April 2, 2019 – 4:30 pm. NYC Hall Presser, Orthodox Jews say: “Zionists do not represent NY Jews. Anti-Zionism is NOT Anti-Semitism!”
Perhaps they expected a lot of press due to the anti-Israel media ledes that dominate the headlines: Israel. Bad. Racists. However, once Councilman Yeger was removed from the Immigration Committee, the press was absent. Those present were moi, the JDL-NY and eventually two very late cameramen. Oh, wait! There was also ONE hijabbed Muslima blogger.
JDL- NY was there, too, with the message: No Such Thing as PALESTINE.
We will NOT be Silenced! Israel We Stand With You!
From JDL-NY :
“NYC Councilman Yeger responded to a tweet last week with the facts- “Palestine does not exist” & “Omar is an anti Semite”. Since that hundreds of anti Semites & anti-Israel organizations have attempted to discredit him. He was removed from the Immigration Committee yesterday.
None of the organizations or individuals condemning Councilman Yeger & demanding for his removal, have demanded any actions against Omar. A news conference is scheduled to take place today April 2nd
organized by Rabbi Hershel Klar to continue the condemnations
against NYC Councilman Yeger.
We are calling for all people of good conscious to join us to condemn the witch-hunt against a Jewish elected official. Omar remains on the Foreign Affairs Committee after numerous blatantly anti-Semitic tweets. She must be removed! Anti-Semitism is NOT okay. We can not be silent!”
“During the last few centuries, the world, Christians included, has fallen into a bad habit. We have bought into some early Roman propaganda. We have used the name Palestine, which Roman Emperor Hadrian placed on the country of Israel in 135 A.D., for so long that it has become common usage. This would be as incorrect as calling the Russia of today the “Soviet Union” or referring to Berlin as “East Germany.” The thoughts below by our ministry’s senior theologian, Dr. Thomas S. McCall, completely explore the subject. If you know somebody who’s fallen into this habit, please share this article with them.”
Does Palestine Exist – Front Page Mag
“Two weeks ago, a local New York City Councilman named Kalman Yeger noted on Twitter that “Palestine does not exist.” That statement, controversial as it is, is grounded in fact — in the sense that the United Nations Security Council, the only UN body capable of establishing international law through binding resolutions, has never conferred legal status to “Palestine,” and never accepted “Palestine” as a UN member state.”
All should be deeply offended by these misguided flyers.
An anti-Zionist statement from the presser:
“We are against Zionism because we are Jews!” “The State of Israel is the biggest misfortune for the Jewish people” “Thousands of young Orthodox Jews are tortured in Israeli prisons because they are not willing to serve in the Israeli @IDF!” “We want to live in peace with all. We want to live in peace with our neighbors & respect EVERYONE no matter his color or creed!’ [https://twitter.com/TorahJews]
See short Flickr Slide show
And two short videos: at first, it looked as though the presser was only in Hebrew ,which certainly limited getting their message out.
Later, in a 12 minute speech (in English) references to the “teachings of Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and founder of the Satmar Hasidic movement in 1961 (Book Vayoel Moshe)
“Teitelbaum argues that Zionism is incompatible with Judaism. As Teitelbaum explains in the introduction, the book’s title is taken from the biblical verse of Exodus 2:21, and hints to Teitelbaum’s first name (Yoel), and to his grandfather, Moshe Teitelbaum. The verse, which states “And Moses agreed to stay…an alien in a foreign land”, hints to Teitelbaum’s conclusion that the Jewish people should remain in exile.[1]“
They claim that THEY are Torah Jews.
PALESTINE letter 1947 ( I think it actually makes OUR case that Palestine refers to the JEWS.)
In video at 6:20 : “Letter from Chief Rabbi Jerusalem re Palestine Problemand the Jewish people . The Holy land and the Gates of Palestine were to be open to all those Jews who have no home, to lead Jewish lives in accordance with the commandments. But, he was OPPOSED to a Jewish State.”
At 8:38 – Re inflammatory remarks from any one in public office ” (remarks) … are totally unacceptable (so) Councilman is way over due to apologize to Councilwoman Omar – to orthodox Jews . Otherwise, you should resign from your post to heal the deep wounds. We ask for peace and tranquility worldwide … a day of global peace when there won’t be any wars. Any bloodshed. Any animosity. The entire universe, all the nations should serve one G-d in harmony and peace, omein”
“Inflammatory remarks from any one in public office” … and yet the ONLY person he mentions is Councilman Yeger.
See quotes from Congresswoman Omar that are INFLAMMATORY as she addressed CAIR: “Someone did something on 911.”
In conclusion, Rabbi Shulem Lefkowitz speaking in a post presser release:
“The Rabbinical Alliance of the USA, a group representing Orthodox Jews from Brooklyn neighborhoods, held a press conference on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan, regarding recent statements by Brooklyn councilman Kalman Yeger, who recently ignited a conflict with his comment that “Palestine does not exist”, thereby making an impression that Jews have Zionist interests.
“Over the decades, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a long chain of both, a violent one and a war of words,” said Rabbi Hershel Klar, an organizer of the event. “Now Councilman Yeger has unfortunately brought this war of words to our own Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park, giving the impression that religious Jews, his constituents, are interested in adopting the Zionist narrative and creating friction with our neighbors.
Jews and Zionists could not be more different.
Jews are commanded to live peacefully in their countries during exile, while Zionists wish to conquer land and oppress other people.
The Zionists, both leaders in the State of Israel and their supporters here in America, do not represent the Jewish people.
“Yeger deepened his offensive comments by leveling the accusation of anti-Semitism against a member of Congress, Ilhan Omer, who has been critical of the State of Israel and its supporters.
The Zionist approach of accusing their critics of being anti-Semitic is wrong.
Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism.
Judaism and Zionism are diametrically opposed.
Judaism is a religion to be subservient to the Almighty, while Zionism is a transformation into a political nationalist movement.
In fact, Judaism forbids a sovereign Jewish State since the destruction of the Jewish temple.Likewise, Judaism forbids Jews to wage wars, provoke conflict, or oppress any nation or peoples.
We Jews have always lived in the utmost peace and regard alongside our neighbors in all countries of our exile. We respect our government leaders and fulfill the commandment of Jeremiah 29:7, ‘Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you and pray for it to G-d.’
The Zionist protagonists do not speak in our name.
It’s against Jewish law and tradition.
Kalman Yeger’s comments don’t represent the Brooklyn Jewish community. Numerous leading Rabbis have condemned him. This is not what we elected him for.
We need our politicians to keep our streets and parks clean and safe, and to advocate for services for our neighborhoods and schools, and not to drag our communities into the Zionist agenda.
We call upon Yeger to retract his comments.”
NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
[Pictures and Videos property of Pamela Hall]