Finally: From Middlebury to J Street
Editor’s note: The following is a post from guest blogger Moriel Rothman blogging live from the first annual JStreet Conference.
Finally.
I am at here at the beginning of the J Street U segment of the J Street conference, and after only the first evening, the feeling I have is “finally.”
When I tried to explain to my friends back at Middlebury College what J Street is, I found that I had trouble summarizing and classifying what J Street is: Finally.
However, for my friends back home, I will try, based on what I’ve felt during these first fews hours.
J Street is an organization that supports Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish State.
J Street is an organization that desires peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians.
J Street is complexity, and it is nuance.
J Street is a voice that is made up of many different voices, that speaks in English and in Hebrew and in Arabic.
J Street is pulsing with energy, glowing with nervous excitement.
J Street is a chance for change, and the challenging the tired paradigms of narrowness and of “good and bad.”
Or, that’s how I see J Street, at least. I am thrilled to be here, to be a part of this, to help J Street move forward, and to grow. I am here to work for peace in a way that combines the complexities of who I am and what I believe.
Finally.
Bravo. I couldn’t have said it better.
That’s how I feel supporting AIPAC.
“J Street is an organization that supports Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish State.
J Street is an organization that desires peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians.”
I mean, you could replace J Street with AIPAC, or any number of groups, and it would still be true…
The only thing I could see coming from this is aides in congress understanding that there’s a growing segment within 4% of the electorate that is not as supportive of some of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians. Which would accomplish what? Even if our system was actually governed “by and for the people,” still what would that do? But it’s not, it’s beholden to corporations and I think AmCham-Israel (which I imagine works quite a bit with AIPAC) has alot more sway in this than J Street ever will. Can someone enlighten me on this?
Isn’t the point of J Street that it is supposed to be similar to AIPAC in being a “pro-Israel” organization (whatever that loaded term means) but without being supportive of every policy of the Israeli government?
4%? What poll is this from, Justin?
the total Jewish population is 2% and we make up 4% of the US electorate. not a poll, just census info. easily googleable.
sorry, total US Jewish population
The only thing I could see coming from this is aides in congress understanding that there’s a growing segment within 4% of the electorate that is not as supportive of some of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians
How much of that 4% of the electorate actually gives a damn about Israel, one way or another? It can’t be very many.
Jonathan,
my point exactly.
It can’t be very many.
That’s simply not borne out by decades of polling, voting patterns and charitable contributions. Plenty of elections in New York, Chicago, Miami and other pockets of substantial Jewish life are resolved over support for Israel; perhaps more than ever.
Whatever the future holds, the vast majority of American Jews do give a damn about Israel, especially those who vote. People like KFJ are center-left of the mainstream progressive community, and no one would accuse him of not giving a damn. Growing apathy and assimilation is a serious issue, but that apathy is centered less on Israel, and more towards the Jewish faith and peoplehood themselves.
The “Torah First, Torah Only, Israel be damned” path of the Amits of the world is an infinitesimally small slice of American Jewish life. (If you feel I’ve mischaracterized your position, Amit, my apologize and feel free to clarify.)