PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
Talking Point
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum before Shabbat services following the shooting in October at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Why I support Sarsour and the Women’s March
BY RABBI SHARON KLEINBAUM
Now I’m doing a deep dive into
the issues around the Women’s
March and Linda Sarsour.
So here’s where I land on this. There
are military-grade armed white supremacists
emboldened and cheered on
by the president of the United States.
These white supremacists have been
building caches of arms for years in anticipation
of a civil war/race war in the
United States. These folks are anti-Semitic
as a deep part of their racist view
of history. They and their ideology are
a very serious threat to all we hold precious
in our lives.
Those of us on the broad spectrum of
the “left” have a long history of chewing
up those who share many, maybe even
most, of our values rather than facing
the most serious threats that are much
more diffi cult to overcome. I value and
respect Linda Sarsour — and I don’t
have to agree with her on everything.
But that doesn’t make her anti-Semitic!
Linda Sarsour is NOT anti-Semitic.
Lord knows, I don’t agree with people
in my family of origin or my family
of choice on everything. But I want to
stay engaged, in discussion, and keep
trying to learn more and make sure my
reality is likewise respected. I know that
the issue of Farrakhan is very, very disturbing.
He is on record for a long time
as an anti-Semite. And I would wish
that those around him would forcefully
denounce him. Ultimately, Farrakhan
doesn’t have much power.
I know that Linda has distanced
herself and I know that there are many
who are in conversation with her about
this. That’s an example of something
that I would stay engaged with her
about. But she herself, from what I have
read, doesn’t share any of those ideas.
I’m also aware of the many in my own
community who are DEEPLY racist, or
anti-Muslim.
And then there’s the fact of her support
of BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions).
I personally don’t support BDS
because I don’t believe in abandoning
those progressive forces INSIDE of Israel
who are fi ghting every day to make
Israel live up to our best dreams and
expectations.
Right-wing American money, like
Shelly Adelson and Irving Moskowitz,
is pouring in billions of dollars to support
the Israeli right wing. And the left
is leaving our counterparts without the
resources or support to be close to a
counterforce to that right-wing support
and money. The progressive forces in
Israel often feel abandoned by the progressive
forces in the U.S. and Europe.
Linda Sarsour is an
important voice in
our world.
I am against the military occupation
of Palestine and disagree with the strategy
of boycotting those who are likewise
trying to change Israel’s policies. I
want to believe that it is possible to be
a progressive Zionist. And BDS often
ends up strengthening Bibi rather than
weakening him.
I do believe that we should engage
with, discuss and engage more. I think
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah needs
to be a place where all these ideas are
robustly debated and people exposed to
these ideas. I know there are some who
charge C.B.S.T. with being anti-Semitic,
self-hating and anti-Israel because
I support the rights of Palestinians to
enjoy the full dignity of their humanity.
And there are those on the left who refuse
to come to C.B.S.T. because I support
the right of Israel to exist. I don’t
think supporting BDS is necessarily
anti-Semitic, although I do think that
it is sometimes used by some who ARE
anti-Semitic as a weapon.
I believe that the future of Israel is
bound up with the liberation of the Palestinian
people. I live in a narrow place
in this current world of polarization
and heightened anger. And, as with
many things, it’s not simple to achieve
security and justice. It starts with deeply
listening to the voices of all of us —
and that’s not easy.
Linda Sarsour is an important voice
in our world that I value, and I support
the Women’s March. Even while we
keep arguing, debating and demanding
the most of all of ourselves — let us do
it for the sake of heaven.
Blessings to all.
Kleinbaum is spiritual leader of
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in
Chelsea, the world’s largest L.G.B.T.
synagogue
Schneps Community News Group TVG December 6, 2018 13