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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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theJEWISHNEWS.com
J Street Goes Too Far
Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher / Executive Editor
ahorwitz@renmedia.us
S
o where did J Street get
leaders and the kind of policies they
the money to help finance
want to support.
its support of the U.S.-
It is not up to J Streeters, living
Iran nuclear deal?
safely in the U.S. some 6,000 miles
Part of the answer has been
away, to take it upon themselves, to
provided not by J Street, but by
decide what is “good for Israel.”
media reports that discovered
That kind of posture is morally
the so-called “pro-Israel” political
reprehensible and displays unmiti-
Berl Falbaum
organization received more than
gated arrogance not to mention a bit
$500,000 from the Ploughshares
of hypocrisy.
Fund, described in news stories as an “echo
Let us suggest that J Streeters try the fol-
chamber” for the Obama administration.
lowing: Let them attempt to interfere in
The Associated Press reported that J
policies being considered by a city adjacent
Street, one of several organizations to receive to where they live. Let them try to interfere
money from Ploughshares, was given
with any action whether it is installing a stop
$576,500, money that surely helped J Street
sign or a street light.
finance its aggressive campaign in support of
They can be assured they will be told that
the Iran deal, a deal strongly opposed by the
if they want a voice in that city, they should
Israeli government.
become a resident. They have no right to
After the media reported the payment, J
dictate policies to a city in which they do not
Street said on its website that it was “proud”
have a stake.
to partner with Ploughshares on this issue
Or consider the following: A political
and that it planned to “continue changing
organization in Israel mobilizes to influence
the U.S. political landscape in support of pro- U.S. decision-makers in support of Donald
Israel, pro-peace policies.”
Trump’s efforts to build his famous wall to
OK, so what is wrong with that? The
keep “rapists” and criminals out? How would
answer: plenty. No, it is not illegal or cor-
J Streeters react? How would Americans
rupt. While politically tainted by politics,
react to any group in a foreign country work-
there is nothing nefarious about the money
ing to undermine U.S. policies?
Ploughshares shelled out to J Street.
If J Street wants a voice in the foreign
What is wrong goes to the heart of J
relations and policies of Israel, the organiza-
Street’s very existence. While J Street has a
tion should move to Israel. Then, J Street
right to express its opposition to Israeli poli-
officers and members, onc e residents, can
cy, it has no right whatsoever to actively work get involved in the country’s political process.
to undermine Israel’s foreign policy.
Given that kind of commitment, it would, at
Israel is a democracy, indeed the only one
least, engender respect for its opinions and
in the Middle East. It is not ruled by a dicta-
political actions.
tor. Israelis regularly vote to decide on their
It is the blood of Israelis — their children
and grandchildren — which is at stake. It is
Israel that faces an existential threat. J Street
faces no such threat and has nothing to lose.
Moreover, what if J Street wins? What
if it manages to help dramatically change
U.S. policy toward Israel — that is its stated
goal — and that change proves to be wrong?
What if J Street’s proposals become policy
and threaten Israel’s very existence? While
the arrogance of J Street probably would not
let it admit that it can be mistaken, the risks
nevertheless exist. What then? It would be
interesting to hear J Street’s answer.
One final point and question: Why does J
Street never miss an opportunity to demon-
ize and degrade Israel in pursuit of its politi-
cal objectives? In that sense, it is no different
than Israel’s enemies who use the same
arguments against Israel as those articulated
by J Street.
To emphasize: J Street can criticize Israel
all it wants. It can shout from the rooftops, if
it wants, but it has no right whatsoever — to
be clear, none — to interfere with policies
Israelis believe will keep them and their
country safe from enemies at literally every
border crossing.
It is sad and repugnant to watch this self-
appointed and self-righteous organization
devoted to “protecting” Israel from its safe
haven in the U.S. The good news is that J
Street portrays itself as “pro-Israel.” Think
what it might do if it were “anti-Israel.”
*
A veteran West Bloomfield journalist and author of
eight books, Berl Falbaum, was an adjunct journalism
faculty member at Wayne State University for 45 years.
letters
Congregant Disputes
Chabad’s Viewpoint
In response to the article “Torah Center Wins
— After 4 years” (June 2, page 14), I believe
the lawyer for Chabad of Michigan mischar-
acterized the events that occurred.
1. Chabad of Michigan sued Rabbi
Silberberg only, for the deed of the build-
ing, in bet din. The bet din ruled that Rabbi
Silberberg had to try and convince the board
(the actual owners of the building) to turn
over the deed.
The problem was that Rabbi Silberberg
never owned the building. It’s similar to
someone suing you for the deed to your
neighbor’s house.
The board scheduled and had a meet-
ing with Rabbi Silberberg and even invited
Rabbi Shemtov, whom declined to show up.
Rabbi Silberberg made the arguments to
turn over the deed to Chabad of Michigan
and the board said emphatically no. Rabbi
Silberberg thus complied with the bet din
ruling. It should have ended there.
The deed to the building was never
Rabbi Silberberg’s to give. Why would the
6 June 16 • 2016
board, who bought the building with its
own money, turn over the deed to Rabbi
Shemtov? That Chabad of Michigan didn’t
sue the board in bet din as was noted in the
lower court ruling.
2. The suit was past the statute of limita-
tions. This is important, too. If you bought a
building with your own money and spent 20
years or so making improvements, it would
be unfair for someone to later come and take
the building from you, after you already have
used your own money to make improve-
ments.
3. That the Chabad of Michigan lawyer
attempted to get the moral high ground in
the article is simply wrong.
The rabbi officiated at our father’s memo-
rial service in 1992 and again at our mother’s
service in 1999. Although we were not mem-
bers of his congregation, he treated us with
great kindness and respect and said exactly
the right things at their services. He indeed
made us feel like we were the “only people in
the room” when we met with him to plan the
services.
We wish Rabbi Sleutelberg the best in
Traverse City, and we’re sure the folks at
Congregation Beth Shalom will be very
pleased to have him there!
Ilan Aldouby
member of Bais Chabad Torah Center
West Bloomfield
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Good Wishes Given
To Rabbi Sleutelberg
We read that Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg will
be leaving Congregation Shir Tikvah and
relocating to Traverse City (“Legacy Of
Relationships,” May 26, page 10).
Peter and Tom Wolf
Lake Orion
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