We welcome Shabbat with the song Shalom Aleichem, May Peace be upon you. When greeted this way, our response is Aleichem Shalom, And May Peace be upon you. The wish for peace unites all people of goodwill, and May it become our reality soon. This rendition by the Ma’ayan Band is a beautiful and pensive way to experience this song and feeling.
Shabbat Shalom
Anti-Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism is here. It is ugly and real. It never went away, even though we almost believed it did. This is not a time to cower; it is a time to act decisively and urgently.
Our strength lies in our unity and our shared values. We are not alone in this fight but bound together by a tradition of wisdom and insight rooted in humanity’s best values. With these as our guide, we will overcome.
Let’s shift from sorrow to action. In these challenging times, let our Judaism be our strength. Seek the light and community that fortify us. Stand firm in our beliefs; together, we will construct a world founded on love and kindness. Let’s stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow Jews, extend our blessings to those in need, and illuminate the world. Let’s also reach out to other allies, all people of goodwill, and unite for a common cause. Evil will not triumph. Together, we will flood the world with light, pushing back the darkness to where it belongs.
Arguably, the greatest group of all time was the Beatles.
John Lennon’s song, Revolution, has become yet again relevant. It’s a strange way to welcome Shabbat, perhaps, but after we’ve listened, let’s start singing songs of peace and work towards achieving that.
Shabbat Shalom
What do you want? Clarity is critical.
There are many messages in the Campus protests; which is yours? Divestiture, Ceasefire, rebuilding Gaza, developing a Palestinian State, or something else? What about peace?
The message of peace and the coexistence of two peoples will carry the day.
Without articulating what you stand for and what you do not, you are lumped into the “everything” category, which includes antisemitism and the elimination of Israel.
Israel is here to stay. That is an indisputable fact. If you refuse to accept this reality, you essentially oppose a peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue. The region’s people must find a way to live together, for neither is going away.
Building trust and a willingness to accept the other’s presence and narrative must occur on both sides for Palestinians and Israelis. This will take time and effort- lots of each.
This pragmatic politics is problematic for idealogues to embrace. But if peace is the end goal, the ability to live in relative safety and security, this realpolitik must dominate the day. Otherwise, the people will continue to suffer and die. And our tradition says, choose life.
Don’t Squander the moment. The campuses have our attention. They can be places where truth is spoken to power, not merely a place to advocate reductionist ideologies, where critical moral issues are advanced, recognizing the dignity of all people in the region. Seize the moment.
Cantor Azi Schwartz shares a ballad to his homeland that I share with you on this Shabbat.
“This song is dedicated to my country. Not the one that was here a week ago, the one we will rebuild when all this is over.” Hanan Ben Ari, October 16, 2023.
Shabbat Shalom
Dear Friends,
This Pesach is genuinely unique. The question, Mah Nishtanah HaLailah Hazeh, takes on a whole new level of meaning as we confront the most challenging moments in our recent history.
Our tradition is guided by hope; together, we will get through this, guided by empathy and love for all, including those with whom we disagree.
As we gather around the seder table, let us share the ancient story of our journey towards freedom. Let us teach it to our children and embrace the values that unite us, making our tradition so wise and timeless. Guided by the psalmist’s words, Olam Chesed Yibaneh, we will build this world with love.
Wishing you all Chag Pesach Sameach
Rabbi David
Dear Mr. Scott
As we all agree, pulling the movie The Child Within Me was wrong. A weak apology followed. Indeed, that apology did not bring me back into the fold. I am not alone in feeling like BMFI continues to let me down. So, how do we move forward?
This is a pivotal moment for your board and the community you serve. It’s an opportunity for growth, learning, and repair, where you can repair by transforming into a place for understanding, decision-making dynamics, and guided exploration of the mission and the complex issues it may raise.
Who are the BFMI stakeholders?
What is BMFI’s mission, and how does that mission intersect with the stakeholders’ and the community’s needs?
By convening a gathering to discuss the current situation openly, we can collectively work towards meaningful repair for the community. Your active participation and engagement are crucial in the healing process.
Let’s restore BMFI’s reputation and dedication to bringing culture into our community.
The news from Bryn Mawr is ambivalent.
There is good news and bad news.
First, the good news:
The courts intervened, and the BMFI must now show the film.
Now, the bad news:
Bryn Mawr Film Institute has not retracted its statement nor amended its thinking.
So, we get to see a movie in a place that is hostile to showing it.
The stakes have been raised on both sides as the film is now set to be shown. Those supporting the right to see the movie and those protesting Israel will be out in full force. I hope that each side can express their views without hindrance from the other. Whichever side you are on, strive for peace.
You guys at BMFI need to rethink your leadership. Whoever is in charge should be thanked for their past service and shown the door. Until at least a meaningful apology is offered, consider me a former member.
In response to the Bryn Mawr Film Institute’s decision to cancel the showing of the film The Child Within Me, I make the following statement:
To the Board of the Bryn Mawr Film Institute
You squandered an essential moment of leadership.
Until this decision, you were a cultural icon and an important voice in our community. But instead of devotion to keeping culture accessible through film, its thoughtful curation, and presentation, you cowed in the face of political pressure. You canceled a film thoroughly unrelated to the war. The only controversy about this film is your decision to condemn it because the Israeli Film Festival sponsors it. Shame on you.
People protesting against the showing of a film is an act of free speech. It does not automatically devolve into violence, and using that as a pretense for canceling is a sign of it is either fecklessness or outright bias against Jews (also known as Antisemitism) and Israel.
Protesters are loud and obnoxious, but they are not violent. Those who attend the festival would find them uncomfortable, but they are not a physical threat. Further, the police of Lower Merion would have done an excellent job of keeping the peace even in this potentially testy situation.
BMFI was an important institution, one I enjoyed participating in and supporting. However, I am deeply disappointed that you have focused on other aspects, neglecting the crucial role of bringing influential films into our community. This decision has undermined the basis for our relationship. I resign from my membership and call on everyone in our community to do the same.
Sincerely
Rabbi David Levin
