Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Yet another reason the leftists at Workmen's Circle don't belong at the mainstream table...
According to the Birthright Unplugged web site:
...After the program we support our participants' involvement in human rights based and justice oriented efforts, including contributing to the Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions movement against Israel until it complies with international law. This initiative is a direct response to the call from Palestinian civil society and is designed in the footsteps of the ultimately successful movement against South African apartheid...
...Birthright Unplugged also organizes travel for groups in addition to our Unplugged and Re-Plugged offerings. Our most recent delegations include Brandeis University/Carter Center and Boston College student groups and a Workmen's Circle group from Boston.
...to say nothing of Brandeis and BC.
(For those not in the know, Birthright Unplugged is a group that tries to get to young Jewish kids and turn them against their heritage, against Israel. For Workmen's Circle to be involved with them in any way is yet another disgrace.)
Part of me wants to be disappointed by my alma matter, but then again, it also comes as no real surprise. I think however, the number of Brandeis students who go on Birtright vastly outnumber those who go on the "unplugged" trips.
(and what else would you expect from a program named for Carter?)
It should be called Birthright UNHINGED.
If the JCRC can welcome The Workmen's Circle to their table, that's the end of the official Boston Jewish community.
According to Mike Felsen, WC's head,the only instance of his "support" for Israel was the occasion to sign a petition demanding the destruction of "settlements."
Were Nancy Kaufman to welcome The International Solidarity Movement to 126 High St., I wouldn't be at all surprised.Someone has to spill the beans on this faux "Jewish" organization to the scores of wealthy widows of Newton whose annual donations make it possible for them to continue to sell out Israel.
Time for Jews to divest, boycott the self-hating jooz Workmens Circle.
As a progressive Jew I support the objectives of the Birthright Unplugged program.. It is ridiculous that money that was originally devoted for the needs of Shoa survivors, is used to finance fun trips for youngsters who care less about the situation in the Mideast.
vic, you claim to be "progressive".
Nice change from your old school label "socialist", "leftist", "pink", "stalinist", "marxist", "maoist".
Those old school monikers set off too many alarms?
Whoa! Birthrignt is funded with money intended for survivors? What nonsense.
Birthright was set up and funded by philanthropists concerned about Jewish continuity. Birthright is not funded by the Claims Conference or restitution money.
The three strongest indicators for American Jewish kids remaining connected to Judaism and the Jewish people were, in order, day school education, Jewish summer camp and connection with Israel. Not only are day schools are scarce and expensive, but they don't appeal to the vast majority, so most Jewish kids go to public schools. By the time kids turn 18, it's too late to think about day schools or summer camps.
Birthright trips are not just for the politically involved.
Does anyone know the details about this supposed "Brandeis delegation" to a B.U. trip? The only mention I've seen of it is on the B.U. webpage. Students from Brandeis going on a B.U. trip is not the same thing as Brandeis as an institution sending a group of students. Nor would a student activist group trip be the same thing as, say, a trip associated with class credit, the way it is at BC.