Tag Archives: UJA

Anti-BDS Protest @ UJA Headquarters &100+ Shofars (5-11-15) Vids /Pics

Anti-BDS Protest At UJA Headquarters – Oh, What A Night!

Richard Allen, founder and head of JCC Watch, was the MC.

The protest took place in the late afternoon/early evening of May 11, 2015 outside the UJA headquarters in Manhattan. Members of the pro-Israel community were out en force energetically protesting Lisa Doctoroff (President of the UJA), BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) and the NIF (New Israel Fund).

>>

Shame on the UJA for funding these groups that work to disenfranchise Jews from their homeland in Yehuda and Shomron, and indeed, throughout Israel!

ma_yesh2

 

 

 

 

Shame on the UJA for funding the New Israel Fund, thereby enabling these BDS, anti-Israel groups to march in this year’s Israel parade. isriel 10x8 copy

The following is a synopsis  of the protest from AFSI: 

“An energized group of more than 100 people protested outside the UJA, blowing shofars (real and toy) to wake up the UJA leadership to the dangers they are perpetrating on the Jewish people.

Richard Allen explained that Alisa Doctoroff, President of UJA-Federation,uja1_hh is guilty of supporting the New Israel Fund (NIF) with millions of dollars which are then given to NGO’s that work to destroy Israel. Doctoroff-BDS-NIF-ad1

 

 

 
Incredibly, some of these groups are marching in the Celebrate Israel Parade when their purpose is NOT to celebrate Israel, but to denigrate it.

He then introduced Rabbi Allen Schwartz, Rabbi of Ohab Zedek on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, who spoke about all the remarkable contributions Israel makes to the world, but regardless, is still castigated and ostracized by much of the world.

And Lauri Regan spoke for EMET (Endowment for Middle East Truth), outlining the injustices of the BDS system and the great harm it does both inside and outside Israel.

Helen Freedman, Executive Director of AFSI spoke next.
She began by asking, “Does Israel have the right to exist?” The crowd roared back with a resounding YES. She then asked, “Do you want your tzedakah supporting those who de-legitimize Israel?” The crowd responded with a strong NO. She then stated, “Our purpose here today is to announce that we are closing our wallets to UJA – while it supports the demonizers of Israel.”

Helen mentioned how Europe is consumed with BDS, and how the Netherlands cut the pension of a 90 year old Holocaust survivor for the “crime” of moving to Israel and living over the green line.

Helen then listed some of the groups funded by the NIF, including Adalah, B’Tselem, Breaking the Silence, Machshom Watch, Mossawa, Partners for Progressive Israel and Physicians for Human Rights. She held up the photo of an IDF soldier cradling a Nepalese child.

FullSizeRender


The caption read, “0.1% of the world is Israeli. 30% of the international medical team in Nepal is from Israel. Will the UN and BDS groups condemn Israel’s “disproportionate response.”?

.
.
.
.
Helen continued, naming Alisa Doctoroff, Michael Miller, Eric Goldstein and Jerry Levin, all officers or former officers in UJA and JCRC, as being responsible for allowing the delegitimizers to have standing. The crowd booed their disapproval.

Helen concluded, “Rejecting Israel’s legitimacy by accusing Israel of war crimes, and violations of humanitarian law, which would justify international intervention, like the International Criminal Court, is criminal.

All the condemnations are built on lies and fabrications. They must not be allowed to pass for truth. That is why we are here today and why we must continue to raise our voices against those whose greed and willful blindness lead Israel and America into a dangerous downward spiral. We won’t let it happen. ”

Other speakers followed, including Rabbi Algaze, Paul Brody, Mort Klein, Robin Ticker and Charlie Bernhaut.

VIDEO PLAYLIST of all the speakers.
They all emphasized the intolerable and dangerous de-legitimization and demonization of Israel spurred on by the BDS movement.

Final Thoughts: ”  We hope UJA heard us and will heed our messages BEFORE this years CELEBRATION of Israel Parade. ” (thank you to AFSI for this report)

  [ The final blasts on the 100 shofars  begins in video at 4:00]

++ Plan on Celebrating Israel on May 31, 2015++

Israel Day Concert Flyer1

Slideshow of  a few pictures

++

 

Israel Day Parade 2014 (pics and vids)

June 1st, 2014. The Annual Israel Day Parade

2014_CIP_Logo_2

The Israel Day Parade 2014 was superb!  The sidelines were full from 53rd to 73rd st.

New York is clearly a city full of Jewish people, religious and non-religious, AND non-Jewish such as moi! All who LOVE Israel! 35,000 people jammed Fifth Avenue.

Slide Show of Parade. The families, young and old. The banners. The Floats. A feast for the eyes and the heart.

[gigya src=”http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649″ width=”500″ flashvars=”offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=/photos/pamelahall/sets/72157645017911395/show/&page_show_back_url=/photos/pamelahall/sets/72157645017911395/&set_id=72157645017911395&jump_to=” allowFullScreen=”true” ]

A parade with a couple of surprises. Like….Camels! I got so excited I forgot to film them walking by.

And Dr Ruth. (Enjoying the parade from her cart.)

So many people in the parade (and watching) that just crossing Fifth Avenue was a challenge. 

>

A parade filled with fun, joy, music, dancing.

But, when this color guard appeared, time to remember that Never Forget has a powerful meaning for Israel and America, as well.

SHORT PARADE VIDEO

Back at 58th and 5th Avenue, the usual anti-Israel protestors, Neteuri Karta and their comrades, “progressives” in their own minds, stood  with their anti-Israel propaganda signs calling for the annihilation of Israel.

The UJA(United Jewish Federation) permitted the BDS (Boycott/Divest/Sanction) protestors to march in this year’s Celebration of Israel (again). Offensive. (Like this sign from a BDS Zabars protest)

The very happy parade participants, in support of Israel, did not pass quietly by these protestors (small pleasures) Keeping all eyes on the parade. As it should be.

SHORT VIDEO of Anti-Israel Protestors and pro-Israel Supporters

New to me, this year, was the group protesting the GLBT participation; their signs and their “Giraffee”.

Further up Fifth Avenue,  I found the parade participants they were protesting

SLIDE SHOW Protestors at 58th and Fifth Ave

[gigya src=”http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649″ width=”500″ flashvars=”offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=/photos/pamelahall/sets/72157644604229419/show/&page_show_back_url=/photos/pamelahall/sets/72157644604229419/&set_id=72157644604229419&jump_to=” allowFullScreen=”true” ]

 As for the protestors marching IN the parade, I understand the anti-Israel/ BDS supporters were placed early, near the beginning. I’ve seen no pictures of their BDS protest marching. Only signs in Support of Israel.


Perhaps this is a good-thing, that any anti-Israel protestors at the parade are forgotten (at best).

A foolish decision by the UJA Federation , allowing anti-Israel BDSers IN the Israel Day Parade. Baffling.

“…the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, Inc. (UJA Federation) is allowing extremist anti-Israel groups to march on June 1, 2014 in its “Israel Day Parade”. These are organizations that are part of the ongoing call for boycotts of Israeli companies such as Sodastream and Ahava Cosmetics.”

Imploring the UJA to reconsider fell on deaf ears, causing many protests
months prior to the parade (such as this protest in April  outside UJA Federation Headquarters)

History has shown that bowing and scraping to organizations like CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, who nurture the seeds of hatred for all things Jewish and
Israeli, will reap ill-rewards.

Thankfully, in spite of their flawed leadership, Fifth Avenue on June 1, 2014 remained a CELEBRATION of Israel and NY.

  JOY! Hours of it. 35,000 strong. Am Yisrael Chai!!