Jonathan - I think an interactive debate / discussion would be a wonderful learning opportunity. However, I'm not sure Lincoln Talk is a place where that can be done effectively. (When I engaged in such a back-and-forth on LT about the two speakers scheduled to appear at Bemis Hall recently, the LT moderators cut us off after a few rounds, which is their prerogative.) I wonder if a panel of speakers with different views could be organized, with some sort of constructive format? That would take a lot of work to set up, I recognize, but I'd certainly be interested to attend. - Paul Shorb
On Wed, Jan 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM Jonathan Sheffi <jshe...@gmail.com> wrote: > I appreciate your suggestion, and I get where you're coming from. But > movies can't talk to each other. People can. Therefore, I respectfully > decline to outsource the case for Jewish equality to any movie. I see much > talk of a "discussion of the issues" at some point in the future, but there > is no reason for us to wait. We're already talking about this, let's have > that debate right now. > > The selection, promotion, and defense of GRALTA's content make it clear > that those involved possess deeply-held views of the Jewish people—just as > I do. *I therefore invite Mr. Low, Ms. Low, Ms. Mattes, and any > Lincolnites who disagree with me to share their rebuttal publicly on > Lincoln Talk*: > > - I've argued that the Jewish people have the right to > self-determination in their ancestral homeland, equal to that of Sikhs, > Kurds, Druze, Samaritans, Yazidis, Zoroastrians, and other ethnoreligious > minorities. > - I've argued that the Jewish people have the right to organize and > seek political power in countries where they reside, equal to that of > Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Arabs, LGBTQ+, and every other identifiable > minority. > - I've argued that the Jewish state has the right to advocate for its > own geopolitical interests, equal to every other nation. > - I've argued that the Jewish state has the right and responsibility > not only to defend its citizens from harm, but also to deter those who wish > its citizens harm, equal to every other nation. > > GRALTA's movies and speakers disagree with me on all of these points. I > ask you, my neighbors, to step up to the digital microphone and make your > case against my points in your own words. > > On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 5:57 PM Pat Gray <patg...@oatbit.com> wrote: > >> I presume that the Lincoln Public Library would welcome speakers and/or a >> film and discussion highlighting the Israeli, Zionist history and point of >> view, so we can be more informed and open up a discussion representing all >> the perspectives of our residents. Yes? >> Pat >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Dec 30, 2024at 5:38 PM, Roy Katz <katz....@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> Thank you Jonathan for this detailed and important response. >> >> Once again, a biased anti-Israeli, anti-zionist event is masquerading >> itself as 'balanced' and 'educational'. Disappointedly, this bigoted event >> is sponsored by the Lincoln Public Library. >> >> Pretending that this highly complex problem can be solved by blaming the >> Jews is both sad and dangerous. In this 5-part 'educational' series there >> is not even one discussion about the role of nationalistic and islamic >> terrorism (first Fatah, then Hamas and other Islamic organizations) in >> executing hundreds of terror attacks, murdering thousands and as a result >> stopping any effort for a peaceful resolution in its tracks. There is not >> even one discussion how Jews, Muslims, and Christians CAN and actually DO >> live together with equal rights as Israeli citizens. There is no discussion >> how Hamas is terrorizing not just Israelis, but also Palestinians >> within Gaza and the West Bank, murdering and torturing 'sinners' and >> political dissenters. And most shockingly, there is not even a mention of >> the October 7th massacre, the single deadliest day for Jews since the >> holocaust and how it ignited the current ongoing war. >> >> Not to say that everything that Israel does should be celebrated - there >> are many things to say about what the Israeli government is doing horribly >> wrong. However, without understanding that the islamic terrorist >> organizations, which are terrorizing Israeli and Palestinians alike, >> prevent any hope for peace in the region, there will be no solution. >> >> But, my biggest disappointment is that this video-series event is >> sponsored by the Lincoln Public Library. The event's purpose is at best >> misguided and at worst harmful to its pretended cause. I hope this is an >> oversight by the Library's trustees and they will reassess the library >> sponsorship of this biased and harmful event. >> >> I lived in Israel for many years, have marched in numerous pro-peace >> protests there, and consider myself both pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israeli. I >> believe there COULD be a solution, but only if people are willing to accept >> the complete reality, however complex it may be. >> >> Thank you, >> Roy >> >> >> >> On Sun, Dec 29, 2024 at 12:37 PM Jonathan Sheffi <jshe...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> I'm sad to see Lincolnites continuing to promote hatred and bigotry >>> against minorities in our town. These movies do nothing to promote mutual >>> understanding of the conflict in the Middle East. Unfortunately, they >>> deliberately obscure it. >>> >>> *Israelism* >>> >>> The movie's claims of apartheid against Arabs are factually inaccurate: >>> Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs possess equal rights, which are specifically >>> enshrined in the Israeli Declaration of Independence >>> <https://5a55e4ca.streaklinks.com/CQPEakcRkVJWFLPgWgo-B2iK/https%3A%2F%2Favalon.law.yale.edu%2F20th_century%2Fisrael.asp>: >>> "We appeal... to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to >>> preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis >>> of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional >>> and permanent institutions." >>> >>> Israeli Arabs have always been, and continue to be, an important part of >>> Israel: Masad Bahoum manages the largest hospital in North Israel. Dr. >>> Samer Haj-Yehia was the chairman of Israel's second-largest bank. Lucy >>> Aharish is the anchor for the largest TV station in Israel. Mansour Abbas >>> leads the United Arab List party in Israel, and his party was part of the >>> governing coalition of Israel in 2021. Salim Joubran served on the Supreme >>> Court of Israel until his death in March, and most notably was part of the >>> panel that sent Moshe Katsav, a former Israeli president, to jail. >>> >>> Also, this movie claims that Judaism is separable from Israel, which is >>> factually inaccurate. A common misconception is that Judaism is only a set >>> of religious practices. In fact, Judaism predates the concept of a >>> religion. It is the cultural practices, history, and, yes, religion, of the >>> people of ancient Judea. The words "Jew" and "Judaism" come straight from >>> the name for the land, because Jewish cultural and religious practices were >>> developed there thousands of years ago, and have referenced the land ever >>> since. The movie's idea that the Jewish people "colonized" a place to which >>> they are indigenous is inaccurate and harmful, as it serves to delegitimize >>> the existence of Israel. >>> >>> >>> *The Lobby* >>> >>> The Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs leads efforts to combat hatred >>> of the Jewish people and of the Jewish homeland. It is not covert. It is >>> not a secret. It is not "black ops." Its aim is to work with people around >>> the world to promote understanding of Israel and of the Jewish people. If >>> you want to call it a government media relations office, sure. It's no >>> different from what every other country does to promote its image and >>> interests internationally. The USA has the Global Engagement Center, Canada >>> has Global Affairs Canada, the UK has the Public Diplomacy department, and >>> so on. >>> >>> Israel has the right to teach people who they are, and to promote their >>> interests abroad, like every other nation. Denigrating Jews alone for a >>> practice employed by virtually all nations shows prejudice against the >>> Jewish people, and promotes an ugly conspiracy theory that Jews "run the >>> media" or "run other governments." >>> >>> Furthermore, the choice to screen a film on the topic of propaganda from >>> the nation of Qatar is especially ironic. Qatar itself is an autocracy that >>> has engaged in significant propaganda and public diplomacy efforts to >>> promote its image internationally and advance its geopolitical interests. >>> Qatar has supported various Islamist movements, such as the Muslim >>> Brotherhood, as part of its foreign policy strategy and through its news >>> network, Al Jazeera. >>> >>> Finally, the film uses the word "Zionist" as a slur. Zionism has always >>> had exactly one meaning: the belief in the right of the Jewish people to >>> self-determine in their ancestral homeland. Those who believe that >>> the Jewish people do not deserve this right are accurately termed >>> "anti-Zionists." The word "Zionist" is no more a slur than "feminist." >>> >>> >>> *Tantura* >>> >>> The provided definition of the Nakba is factually inaccurate. The term >>> Nakba was coined in 1948 by Constantin al-Zureiq in his book *Ma'na >>> an-Nakba* ("The Meaning of the Nakba"). The Nakba has nothing to do >>> with Arabs who left the British Mandate of Palestine, and in fact, he >>> barely references them in his book at all. The Nakba ("catastrophe") refers >>> to the outcome of the Arab invasion of Israel in 1948. >>> >>> In his book, Al-Zureiq specifically defines the Nakba as the Arabs' >>> failure to win the war in 1948 and destroy the Jews. He goes on to address >>> the need for Arabs to accept responsibility for their defeat, learn from >>> their mistakes, and adopt a rational and pragmatic approach going forward. >>> This movie, on the other hand, alters the definition of the Nakba in order >>> to demonize Jews and place all blame for the conflict with Jews alone. >>> >>> >>> *The War Around Us* >>> >>> This movie implies that Israel attacked Gaza unprovoked in 2008. This is >>> also factually inaccurate. In 2008, Hamas was firing hundreds of rockets >>> into Israel, as it has been off and on since Israel withdrew its presence >>> from Gaza in 2005. In June 2008, Hamas and Israel agreed to a six-month >>> ceasefire: Hamas stopped firing rockets into Israel, and Israel eased the >>> naval blockade designed to intercept the importation of weapons into Gaza. >>> >>> In November 2008, the Israeli military discovered that Hamas had built a >>> tunnel near Dayr al-Balah, about 250 meters from the border, in order to >>> kidnap Israelis [a finding that turned out to be rather prescient given the >>> kidnapping of over 200 Israelis on October 7th 2023]. Israel subsequently >>> conducted an operation to destroy that tunnel, and only that tunnel. That >>> operation led to rocketfire by Hamas against Israeli civilians, and from >>> there to a resumption of the conflict. >>> >>> >>> >>> *In conclusion:* >>> >>> The conflict in the Middle East is extraordinarily complicated. We >>> could spend days discussing the mistakes made by Israelis, Arabs, >>> Egyptians, Syrians, Iranians, Saudis, Lebanese, Jordanians, Americans, >>> Europeans, the United Nations, and so on, each of whom have furthered this >>> conflict in many ways. However, these movies and speakers promote >>> simplistic narratives that blame Jews, and Jews alone, for all problems in >>> the region, and then use those narratives to delegitimize equal rights for >>> the Jewish people. These movies do not promote mutual understanding. They >>> do not promote peace. They promote hatred and bigotry. >>> >>> I hope that, as with the October 7th apologist who spoke a few weeks >>> ago, Lincolnites will stand together against hatred and skip these movies. >>> >>> Thank you, >>> >>> Jonathan >>> ᐧ >>> >>> On Mon, Dec 23, 2024 at 6:29 PM Stephen R. Low < >>> steve....@gordianconcepts.com> wrote: >>> >>>> *Beginning in January, the GRALTA Foundation continues its documentary >>>> film series that brings balance and expands our understanding of “The Holy >>>> Land Problem.”* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *Each film is shown twice:* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> - *First **on Thursday evenings at Bemis Hall (January 2 and 16; >>>> February 6 and 20; March 6) at 7 PM* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> - *Repeated** on Sunday afternoons at the Lincoln Public Library >>>> (January 5 and 19; February 9 and 23; March 9) at 2 PM* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *If parking at the “Stone Church” (14 Bedford Road), as you face the >>>> church, please park in spaces to the left of the building.* >>>> >>>> >>>> *Series Opener* *Israelism** (2023|US)**.* *January 2 (Bemis Hall) and** >>>> January 5 (Lincoln Library*). When two young American Jews raised to >>>> unconditionally love Israel witness the way Israel treats Palestinians, >>>> they join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to >>>> redefine Judaism’s relationship with Israel. Runtime: 84 minutes Trailer: >>>> https://youtu.be/bondvm3hvGM “Eye-opening…an essential exploration >>>> of the dramatic shift in Jewish attitudes toward Israel” (*Variety)* >>>> >>>> *****Dual Award Winner***** >>>> *San Francisco Jewish Film Festival* >>>> >>>> *Best Feature DocumentaryAudience Award (Feature Documentary)* >>>> >>>> ***Winner*** >>>> *Brooklyn International Film Festival* >>>> *Board of Director’s Spirit Award* >>>> Following each screening, there will be time for discussion and >>>> questions for those who wish to stay. >>>> >>>> <image002.png> >>>> >>>> *Remaining Films in the Series* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> - *The Lobby–Part 1* *(2017|Qatar) **January 16 (Bemis Hall) and >>>> January 19 (Lincoln Library)**.** An undercover investigation >>>> reveals Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs, a semi-covert black-ops >>>> agency, collusion with an extensive network of US-based >>>> organizations—not >>>> registered as foreign agents as the law requires—to smear, sabotage, and >>>> repress Americans’ free speech rights. Suppressed by Zionist pressure, >>>> but >>>> ultimately leaked. Runtime: 48 minutes. Trailer: none available* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> - *My Tree* *(2021|Canada)* *February 6 (Bemis Hall) and February 9 >>>> (Lincoln Library). My Tree follows Jason Sherman's journey to find the >>>> tree that was planted in his name in Israel many years earlier. When he >>>> discovers that it stands on the remains of a Palestinian village that >>>> was >>>> destroyed in 1967, he embarks on another journey—to determine his >>>> responsibility in helping to cover up the destruction. **Runtime: 102 >>>> minutes. >>>> Trailer: https://youtu.be/FdU4QiUE4gg <https://youtu.be/FdU4QiUE4gg> * >>>> >>>> >>>> · *Tantura* (2022|Israel) February 20 *(Bemis Hall)* and >>>> February 23 (*Lincoln Library*). In the war of 1948, hundreds of >>>> Palestinian villages were depopulated. Israelis call it “The War of >>>> Independence.” Palestinians call it 'Nakba"'. The film examines one >>>> village- Tantura and why discussion of the "Nakba" is taboo in Israeli >>>> schools and society. Runtime: 94 minutes. Trailer: >>>> https://youtu.be/HNtrUjUNkJw · *The War Around Us* (2014|US) March >>>> 6 *(Bemis Hall)* and March 9 (*Lincoln Library*). This riveting, >>>> introspective film focuses on Ayman Mohyeldin (now an MSNBC anchor) and >>>> Sherine Tadros, the only two international journalists in Gaza when Israel >>>> bombarded and invaded in 2008. A story of friendship under stress, >>>> conflict-journalism ethics, and the catastrophic experience that Gazans >>>> lived through during that *and in subsequent wars*. >>>> Runtime: 77 minutes. Trailer: https://youtu.be/Un2rzydURWc >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *Regards,Steve Low* >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>> Browse the archives at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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