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Happy Birthday, Israel?
Michigan Radio refuses to broadcast donor’s message, sparking online debate.
Robin Schwartz | Special to the Jewish News
T
here were congratulatory mes-
sages from around the world
on Thursday, May 12, as Israel
celebrated its 68th Independence Day. In
one video circulated online, United Nations
ambassadors from Argentina, Australia,
Germany, South Korea and elsewhere could
be seen on camera wishing the country a
happy birthday in various languages.
But at least one “happy birthday” message
never hit the airwaves following a donor’s
battle with Michigan Radio. The public
radio station, licensed to the University
of Michigan, broadcasts to approximately
500,000 listeners across the state each week.
“I’m not trying to pick a fight,” said Lisa
Lis of Farmington Hills. “I’m honestly just
trying to say, ‘Happy birthday, Israel.’”
In an April 22 email, Lis was offered what’s
known as a “day sponsorship,” a personal
message to be read on air six times as a
thank you for donating at least $365. Her
husband, Hannan, is Israeli; the couple’s son,
Mataan, 23, currently serves in the Israel
Defense Forces (IDF); and Lis herself is a
staunch Israel supporter.
She chose a message to honor Israel’s
birthday and submitted two initial drafts:
“Happy 68th birthday to Israel. May peace
and unity be your gift this year” and “Today
we remember the fallen soldiers of Israel and
wish her a peaceful 68th birthday.” Lis was
told the messages could not be aired because
the station needed at least two months
advance notice.
She then submitted a revised announce-
ment to be broadcast in June: “May peace
and unity be blessed upon Israel as she
recently celebrated her 68th birthday.”
Station managers informed Lis that mes-
sage, too, could not be used because it con-
tained religious language and may be inter-
preted as political. Lis offered to remove the
word “blessed” and received the following
email reply from Michigan Radio’s director of
development, Alison Warren:
“Dear Lisa, We will not be able to air your
day sponsorship message as written. We have
determined that this message would com-
promise the station’s commitment to impar-
tiality and that it crosses over into advocacy,
or could imply advocacy.”
Lis and her husband emailed back and
forth with Warren and other station officials
insisting there was no religious or political
intent. During the volley of emails, the sta-
tion revised its policy to make it “clearer for
individuals.”
16 May 19 • 2016
It reads, in part: “[Day
sponsorships] may not include
promotional, commercial or
messages that Michigan Radio
deems would negatively impact
Michigan Radio’s reputation for
impartiality. Language referenc-
ing political campaigns, candi-
dacies, religious convictions or
legislation will not be accepted.”
It goes on to say religious holi-
days may be mentioned includ-
ing Rosh Hashanah, Christmas,
Easter, Ramadan and others.
Ultimately, Lisa and Hannan
revised their message one final
time to read, “Happy 68th birth-
day, Israel.” They also spoke by
phone with Michigan Radio’s
executive director Steve Schram.
But, the simplified message was
also rejected.
“Day sponsorships are meant
to be personal messages, person-
to-person in nature,” Schram
Hannan and Lisa Lis with son Mataan during a visit to Israel
wrote in an email. “Additionally,
there has been a long-established
policy and practice of not allow-
countries would not be permitted.
morphed into anti-Israelism.”
ing promotion of organizations or entities,
“Harmless as it may seem, it forces us to
Rabbi Jason Miller, a blogger and social
or referencing them. We try to apply this
framework consistently, and sometimes work media entrepreneur who is Lis’ friend, shared make the choice between which countries or
political bodies are worthy of on-air recogni-
with donors to re-direct or re-shape message his opinion in a Huffington Post blog entry.
tion and which are not,” he wrote.
“I’m sincerely doubting that had another
requests that do not follow the policy points.
The Dearborn-based Arab American
Occasionally though, we simply have to turn donor to Michigan Radio chosen to offer
News reported on the controversy, quoting a
birthday greetings to another sovereign
down a request.”
Palestinian advocate who was pleased with
nation rather than to an individual, it would
ONLINE DEBATE
Michigan Radio’s decision.
cause this type of uproar,” he wrote. “While
Frustrated, Lis took her story to the internet, I’m not ignorant and I certainly understand
“Wishing Israel a happy Independence
posting about it on social media. That led to
Day is a harmful message that amounts to
that tensions have been high in that Middle
local, national and international media cov-
advocating for ‘cultural genocide’ against
East region for generations, there’s no good
erage, followed by an online debate.
Palestinians,” Hassan Nawash is quoted as
reason that the radio station should single
“We are constantly battling anti-Israel
out Israel and refuse to allow a donor to offer saying. “I want to salute Michigan Radio in
rhetoric and unfair treatment of Israel,” Lis
being responsible and having great discretion
this nation congratulations on its anniver-
said. “I’m not surprised people are appalled
to turn down that message.”
sary of statehood.”
and picking it up and using social media to
On Monday, Lisa Lis was interviewed on
In emails back and forth with the Lis
bring awareness to it. It’s just our lot in life;
the topic on WJR-AM radio.
family, Larry Jonas, the station’s director of
there is, sadly, anti-Semitism, which has
While her greeting never did air on
development, said messages naming other
Michigan Radio, the dispute and the buzz
ended up carrying her birthday message
around the world to a much wider audience.
At press time, Lisa remains a listener, but the
family is still considering whether to con-
tinue their contributions to the station while
taking further steps to change its policy.
“We are constantly battling
anti-Israel rhetoric and unfair
treatment of Israel.”
— Lisa Lis
*
For details on Michigan Radio or to read the full
policy for day sponsorships, visit michiganradio.org.