This is a fight that we are sadly losing. And we are losing because as a people we are disorganized, fearful of making waves, and constantly on the defensive. And until we learn how to offensively fight this war, we will continue to lose the battles. And we will lose because our generals – people like Alisa Doctoroff and Abe Foxman of the ADL – are fighting for the other side. It is time we fired these people and made right-minded voices the representatives of the American Jewish community.
So how do we accomplish that? The only thing we can do is make our voices heard. Here on the street in front of UJA, through letter writing campaigns to the heads of these organizations and their boards and financial supporters as well as to the administrations and boards of our alma maters, through our pocketbooks as we make it clear that we will not support groups that have an open tent policy of allowing BDSers to go mainstream. And allowing NIF to march in the Israel Day Parade, no matter what message they have on their banner that particular day, is condoning NIFs positions and helping its anti-Israel policies go mainstream. We need to stop this craziness. We need to educate our children before they get to college campuses, we need to raise awareness in our shuls and communities, and we need to fight BDS and anyone who supports it Jew or non-Jew. The survival of our people both in the Diaspora and in Israel depends on it.
Other speakers included Mort Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, Dr. Paul Brody, Rabbi David Algaze of Congregation Havurat Yisrael and Rabbi David Schwartz of Congregation Ohab Zedek.
Helen Freedman, executive director of Americans for Safe Israel, queried the crowd: “Do you want your tzedakah money supporting those who delegitimize Israel?” The crowd, Freedman told the JewishPress.com, responded with a resounding “No!”
Freedman also talked about the global attacks on Israel, and spoke about both Doctoroff, and others in the New York City Jewish “leadership” roles such as Michael Miller, Eric Goldstein and Jerry Levine, all of whom are officers or former officers of the UJA and the JCRC. “The crowd members booed their disapproval.”
Freedman told the crowd that the widespread condemnations of Israel “are built on lies and fabrications. They must not be allowed to pass for truth. That is why we are here today and why we must continue to raise our voices and against those whose greed and willful blindness lead Israel and American into a dangerous downward spiral.”
When the speakers finished, the dozens and dozens of shofars were blown once again. The event ended with the singing of the American national anthem and HaTikvah.