Essay

Presbyterian VetP A Critical Momeni

or the sixth time since
2004, a small, vocal group
of Presbyterians will try to
convince the largest Presbyterian
alliance in America the stalled Israeli-
Palestinian peace process could be
re-engaged through a series of anti-
Zionist measures designed to stun
Israel, the perceived top adversary in
the conflict.
Passage of any of the measures
would alter the course of Jewish-
Christian relations at a time when
most American Christians stand with
Israel and when the Roman Catholic
Church is working hard to repair its
ties to the Jewish state.
Most American Jews believe
the road to stopping Israeli and
Palestinian suffering and bringing
security to both peoples is through
negotiation if the right Palestinian
negotiating partner emerges — not
through contempt for one side.
At its biennial General Assembly
in Detroit slated for June 14-21,
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will con-
sider anti-Israel resolutions calling
for divestment from companies doing
business with Israel's military; the
boycott of Israeli products produced
in the Palestinian territories; brand-
ing Israel an apartheid state; and
replacing church support for a two-
state solution with a one-state vision
that effectively would end Israel as a
Jewish state. Similar resolutions have
failed in the past, but backers are rein-
vigorated. (Related story: page 42.)
The most notorious component of
this latest Boycott, Sanctions and
Divestment (BDS) tactic is a new con-
gregational study of Zionism, a clear

attack on Israel. In this document,
isn't dead ... yet. It's on life support
called "Zionism Unsettled," the PC
given Ramallah's Fatah leadership has
(U.S.A.)-run Israel/Palestine Mission
welcomed Gaza City's Hamas terror-
Network openly admits its argument
ists into the Palestinian Authority fold,
with Israel is not about the territo-
a union fraught with figurative and
rial conflict, but instead the Zionist
literal missiles of Zionist hate.
enterprise and Israel's exis-
BDS is a well-financed
tence, the American Jewish
movement, inspired by
Committee reports. Zionism
senior anti-Israel Palestinian
is presented as a "false
figures, that injects con-
theology," a "heretical doc-
.,,,,
fusion, bias and hostility
trine," "evil," a "pathology,"
toward Israel in Middle East
"racism," "colonizing" and
watchers not versed in the
responsible for "cultural
region's history and nuanc-
genocide."
es. It subscribes to a divi-
How irresponsible is
sive, repulsive ideology that
such an assessment from a
envisions a Palestine arising
Rober t Sklar
mainline church sect claim-
with international stature
Contri buting
ing to represent more than
without having to negotiate
Ed itor
10,000 congregations and
with Israel.
nearly 2 million members?
In April in a Washtenaw
Regardless of the PC (U.S.A.) refer-
Jewish News commentary, Jewish
endum on Israeli government policy,
Federation of Washtenaw County
even if the anti-Israel resolutions at
Executive Director David Shtulman
the General Assembly fail, "Zionism
put it well: "BDS is not a social justice
Unsettled" stands as a knock against
movement. It is a deliberate effort
the organization, which is selling this
to bring about an end to the State of
document of loathing via its website.
Israel disguised as a Palestinian equal-
ity movement. The Palestinians living
untermg Views
in Israel as Israeli citizens deserve
Jews and Presbyterians are join-
full equality within Israel. Palestinians
ing forces to stymie a minority of
who do not live within Israel and do
Presbyterians from invoking BDS to
not seek citizenship in a Jewish state
demonize and delegitimize Israel in
deserve full equality as citizens of
hopes of creating a chasm between
Palestine in an area whose boundar-
the two religious communities.
ies are internationally recognized
Talks between two negotiating part-
and mutually agreed upon through a
ners committed to peace could yield
negotiated process. People who want
a future Palestinian state co-existing
justice encourage negotiations and
peacefully and securely with the
normalization as a path to reconcilia-
Jewish State of Israel. The present
tion. People who want victory encour-
hasn't proved the right time, but the
age BDS."
notion of two states for two peoples
"Zionism Unsettled," the product of

nelMee

a network chartered by PC (U.S.A.),
should be renounced at the General
Assembly, not fawned over. Whatever
legitimate protest of Israeli govern-
ment policy it serves up is overshad-
owed by an overall tone of disdain.
PC (U.S.A.) has acknowledged Israel's
right to exist and has supported a
two-state solution to the Middle East
standoff. But the resolutions and the
study guide it is about to spotlight
move the General Assembly agenda
into a very glaring public light.

i=ighting Back

Locally, the Jewish Community
Relations Council, American Jewish
Committee and Anti-Defamation
League are working collaboratively
to verse local church lay leaders and
clergy in what's happening.
Jewish religious and lay leaders, all
Jews really, must let our Presbyterian
friends, clergy and lay, know what's
being perpetrated in their name. Let
them know how integral Israel is to
who we are as a people. Let them
know how dedicated the Israeli gov-
ernment and the Jewish people are
to peace and security for Israelis and
Palestinians alike.
Presbyterians and Jews have some-
thing much more important to work
toward with or without Palestinian
statehood — namely, real and endur-
ing Israeli-Palestinian peace. That's
a peace more challenging to achieve
than ever in the wake of the Fatah-
Hamas unity pact, a decided, certainly
calculated snub to Israel and the
Jewish people, who must earnestly
protect their interests amid repeated
calls to relax their collective guard.

❑

Jewish Detroit from page 34

a report issued by Michigan Future, Inc., Me Detroit region is in tremendous

need of a highly educated workforce to fill positions that will be created in

the coming years. This is a natural fit for a national Jewish community that is

ignificantly Move average in educational achievement.

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Southeastern Michigan:

A Great Place To Live. A Great Place To Live Jewishly.

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SAMPLE AD

Taking the Cue
Taking a page from the Dothan script,
the Jewish News developed a sample of
what a campaign painting Detroit as an
alluring place to live, and live Jewishly,
might look like. (Visit the Detroit Jewish
News Foundation's digital archive at:
djnfoundation.org and access pages
12-13 of the Sept. 25, 2008, edition.)
At the time, community leadership
was unprepared to confront the demo-
graphic nightmare already taking place.
The continuing decline of the city of
Detroit, the region's economic slippage
and the resulting scarcity of jobs creat-
ed a sense of "this is a problem beyond
our control anyway, so why bother?"
In the Feb. 11, 2010, edition of the
Jewish News, little Dothan, Ala., and

Southeastern Michigan:

A Great Place To Live. A Great Place To Live Jewishly.

Louis inowe IC South...teal Michigan, Love. It brought rn•
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Simms Meng relasonshgeM
now-flanCee. Lena Ernein. I errivdjo,
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man., was oN. encl a join. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nkhigan. have also
betwneeolvely involved in several community organIzatlens. including the
ALII. and Federation. The lam* in Detroit and Southeastern MiAigan as mazing for
young professionals and I couldn't be happier..

the efforts of its Jewish community to
lure young families was the focal point
of another Publisher's Notebook column.
Again seeking to stimulate community
leadership to take proactive steps to
communicate a new, vibrant, compelling
and enduring narrative that would
appeal to young adults and families with
children, the Jewish News embarked on
its own extensive campaign of affirmative
testimonial messages, job openings, jobs
recently landed, thumbnail profiles of
young adults living in the Detroit area,
cultural hotspots, etc. It also assembled a
group of young leaders into the Southeast
Michigan Jewish Alliance (Visit www.
djnfoundation.org and access page 16 of the
Feb. 11, 2010, issue of the Jewish News.)

Jewish Detroit on page 36

June 12 • 2014

35