Community to Discuss BDS

July 12, 2011 Agencies
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BDS – the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions strategy – will be the focus of a special NSW community meeting next week.

The meeting will form the central part of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies’ monthly plenum and will be held in the Benefactors Hall on Tuesday.

The speakers will be Executive Council of Australian Jewry executive director Peter Wertheim, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council international and community affairs director Jeremy Jones, Communal Security group executive director David Rothman and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff.

The meeting will be open to the community, but will be held within Chatham House rules – off the record.

Board of Deputies president Yair Miller urged members of the community to attend. “BDS is one of the most pressing issues facing the Jewish world and Israel today, and there are differing opinions as to the most effective ways to respond,” he said.

“Next week’s meeting will provide an opportunity for the community to hear the response of communal leaders to this key issue and to voice their concerns.”

Comments

7 Responses to “Community to Discuss BDS”
  1. Paul Winter says:

    I do not hold out much hope that anything positive will come from the talk-fest of our community’s professional Jews. BDS has been around for years and the ever so wise leadership, acting on highly paid professional advice has led our community in urbane, dignified, diplomatic, head burying, sha shtilism. They now want to share the wisdom of their collective failures and to squash anyone who dares impugn their sainted policies and thereby dent their delicate egos. Never mind darlings, everything is alright and in safe hands. Or as Uncle Joh used to say, “don’t you worry about that”. I do worry about BDS but I worry much more about Jewish “leaders”.

  2. Shirlee says:

    Otto

    We are of like mind and I would very much like to contact you. I can ask Henry to pass on my contact details, if that’s OK with you ?

    I was at the BDS protest at Parramatta by the way, with a few like minded people.

    As Lord Kitchener so admirably put it “Your country needs you!” ………substitute the word country for whatever you like !!

    Please for me…record your programme !!

  3. Otto Waldmann says:

    Shirlee, again a valid point.Knowing too well the seemingly perennial leaders, we will be regaled with passionate speeches, all regurgitating the same. Evidence of real initiatives ON THE GROUND shall be less than thin,as I have not seen much appart from a small group of Jewish students at Brenner’s in Parramamatta, and a few interventions in Parliament for which the speakers will take credit.It will be a fest of platitudes, unless I will show up,which may be or may be not the case, because the same night is an episode with Rex on SBS in which Rex practically uncovers a plot within the World Bank office in Vienna in which Illy coffee is being replaced with a Romanian variety of ersatz which only Rex with his expert and far more adquate nose, can tell what the brown powder is actually made of. In the end a moustached and unshaved employee of the Bank ( it could be me, but NOT so good looking ! ) is arrested and Rex swings slightly his head when Fritzy, his police officer minder says ” Vel done Rexy !! “.

    Could Peter, Yair or Jeremy top that performance ???!!!
    How could I miss that,considering that I was born in Bucharest.

    more to follow….

  4. Shirlee says:

    Thanks Otto

    We were faced with this situation at Limmud Oz, so I was restricted in what I wanted to say in my presentation..

    Unfortunately, we had do-gooders in our midst, who insisted the person in question should stay.

    Should this be the case at this Forum, I can’t see the point of my being there, or anyone else for that matter.

  5. Otto Waldmann says:

    I assume that only members of the Jewish community will be allowed,except for the NECESSARY presence of Government(s) reps,including Police and Judiciary,not meaning our own lawyers.
    I also hope that, after all this time,the leaders will bring to the table real tachles and,of course, an account of their measures taken hitherto.
    Sadly Shirlee speaks the truth, we DO have enemies within.Although a very small number,there are a few who endorse the BDS. Let them come and face the real music….

  6. Shirlee says:

    How stupid making this public.

    Now we have to stop entry to the ‘enemy within’

  7. Lynne Newington says:

    Maybe you should have invited NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, unofficially of course.

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