Jewschool co-sponsors J Street's "Making History" on March 24-27 (updated)
[Want to attend J Street’s “Making History” conference for free as Jewschool’s blogger? Details here.]
Jewschool is excited to partner with J Street on “Making History” their 2012 national conference in Washington! Our team covered their inaugural conference in 2009, including Rabbi Eric Yoffie’s chastisement of the Jewish left, critiques of the social justice rhetoric, and musings on its centrist positions. Again in 2011, we covered the controversy of a speaker in favor of divestment, video interviews with the imam of Park 51 and Mona Eltahawy, and thoughts from the only attendee who also went to TribeFest.
It’s an election year and this gathering takes on new-found purpose. The movement has proven it’s here to stay and the list of impressive speakers grows. Just a sampling:
- Amoz Oz, author known as Israel’s conscience
- Anat Hoffman, leader of Women of the Wall and director of the Israeli Religious Action Center
- Peter Beinart, political commentator who on that Monday night will launch his new book The Crisis of Zionism
[Update: Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will be a keynote speaker.]
Also featuring Israeli human rights activists and Middle East journalists, such as leaders of last summer’s 500K-strong social protests, +972 Mag, Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity, Ir Amim, Breaking the Silence, B’Tselem, Yesh Din, Peace Now, the New Israel Fund, Rabbis for Human Rights and others. From Europe will be France’s J Call and the UK’s Yachad. There is a parade of former military leaders, journalists from America’s top publications, and Jewish institutions from around the world. The conference also features notable Palestinian perspectives, including +972 Mag’s Aziz Abu Sarah and One Voice Palestine’s Rami Rabaya.
Register here — and this year, take advantage of the “pay what you can” registration rate of $36.
Love it.
No one from the Israeli government.
No one from the US government .
No American ever elected to any post, no matter the level, no matter the party (or independent), either now or in the past.
No Orthodox rabbi, Modern or Haredi.
But there are two ‘Senior Youth’ leaders. Must be a translation problem.
I have it on authority that current US legislators and an official representation from the American government are scheduled to speak, more announcements coming at the end of this week.
And you missed: Amram Mitzna, former Labor chair and candidate for Prime Minister; former US ambassador Daniel Kurtzer; Menachem Klein, former Barak advisor; Labor MK Raleb Majadele; MK Zehava Galon, chairwoman of Meretz.
The absence of orthodox rabbis is lamentable. Then again, it would be a brave haredi rabbi indeed who attended a conference with mixed dancing.
The problem with mixed dancing is that it leads to mixed cocktails, which leads to mixed nuts. Trust me there will be significantly more mixed metaphors and bed-sharing at the meat market that is the annual AIPAC conference. Haredim are advised to avoid both.
Unless they like mixed nuts.
None of the people you mentioned are from the Israeli government, former being an old Yiddish word meaning no longer being associated with whatever follows, and Labor and Meretz are not part of the Israeli govenment.
That is because J Street opposes the settlements and Bibi does not. Hell, Bibi has boycotted the NY Times. His government summoned J Street to a Knesset hearing, which made it a laughing stock of even Commentary Magazine.
I don’t expect Israel’s most right-wing government in its history to send a sympathetic spokesperson. And that is precisely why J Street needs to exist.
KFJ: ‘I have it on authority that current US legislators and an official representation from the American government are scheduled to speak, more announcements coming at the end of this week.’
Well its the end of this week and so let me check the website. Oh look -no announcements.
Number of current US government officials=0
Number of American elected anyone from any party at any level=0
But I don’t want anyone to accuse me of being unconstructive so I’ll help.
Here’s the website of the elected (non-voting) delegate to Congress from the US Virgin Islands:
donnachristensen.house.gov/
And here’s the same from the elected (non-voting) representative from American Samoa:
http://www.house.gov/faleomavaega/
As to official American government representation, here’s the website of the Federal Helium Program. Maybe someone from that important program will show up.
http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/prog/energy/helium/federal_helium_program.html
If Jeremy begs and begs and begs, and uses all his connections maybe he can get some similar low level people to get a free meal.
Less than 3 weeks to go.