As you may know, the Jewish political divide is now emerging as a public debate in New England's Jewish community, covered in the Jewish Advocate and on local blogs. The immediate debate centers on the role of Jewish leadership in dealing with the threat of radical Islam in the Boston area.

This week's Jewish Advocate carried round two of the debate, including letters written in my support by Muslims, Jews, and Christians - as well as further condemnations of my work by several more local rabbis and by Boston JCRC executive director Nancy Kaufman. You can read the letters below.

On the heels of this debate comes the news that federal prosecutors yesterday have brought further terrorism charges against two Massachusetts Muslim men already accused of a plot to shoot up local shopping malls. The new charge accuses them of providing material support to Al Qaeda. Both men have extensive ties to the Muslim American Society.

Americans for Peace and Tolerance have been leading the effort to encourage Boston's Jewish leadership to openly discuss this important and sensitive issue with the community.

We are holding a special meeting of our supporters and other sympathetic parties this coming Thursday, June 24 at Congregation Beth-el Aterith Israel, 561 Ward Street in Newton at 8:30pm.

At the meeting we will have a discussion on all these issues.

In Freedom,

Charles Jacobs