SherriMunnerlyn
VIP Member
- Jun 11, 2012
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I was shocked by a recent article written by American Jewish Professor Marc Ellis on Mondoweiss.
Even though I certainly am aware that Jews who criticize the unlawful practices of Israel have recently faced much and ever growing unfair criticism and demonization and slanderous character attacks and character assassination, in both the US and Israel.
But this man speaks of plans he had been making to go into a witness protection program, for fear of his life being taken by Jews or their enablers, over simply being a witness in a trial, the trial of the Holy Land Five (who were convicted to prison for giving money to Palestinian charities).
"Exile and the prophetic: When the Holy Land 5 attorneys reached out to me
by Marc H. Ellis on November 1, 2012 "
"My decision to testify is ephemeral compared to suffering of the Holy Land Five. Nonetheless, it is interesting to think about. After all, I was directing a Center for Jewish Studies in the heart of the Bible Belt. I was the only director of such a center in the nation –perhaps in the world – with views like mine. To put it mildly the local Jewish community and their national enablers were constantly on my case.
If I had testified for the defense, my fate would have been sealed – earlier. I say ‘earlier’ because the fate of a Jew of Conscience in American institutional life is fated. It’s only a matter of time.
If I testified, I would have asked for a witness protection program. Relocation would be mandatory. By now, I’d have taken a new name and changed my facial features. I’d be writing under a nom de plume.
Whose witness protection program would I choose? It couldn’t be the one run by the United States government. They wouldn’t take me.
Jews of Conscience should have their own witness protection program. I can imagine meeting a Rabbi from Jewish Voices for Peace who, like me, has gone underground. For the most part, Rabbis go incognito anyway. How else could they survive a mainstream congregation? They might as well do it for justice.
Those who enable Israeli oppression of Palestinians would have found me. It’s hard to stay underground when you have no place to go and there’s Jewish power around every corner in the land.
What sealed my fate – later - is the essence of what it means to be Jewish. It is to be a pariah – for the sake of justice."
Exile and the prophetic: When the Holy Land 5 attorneys reached out to me | Mondoweiss
I love his final comments in this article, and I think within the community of Jews in our world today, that is the real struggle, perhaps, the very essence of the struggle identified. The struggle is over what being a Jew really is! Is a Jew simply being a good Zionist or is it something more, something worth striving to protect and save, so precious that Jews of conscience like Mark Ellis are willing to sacrifice their lives to preserve it and keep it alive?
Why am I, a Christian, concerned about what happens to Jewish people? Because I believe, with all of my heart, that they, and every other man, woman, and child in this world, were created by one God, and that we all were created in His image, and all of our lives matter to Him. He loves all of us! And He desires all to treat one another Justly!
Sherri
Even though I certainly am aware that Jews who criticize the unlawful practices of Israel have recently faced much and ever growing unfair criticism and demonization and slanderous character attacks and character assassination, in both the US and Israel.
But this man speaks of plans he had been making to go into a witness protection program, for fear of his life being taken by Jews or their enablers, over simply being a witness in a trial, the trial of the Holy Land Five (who were convicted to prison for giving money to Palestinian charities).
"Exile and the prophetic: When the Holy Land 5 attorneys reached out to me
by Marc H. Ellis on November 1, 2012 "
"My decision to testify is ephemeral compared to suffering of the Holy Land Five. Nonetheless, it is interesting to think about. After all, I was directing a Center for Jewish Studies in the heart of the Bible Belt. I was the only director of such a center in the nation –perhaps in the world – with views like mine. To put it mildly the local Jewish community and their national enablers were constantly on my case.
If I had testified for the defense, my fate would have been sealed – earlier. I say ‘earlier’ because the fate of a Jew of Conscience in American institutional life is fated. It’s only a matter of time.
If I testified, I would have asked for a witness protection program. Relocation would be mandatory. By now, I’d have taken a new name and changed my facial features. I’d be writing under a nom de plume.
Whose witness protection program would I choose? It couldn’t be the one run by the United States government. They wouldn’t take me.
Jews of Conscience should have their own witness protection program. I can imagine meeting a Rabbi from Jewish Voices for Peace who, like me, has gone underground. For the most part, Rabbis go incognito anyway. How else could they survive a mainstream congregation? They might as well do it for justice.
Those who enable Israeli oppression of Palestinians would have found me. It’s hard to stay underground when you have no place to go and there’s Jewish power around every corner in the land.
What sealed my fate – later - is the essence of what it means to be Jewish. It is to be a pariah – for the sake of justice."
Exile and the prophetic: When the Holy Land 5 attorneys reached out to me | Mondoweiss
I love his final comments in this article, and I think within the community of Jews in our world today, that is the real struggle, perhaps, the very essence of the struggle identified. The struggle is over what being a Jew really is! Is a Jew simply being a good Zionist or is it something more, something worth striving to protect and save, so precious that Jews of conscience like Mark Ellis are willing to sacrifice their lives to preserve it and keep it alive?
Why am I, a Christian, concerned about what happens to Jewish people? Because I believe, with all of my heart, that they, and every other man, woman, and child in this world, were created by one God, and that we all were created in His image, and all of our lives matter to Him. He loves all of us! And He desires all to treat one another Justly!
Sherri
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