McCarthyites Up The Ante

The McCarthyism in the Toronto Jewish community is going from bad to worse.

Last week I (and three of Toronto's four daily newspapers) reported on the blacklisting of Toronto artists Reena Katz by the Koffler Centre for the Arts, because of her strongly anti-racists views on Israel/Palestine. (See my blog entry here.)

Yesterday the Lori Starr, Executive Director of the Koffler Centre, added gasoline to the fire with a Letter to the Editor of the Toronto Star.

Decisions not base on belief

At the Koffler Centre we completely understand that like any healthy and vibrant community, ours is one with many diverse opinions where ideas are explored and examined. Our commitment is to ensure that as a cultural centre, we are part of that examination and certainly have no intention of stopping anyone for being critical of Israel's policies.

However, our centre, like our community, is committed to Israel's well-being and existence as a Jewish state. No organization could partner with any individual who works against one of their core values. Just as every individual has a right to freedom of expression, any organization is free to choose with whom it partners.

Our decision was not based on Reena Katz's beliefs, but rather her role in undermining Israel's existence as a Jewish state.

The question of whether the exhibition will continue is up to the artist. We have simply adhered to our principles by disassociating with both the artist and the project, as we should have.

What smarmy nonsense. Here is a letter that I wrote the Star in reply (so far they haven't published it.)

Re “Decisions not base on belief” Saturday May 16, 2009

Lori Starr’s attempted justification of the Koffler Centre (letters May 16th), is a load of rubbish.

First she claims that her center one where “many diverse opinions and ideas are explored and examined.” We would never blacklist anyone for his or her opinions, she says. But in the next sentence she supports the blacklisting of Reena Katz for publicly advocating for her opinions re Israel/Palestine. So, it seems that the Koffler center supports diverse opinions only as long as you don’t express them!

Second Ms Starr claims that “our centre, like our community, is committed to Israel's … existence as a Jewish state.” Which community? Certainly not the Jewish Community. No one has ever polled the Jews of Toronto on this issue, and it is well know that many Jews, some prominent, think that Israel as a de-jure Jewish State (as opposed to a state with a lot of Jews in it) is a bad idea. Some of these Jews come to this position from conservative theological reasons (including the world’s largest Hassidic sect) and some from progressive humanist ones. Among religious Jews, some synagogues celebrate Israeli Independence Day, some are theologically indifferent, and some view the creation of the Jewish State as a sin. Many progressive Jews think Israel should be a “state for all its citizens” Jews and non-Jews. These debates go on all the time in the Jewish community.

Who exactly is Lori Starr and the Koffler Centre to be telling us what the Jewish communities core values are? Who are they to say whom the community can and cannot support?

What I could of added is that Ms Katz denies the facts of the case. She denied every having undermined Israels existence as a Jewish State. She claims only to be against Israels racist policies. But of course was never asked to explain herself before the decsion makers at the Koffler. And the Koffler Centre's claim that the decsion to continue the show or not is solely up to the artist is disengenous too. The Koffler Centre is just the most visible hammer of the Official Jewish Community in Toronto. The word has gone out that Reena Katz is treif - so now the Baycrest Centre, the major Jewish old folks home, which was integral to some of the performance art in Katz's performance pieces, has also pulled out. Today Katz, and exhibit curator Kim Simon (also Jewish) issued this statement.

Dear friends, supporters and colleagues,

As our situation with Koffler Centre of the Arts continues unresolved, we offer this
brief update on the status of the Reena Katz exhibition each hand as they are
called:

While we have made every attempt to present the exhibition as originally
intended, with numerous logistic delays and the fact that Baycrest Centre
Geriatric Care – an essential and valued collaborator in the project - has
withdrawn their participation, we are prevented from moving forward at this time.
Our request to meet with the Koffler board of directors has been rejected and the
question of silencing discussion and diverse voices within our communities
remains.

While it is with great sadness that we announce the exhibition will not be opening
to the public on Wednesday, May 20th as originally scheduled, we continue to
work towards the presentation of each hand as they are called.

The incredible support that we have received from cultural workers,
administrators, organizers, academics, and the media has been the inspiration
for our desire to continue moving forward. Your writing, calls, and critical
discussions are greatly appreciated and act as a place marker for the original
spirit of the project.

We will continue to share updates as they happen, and please visit our website
for any information: www.eachhand.org

Sincerely,
Reena Katz, artist
Kim Simon, curator

So, not only has the chill of an intolerant and fearful Zionist hegemony (that not a word I use easily) fallen over the Official Toronto Jewish Community, but a public art exhibit designed to celebrate the rich and vibrant Jewish history of Toronto has been nixed. We are all the poorer for this.

Fortunately, we live in a city where the Official Toronto Jewish Community is not as completely powerful as it would like to be. There are Jews who are able to express other voices. One is Rick Salutin, who writes in today's Globe and Mail about another issue that has got the Official Jewish Community in a lather, and trying to censor - Seven Jewish Children. And he mentions the Katz affair to give that controversy some context. (You can read my own take on Seven Jewish Children here.)

It seems to me that this affair is not just unfortunate and annoying. The Official Jewish Community" has thrown down the gantlet. It has decided that it will read out of "our community" anyone who does not support Israel as a Jewish State or even anyone who may be "undermining" that position by publicly confronting Israel's discriminatory policies towards Arabs. They have drawn a line in the sand that defines if you are in or out. I think any such line is a bad thing. But if I must stand on one side or the other, it is not with Lori Starr, the Koffler Centre, and the rest of the Official Jewish Community. It is on the side of open debate and the core Jewish values of honesty, justice, and mercy.

Summer Reading

I will be on vacation, and then on an overseas business trip, so I don't think I will get much blogging done in the next month.

But since you have come to look at my site, I don't want you to leave empty handed. So let me leave you with a bit of "summer reading" to do - good stuff on other blogs, some emails I received, and a good book - until I get back.

First you could read several good postings about the recent eviction of Palestinians from homes in East Jerusalem's Sheik Jarah neighbourhood. The underlying issue here, more than most similar cases, is the discriminatory nature of the Israeli legal and administrative systems: one set of procedures and laws for Jews and one for Palestineans. This is brought sharply into focus in this case, because, according to Israel, East Jerusalem is part of Israel 'de jure' and thus subject to full Israeli law.

Start by reading some background stories from the The Jerusalem Post on July 26, ISM July on 28, and The Jerusalem Post on Aug 2.

And now for some analysis, read stories from The Magnes Zionist on August 3, The Magnes Zionist on August 3 (watch the video on that one), and Haaretz on August 6.

Second, you can read the statment below, from artist Toronto Jewish artist Reena Katz. This is a follow up on to Toronto's Koffler Centre for the Arts withdrawing support for an art project of Ms. Katz because of her perceived anti-Israel activities. I blogged about the original incident here.

And here is a statement issued by Ms Katz, earlier this week:

We are pleased to update you regarding the status of Katz’s performative project in Kensington Market, each hand as they are called:

As many of you know, The Koffler Centre for the Arts dissociated from Katz and the commissioned project in early May, 2009 because of her political work for Palestinian human rights, and subsequently sent a defamatory press release across the country, falsely claiming that Katz supports the extinction of the State of Israel. Since late May, we have been in legal negotiations with the Koffler about moving forward with the project and we have now reached an agreement. While the specific terms of this agreement are confidential, we are happy to continue discussions about our experience and understanding of the Koffler “dissociation” as well as the project itself.

Simultaneously but independent of our legal negotiations, the Toronto Arts Council(TAC) Board ofDirectors has been involved in internal discussion, as well as in consultation with the Koffler about their decision to dissociate as well as their professional and ethical conduct. The TAC has determined that the Koffler was in violation of the City of Toronto’s non-discrimination policy regarding an individual’s right to freedom of political association. As it is not TAC general policy to release public statements regarding such matters, for a more detailed statement regarding the decision, the TAC invites you to contact Executive Director Claire Hopkinson directly at Claire@torontoartscouncil.org.

It is our understanding that while the TAC will not be withholding funding from the Koffler, they have approached this situation in a productive gesture of stewardship.

This includes working nonpunitively with Koffler around issues of anti-discrimination policy development, transparency of mandate, curatorial and board structure, as well as accountability and eligibility where public funds are concerned. We are heartened by the TAC’s official acknowledgement that Koffler violated Katz’s right to freedom of association, and by extension violated one of the terms of the City of Toronto’s public funding. We are sincerely encouraged and hopeful about the TAC’s strategies for addressing this matter.

Finally, we are thrilled to announce that we will soon share details about the presentation of a revised version of each hand as they are called, to be presented in Kensington in the fall of 2009.

We consider this presentation a positive outcome of a very difficult situation, and look forward to seeing you at the exhibition. We also encourage continued personal and public dialogue around Israel/Palestine and the role of cultural institutions in relation to discussion and dissent. The events of these last few months have embodied the extreme need for such dialogue in all our intersecting communities, and we are deeply thankful for the threads of discussion arising from the support, suggestions, and questions you have offered.

Please contact us for further information on each hand as they are called, and check out our website for continued regular updates. http://www.eachhand.org/

Reena Katz, artist
Kim Simon, curator

There is a delicious irony, in my opinion, at the thought of the Koffler Centre executives having to undergo "sensitivity training" by the TAC. (... "working nonpunitively with Koffler around issues of anti-discrimination policy development, ...") Now if we could just extend this to a few more of the Toronto Jewish Establishment!

Third, you might want an update on the Quebec court case, where the Village of Bilin in the West Bank is suing a Canadian company for aiding and participating in the confiscation of Palestinan lands and the building of Jewish only settlements. (Read the back story here.)

While I have no news of the actual court case, turns out that this action must have hit some hot buttons in Israel. I received this notice yesterday via email:

A solidarity rally for Bil’in village has been called in Montreal to protest the recent arrest of Palestinian activist Mohammad Khatib and the ongoing nighttime raids on Bil’in being carried out by the Israeli military.

In the early morning hours on Monday, Israeli military forces wearing combat paint and masks invaded the West Bank village of Bil’in. Israeli soldiers raided several homes, arresting two Palestinian children and five Palestinians adults including Mohammad Khatib from the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements.

In June 2009 Mohammed Khatib traveled to Canada for the preliminary hearings in a historic lawsuit launched by Bil’in village against two Quebec-based companies, Green Park International and Green Mount International, both involved in constructing illegal Israeli-only settlements on the lands of the Palestinian village of Bil’in.Palestinian activist Mohammed Khatib also spoke to Canada’s major media outlets and public in eleven Canadian cities with Emily Schaeffer, an Israeli lawyer representing the village of Bil’in, connecting with hundreds of people across Canada.

At present time Mohammed Khatib remains in Israeli custody although no charges have been brought against Khatib or the other Palestinians arrested, including the children.“Mohmmad Khatib and Adib Abu Rahme along with other leaders of the Palestinian popular struggle are being targeted because they mobilize Palestinians to resist non-violently,” outlines Abdullah Abu Rahme, coordinator of Bil’in’s popular committee, “the fact is that the Apartheid Wall and the settlements built on Palestinian land are illegal under international law. In the case of our village even the biased Israeli court declared the route illegal, yet Israel is prosecuting us as
criminals because we struggle non-violently for our freedom.”

Monday’s night-time raid is another in a series of many that Israeli forces have carried out in Bil’in since June 2009, raids that commenced in tandem to the commencement of legal proceedings in Canada.Israeli forces have arrested 25 people from Bil’in village in the last month, most under 18 years of age. Israeli forces have been using interrogation techniques to pressure the arrested youth to give statements against Bil’in community leaders.

Forth, you can read my old friend J.J. Goldberg's article on splits within the "National Religious Camp" in Israel. (The good news , there are still a few "Moderns" left.)

Fifth, I highly recommend Amos Oz' memoir of childhood in 1940s Jerusalem: A Tale of Love and Darkness. The politics and personal in a delicious bittersweet mix.

Lastly, if you don't already do so, you might want to amuse, inflame and/or inform yourself by reading some of my favorite blogs - listed in the right hand column of this blog page.

"See you" in a few weeks.

The New Jewish McCarthyism

The image above used to be found at the web site of Toronto's Koffler Center for the Arts, promoting an exhibit called "Each hand as they are called" by Toronto artist Reena Katz. (The show, celebrateing the Jewish roots of Toronto's Kennsington Market will still go on, as it was being co-sponsored by the Luminato Festival.)

No more. Instead there is a press release explaining that the Koffler Centre - an agency of the Jewish Community with major funding from the UJA - was withdrawing its association with the exhibit, because "As a Jewish cultural institution, an agency of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, the Koffler Centre of the Arts will not associate with an artist who publicly advocates the extinction of Israel as a Jewish state. "

The exhibit itself has nothing to do with Israel or Palestine.

What was Ms Katz sin? According to the Koffler's press release: "Recently the Koffler Centre of the Arts learned of Reena Katz’s public support for and association with Israel Apartheid Week, which rejects the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish state and promotes historically inaccurate comparisons between contemporary Israel and apartheid South Africa, in order to delegitimize Israel."

Ms Katz, for her part, denies ever having advocated against the existence State of Israel or attempting to delegitimize it. She does admit to being severely critical Israe'ls policies, and of comparing Israel's treatment of Arabs to apartheid.

The story made both the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail.

Below is a copy of a letter I wrote to the Executive Director of the Koffler Centre. (And if you feel so inclined you can write her too at lstarr@kofflerarts.org.)

Ms Starr

I was very disappointed to hear that the Koffler Centre has withdrawn its sponsorship of the art exhibit "each hand as they are called" because you disagree with the political views of the artist Rena Katz. This smacks of a new McCarthyism within the Jewish Community.

I was under the impression that the Kofler Centre was an apolitical arts centre, representative of and serving the entire Jewish Community. While Ms Katz'z views may not be those of the majority of Jews in Toronto (and to be sure no one really knows what the majority of the 160,000 Jews in the GTA think of the Israel Palestine conflict) her views are not unique. Many leaders of anti-occupation groups and even of the Israel Apartheid Week are Jewish.

Neither should objecting to Israel as a de-jure Jewish State (as opposed to a state with a lot of Jews) be grounds for a "herem" by a community organization. Are you, before co-sponsoing events, going to check the bona-fides of every agudah or Satmar affiliated synagogue member to see that they believe that Israel is the official state of the Jewish people? Are you going to check the politics of every musician who plays at Ashkenaz - some of whom have been very outspoken in opposition to the Israeli occupation and its treatment of Arabs. Many members of both Toronto's ultra-orthodox and liberal congregation have doubts about the wisdom of the formula of a de-jure Jewish State. And this is to say nothing of the majority of Toronto's Jews who remain unaffiliated with any synagogue or Jewish organization and who for the most part seem to support a multi-national muti-cultural state in Canada.

Moreover the "sin" for which you have decided to boycott Ms Katz for - that she "rejects the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish state and promotes historically inaccurate comparisons between contemporary Israel and apartheid South Africa" - are positions that various Israeli Jews and Jewish politicians have taken. The idea that Israel should be a State For All Its Citizens rather that a Jewish State is one that is legitimately debated in Israel. And even former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has admitted that he wished to reach a two state solution with the Palestinians to end the defacto apartheid conditions in the occupied territories.

I myself have lived in Israel for many years, served in the Israeli army, have served on a synagogue board for 7 years, have raised several hundreds of thousands of dollars for Jewish causes, and also think that the idea of Israel as a de-jure Jewish State is not such a good one, and that comparisons between contemporary Israel and apartheid South Africa are not wholly inappropriate. Will you boycott me as well? Will you attempt to read people like me out of the Jewish Community.

Don't you have a mandate and and obligation to represent and reflect the entire Jewish community? To bring us together through art; not to serve as the gatekeepers of political litmus tests.

Sincerely

Heavy Hand Smacks Down Those Those That Expose IDF Crimes

The Israeli court's gag order on the Anat Kamm affair has been lifted. (See my previous postings on this here.)

Anat Kamm the 23 year old who leaked documents incriminating senior IDF officers of approving targeted assassinations of Palestinians, in violation of Israeli law, is being charged with “serious espionage” – for “gathering” and “divulging” classified information "out of ideological motivations and with the intent to damage the security of the state.” The prosecution is said to be asking for a 20 year sentence. Kamm has been under house arrest since December.

Haaretz journalist Uri Blau, currently in London, who received the documents and broke the story in Haaretz, is formally being sought for questioning. Informally he claims he has been told that as soon as he sets foot in Israel, he to will be charged with "crimes related to espionage"

This is a travesty. Think Daniel Ellsberg. Kamm and Blau should be given prizes for exposing the military's crimes and lies. The Israeli justice officials should be investigating the IDF generals (including the current chief of staff) who gave the illegal orders. But instead they are willing tools of the IDF and are helping to strengthen growing anti-democratic tendencies in Israel.

Right wing members of the governing coalition have called for both Kamm and Blau to be charged with treason (maximum penalty life in prison) and for patriotic citizens to boycott Haaretz.

Read more about this affair in these article: Haartez editorial, Uri Blau's statement, Akiva Eldar in Haartez, Abe Selig in the Jerusalem Post, Yaakov Katz in the Jerusalem Post, and the Magnes Zionists take on it.