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continued from page 14
commemorated IDF soldiers who
died protecting Israel.
In a letter he posted on Adat
Shalom’s Facebook page and circu-
lated widely, Itamar Ilsar wrote, “I
don’t even know where to start. My
vision is still a bit blurry after watch-
ing a show about Yom HaZikaron and
it’s hard for me to focus. Maybe start
from the obvious, or what should be
obvious: Adat Shalom means a con-
gregation of peace.
“If you seek peace, please don’t host
this singer in your synagogue. If you’re
a member, please do some reading
and research before buying your tick-
ets.
“While Israel is a very diverse
society with plenty of views, it would
be fair to say that the overwhelm-
ing majority of Israelis want peace.
People like Ms. Nini, however, repre-
sent a very small fraction of the Israeli
society, and those who hold views
and opinions like hers are considered
very controversial. Yes, even in Israel.
“She is among those who call for an
‘alternative’ Memorial Day in Israel.
Yes, where those who murdered inno-
cent Israelis will be mentioned and
remembered WITH their victims.
“If you want peace, don’t go to see
her.
“Ms. Nini just recently called Mr.
Trump ‘Hitler.’ While I can under-
stand that some don’t like him and
think he’s racist, I still can’t under-
stand the comparison. A shameful
one!
“Ms. Nini supports those who call
Israel an apartheid state.
“If you support Israel, don’t go to
this show. People like her fuel up the
anti-Israeli propaganda. Are you part
of this?”
Ilsar says his post and others put
up by the group he’s part of were
removed quickly from Adat Shalom’s
Facebook page, prompting him to feel
his voice was silenced.
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16
May 11 • 2017
jn
Under sunny skies at Sunday’s annual
Walk/Run for Israel at Temple Shir
Shalom in West Bloomfield, some dis-
cussed the canceled concert.
Longtime Hadassah leader Annette
Meskin said many people came to
her asking if the protests came from
Arabs because the source of the
threats was not made clear in Adat
Shalom’s letter.
“ZOA decided not to take a stand
on this one,” said Kobi Erez, ZOA
director. “Even though there are dif-
ferent opinions [about her], at this
time, we need to connect as a com-
munity rather than be divided.”
Mark Phillips of Oak Park, treasurer
of Ameinu, a progressive Zionist
organization, said, “It’s scary if you
get threats through email, phone and
Facebook; I don’t blame Adat Shalom.
But if you don’t like Noa and her poli-
tics, don’t go. Go stand outside with
signs and protest; that is your right.
“When I heard why Noa’s concert
was canceled, I said we have to find a
way to bring her here under Ameinu’s
auspices,” said Phillips, who added
that those at the Ameinu table on
Sunday requested the DJ to play
some music by Noa. “We are not all
conservative; there are progressives.
She’s outspoken. A lot of artists are
outspoken. In this day and age, to
hear a progressive talking about Israel
is very rare.”
Ed Chudnow of West Bloomfield
said, “It is sad and unfortunate that
this concert was canceled. Bringing
Israeli culture to our community is
positive and beneficial. Letting poli-
tics get in the way forgets the Hillel
statement, ‘ahavat Yisrael’ or ‘love
every Jew.’ We need to learn to tran-
scend our differences for the sake of
Torah.”
David Yaari of West Bloomfield
served in the IDF in the 1980s. He
understands that when it comes
to the conversa-
tion about Israel,
inclusiveness of dif-
ferent opinions is
important. However,
Israelis such as Noa,
who have outwardly
aligned them-
selves with groups
David Yaari
critical of Israel like
Breaking the Silence,
he said, should have
no audience in a community looking
to invite in a performer to celebrate
Israel’s independence.
“As an artist, she can do and say
whatever she wants and she can have
whatever opinion she wants,” Yaari
said as he participated in the Walk for
Israel. “But if you are against the IDF,
you should not be chosen to repre-
sent Israel at a concert. Breaking the
Silence goes all over the place telling
people how horrible the Israeli Army
is. To me, there is no silence to break.
And without the Israeli Army, there
would be no Israel.”
Sidney Beck of West Bloomfield
said, “My feeling is that honorable
people should be
able to differentiate a
person’s politics from
their artistic abili-
ties. There are many
Jewish performers
whose politics I
don’t agree with,
but I can still enjoy
Sidney Beck
them. Canceling the
concert was a mark
against free speech. I
don’t like Jane Fonda’s politics — and
I served in Vietnam — but I do enjoy
her movies. I can separate it.” •
Contributing Writers Don Cohen and Stacy
Gittleman contributed to this report.