I'm glad you're writing about this. I found this post really hard to read, I mean, hard to follow. It was confusing to try to understand what the different sides are and what they want. Can you try to redraft it so it's more clear? This is an important conflict and an important issue. Thanks.
So let me understand this. The current administration in the White House has developed a system of getting rid of race baiting, rabal rousers that are here as guests of our universities. These aren't even citizens of the U.S. and this is somehow threatening specifically to "the jews"?
Holy shit, it's just like the joke about not defending a Jewish guy that's getting his teeth kicked in because he will be in court to defend his attacker and sue you for damages. I left out the "funny" parts.
Why don't you just be kool and settle the fuck down Beavis? Go to school, get your grades and STFU!
Hello Lifty, it's not about whether we like race baiting rabble (sic) rousers. It's about the 1st, 5th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution, which you may want to review. It only takes a moment to read these texts and they're pretty easy to understand. If we don't give due process to everyone, as per the 14th Amendment, who may say if you- Lifty- won't get due process when you stand accused? And if you think you'll never stand accused, well, just think about what might happen when President Rashida Tlaib orders right-wing rabble rousers off campus and out of the country.
Due Process and Habeas Corpus are essential Constitutional principles that protect us all. They are foundational to American democracy, which Trump and his authoritarian thugs have vowed to undue. Bravo to the JCPA and shame on the JFNA.
I’m glad Fingerhut is holding the line, instead of going along with the herd, bleating on, endlessly about Trump’s danger to democracy. These other organizations didn’t publish open letters in the NY Times, or elsewhere, warning of the threat to democracy of Democrats embracing an Arab and Muslim supremacist cause from the Middle East that promotes hatred of both Israel and the US. Most of them supported Obama’s foreign policy realignment that empowered Iran and downgraded relations with Israel. As if that, billions of dollars and the JCPOA weren’t a threat to democracy; including, in the US, where Iran has been funding anti-US activity. It’s easy to drone on about Trump’s scary activity, especially when activist news media provide daily talking points. But let’s not pretend there hasn’t been scary stuff coming from the Democratic camp, too. It would be nice if Jewish leaders did some creative strategizing, instead of wasting this extraordinary moment, clinging to the old and failing ways that brought us to the crisis we’re living through.
Just what we need: More splits among American Jewish organizations. Personally I wasn't surprised or upset by the JCPA et al Joint statement. Don't have to agree with every part of the statement to think it's quite natural and appropriate for them to be making the statement. (Also in the current situation, sadly quite brave to be doing so. Whether it was "wise" is a judgement call for these organizations)
Michael, with all due respect, the increasingly leftward political leaning of the liberal denominations by their leadership risks driving American Jews who embrace a pluralistic form of Judaism away from religion altogether. When politics begin to be preached from the Bimah, congregations can be torn asunder. If the leaders of these movements want to make political statements, they should do it as private individuals, or find out what the Jews of their movements want them to say, instead of just becoming another branch of the Democratic National Committee, only with more holidays.
Hello @Phil Aroneanu kindly support us by donating to save the lives of climate activists in hospitalized after brutally beaten by Ugandan police for protesting against the EACOP project and fossil fuels in Africa . Thank you 🙏
So it looks like yesterday another letter was released, this one apparently with the blessing of JFNA (and signature of JFNA chair).
Would be interesting to compare and contrast with the JCPA one they told federations not to sign, I haven't had a chance to do so -- and know very little about the inside teh room politics.
Curious if anyone has a read on what's going on here, if JFNA has moved, or put out a letter that had content more to their liking than the JCPA one, or just wanted their own letter, or what.
I'm glad you're writing about this. I found this post really hard to read, I mean, hard to follow. It was confusing to try to understand what the different sides are and what they want. Can you try to redraft it so it's more clear? This is an important conflict and an important issue. Thanks.
Thanks, Ron, for so clearly outlining the fault lines in theborganized Jewish community!
So let me understand this. The current administration in the White House has developed a system of getting rid of race baiting, rabal rousers that are here as guests of our universities. These aren't even citizens of the U.S. and this is somehow threatening specifically to "the jews"?
Holy shit, it's just like the joke about not defending a Jewish guy that's getting his teeth kicked in because he will be in court to defend his attacker and sue you for damages. I left out the "funny" parts.
Why don't you just be kool and settle the fuck down Beavis? Go to school, get your grades and STFU!
Hello Lifty, it's not about whether we like race baiting rabble (sic) rousers. It's about the 1st, 5th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution, which you may want to review. It only takes a moment to read these texts and they're pretty easy to understand. If we don't give due process to everyone, as per the 14th Amendment, who may say if you- Lifty- won't get due process when you stand accused? And if you think you'll never stand accused, well, just think about what might happen when President Rashida Tlaib orders right-wing rabble rousers off campus and out of the country.
Due Process and Habeas Corpus are essential Constitutional principles that protect us all. They are foundational to American democracy, which Trump and his authoritarian thugs have vowed to undue. Bravo to the JCPA and shame on the JFNA.
As Americans, we must concern ourselves with the preservation of our Constitution. No person should be detained or imprisoned without due process.
Anyone who thinks Trump cares about protecting American Jews is mistaken. We may not be first, but we are certainly on the list.
Good! Eric Fingerhut is a mensch! Standing up to the foaming at the mouth leftwing Trump haters is a sign of a true leader! Yasher Koach!
Ron, do you have a link to the email from Mr. Fingerhut? It would be helpful to see the full communication. Thank you.
For those who are curious —
https://open.substack.com/pub/certainthoughts/p/exclusive-internal-jewish-community?r=c8x12&utm_medium=ios
“Only Jews are expected to be true Christians.”
I’m glad Fingerhut is holding the line, instead of going along with the herd, bleating on, endlessly about Trump’s danger to democracy. These other organizations didn’t publish open letters in the NY Times, or elsewhere, warning of the threat to democracy of Democrats embracing an Arab and Muslim supremacist cause from the Middle East that promotes hatred of both Israel and the US. Most of them supported Obama’s foreign policy realignment that empowered Iran and downgraded relations with Israel. As if that, billions of dollars and the JCPOA weren’t a threat to democracy; including, in the US, where Iran has been funding anti-US activity. It’s easy to drone on about Trump’s scary activity, especially when activist news media provide daily talking points. But let’s not pretend there hasn’t been scary stuff coming from the Democratic camp, too. It would be nice if Jewish leaders did some creative strategizing, instead of wasting this extraordinary moment, clinging to the old and failing ways that brought us to the crisis we’re living through.
Just what we need: More splits among American Jewish organizations. Personally I wasn't surprised or upset by the JCPA et al Joint statement. Don't have to agree with every part of the statement to think it's quite natural and appropriate for them to be making the statement. (Also in the current situation, sadly quite brave to be doing so. Whether it was "wise" is a judgement call for these organizations)
Meanwhile Mort Klein's Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) which as far as I've seen has yet to make a statement or "Tweet'/retweet) re the arson at Governor Shapiro's Governor's Mansion on Passover, has condemned the JCPA letter in rather strong terms (Just as ZOA/Mort Klein critiqued ADL and Hillel on another matter) https://zoa.org/2025/04/10452790-nprs-biased-question-about-zoa-former-j-st-staffer-now-jcpaer-false-answer-on-deportations-of-jew-hating-pro-hamas-students/
Michael, with all due respect, the increasingly leftward political leaning of the liberal denominations by their leadership risks driving American Jews who embrace a pluralistic form of Judaism away from religion altogether. When politics begin to be preached from the Bimah, congregations can be torn asunder. If the leaders of these movements want to make political statements, they should do it as private individuals, or find out what the Jews of their movements want them to say, instead of just becoming another branch of the Democratic National Committee, only with more holidays.
Hello @Phil Aroneanu kindly support us by donating to save the lives of climate activists in hospitalized after brutally beaten by Ugandan police for protesting against the EACOP project and fossil fuels in Africa . Thank you 🙏
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-students4climate-justice-to-end-fossil-fuels
So it looks like yesterday another letter was released, this one apparently with the blessing of JFNA (and signature of JFNA chair).
Would be interesting to compare and contrast with the JCPA one they told federations not to sign, I haven't had a chance to do so -- and know very little about the inside teh room politics.
Curious if anyone has a read on what's going on here, if JFNA has moved, or put out a letter that had content more to their liking than the JCPA one, or just wanted their own letter, or what.
https://jewishleadersfordemocracy.org/
Students aren’t being deported for being antisemitic—they’re being deported for being politically inconvenient.
Shame on you