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There are certainly some vicious anti-Semites and anti-Zionists who associate with the BLM movement or organization, but that must not move us Zionists away from our principles of Zionist activ- ism. If BLM itself came out officially with an anti-Israel statement on their website, I would be the first to condemn it because Zionism is all about Black Lives Matter. The Jewish people and Zionists live by the verse from Exodus 3:16-17: “I have noticed you and what they are doing to you … And I have said, ‘ I will take you out of slavery and suf- fering to the Land of Canaan … (to the Holy Land – Israel!). ” This is both the Zionist dream of ending the millennial oppression of the Jewish people in foreign lands, and it is the vision that gave hope to our black brothers and sisters in their years of suffering in their “Egypt” — in America — and a vision of a better country. In Egypt, God said, Jewish lives matter. Now that the Jewish people have the Jewish State, and we have strength and a modicum of acceptance in America, it is time for us to say: “Black Lives Matter.” Our Zionism has taught us how important this narrative is, and we have succeeded. We have found our Zion and it is strong. Now let us Zionists give hope to those who are fighting to remove the “Egypt” from this country and let us be allies with them to find their Zion. In those rallies I have attend- ed, specifically in Detroit, the leaders of the black commu- nity have emphasized how destructive violent protests and looting have been to the cause. This also is consistent with the way the Jewish people moved toward establishing Israel. Zionism is about purpose, focus and building and not about violence and destruction. In fact, the early founders of Israel quashed rogue elements that took the focus away from the cause. Black Lives Matter must mean the same discipline for the sake of fighting racism and injustice. The great Supreme Court Justice and Zionist Louis Brandeis said, “Let no American imagine that Zionism is inconsistent with patriotism.” For the sake of our Jewish and Zionist tradition, let no American say that Zionism is inconsistent with the fight for true patriotism. Black Lives Matter and Zionism matter in the battle for racial justice and equality for our African American brothers and sisters. Rabbi Asher Lopatin is the JCRC/AJC executive director. And I believe every part of those statements. I specifically didn’ t write some of the specifics that other’ s signs said because I can’ t genuinely say I’ ve done enough research on each individual topic to state my opinion. Just like how if I didn’ t research a specific topic before an election, I would not blindly vote on that topic. But I fully support peaceful protests that have the goal of a better world. And the Oak Park protest was one of them. I also believe that black people matter. I specifically didn’ t state “black lives matter” or “BLM” because, while I believe in a lot of the things the movement stands for, I cannot agree with everything the organization itself stands for or supports, and I’ m not a fan of some of the leaders’ viewpoints on Israel and anti-Semitism. I did not bend a knee when everyone else did because I wasn’ t sure if I could as a Jew, so I erred on the side of caution. But no one said anything nega- tive to me about it. I joined the protest/march because I care about my black neighbors. I joined the protest/ march because I care about my black classmates. I joined the protest/march because I care about my black friends. I joined the protest/march because I care about black Jews. I joined the protest/march because I care. Menachem Roetter, 25, is from Oak Park. He is a full-time student at the University of Detroit- Mercy working on a bachelor’ s degree in Addiction Studies. He also works at the local restaurant Kravings. In his spare time, he advo- cates for Agunot. PROTESTS from page 6 ZIONISM from page 6 Views