In yet another incident in which the wealthy, powerful, tired old American Jewish leadership tries to tell the rest of us what’s good and bad for us and Israel, the Koret Foundation has excoriated the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival for screening an Israeli documentary about the life and death of Rachel Corrie. Even worse than screening the film, for the pro-Israel foundation which funds many Jewish projects and organizations in the Bay Area and beyond, was an invitation to Corrie’s mother, Cindy, to attend and answer audience questions. But before we delve into the controversy, let’s learn a bit about the film:
…In 2003, Rachel Corrie, a 22-year-old peace activist from the Pacific Northwest, attempted to stop a bulldozer operated by the Israeli military from demolishing homes and other buildings in Gaza. Corrie was struck and killed in what some witnesses claimed was a deliberate action, but what an Israeli inquiry ruled was a tragic accident.
Simone Bitton (Wall, SFJFF 2005), a veteran documentary filmmaker who is a citizen of both France and Israel, has crafted a dispassionate but devastating essay investigating the circumstances of Rachel Corrie’s death—including astounding eyewitness testimony from activists, soldiers, army spokespersons and physicians, as well as insights from Corrie’s parents, mentors and diaries. In assembling a thorough and candid account of the event, using both visual and narrative evidence, Bitton’s quietly persistent questioning manages to accomplish what the inadequate legal proceedings and the overheated press coverage did not: an unflinching examination that refuses to exculpate or equivocate.
But Bitton’s nonfiction essay is hardly a bloodless tract—in fact, even as it raises troubling questions about the Israeli military’s candor, it also manages to paint a complex portrait of a young, perhaps naive, idealist and the high price some pay in the name of committed activism.
So what we have here is a balanced, dispassionate film by an Israeli filmmaker which investigates the death of a highly controversial figure. This might cause some debate among audience members or within the community. But the level of vitriol that Koret has managed to elicit is astounding.
Besides inviting Corrie’s mother, the other reason Koret has a bee in its bonnet is that SFJFF invited two local organizations to co-sponsor the film, Jewish Voice for Peace and American Friends Service Committee. While AFSC has always been viewed with great distrust by the hard-right pro-Israel community, Jewish Voice for Peace is, as its name implies, a JEWISH group that is neither pro nor anti-Zionist (a concept very difficult for the pro-Israel Koret types to wrap their minds around). While it’s true that JVP is often reviled in these circles, often the revulsion is based on complete ignorance of the group’s real positions.
Now, it’s appropriate to examine Koret’s hysterical attack on the screening and those who orchestrated it. I quote the statement in full because the rhetoric is quite instructive:
As staunch champions and allies of Israel, the Koret and Taube Foundations do not support any organization that promotes or provokes anti-Israel sentiment; nor do we provide funding to any organization whose mission runs counter to our position. While we have made no decision regarding future funding of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, we take issue in particular with three egregious errors in its upcoming presentation of the film, “Rachel”:
* It is partnering with Jewish Voice for Peace and the American Friends Service Committee, two virulently anti-Israel, anti-Semitic groups that support boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against Israel. Both are closely associated with the International Solidarity Movement and other groups that aid and abet terror against the Jewish State. These groups cross the line for inclusion in the Jewish community.
* The film festival made a conscious choice to present a film that lays blame for the accidental death of a civilian at the door of the State of Israel. We are deeply saddened by loss of life, most notably the countless Israeli lives lost and interrupted by virtue of service to their country. Presenting the story of a girl who put herself in harm’s way in no way advances our community dialogue. In fact, it threatens our community purposes.
* Finally, we are appalled at the film festival’s decision to invite Cindy Corrie into our community. This bereaved mother cannot help but have a negative bias toward Israel. Why would a Jewish organization hand her a microphone and a soapbox from which to condemn Israel as Jewish audiences are expected to sit and listen politely? There is no possible counterbalance to a grieving mother.
Those who cavalierly fling Israel’s future into the grasp of those who would destroy it betray a mainstay of the mainstream Jewish community to support Israel and to counteract anti-Israel propaganda events, speakers and organizations. In this case, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival has aligned itself with the wrong side.
The Koret statement is not only hysterical, as I noted, but it is full of outright lies as much rightist pro-Israel propaganda is. First, JVP is neither anti-Semitic, nor “virulently anti-Israel.” In fact, together with J Street, it is one of the most effective Jewish peace groups out there. I do not support groups that are either anti-Semitic or anti-Israel and wouldn’t support JVP if it was. In fact, I’d make a pretty strong argument that JVP is pro-Israel, though not in the flag-waving sense that Koret demands in order to achieve that status.
JVP is neither “closely” associated with the International Solidarity Movement, nor associated with it at all. This too is a flat out lie. And as for its association with “other groups that aid and abet terror against the Jewish state,” this is such an empty charge as to be unworthy of address. I would point out though that Koret doesn’t even name any of the other groups so you can’t very well even refute the calumny.
Interesting that Koret finds JVP a group that “crosses the line for inclusion in the Jewish community.” So in effect, the Foundation has excommunicated the Jewish peace group. Aren’t you glad that we Jews stopped doing that after the Dutch Jews put Baruch Spinoza in herem? Unfortunately, no one’s told Ted Taube, director of the Foundation that fact.
The Foundation is so frightened of the impact of telling Corrie’s story through the Festival that it claims it will “threaten our community purposes.” What is astonishing about this is that an award-winning Israeli documentarian has decided that Corrie’s story is worth making a film about; yet an American Jewish organization believes the same project will damage the community. Does Koret have such a fragile sense of the strength of the American Jewish community that hearing Rachel Corrie’s story threatens us in some profound way? What does this say about Koret’s view of Jewish identity?
Also mind-boggling is the objection to hearing Cindy Corrie speak about her daughter. Somehow hearing Ms. Corrie’s maternal suffering will damage Israel again in some fundamental way. The very notion is preposterous. Audience members are intelligent enough to absorb Corrie’s views and integrate them with their own. Cindy Corrie isn’t going to poison anyone and turn them away from Israel forever over her remarks. In fact, if you want to be a true supporter of Israel you should be willing to listen to all reasonable critical perspectives including hers.
I also strongly take issue with this rather opaque statement demanding absolute loyalty in order to be a member in good-standing of the Jewish community (“a mainstay of the mainstream Jewish community [is] to support Israel and to counteract anti-Israel propaganda events”). Is it the purpose of the mainstream community to counteract anti-Israel propaganda? Perhaps it is a mainstay of Aipac, the Israel Project, ZOA, or other Israel lobby groups. But is this the sine qua non of what it means to participate in our community? I think not. I’d rather that the main quality of being a member of the Jewish community is being a thinking Jew, of caring about the issues that affect Jewish life and identity, of grappling with the problems facing us. But no, our job as good Jews is not to fight the good fight for Israel–at least not in the sense that Taube defines it.
To be fair, Koret is a funder which does great good in the Jewish community. The programs it supports reflect a generally progressive view of Jewish life and culture. But the problem is Israel. Koret is an exemplar of PEI (progressive except Israel). And they suffer this affliction to an even greater degree than many other American Jews. If you examine its giving to Israel-centered groups, it focuses on such right-wing groups as the Likudist Shalem Center ($100k), Jewish National Fund ($100k), and the hasbaraist MEMRI ($200k). They funded Commentary Magazine ($450k), the Reaganite Hoover Institution ($1.7-million), and the local Chabad network ($160k).
H/t to Michael Levin.
“I do not support groups that are either anti-Semitic or anti-Israel and wouldn’t support JVP if it was. In fact, I’d make a pretty strong argument that JVP is pro-Israel, though not in the flag-waving sense that Koret demands in order to achieve that status.”
I think it’s pretty clear what the wingnuts mean by “anti-Israel”, but the semantic debate on the left over the meaning of “anti-Israel” or “anti-Zionist” bears some resemblance to the “agnostic” vs. “atheist” debate. Agnostics are often (not always), little more than precious atheists. Is caring what happens to Israeli Jews and supporting justice for all sides in Israel/Palestine enough to be considered “pro-Israel” or at least not “anti-Israel”?
1. Simon Bitton is fabulous.
2. It would have been good, Richard, if you had pointed out another lie – that the International Solidarity Movement aids and abets terrorism. It does no such thing. On the contrary, in fact.
3. It is entirely possible and logical to be anti-Zionist, and anti-Israel and to also care what happens to Israeli Jews and to support justice for all sides in Israel/Palestine.
Sorry, that should be Simone Bitton, not Simon.
And by the way, last time I had any contact with her I had the clear understanding that she was, if not anti-Zionist, at least deeply critical of the entire enterprise and its utter indifference to the Jews and the non-Jews whose lives it adversely affected.
Very well written article – I agree with you wholeheartedly. A reasonable person can listen to other perspectives without it shattering their worldview.
Kudos to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival!
PEI (progressive except Israel)! That is the perfect description of an attitude that you often find here in the Netherlands as well! I should try to introduce the term here…
To be candid, Phil Weiss (as far as I know) introduced the term PEP (Progressive except Palestine). Mine is a take-off on his.
Good blogging Silverstein, i’m surprised you don’t write for the big names like New York Post, Guardian, Al Jazira, Washington Post.
Yes it’s typical each time for these hard liners to shriek, and say anything, no matter how untruthful, to feel the mass of ignorants who no doubt swallow what they say, whilst knowing at the same time its lies, but pretending otherwise.
At the Israpundit blog the guy called Ted Belman some months back had a blog where he asked his readers, what should be the right wing strategy as for so long it depended upon the pretense that the Palestinian state would be a threat.
I mean they themselves slip now and then, and admit their lies.
Can anyone enlighten us, is this Koret Foundation related to the Reuven Koret that used to have that right wing rag called Israel Insider? Israel Insider downgraded, and so have most of it’s affiliate blogs.
Were they related to the Koret Foundation anyone?
To be fair, Koret is a funder which does great good in the Jewish community. The programs it supports reflect a generally progressive view of Jewish life and culture.
This is the killer sentence really and sums it all up
Who has seen this movie?
Koret’s statement said:
I do not know if this is a deliberate lie or a measure of Koret’s ignorance. Either way it is yet another example of the lazy deception that changed me from an admirer of Israel to a passionate opponent.
I just want to say that I was instrumental ion overcoming zionist opposition into getting Rachel played at the SF Jewish film festival. My next goal is to get Jewish film festivals across the US to join the BDS (boycott, divest,saction) and not show any isralei films. Isareli films, regardless of the political viewpoint of the producer, convey legitimacy upon israel
In yr dreams…
Funny how jews (or some jews, like the author here and commenters) are the only people in the world who openly love to flog their own country and people regularly…how often do we see muslims or palestinians come out, and go out of their way to publicly criticize or make films against suicide bombings, the hideous treatment of women in muslim societies, the horrific anti-semitism that is endemic in muslim countires? I can’t remember a single case of it.
no, many jews are far more concerned with undermining their own people, and their own country, questioning everything about it as it faces hundreds of millions of enemies on every border who refuse to recognize its right to exist. It always puzzles me. People more concerned with the well being of groups like Hamas, sworn to israel’s and the west’s destruction, then they are to israel.
Why on earth would a jewish film festival invite a virulently anti-israel crusader to come speak? I understand screening the film, but this another example of just…strangeness? self hate? I dunno.
As an outsider, I find this rather funny. I’d never do that to my people.
But keep up the good work!
Why on earth would anyone consider you anything but a vile, useless partisan pro-Israel hack???
As an outsider, you show yrself to be an utter ignoramus. Why don’t you stick to “your own people” whoever that may be and let us Jews resolve our issues w/o yr. “help?”
Funny how jews (or some jews, like the author here and commenters) are the only people in the world who openly love to flog their own country and people regularly
Yeah, how bout ‘Dem Jews’ always acting funny and creating trouble not like us ‘normal’ people – eh?
how often do we see muslims or palestinians come out, and go out of their way to publicly criticize or make films against suicide bombings, the hideous treatment of women in muslim societies, the horrific anti-semitism that is endemic in muslim countires? I can’t remember a single case of it.
Course, you are right here. 1 billion people and not one word of criticism or self-reflection here. Clearly a sign of a degenerate civilisation and culture.
As an outsider, I find this rather funny. I’d never do that to my people.
Ooooo – you go girl! I am writing that recommendation for the Presidential Medal of Freedom as we speak….
mark, get some help, seriously. I know there’s a perfect expression out there for you vis-a-vis Israel, what is it?, with friends like these who needs… and I suspect you’re not much more help to “your own people”, whoever they may be, than you are to Jewish people.
Without the capacity for self-reflection and self-criticism, us humans are pretty lost as a species. And if you think that other nations, peoples don’t self-criticize, self-reflect, then you’re one of the more deluded commenters to come around here in a while. Speaking as an American, I know plenty of Americans beside myself who are quite critical of our nation, people, society. I’ve seen the same in France, Germany, and many other places, including the Arab/Persian/Muslim world. If I didn’t think you were too far gone in propagandized puppet-hood, I’d suggest you get out a little more.
I object to your snarkyness. COntact any of the organizers and you will discover my role. I also suspect your credentials as a true progressive. You claim to support Israel within 1949 borders but not the occupation. I maintain that the occupation of 1948 is illegal as well. Professor Shlomo Sand has discovered that the Jewis hpeople were created in the 19th century, which dovetails nicely with the findings of Professor Nadia el Haj, which shows the lack of evidence of “ancient Israel”. As long as we persist in supporting an illegitimate state, we will be rightfully the target of world opprobrium. Ultimately, progressives are for tearing down borders, which divide people. The first borders that we need to dismantle are those of Israel
San Francisco is myJerusalem
I only reserve snark for those who deserve it. You do. Your “role” in the screening of the film is made up. The decisions made by the festival to screen the film had nothing to do with whatever you might have said or done in its defense. SFJFF pays about as much attention to you as it does to Gilad Atzmon or any other garden variety intemperate extremist anti-Zionist.
Before we get into that can you tell me where you obtained smicha? Personally, I’ve never in my life heard of a “rabbi” with the views you hold. Anyone can call themselves “rabbi.” But on what basis do you do it?
You’ve completely misstated Nadia Abu El Haj’s views on the subject. She does not reject the notion of an ancient Israel. She objects to the uses that modern Israeli archaeology makes of ancient sites in order to justify the notion of a modern state with a direct political lineage fr ancient sources. That’s quite different fr. yr bowdlerization of her views. Whoever you’ve been reading, they’re feeding you propaganda rather than facts.
SFJFF pays about as much attention to you as it does to Gilad Atzmon or any other garden variety intemperate extremist anti-Zionist…funny that you should mention Gilad Atzmon. I have had considerable progress in convincing the SFJFF to invite him for next year. Its not a done deal but its hopeful
Before we get into that can you tell me where you obtained smicha? Personally, I’ve never in my life heard of a “rabbi” with the views you hold…I obtained smicha at HUC. My views are pretty much mainstream US Judaism prior to its hijacking from zionism
You’ve completely misstated Nadia Abu El Haj’s views on the subject. She does not reject the notion of an ancient Israel…I have read her works and she does reject ancient Israel. Perhaps your views are bowdlerized
Richard, you are either with me and Atzmon or with Avigdor Lieberman. I and the world are tired of your attempts to have your cake and eat it too
What year?
You go right on being hopeful. I too hope that the messiah will come, but that doesn’t mean he will.
Oh, you mean your views are mainstream circa 1933? How old are you anyway? Or are you claiming you’re a throwback to an ancient & venerable tradition??
I was one Nadia Abu El Haj’s (note your mistaken version of her correct name) only defenders in the Jewish blog world during her tenure battle. My blog posts were referred to in a New Yorker profile defending her. I’ve communicated w. her numerous times about her views. And once again NO, she does not reject the notion of an ancient Israel.
You are everything I hate about the exclusivist anti-Zionist position: intolerant, condescending, know it all, unbending (need I go on?).
Which world is it that you inhabit? Somewhere outside of Neptune’s planetary system? That’s how close to the mainstream you are. But you know I kinda like having you around because all the right wing Jewish hasbaraniks who send me love notes can feast their eyes on you & try in vain to conflate the 2 of us.
Sorry, being a progressive and defending zionism is kind of like being a pregnant virgin. I think that the term progressive except israel applies to you. At least Lieberman is an honest thief, and admits that zionazis stole the land, and intends to keep it with force. You on the other hand, recognize that zionism is wrong, but try to keep your ill gotten gains by glossing it over with a veneer of morality. In terms of the world community, I refer to the United Nations and the EU. It is no accident that Israel is the subject of more UN resolutions than the rest of the world combined.
I note you refuse to provide the year you obtained smicha. Until you do, your use of the term “rabbi” is totally suspect & I will be e mailing the HUC registrar to determine whether you are the genuine article or a fake. If you are a fake your comment privileges will be revoked.
Your propagandistic terminology violates my comment rules. Read them if you wish to continue to exercise your privileges here. Another violation will result in forfeiting those privileges.
That’s a laugh since I coined the term. I can think of a lot of terms for you (intolerant, spiteful, mean-spirited, fake) but “progressive” isn’t one of them.
I know Rabbi Jutner and he is an honest man. Instead of making it personal, why not repsond to what he says. Why are 1948 borders legitimate but 1967 borders are not?
I’d no more wish to count Gilad Atzmon as a comrade than Avidgor Lieberman, that’s for sure. What kind of “Rabbi” could possibly identify with Atzmon?
Jutner is no more a “rabbi” than my synagogue handyman. I doubt that’s even his real name. Pay him no mind. Since he’s refused to document his smicha & continues his anti Zionist ranting, he’s been banned.
They donate to the DC Alliance for School Vouchers and they’re “progressive”?!