Franklin Concern

Islamic group retracts invite
to anti-Zionist Jewish speaker.

Founded in 1897

ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

MICHIGAN REGION

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aaie

Don Cohen
Special to the Jewish News

process that invited a disgraced so-
called scholar in the first place."
As some Jewish community
activists prepared leaflets about
orman Finkelstein, who
Finkelstein to distribute to residents
often says Jewish groups
at the Music on the Green concert on
persecute him for his
July 28, discussions among village
strong criticisms of Israel and his
officials, community members and
anti-Zionist stance, will not speak
the ICA led to the program's cancel-
in Franklin. His Aug. 8 talk for the
Islamic Cultural Association (ICA), a lation.
Efforts to get an official statement
Muslim community organization in
from the ICA, the Village Council
Franklin, has been canceled.
and Finkelstein by the Jewish News
Finkelstein, a child of Holocaust
publication deadline were not suc-
survivors, has called Nobel Prize-
cessful. However, ICA President Dr.
winner Elie Wiesel the "resident
Firas Nashef did confirm the cancella-
clown" of the "Holocaust industry."
tion. The program was removed from
That "industry," Finkelstein says,
the ICA website last Friday, but still
exists to "to crush any dissent, any
appears on Finkelstein's website.
criticism, of the State of Israel."
Margot Gardner of Bloomfield
A former professor at City
Township,
one of four activists who
University of New York and DePaul
went
to
Franklin
to distribute flyers
University in Chicago, Finkelstein
informing
citizens
about the event
was denied tenure at DePaul in 2007
and
Finkelstein
and
asking residents
at the urging of Harvard Law profes-
to
contact
the
Village
Council, says
sor Alan Dershowitz and others who
council
member
William
Lamott
challenged his scholarship, which
told
her
the
program
was
cancelled
includes the view that the establish-
and
the
flyers
were
unnecessary.
As a
ment of Israel was illegitimate.
result,
the
four
Jewish
activists,
who
The local cancellation comes after
were not acting officially for any
Franklin residents shared concerns
local organization, stopped handing
about Finkelstein with Village
out flyers.
Council members, who spoke with
"He asked us to stop because it
ICA leaders about the program at
had
been called off by the [ICA]
the Huda School, an Islamic school.
leadership
who recognized it was
Besides bringing attention to the
not
going
to
foster good relations in
content of Finkelstein's work, con-
the
community:'
Gardner said. "Mr.
cerns were expressed about the facil-
Lamott
said
a
low-level
person at the
ity hosting community programs as
Huda
School
had
made
the
arrange-
there has been previous controversy
ments;
when
information
and
com-
about whether such events were in
plaints
were
brought
to
the
leader-
line with the zoning ordinance in
ship, they decided to cancel. He also
Franklin's historic downtown.
Community members and organi- asked about interest in dialoguing
with the leaders of the school:'
zations were alerted to the program
ZOA's Greenstein congratulated
when Eugene Greenstein, presi-
Franklin
leaders for speaking to
dent of the Zionist Organization of
ICA
leaders.
Calling Finkelstein a
America-Michigan Region, found a
"dishonest
Israel-basher
and hater:'
program notice on the ICA website
Greenstein
remains
concerned
and sent it out.
that Finkelstein is still scheduled
Franklin resident Kari Alterman,
who directs the Michigan office of the to speak at the annual dinner of
the Islamic Association of Greater
American Jewish Committee (AJC),
Detroit in Rochester.
shared information on Finkelstein
Greenstein says groups that pro-
with Village Council members.
mote
Finkelstein are interested in
"Norman Finkelstein and his
"spreading
propaganda, not building
hate-filled falsehoods are not wel-
bridges.
One
can disagree with Israel
"We
IN.
come here," she told the
policies;
however,
one's 'facts' should
applaud the ICA's decision to cancel
be facts." Ell
the event, although we question its

N

Sunday, November 14, 2010 I 7:00 P.M.
Congregation Sllaarey Zedek

Honoring:
Leonard and
Melia Herman

With the Justice Louis D.
Brandeis Award from ZOA

Honorary Chairs:

Jennifer & Brian Hermelin I Marcie & Robert Orley
I Lisa & Gary Shiffman I

with Special Entertainment:

"In Concert: Our Three Cantors"

Meir Finkelstein I Daniel Gross I Michael Smolash

To join the Tribute Committee
or for more information contact:

ZOA-Michigan Region Office
Phone: 248-282-0088, Email: balfour@mizoa.org

August 5 • 2010

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