JEFF & MATT BARKER Associate Brokers 111 Willits St, Unit #304, Downtown Birmingham 24HR Concierge Service, 2 BR + Lib, 3 BR, 2,100 SF Exercise Room, Heated Garage - $1,050,000 (& !& !$$",!*% 4 BR, 2.3 BA, 4,400 SF, Finished LL, 3 Car Garage #&&$-#!##( &&#( 3870 Pine Harbor Dr, Pine Lake Privileges ) &%& #"&*) #&&$-#!##( &&#( jews d in the continued from page 14 commemorated IDF soldiers who died protecting Israel. In a letter he posted on Adat Shalom’s Facebook page and circu- lated widely, Itamar Ilsar wrote, “I don’t even know where to start. My vision is still a bit blurry after watch- ing a show about Yom HaZikaron and it’s hard for me to focus. Maybe start from the obvious, or what should be obvious: Adat Shalom means a con- gregation of peace. “If you seek peace, please don’t host this singer in your synagogue. If you’re a member, please do some reading and research before buying your tick- ets. “While Israel is a very diverse society with plenty of views, it would be fair to say that the overwhelm- ing majority of Israelis want peace. People like Ms. Nini, however, repre- sent a very small fraction of the Israeli society, and those who hold views and opinions like hers are considered very controversial. Yes, even in Israel. “She is among those who call for an ‘alternative’ Memorial Day in Israel. Yes, where those who murdered inno- cent Israelis will be mentioned and remembered WITH their victims. “If you want peace, don’t go to see her. “Ms. Nini just recently called Mr. Trump ‘Hitler.’ While I can under- stand that some don’t like him and think he’s racist, I still can’t under- stand the comparison. A shameful one! “Ms. Nini supports those who call Israel an apartheid state. “If you support Israel, don’t go to this show. People like her fuel up the anti-Israeli propaganda. Are you part of this?” Ilsar says his post and others put up by the group he’s part of were removed quickly from Adat Shalom’s Facebook page, prompting him to feel his voice was silenced. COMMUNITY REACTIONS !!+)*'( !$$",! 4 BR, 2.1 BA, 3,250 SF #&&$-#!##( &&#( 248.425.6000 jeff@jeffbarkerhomes.com www.jeffbarkerhomes.com 275 S. Old Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI 48009 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.