-FEDERMAN ARREST REVEALS DIVIDED JEWISH COMMUNITY

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Thursday, May 01, 2003

-FEDERMAN ARREST REVEALS DIVIDED JEWISH COMMUNITY

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DENNIS FOX WRITES
http://www.dennisfox.net
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May 1, 2003

GADFLYING Column [Brookline TAB]
http://www.dennisfox.net/tab/2003/0501federman.html

This version may differ from the published version at
http://www.townonline.com/brookline/news/opinion/bt_edibrfoxrun04302003.htm

FEDERMAN ARREST REVEALS DIVIDED JEWISH COMMUNITY

Dennis Fox

On April 13th, Framingham police arrested Marty Federman after a
peaceful protest against Temple Beth Sholom’s guest speaker --
evangelist Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition and host
of the 700 Club. As far as I can tell from conflicting reports, the
Brookline resident’s arrest is unlikely to stand up in court, though
predicting becomes difficult as authorities across the country crack
down on dissent.

Federman serves on the steering committee of the Brookline-based
Jewish group Visions of Peace and Justice in Israel/Palestine, which
I belong to (http://vopj.org/). The 55 year-old activist has also
worked as Northeastern University’s Hillel director, director of
education at Somerville’s Congregation B’nai Brith, and executive
director of Temple Beth Shalom in Cambridge.

Last year I watched Federman, a familiar presence at meetings and
rallies, stand his ground against right-wing Zionists hurling
invective rather than rational argument. That his position stems from
deep knowledge and appreciation of Jewish culture and tradition seems
irrelevant to those who target him for abuse.

Most recently, Federman’s been speaking about his six-week visit to
Israel and the occupied territories. Throughout his visit he emailed
detailed, thoughtful, often pained observations unfiltered by media
gatekeepers. He next speaks at a Visions meeting designed in part to
recruit new members (May 11th, 7 pm at Workmen’s Circle Building,
1762 Beacon Street, Brookline).

I missed the Framingham protest because I went instead to hear Noam
Chomsky. Many politically conservative Jews can’t stand the
influential MIT professor even if they have little accurate knowledge
of his views. I wanted to see what he’d say to an audience at the
other end of the spectrum, assembled by the New England Committee to
Defend Palestine (http://www.onepalestine.org/). NECDP’s goal is one
state from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River.

As it turned out, Chomsky stuck to his position that prospects for
bi-national existence disappeared long ago. Decades of hostility
among Israelis and Palestinians, he argued, mean the only feasible
outcome is two separate states. Moreover, since this represents the
international consensus and the position of two-thirds of Americans,
Chomsky says it’s achievable despite opposition from both sides.

According to polls, most American Jews also support a two-state
solution. That can only help, though, if negotiators resolve, rather
than sidestep, complex issues. Both states must be equally viable,
which means, at a minimum, that Palestine can’t consist simply of the
tiny, separate, dependent cantons envisioned in past proposals.

Even that truncated version, though, is rejected by Jews who either
don’t trust Palestinian intentions or won’t relinquish fantasies of
recreating Biblical Israel. These are the Jews who embrace Pat
Robertson.

Although Robertson’s Framingham topic was “The Importance of American
Support for Israel,” the dozen protestors outside criticized his
views more broadly. Federman and others with tickets listened
peacefully to Robertson’s blather about how “evangelical Christians
have a visceral, heartfelt love of Israel as God’s fulfillment of His
plan for mankind and for the Jewish people” and how Israel is a
“western outpost in the midst of a medieval form of tyranny.”

Afterwards, they distributed leaflets outside asking people to “read
what Pat Robertson has to say (but what you won’t hear tonight).”

Foreshadowing a recent comment by Rod Paige, President Bush’s
Education Secretary, one Robertson quote should interest local
public-school supporters: “We can change education in America if you
put Christian principles in and Christian pedagogy in. In three
years, you would totally revolutionize education in America.” Similar
gems clarify the reverend’s opposition to feminism, homosexuality,
separation of church and state, and more.

He’s entitled to his opinions. Still, as the leaflet concluded,
“Being in bed with Pat Robertson can never be good for the Jews!”

Federman says a police officer demanded protestors stop leafleting
“because I told you so.” They reluctantly complied, but when Federman
wanted to go back to meet his friends, the officer said “That’s it.
You’re under arrest.” Released on bond, Federman went to an emergency
room to treat a neurological condition exacerbated by rough
handcuffing. Charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, his
pretrial hearing is May 19th.

Regardless of the outcome, the arrest won’t diminish Federman’s work
against intolerance and injustice. It remains to be seen, though, if
it intimidates others who hold the important middle ground.

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-----------------------------------------------
DENNIS FOX WRITES
http://www.dennisfox.net
Subscribe:
-----------------------------------------------

May 1, 2003

GADFLYING Column [Brookline TAB] http://www.dennisfox.net/tab/2003/0501federman.html

This version may differ from the published version at http://www.townonline.com/brookline/news/opinion/bt_edibrfoxrun04302003.htm

FEDERMAN ARREST REVEALS DIVIDED JEWISH COMMUNITY

Dennis Fox

On April 13th, Framingham police arrested Marty Federman after a peaceful protest against Temple Beth Sholom’s guest speaker—evangelist Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition and host of the 700 Club. As far as I can tell from conflicting reports, the Brookline resident’s arrest is unlikely to stand up in court, though predicting becomes difficult as authorities across the country crack down on dissent.

Federman serves on the steering committee of the Brookline-based Jewish group Visions of Peace and Justice in Israel/Palestine, which I belong to (http://vopj.org/). The 55 year-old activist has also worked as Northeastern University’s Hillel director, director of education at Somerville’s Congregation B’nai Brith, and executive director of Temple Beth Shalom in Cambridge.

Last year I watched Federman, a familiar presence at meetings and rallies, stand his ground against right-wing Zionists hurling invective rather than rational argument. That his position stems from deep knowledge and appreciation of Jewish culture and tradition seems irrelevant to those who target him for abuse.

Most recently, Federman’s been speaking about his six-week visit to Israel and the occupied territories. Throughout his visit he emailed detailed, thoughtful, often pained observations unfiltered by media gatekeepers. He next speaks at a Visions meeting designed in part to recruit new members (May 11th, 7 pm at Workmen’s Circle Building, 1762 Beacon Street, Brookline).

I missed the Framingham protest because I went instead to hear Noam Chomsky. Many politically conservative Jews can’t stand the influential MIT professor even if they have little accurate knowledge of his views. I wanted to see what he’d say to an audience at the other end of the spectrum, assembled by the New England Committee to Defend Palestine (http://www.onepalestine.org/). NECDP’s goal is one state from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River.

As it turned out, Chomsky stuck to his position that prospects for bi-national existence disappeared long ago. Decades of hostility among Israelis and Palestinians, he argued, mean the only feasible outcome is two separate states. Moreover, since this represents the international consensus and the position of two-thirds of Americans, Chomsky says it’s achievable despite opposition from both sides.

According to polls, most American Jews also support a two-state solution. That can only help, though, if negotiators resolve, rather than sidestep, complex issues. Both states must be equally viable, which means, at a minimum, that Palestine can’t consist simply of the tiny, separate, dependent cantons envisioned in past proposals.

Even that truncated version, though, is rejected by Jews who either don’t trust Palestinian intentions or won’t relinquish fantasies of recreating Biblical Israel. These are the Jews who embrace Pat Robertson.

Although Robertson’s Framingham topic was “The Importance of American Support for Israel,” the dozen protestors outside criticized his views more broadly. Federman and others with tickets listened peacefully to Robertson’s blather about how “evangelical Christians have a visceral, heartfelt love of Israel as God’s fulfillment of His plan for mankind and for the Jewish people” and how Israel is a “western outpost in the midst of a medieval form of tyranny.”

Afterwards, they distributed leaflets outside asking people to “read what Pat Robertson has to say (but what you won’t hear tonight).”

Foreshadowing a recent comment by Rod Paige, President Bush’s Education Secretary, one Robertson quote should interest local public-school supporters: “We can change education in America if you put Christian principles in and Christian pedagogy in. In three years, you would totally revolutionize education in America.” Similar gems clarify the reverend’s opposition to feminism, homosexuality, separation of church and state, and more.

He’s entitled to his opinions. Still, as the leaflet concluded, “Being in bed with Pat Robertson can never be good for the Jews!”

Federman says a police officer demanded protestors stop leafleting “because I told you so.” They reluctantly complied, but when Federman wanted to go back to meet his friends, the officer said “That’s it. You’re under arrest.” Released on bond, Federman went to an emergency room to treat a neurological condition exacerbated by rough handcuffing. Charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, his pretrial hearing is May 19th.

Regardless of the outcome, the arrest won’t diminish Federman’s work against intolerance and injustice. It remains to be seen, though, if it intimidates others who hold the important middle ground.

-----------------------------------------------
Subscribers to this list receive:

Most papers are posted at http://www.dennisfox.net