30 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

F

or five years, Rabbi Nadav Caine 
of Beth Israel, a Conservative 
Congregation in Ann Arbor, has 
been silent about the group of protesters 
how many?who have targeted the local 
shul for almost two decades.
Now Caine is considering enlisting the 
help of their interfaith partners to counter-
protest the diehard protesters who contin-
ue to show up outside the shul on Shabbat 
morning.
However, Caine and his congregants are 
grateful for the latest initiative from Ann 
Arbor City Council announcing a formal 
resolution condemning antisemitism. 
“We’re very relieved … It’s very import-
ant, when one is persecuted, not to feel 
alone. And we feel much less alone now,” 
Caine said. 
For 18 years, a small group have 
picketed outside the congregation with 
antisemitic and anti-Israel signs along 
Washtenaw Avenue, where the city says an 
“atmosphere of hate” has been created. 
In 2019, a member of the synagogue and 
a local Holocaust survivor filed a federal 
lawsuit against anti-Israel protesters and the 
city over the weekly demonstrations, claim-
ing the protests violate worshippers’ First 
Amendment rights to safely practice their 
religion and that the city has not enforced 
local ordinances the protesters are violating. 
The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals 
ruled in favor of the city and protesters, 
ruling that the protesters had a free speech 
right to continue their activities.

Until now, the city of Ann 
Arbor hasn’t gotten involved 
with the dispute. However, 
Caine says Mayor Christopher 
Taylor had been working on 
the right language for a resolu-
tion condemning antisemitism 
for months with the Jewish 
Federation of Ann Arbor, 
which was approved unani-
mously by city council mem-
bers on Jan. 18. Caine says the 
final resolution passed was 
responsible and powerful.
“I think we live in a place that values 
the right to free speech,” he said. “But for 
those who don’t use their free speech to 
recognize and criticize hate speech, then 
you’re standing idly by the persecution of 
others.” 

COUNTERPROTESTS ARE 
BEING CONSIDERED
Now Caine is looking into the idea of 
counterprotesting. 
“As a rabbi, I do not want you, as 
a Jew, counterprotesting on Shabbat. 
But for my Christian friends, for my 
Muslim friends, for my secular, peace- 
America-loving friends … They have 
been asking me for years, ‘Do you want 
us to go out there?’ I’m wondering 
now whether there is a place for the 
community, not Jews, but for our com-
munity to show support on Saturday 
by counterprotesting. That’s something 
I’m going to open up 
for the first time that 
I did not open up 
before,” Caine added.
Even though the 
city has announced 
the formal resolution 
condemning antisem-
itism, which means a 
lot to Caine — he said 
he believes protesters 

will continue to show up.
“He’s (protestor Henry Herskovitz) 
been out there for 18 years. We know 
that’s not going to stop.” 
 However, since the city has gotten 
involved, now might be time to step in, 
Caine said.
“I would love to work with the city to 
say, we completely honor Ann Arbor’s 
proud progressive tradition of maxi-
mal free speech. But is there a way to 
both have that value, but not allow … 
an unfettered, infinite amount of hate 
speech take place?”
Caine says he’s been thinking a lot 
about speaking with the city about fig-
uring out a “civil and civic way” to limit 
the number of signs protesters put out-
side in front of the synagogue.
“Protesters can bring 25 or 30 signs 
and line a public thoroughfare in front 
of us. Why can they do it without 
applying for permits?
“There’s a difference between free 
speech, and I would view it as intimida-
tion and harassment.” Caine added.
Regardless of who stands outside the 
temple, Caine says he feels like the con-
gregation is winning. 
“Part of having a covenant with God 
is being patient sometimes. And so, we 
may have felt like we’ve lost Saturday by 
Saturday, but we’re winning the hearts 
and minds of ourselves and others in 
our town.” 

Beth Israel Ann Arbor rabbi ready to stand up 
to antisemitic protesters. 
‘We Feel Less Alone’

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Rabbi Nadav 
Caine

