BY RICHARD DEATON
GUEST OPINION
Mr. Leo Mednick (past president, P.E.I. Jewish Community) lost a marvellous opportunity to demonstrate bold leadership by refusing to break with the sycophantic support of Israel's vicious policies in the Occupied Territories (Guardian, April 13, 2018). Both Mednick and Bloom completely avoided any of the substantive issues or historical background that were raised in my earlier article (Guardian, April 10, 2018) to explain the current Gaza protests. The problem is not Hamas, the problem is the Israel Occupation, and its expansionism, racism, and illegal settlements, contrary to international law. Israel is committing crimes against humanity.
The Canadian Jewish community is far from monolithic or homogeneous. And Mr. Mednick should tell us which group he represents. Does he represent secular (humanist and cultural) Jews? Reform (liberal) Jews? Conservative or Reconstructionist Jews, or Modern and Ultra- Orthodox Jews? Perhaps the Hasidim and Lubavitchers? Mr. Mednick represents no one but his little band of Zionist apologists. One is only a kosher member of the Jewish community if they tow the pro-Zionist political line. But his brand of Judaism is not the only one. He has no authority whatsoever to define who is, or is not, a member of the Jewish community.
Most North American Jews are secular or liberal Reform, and are increasingly distancing themselves from Israeli policies and their unholy alliance with Donald Trump. The Jewish establishment attempts to enforce unity by cracking down on those who publicly dissent from the pro-Israeli line. The World Jewish Congress (WJC) since 2015 has endorsed a two-state solution, now emphatically rejected by Netanyahu’s far-right government (CNN, March 16, 2015). The former heads of Israel's secret service, the Shin Bet, in the Gatekeepers (dvd), make it very clear that successive Israeli governments are responsible for the current political impasse.
Respected Israeli journalist Gideon Levy recently wrote: "The [Palestinian] demonstrators [in Gaza] were unarmed and did not threaten the lives of the [IDF] soldiers beyond the fence. What’s been happening is a massacre...." (MEE, April 14, 2008). This is Israel's Sharpeville Massacre. Many international organizations, such as the UN (Sec-Gen), EU and ICC, have condemned the continuing weekly massacres in Gaza and have called for an independent investigation, while over 40 Canadian, Jewish, and Israeli organizations have done so as well. These include, Independent Jewish Voices, Jewish Voice for Peace, the United Church of Canada, the NDP and Green Party of Canada, Canadian unions, and the Israeli human rights group, B'Tselem. B'Tselem has just issued a position paper on the unlawful shooting of unarmed Palestinian demonstrators in the Gaza. This is available at: https://bit.ly/2HmOufy.
Mr. Mednick ignores the different groups within Judaism, noted above, including the long standing non-religious, humanist, and cultural tradition associated with secular and Reform Judaism. That is why Passover is a secular holiday for many Jews. For over 30 years my family has used Kirman's non-religious, Haggadah for a Secular Celebration of Pesach (1987), while others I know use Rabbi Peter Schweitzer's, The Liberated Haggadah for Secular and Humanistic Jews (n.d.). At progressive Passover dinners religion is not even mentioned. Indeed, there are as many ways to celebrate Passover as there are recipes for matzah ball soup.
Only rabid reactionaries would support Israel's brutal policies and numerous violations of international law. Who would want to be associated with Israeli IDF snipers killing over 35 unarmed Palestinian protesters including children, students, medics and journalists, in addition to wounding another 1,000; as well, over 365 children have been imprisoned. Why would anyone want to be associated with any "community" that supports the Butchers of Gaza?
Israel's early prophets were universalists and humanists.
Rabbi Biber's Humanist Haggadah (2002) calls for, "Freedom for humanity. Freedom for the world." As the Talmud says, "Those who do not speak out against injustice condone it."
Richard Deaton, PhD., LLB., Stanley Bridge, taught Military Ethics and Law at the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ont.
