beth Shalom to grieve and be mournful “at the loss of all human life.” What message does this send to family and friends in Israel when our major Jewish agencies are unable to cosponsor an outdoor pro-Israel rally and wave an Israeli flag in public? Meanwhile anti-Israel protesters hold rally after rally lambasting Israel and Jews at Seattle’s Westlake Mall?
Such language is morally repugnant for it conveys the false equivalence of Hamas terrorists to the terrorists’ intended victims.
Moreover, what message is the Federation conveying by being “mournful at the loss of all human life?” Should we be mournful for the IDF’s elimination of Hamas terrorists who are trying to murder Israeli citizens (Jews, Arabs and Druze)? I think not; and for the Federation to issue this notice with such language is morally repugnant for it conveys the false equivalence of Hamas terrorists who seek to murder innocent people and the terrorists’ intended victims who simply want to live their lives in peace and quiet.
- Isn’t there a difference?
During the Passover Seder, we recite Ma Nishtanah – מה נשתנה – often referenced as the “Four Questions.” These questions are intended to highlight the distinctions between the Seder night and all other nights. In this tradition, I ask the Seattle Jewish Federation why is Seattle different from all other major metropolitan areas in North America? Why is the Seattle Jewish Federation not serving as the convener to organize, plan and execute a major pro-Israel rally with a clear and unapologetic message of standing with the people of Israel at this difficult time?
Steve Hemmat is a former Chair of the Planning & Allocations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, and previously served on the Federation’s board and executive committee for many years.
Mike,
Like I said, we have a very similar problem with the Jewish Federation down here in Orange County. They are finally holding a similar event within their hqs Tuesday.
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2014/07/jewish-federation-of-oc-organizes-pro.html
The head of the OC Fed is Shalom Elcott. He has been part of the problem down here for years. He is the brother of J Street co-founder David Elcott.
Jewish Federations around the country tend to be rather autonomous. I am not surprised at this, however. The Jewish Federation of Orange County has been part of the problem when it comes to standing up to the anti-Semitism at UC Irvine as exhibited by Muslim Student Union-sponsored anti-semitic speakers. The Fed has obstructed everything we and members of the community have tried to do to counter it and educate the public about it. They maintain there is no problem. Further they help fund the Olive Tree Initiative, a venture that takes UC students to Israel and the West Bank ostensibly to be exposed to both sides of the conflict, but which is heavily weighed to the Pal. side and features “tour operators” who are charter members of ISM.
Thanks Gary, it is very hard for a community to remain united when there are representatives of organizations like New Israel Fund, Rabbis for Human Rights and J Street who have infiltrated the highest echelons and whose primary function is to weaken Israel and sow dissension.
Do you think what Israel is doing is strengthening itself now by what it is doing???!!! I do not think that the groups you are mentioning above have anything to do with the dissension of Israel. The 1000 Gazan dead..mostly children..blown up hospitals, mosque and UN office in Gaza would be the more likely problem.
Well, some people here don’t like the way the current primeminister is running the country, where they have calm times puts zero efforts towards building a lasting relationship instead he tends to his back yard furnitures, so obviously the rat labs he created jump out and bite him, lives of innocent Israeli kids in uniforms are taken away. Blood is on the primeminister’s hands so there is really no reason to go out and support Israel as by default you are supporting their good for nothing primeminister. So yes, we support Israeli people. No we do not support the good for nothing ministry who could have done so much more for years not to get us where we are. So when you have nothing good to say you better stY at home. And that is why Seattle is different because no one here supports that no good priminister.
Israelis overwhelmingly support what the government is doing, so do you really support the people?
See: http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=369064
VERY GOOD OF STEVE’S!
I HAD A SMALLER DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE WITH ANOTHER JEWISH INSTITUTION.
Thanks for commenting Elisa!