A U.S. Jewish legal organization is urging New York’s attorney general to widen her scrutiny of political activism, two days after her office announced a settlement with the far-right Jewish group Betar.
Attorney General Letitia James said Tuesday that Betar had harassed individuals based on Arab, Muslim and Jewish identities, agreed to halt those activities, and would cease operations in New York. The action drew a reaction from the National Jewish Advocacy Center, which now wants similar investigations opened into two prominent anti-Zionist groups: Within Our Lifetime and Al-Awda.
In a letter to James, the group cites alleged antisemitic hate crimes linked to an activist affiliated with Within Our Lifetime, chants supporting Hamas outside a synagogue attributed to Al-Awda, and protest activity involving property damage, confrontations with police, intimidation of Jews and disruptions to public life.
“This is not merely disruptive expression,” the letter argues, pointing to statements by group leaders endorsing the use of “any means necessary” against supporters of Israel — an identity the group says is inseparable from Jewish faith for many Jews.
The letter asks for a formal investigation into the groups’ nonprofit funding and internal communications, warning that selective enforcement could amount to discrimination.
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““This is not merely disruptive expression,” the letter argues, pointing to statements by group leaders endorsing the use of “any means necessary” against supporters of Israel — an identity the group says is inseparable from Jewish faith for many Jews.”
That is very bizarre. People support all sorts of causes but to claim that their very identity as supporters – of anything – is inseparable from their Judaism then that means that support is straight-up idolatry.
It is not bizarre at all. Eretz Yisroel is central to the Jewish faith. It is impossible to be a religious Jew without considering Eretz Yisroel to be your home, from which you are temporarily absent for this or that reason, and where you intend to return when those reasons no longer exist.
Just as during sukkos the sukkah must be a Jew’s home, and his house merely a temporary shelter, so during the year Eretz Yisroel must be his home, and chutz lo’oretz merely a place he is visiting for business, or vacation, or for some other reason.
And if one truly considers Eretz Yisroel his home then he must support its being governed by authorities who respect the Jewish residents’ rights, protect their safety, and represent them democratically like any other government. Unfortunately the State of Israel is very imperfect in these respects, but it’s far better than any alternative, so a Jew must give it qualified support as it struggles to continue existing, while at the same time demanding that it improve. One who doesn’t support its existence is a kofer, just like one who denies that it is his home, and regards chutz lo’oretz as his home where he intends to remain indefinitely.