jews d
in
the
LEFT: The Klein broth-
ers supplied soldiers
with soft drinks and
snacks — and big
hugs of thanks. RIGHT:
Noah and Yosef Klein
of Oak Park helped
put out a fire caused
by a kite from Gaza
when they visited IDF
soldiers in July.
Hugs
And More
Oak Park brothers visit IDF soldiers near Gaza.
ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
B
rothers Noah Klein, 35, and Yosef
Klein, 31, found themselves in Israel
for three days in July following a
family celebration. Noah decided to visit
Israeli soldiers to thank them personally
for their service. He hired a driver, who
suggested visiting the often-overlooked
soldiers on the front lines along the Gaza
border. Yosef, who speaks Hebrew, enthu-
siastically joined him.
The brothers, who live in Oak Park,
wanted to show the soldiers appreciation.
“Here in America, most of us sit in air-
conditioned homes; things are relatively
easy,” Noah explained. “Whether these sol-
diers were drafted or volunteered doesn’t
matter. They’re outside, sweltering in the
boiling sun, day after day, fighting to keep
other Jews safe.”
Noah and Yosef bought more than 100
soft drink cans and packages of sunflower
seeds, but, more than that, they hugged
the soldiers and brought them love.
At their first stop, they saw a tank com-
ing off patrol. Yosef immediately jumped
out of the car and onto the tank. Due to
previous protestor incidents, the com-
mander and crew were initially shocked,
but, after some explaining, they were
thrilled and grateful to receive the broth-
ers’ offerings.
Along their route, they found a unit
fighting a fire started from a kite that had
been sent from Gaza. (Many such fires
were being sent across the border daily at
the time, sometimes even reaching double
digits). More than hugs and treats, at that
moment, those soldiers were grateful for
extra hands. Soon Noah and Yosef were
manning a fire hose and helping put
out that fire. (Naturally, they hadn’t told
their families their plans for the day, but
Yosef ’s wife FaceTimed him just then,
and he matter-of-factly informed her he
was busy fighting fires near Gaza and, to
her mounting horror, turned the camera
around to prove it!).
Altogether, Noah and Yosef gave out
food and hugs at about 15 bases and
outposts that day. During the rest of their
trip, they purchased lunches for soldiers
or bought them whatever they wanted
from nearby convenience stores, each
time expressing gratitude and support.
The trip was a huge success.
“All the soldiers appreciated our visit,”
Noah said. “The fact that someone came
to visit them, that Jews from across the
world are rooting for them, it clearly
meant so much. They were smiling from
ear to ear.”
Once, the soldiers in an entire unit lined
up to receive the big hugs the brothers
offered. Many happily posed for pictures
with Noah and Yosef, although they prom-
ised to black out their eyes for security
purposes.
For Noah, the owner of a local plumb-
ing business, and Yosef, a litigation attor-
ney, the trip was extremely memorable
and uplifting. Both hope to take their
children one day on a similar venture
(although chances are they haven’t told
their wives yet!).
“We could have gone on some trip to
a luxurious area, but we did this instead,
and we’re so glad we did,” Noah said. “The
entire experience cost us about $800.
We’re not wealthy people, but it was worth
every penny.”
Yosef agreed. “It was an unbelievable
trip and a great experience. And there was
no sense that this happens on a regular
basis, which made it even more special.” •
Endorsement Withdrawn
J Street rescinds its approval of Detroit congressional candidate Rashida Tlaib.
JACKIE HEADAPOHL MANAGING EDITOR
J
Street withdrew its endorsement
of Rashida Tlaib, the Democratic
candidate for Congress in Michigan’s
13th District running unopposed in the
November election, who is expected to
be the first Palestinian-American Muslim
woman in Congress.
J Street’s decision
came after a published
interview in In These
Times magazine in
which Tlaib advo-
cated for a one-state
solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and
Rashida Tlaib
expressed support for
the Palestinian right of return and the free
speech rights of Boycotts, Divestment and
Sanctions (BDS) activists.
J Street, a liberal policy organization,
advocates for a two-state solution to the
conflict. Tlaib had previously received the
endorsement of the lobby’s JStreetPAC
based on her supposed support for two
states.
32
August 23 • 2018
jn
“After closely consulting with Rashida
Tlaib’s campaign to clarify her most
current views on various aspects of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we have come
to the unfortunate conclusion that a
significant divergence in perspectives
requires JStreetPAC to withdraw our
endorsement of her candidacy,” read a
statement from J Street on Aug. 17.
“We cannot endorse candidates who
come to the conclusion that they can no
longer publicly express unequivocal sup-
port for a two-state solution and other
core principles to which our organization
is dedicated,” the statement said.
In the Aug. 14 interview with In These
Times, Tlaib, when asked whether she
supported a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, replied, “One
state. It has to be one state. Separate but
equal does not work.”
She went on to say, “I’ve been very clear.
I will not support racist countries that
pick and choose who gets access to jus-
tice. My grandmother shouldn’t be denied
access or be considered less human
because she is Palestinian.”
She cited an incident that occurred
in Israel when she was 19 with her fam-
ily, some of whom were wearing head
scarves. “We all jumped in the water and
the Israelis jumped out as if my cousins
were diseased,” she said.
She also said, “For me, U.S. aid should
be leverage. I will be using my position
in Congress so that no country, not one,
should be able to get aid from the U.S.
when they still promote that kind of injus-
tice.”
She went on to say that “I am not going
to dehumanize Israelis. I won’t do that …
Many [Israelis] are marching, saying no to
Netanyahu’s apartheid policies. There’s a
movement in Israel I support that wants
an Israel that embraces Palestinians.”
In its statement, J Street said, “We
strongly support and are encouraged by
Tlaib’s commitment to social justice, and
we are inspired by her determination to
bring the voice of underrepresented com-
munities to Capitol Hill.
“We wish her and her campaign well,
and we look forward to a close working
relationship with her and her office when
she takes her seat in Congress next year.”
David Kurzmann, executive director of
the JCRC/AJC, said, “We were deeply dis-
appointed with Rashida Tlaib’s statements
about a one-state solution, which appear
to contradict positions she took during
the campaign. We continue to believe that
a two-state solution is the only way to
create peace for Israel and the Palestinian
people.
“We have known Rashida Tlaib for a
number of years, and she has always been
open to dialogue with our community,”
Kurzmann added. “We hope that she will
keep that same openness and hear our
very real concerns about her recent state-
ments.”
A request for comment from Rashida
Tlaib was not returned by press time. •
JTA contributed to this report.