Sunday, November 29, 2009
St. Peter's Episcopal in Cambridge, MA becomes one in a long string of political churches turning religion into a temporal matter of campaigns for the fad of the moment.
Today, the first day of Advent, St. Peter's held a fund-raiser to send a congregant to the "Gaza Freedom March." This is yet another effort by radical Leftists and their Islamist allies to delegitimize Israel's efforts of self-defense and to enable the terrorist group Hamas. Informed readers will find the Statement of Context to be full of the usual utterly bizarre reading of reality, and the endorsers' list a predictable rogues gallery of liars, leftists, Israel and Jew haters.
Rachel Wyon made a presentation and soliciting funds at Sunday services. No doubt the context presented was anything but educational. Just when you imagine you've seen it all with regard to tendentious presentations, you must see the time line these people present for a history of the conflict in their press materials. Look here at page 9 of the linked PDF:
April 1918 - Muslim-Christian Societies were established in most major cities to challenge British and Zionist attempts to create sectarian rifts based on religion.
January 1919 - Muslim-Christian societies formed a more centralized organization, paving the way for the first Palestinian Arab Congress, which called for the education of youth, encouraging national development and protecting individual and national rights.
11 March, 1920 - Demonstrations were held in all major Palestinian cities against the Balfour Declaration. As the uprising spread, mass resignations, protests and strikes continued throughout the spring. During the 1920s Palestinians used the simplest and most basic nonviolent methods of protest and persuasion: testaments, declarations, petitions, manifestos, assemblies, delegations, processions, marches and motorcades.
1923 - The Palestine Communist Party was founded on a platform of coexistence and began organizing Arab and Jewish workers t o challenge political Zionism...
It goes on like that with what can only be described as one of the most selective presentations of history I've seen this side of Hamas TV. It's like a history of WW2 that describes nothing but various bandage-wrapping events and bake sales. Sadly, many of the congregants will get their only knowledge of the conflict from what's being spooned out to them right there in their church. And you know who the bad guys are in this re-telling.
Several efforts have been made to reach out to the Church Rector, Rev. François Trottier, but they have been rebuffed. Below, you can read two of those letters, and you can read Rev. Trottier's terse response:
Dear Reverend Trottier,
I am writing to you from Christians and Jews United for Israel, a coalition of individuals of different religious faith, skin color, ethnicity, occupation and background, with common purpose - to present truthful, factual information about Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict, to combat racism and anti-semitism, and to empower individuals with the knowledge to thoughtfully evaluate a complex and every-changing situation - in the hopes that you as well are among those who seek the fundamental truths necessary to aid in the resolution of this ongoing conflict.
A concerned friend has let us know that one of your parishioners intends to participate in a "march" in Gaza next month, and that the Church is raising funds to help her in this endeavor. We are very concerned about this with respect to both your parishioner's physical safety (Americans have been the target of kidnapping and even murders in Gaza) and because the organizers of the event do not hold to the principles of non-violence, peace, or justice as they claim. In their own writings, the march organizers proudly proclaim their goal to end the existence of Israel as a Jewish state, although of course they put it in much more palatable terms.
Moreover, a strong element of anti-semitism runs through many organizations supporting the march. In just one example, two of the march's most prominent supporters proudly proclaimed the event "Zionist free" after internal dissention forced the resignation of Norman Finkelstein (a vitriolic opponent of Israel and as far from a Zionist as one could possibly be) from the organizing committee. In another example, Code Pink, the main organizer of the event, recently co-sponsored an anti-Israel parade deliberately routed (as discussed on their internal Internet board) past several synagogues, on a Jewish High Holy Day, in a neighborhood where many elderly Holocaust survivors live. Most assuredly, the Gaza march is not being organized by those who believe in "freedom" or "justice", despite what they may claim. Instead, their goal is the destruction of Israel and the intimidation and harassment of those who disagree with them.
Both Reverend Fumio Taku, President of CJUI, and I would very much like to meet with you to discuss these and other issues. Unfortunately, both of us are out of town right now and will not return until next month. In the meantime, please be aware that you may receive an email or telephone call from Kerry Hurwitz of the Boston4Israel advocacy group. I hope you will agree to meet with her and consider what she has to say.
Thank you so much for your attention to this matter. Reverend Taku or I will contact you next month and very much look forward to meeting you at that time. Until then, please accept our wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving.
Very truly yours,
May Long, President
And:
Dear Reverend Trottier,
My name is Kerry Hurwitz; I believe that May Long and Reverend Fumio Taku of Christians and Jews United for Israel mentioned that I would contact you. I am a member of Boston4Israel, a group of citizens dedicated to presenting factual information about Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict and opposing anti-semitism, the delegitimization and demonization of Israel and the Jewish people, and attempts to deny the state of Israel as the Jewish homeland.
We have been informed that the church is raising funds for one of your congregants, Rachel Wyon, to attend a march in Gaza march next month. We understand that you and Ms. Wyon would like to participate in finding a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict; however participating in the Gaza march is not the way to bring this about. In fact, participating in the march will hinder efforts to establish a peaceful, democratic government in Gaza and to forward the peace process.
While its literature implies that the march is organized by 'peace activists', its organizers have anything but peaceful intentions. The Statement of Context - proudly dubbed "Zionist-free" by organizers[1][1] -denies Israel's legitimacy and announces the organizer's purpose to end the existence of Israel as a Jewish state. The march's primary sponsors, both individual and organizational, are outspoken in this endeavor.
As far as can be determined, not a single member of the march's coordinating committee accepts Israel's right to exist. Code Pink, the official U.S. supporter of the march, is also clear that it supports the destruction of Israel and its replacement with a 'Palestinian' state.[2][2] (What would happen to the nearly 6 million Jews currently living in Israel is not discussed). The march's official discussion board contains links to virulently anti-semitic (and, many believe, anti-Christian) websites.[3][3]
Several groups supporting the march endorse violent "resistance" - terrorism - and encourage or condone the murder and maiming of innocent children, women and men. Members of the International Solidarity Movement have been photographed with guns used to carry out terror attacks, and have given shelter to admitted terrorists. The symbol of one of the march's most active organizers is a bloody handprint - an image that became infamous after the lynching of two Israelis at a police station in Ramallah , when the murderers displayed their bloody hands to waiting journalists.[4][4]
An event supported by terrorists and organized by admitted enemies of the Jewish people, is not only counterproductive, it makes a mockery of the concepts of "peace" and "justice" it purports to embrace.
St. Peter's congregants who wish to truly support peace or work to improve conditions in Gaza have a number of opportunities to do work consistent with those goals. Organizations such as the Sulha Peace Project work in the Gaza strip and hold regular events in support of peace.[5][5] Zen Peacemakers, Tamera Village, and other programs actively further the cause of interfaith cooperation. There are also groups such as Zeina which work specifically with children in the disputed territories[6][6]. I urge Ms. Wyon and other members of your congregation interested in bettering conditions in Gaza to investigate and consider volunteer with those organizations, which truly further the cause of peace.
It is important that we discuss these issues prior to November 29th, when Ms. Wyon is slated to address the congregation about her goals. While we certainly have no objection to (and in fact, encourage) Ms. Wyon to contribute her time and energies towards peace and a better life for people in Gaza or anywhere else in the world, there is no doubt that participation in the Gaza march will not achieve this.
I will contact you later today to see when we might further discuss this. If we miss each other, please feel free to leave a message at [x] as to when might be a good time to meet. I am available to see you any time this week except for Tuesday and, of course, Thursday afternoon.
Until then, I remain,
Very truly yours,
Kerry Hurwitz, Boston4Israel
[1][1] http://gaza08.blogspot.com/2009/09/gaza-freedom-macrh-is-now-zionist-free.html
[2][2] Speeches at Code Pink's October 17th rally in Copley Square called for undoing "sixty years" of Jewish presence in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Netanya. Numerous Code Pink members, including leaders Marilyn Levin, David Rolde, and Sara Roche-Mahdi, have also stated in writing that Israel should not exist.
[3][3] http://groups.google.com/group/gazafreedommarch-boston/browse_thread/thread/e167491832be13ba#, linking to http://www.propheticimagery.com/Nakblinka%20Book/Index.htm
[4][4] http://gaza08.blogspot.com/
[5][5] I am not personally familiar with Sulha; my description is based on information found on their website.
[6][6] Zeina has an excellent reputation for supporting families of ill children in the disputed territories.
And the Reverend's response (his heart is closed):
Dear Kerry Hurwitz,
I have no wish to meet with you, Ms. May Long, or the Rev. Fumio Taku, or correspond with any of you in any manner, on the matter of St. Peter's sponsoring Rachel Wyon on the "Gaza Freedom March."
As I feel the content of the unsolicited email below is misrepresentative, at least in its polarized characterization of the intention of the organizers and those who support the concept of the march, I doubt that any further discussion would be fruitful.
Please do not contact me any further on this matter.
Sincerely,
François Trottier
Here is the Reverend's own statement pimping the event from their web page:
From the Rector: Rachel Walks in Gaza
On Thursday, December 31, 2009, individuals from around the world will meet in Gaza to take part in a non-violent march alongside the people of Gaza. This event is organized by the International Coalition to End the Illegal Seize of Gaza which was formed after Israel's 22 day assault on Gaza in the winter of 2008-2009. As a widely diverse coalition representing all faiths (including Islam and Judaism) the focus of the march will be human rights in conformance with international law.
I am very pleased that our own Rachel Wyon will be present at the march. Rachel is passionate about this cause and will speak to us about her feelings on the crisis in Gaza on Sunday, November 29th. She will also tell us about her impressions after the march on February 7th, 2010.
I am asking you to pray about this event which we hope will help bring about a non-violent resolution to this tragic situation in Palestine. I am also asking you to help Rachel make her way to Gaza, experience the "on the ground" reality there and come back and tell us what is going on by contributing to the cost of her trip. It is my belief that Rachel will help us connect more concretely with the people there and perhaps even establish a relationship with those involved. In this way she will raise our awareness, focus our prayers, and help us realize what is, I feel, the root of much of the world's violent terrorisms today - the Palestinean and Israeli conflict. So please pray for this and if you feel so moved, support Rachel's walk by contributing to the "Rachel Walks in Gaza" fund.
Shalom, François
Shalom, indeed.
Well today a group of about 12-15 activists were there, in spite of the good Reverend, to politely greet congregants as they arrived and hand them an informational flyer. Here is a description and a couple of photos from someone who was there:
There were more than a dozen leafleters and the number of people attending the 10:30 am service was not all that impressive -- 50 tops. Frankly, it's a dying church.
The pastor, who gave Kerry such an ugly kiss-off, came outside and acknowledged our right to be there and asked that it be kept peaceful. We gave him every assurance that it would remain peaceful, and it did.
The parishioners took the the leaflets politely with no controversy or rudeness.
Hopefully it will provoke a discussion within the church, and teach the pastor that the next time someone asks to speak with him that he should respond in a much kinder and polite manner.
A little kindness goes a long way.
Here is the text of the leaflets being handed out:
Dear St. Peter's Parishioners:
This morning you will hear one of your fellow church goers speak about her upcoming trip to the Gaza Strip as part of the "Gaza Freedom March."
This march is billed by its organizers as an attempt to stand in solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip who are suffering as a result of last winter's fighting between Israel and Hamas. This event is organized by a number of groups with a documented history of supporting a one-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. This means the dismantlement of Israel.
The people handing you this leaflet -- a group of Jews and Christians from Christians and Jews United For Israel -- have tried to speak with your pastor about our concerns, but were rebuffed, which is why we are contacting you directly with this leaflet.
As you hear the presentation, we ask you to keep in mind (and when appropriate, pose) the following questions:
- Is it appropriate for a member of St. Peter's to affiliate with extremists from groups like the International Solidarity Movement whose founders have supported Palestinian terrorism?
- Why is St. Peter's supporting such a one-sided approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict even after the House of Bishops repudiated this style of peacemaking at the church's most recent General Convention?
Isn't it troublesome that this Gaza Freedom March is going forward with the permission and cooperation of Hamas, the extremist organization that controls the Gaza Strip?
When Israel withdrew its troops from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Hamas had a chance to show the world what it would do once it was in charge, and it did. Over the course of the next four years, it has launched thousands of rockets into Israel, it murdered its political opponents in the streets (and threw some of them off rooftops) and it dug tunnels into Israel, kidnapped an Israeli soldier and killed two others. It has stolen aid food, fuel and medicine and distributed these commodities to its supporters. It has fired rockets at Israeli civilians while hiding behind civilians. Is this the type of behavior St. Peters wants to condone or ignore?
Yes, we've heard the pro-forma condemnations of Hamas' behavior, but we haven't seen any marches in opposition to Hamas, only to Israel. We aren't fooled. St. Peter's shouldn't be, either.
Why is it that mainline peacemakers have, yet again, targeted Israel for condemnation?
Israel has been attacked from nearly every bit of territory from which it has withdrawn since the 1990s. Israel withdrew its soldiers from cities and towns in the West Bank in the 1990s only to see those cities and towns used as recruiting grounds for suicide bombers during the Second Intifada. Israel withdrew its soldiers from a security zone in Lebanon in 2000 only to be attacked by Hezbollah from Lebanon six years later. Israel
withdrew more than 8,000 settlers from the Gaza Strip only to see the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip increase and to be attacked by Hamas from that territory the following year.
And yet, St. Peter's is supporting a campaign that places the blame for the Arab-Israeli conflict solely on Israel.
Why?
From past experience, we know that some people will interpret this challenge -- coming as it does from the Jews -- as proof of the righteousness of their cause. Jewish criticism of mainline Protestant peacemaking efforts has become a sign of the times that these peacemakers are on the right track. The logic seems to be "If the Jews are complaining, then we must be doing something right!"
Please, we ask you to take our concerns at face value, think about the issues we've raised, and decide for yourself if this is a campaign you want to support.
The second flyer was a print out of Khaled Abu Toameh's piece, What Does "Pro-Palestinian" Really Mean?
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Church Hall of Shame: St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Central Square, Cambridge (Protest Report).
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.solomonia.com/cgi-bin/mt4/mt-renamedtb.cgi/17132
When last we visited St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Cambridge, MA, they were gearing up for the Christmas season with a fund-raiser to send one of their congregants on the Hamas support mission known as the Gaza Freedom March (See... Read More
Since this blog was mentioned in Kerry Hurwitz's letter to the Newton Tab (online at Wicked Local), I've placed the links to the information on the issues discussed in this one convenient post. There are many other postings that involve... Read More
11 March, 1920 - Demonstrations were held in all major Palestinian cities against the Balfour Declaration. As the uprising spread, mass resignations, protests and strikes continued throughout the spring.
Not bad so far...
During the 1920s Palestinians used the simplest and most basic nonviolent methods of protest and persuasion: testaments, declarations, petitions, manifestos, assemblies, delegations, processions, marches and motorcades.
Utter nonsense. Read here about the Jewish fatalities from Arab rioting in 1920 alone. Even Wikipedia, known for its anti-Israel bias, describes the "looting, burglary, rape, and murder" perpetrated by Palestinian Arabs when the British refused to maintain order.
Here's a rule of thumb: whenever anyone tries to argue that the Palestinian Arabs were peaceful, until forced to violence by the rise of Zionism, understand that you're trying to travel on square wheels. There was never a time when Palestinian Arabs were peaceful towards Jewish immigrants, even as far back as the 1880s. It was the Jews who came late to the idea of organized self-defense; they had little to none before WWI, and it was later still before Hagana really got going (with the goal of protecting Jews, which the British were essentially unwilling to do).
Israel has made many mistakes over the years, and in that I include the pre-state Zionist leadership. But Israel has always stood head and shoulders above her critics, and has never even approached the depravities of her enemies.
Israel has always been, and remains today, one of the most highly ethical countries in the world. That she is frequently viewed otherwise is a testament to the successes of her critics and her enemies.
respectfully,
Daniel in Brookline
Cynic said...
"Even Wikipedia, known for its anti-Israel bias, describes the "looting, burglary, rape, and murder" perpetrated by Palestinian Arabs when the British refused to maintain order."
"before Hagana really got going (with the goal of protecting Jews, which the British were essentially unwilling to do)."
If must follow that when the british retreated from Israel, the british expected the Jews to be decimated by the surrounding Arab armies.
After all, it was just 3 years since the end of WW2.
I bet the snide, condescending british imperialists were shocked, disappointed, aghast, outraged that the Israelis were not massacred.
Remember Pan Am 103
http://www.boycottscotland.com
I just found out about Rachel's trip to the Middle East.
As a non-Zionist Jew, I too feel passionately about the horrors visited by the Israeli state on the inhabitants of Gaza -- a cruel and illegal attack, a gross over-reaction,
The land grabs throughout the West Bank, the punishing of the residents of Gaza for the election of Hamas, should be cause enough for the "Christians for Israel" to shut up in shame, and for all ethical Jews to disengage from the neo-fascistic militarists who have turned Israel into an intransigent rogue state.
Jew around the world are hostage to the Zionists' catch-22: all Jews outside Israel are expected to support Israel uncritically, and whenever Jews become the object of anti-semitic attacks they are told that only by making Aliyah can they be safe from antisemitism. This is unacceptable and unconscionable.
The Christians for Israel are ultimately the worst of anti-semites, as they are trying to advance the End of Days when Jews who do not convert to Christianity will be cast into Hell. Their alliance with, and support for, Israel, is a false expression of their supposed love for "Christ's people" -- they just want the Temple rebuilt so the so-called Second Coming can be hastened and Jews will be facing the ultimate choice of betraying their faith or suffering eternal punishment. SOME FRIENDS OF THE JEWS!!
As for Prof. Dershowitz and his ilk, they have lost all claim to moral authority by becoming supporters of torture -- when directed at Muslims, presumably, since it was only after Sept. 11 that such defenders of civil rights became rabid defenders of "extreme interrogation".
My congratulations to St. Peter's.
Keep up the solidarity work.
This is complete BS:
"Jew around the world are hostage to the Zionists' catch-22: all Jews outside Israel are expected to support Israel uncritically, and whenever Jews become the object of anti-semitic attacks they are told that only by making Aliyah can they be safe from antisemitism. This is unacceptable and unconscionable."
SINCE WHEN? Dissent is hardly stifled within Israel let alone outside of Israel.
And in fact if you bother reading any actual books by Israelis or about Israel, you will find that many people are concerned about antisemitism within Israel, not least directed toward ultra-Orthodox Jews by secular Jews as well as non-Jews - which is an issue worth discussing not least because of the demonization of the religious settlers, who are widely regarded as a plague without any attempt whatsoever to really portray them as human beings.
But also, it addresses issues concerning the complexity of modern Israel and the role of religion in modern life - this is something that's affecting the whole world, not just Israel and not just the Jewish Diaspora. Really it would be a good idea if you'd study a little more and have a few less knee-jerk reactions.
The fact is you are all wet, you manage to stereotype Christian Zionists as well, ie you are a bigot.
But most importantly, dissent is alive and well (as always) within the Jewish community including Israel and when you discuss Israel and Zionism in general this is something you should applaud.
Also, if you want to catalog the horrors visited upon the Palestinians perhaps you should revisit the wars and terrorism that have victimized Israelis and other Middle Eastern Jews for (in modern times) over one hundred years. None of the troubles afflicting the Palestinians were created in a vacuum but are in fact the outgrowth of terrible violence.
The attacks on Israel and other Jews for all these supposed crimes are, in your narrative, totally lacking in history and context and don't even mention the assaults on the people of Israel let alone the history of the region.
Shame on you for peddling biased propaganda and most of all for having neglected your studies.
"Judith", Israelis are NOT obligated to submit to incessant rocket attacks from the hamass regime controlling the gaza strip.
The hamass regime refused to end the attacks, and Israeli set out to end them.
Any payback visited on hamas controlled Gaza are the direct fault of morons like you who make constant excuses for the inexcusable.
"Judith", you should be ashamed of yourself for supporting islamofascist policies that have brought death and destruction all over the World.
Places such as Mumbai, Beslan, London, New York, Washington DC, Shanksville
PA, Madrid, Bali, Bamiyan.
"Judith", I wish you and your socialist, islamofascist, islamoimperialist,
friends continued and eternal NAKBA.
Nappy just loves the way assholes like you who defame Israel always start off by saying "As a Jew, ..." -- as if that gives you some kind of license to lie and slander or that it lends credibility and authority to your nonsense.
Your accidental birth into a people whose fate and destiny you don't identify with and whose religion you probably don't practice or believe in doesn't in any way make what you say an authentic Jewish expression or make any of it true.
You should meet some Christian Zionists and hear them talk before you apply your ignorance and presume to mischaracterize them as you do. The problem is that you believe the crap that the Left peddles about them. As is often the case, the reality is quite different from liberal fantasies. Don't drink the Kool-Aid. Clowns like Bill Moyers and the Tikkunista-in-Chief Michael Lerner would like you believe what you said about Christian Zionists. They're peddling snake oil.
There may well be a few a few CZs who are into all that eschatology and apocalyptic stuff you talk about. So what? The overwhelming majority aren't. It may surprise you to know that many aren't evangelicals but come from mainstream denominations; Nappy knows CZs who are Methodists, Episcopaleans and Congregationalists. They read the Bible and take seriously, for example, God's promises to Abraham in Genesis. They recognize the huge extent to which Christian teachings depend on what came before. Their support for Israel springs from deeply held religious conviction, but thanks to CAMERA, David Project and other great organizations, they're learning to make the political case of Israel on the basis of history, international law, justice and common sense.