Vigil - "Whatsoever is true"

This is one of the signs I was wearing prior to the presidential election, stressing that when it comes to Israel, Americans would have no choice if they considered only the major party candidates, both of whom were beholden to Zionism. I displayed this sign at the entrance to Northwestern University. I was near the NU entry arch that features the university motto in Latin: "whatsoever is true". Because NU has shut down the truth about Zionism/Israel I wanted to display it on my sign.

I have since realized that the more one puts on a sign, the less likely it will be read. This not only because of TLDR but also because the lettering must be small if many words are used. Since most of those passing at the entrance to the university were walking, they could take the time to read all of it, not so with passing cars. Also, letter size determines how far away the sign can be read.

Vigil - Accepting Responsibility

While on my vigil, I had a conversation with a man who came up to ask me if it isn't wrong to be standing in front of a synagogue, that it might be construed as antisemitism. Why not stand in front of a church since I am not a Jew? It was clear he had no idea of why I am specifically in front of the synagogue. But I had to laugh because not only have I heard the yell that I am an antisemite, but a Nazi as well. 

I handed him one of my hand warmers and we proceeded to talk. I wanted to express my idea about individuals or groups accepting responsibility. I mentioned Israeli PM Netnayahu claiming that Israel is the home of all Jews and that he is their representative before the world as the head of The Jewish State. My interlocuter insisted that Netanyahu was wrong, that all Jews are not supporters of Zionism/Israel. I am the first to admit this to be true but let's look at the logic of responsibility.

President Biden announced he is a Zionist and said "we (Americans) stand with Israel". Just as in the case of Netanyahu's claim to speak for all Jews, Biden does not speak for all Americans. Nevertheless, when one is a member of the group over which a person claims leadership, to be silent is tacit acceptance of that claim. Americans are under the wrong impression that one can be a member of a democracy and be silent except when voting. In a case like Gaza where every American is implicated in slaughter, one must say where one stands. Jews are not exempt from this.

I stand on the street with my sign because I adamantly reject both Zionism and Biden's claim that he speaks for me in supporting Israel. A number of Americans, including the mayor of Evanston and the entire city council of Evanston have remained silent when I ask them individually if they stand with liberty and justice for all and against ethnic cleansing by Israel. Silence means tacit acceptance at the least and can easily hide outright support. It shows the moral courage of a fly on the wall.

The Jews of Jewish Voice for Peace reject Zionism and are openly demonstrating the rejection in public. Most American Jews remain silent. Again, silence means tacit acceptance if not outright support. A large number of prominent Jews very forcefully proclaim unconditional support of Israel, Chuck Schumer, Ben Shapiro, Alan Dershowitz, Bill Ackman, Haim Saban, Miriam Adelson and a great number of lesser known Jews. To their credit, as with the JVP members, they stand up and say what they think. 

What is wrong with silence in these two cases, of Americans remaining silent when Biden speaks and of Jews remaining silent when Netanyahu speaks? The man talking to me on the street felt quite strongly that Jews should not be asked to say whether or not they support Zionism.

If anyone, stranger or relative or acquaintance, came up to me anywhere and asked me my view on what Biden has said, they would not be wrong to do so. It is my responsibility as a member of the group over which Biden declares leadership that I say if I support his statements or not. My silence would say he does. The same is true of any Jew who is asked by anyone if they support what Netanyahu says. To believe, as my interlocutor did, that Jews are to be protected from such questioning is wrong. It is nothing less than protection from personal and group responsibility for one specific group, just as the United States has specifically protected Israel from all responsibility for what it has done and is doing, to the horror of the rest of the world.

All over America, synagogues should be making statements that they support liberty and justice for all and reject ethnic cleansing, that is the American way. There can be no in-between as the two philosophies are polar opposites. To be Zionist and American is hypocrisy. But I know of only one such synagogue that has done so. This silence is nothing but a failure of responsibility, a desire to not be known for one view or another. It is moral cowardice hoping that no opposition will arise one way or another. If the majority in a congregation are Zionist, then the dissenters should issue a statement of dissent.

I await the day, continuing my vigil, for the rabbi of Beth Emet to make a public statement that the synagogue stands for liberty and justice for all and not for ethnic cleansing, whether done by Israel or anywhere else. Silence is shameful, not my standing with a sign that says PALESTINIAN LIVES MATTER in front of a synagogue! This is not an issue of forcing a statement, it is of a moral responsibility to make one.

The sense of obligation to say where one stands must come from within the individual or group and the only action by Beth Emet that I have seen in public is adamantly opposing a ceasefire resolution before the 50,000 were killed that is now the case. Now that atrocities have been done and continue, calling for a ceasefire is only protecting image. Denouncing the cause, ethnic cleansing, is a necessity and until that happens, to say "never again" is meaningless.