Fight intensifies over what can, can't be said about Israel in the U.S.
Events are being cancelled and Jews are being blacklisted at a troubling rate, even by pluralistic and non-denominational organizations.
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The JCC had invited me to speak about my memoir, What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife?, which recounts my reconciliation with the family of the man who perpetrated the 2002 Hebrew University bombing, an attack which injured my wife and killed two of her friends. The JCC explicitly invited me due to the books focus on the power of dialogue to bridge difficult gaps.
But when the organizers learned of my view that Palestinians use of economic sanctions is a legitimate form of nonviolent opposition to Israel, suddenly they no longer seemed interested in championing the power of dialogue. It turned out the JCC had quietly canceled the event because of this political opinion.
As a Jewish studies teacher and progressive Zionist who has dedicated his professional life to the Jewish community, I was naturally disappointed. But soon afterwards, Sharon Jacobs wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post critiquing the JCCs decision. My inbox filled with messages of support from people and organizations, and some of the most moving notes were from people with political views much different than my own. The MLK Jr. Memorial Library, J Street and Peace Now got together to hold a book event of their own later that month so that I could tell my story of reconciliation in the District.