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Special Visitor for Saturday's vigil

This writer is proud to announce the presence of his big sister at this weekend's vigil with Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends at Beth Israel. Annie K hails from Albany, California - the self proclaimed "hub of the universe", and joined 11 vigillers on a snowy Saturday morning. Walking around the streets of Ann Arbor on Friday, she was mildly shocked at the reaction of an Israel-firster when the woman remarked how disgusted she was at the presence of the words "Free Palestine". Annie made many new friends at an afternoon gathering in her honor at which 34 people attended. Please come back soon!!

JWP&F Back in the News

Still flexing its political muscle, the Ann Arbor Zionist Community was able to persuade the Ann Arbor News to relax its policy of allowing a maximum of 2 signatories to Op-Ed pieces. They drafted a petition referring to our peaceful vigils as "intimidation and harassment", then coerced 34 local clergy to put their John Hancock on this document. There are notable absences from this list, including the Presbyterians (USA), whose leadership still presses forward on selected, phased divestment from Israel in the face of incredible pressures. Read document and related article by Catherine O'Donnell of the Ann Arbor News below signature, or reference following links:

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~hfc/mideast/vigil/ov1215.htm
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~hfc/mideast/vigil/news1215.htm

If readers would like to send a letter to the News, you need to include full name, address, phone, and send no attachments to: letters@annarbornews.com

Bank Protest Successful

by Bill T.

Facing brisk 29 degree F temperatures, about 25 protesters held vigil and passed out information on the IDF in front of four Ann Arbor banks on Friday. We received lots of positive response, and at least one couple used the opportunity to close their account in protest. Also, at one of the banks, an employee became visibly upset to find out about the actions of his employer.

Ch-ch-chilly temperatures at Hillers Greet another Special Guest

OK, there was a discrepancy in the thermometers: Car said 7 degrees, the Arborland Clock claimed 2. And the 17 mph winds made it feel like a face-breaking 20 below. Truth be known, the 5 hardy souls reminding customers not to shop at Hillers, broke ranks 10 minutes before "closing", but if you were there to blame us, you wouldn't have...

Our special guest on Sunday was none other than Santa Claus himself (aka Thom S). Santa came from his visits to local churches and held his sign holding the Israeli military's siege on Bethlehem responsible for the lack of merriment in the Holy Land at this supposedly enjoyable season. It's tough to celebrate when local streets are filled with occupying tanks.

Work for Peace,

Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends.

Web page: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~hfc/mideast/vigil/index.htm

Religious leaders denounce protest

Beth Israel demonstration inappropriate, they say

Wednesday, December 15, 2004
BY CATHERINE O'DONNELL

News Staff Reporter

Area ministers are speaking out against the activities of Jewish Witnesses for Peace, the group that has been demonstrating outside Sabbath services at Beth Israel Congregation the past 18 months.

"If people protest once or twice, fine, but continually doing it borders on harassment," said the Rev. Harvey Stob, pastor of congregational life at Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church.

Stob was among 33 local ministers and the board of trustees at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Ann Arbor who signed a statement issued this month that opposes such demonstrations at houses of worship. The signers include Protestant, Catholic and Jewish clergy along with ministers representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other religious communities.

The letter did not include signatures from anyone from an Islamic group.

Nazih Hassan, spokesman for the Islamic Center on Ann Arbor's north side, said his group was asked to sign the statement but declined.

"We agree in principle that continuous protesting in front of a house of worship is inappropriate, but the matter is an internal issue, within the Jewish community," Hassan said.

Jewish Witnesses and its leader, Henry Herskovitz, said they are protesting at Beth Israel because they've been denied requests to speak at gatherings there to urge the congregation to oppose Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.

Herskovitz, a retired mechanical engineer, said he has visited the Balata refugee camp south of the city of Nablus in the West Bank and has seen Israeli abuse of Palestinians. For that reason, he wants to urge the Beth Israel Congregation to stop supporting Israel's occupation.

But his group's protests have sparked controversy and opposition.

The Ann Arbor City Council criticized the Sabbath protests in a resolution approved Oct. 18 on an 8-0 vote with three members absent. The resolution stated that freedom to worship in peace is a right of all people.

The statement from area ministers was issued Dec. 4. It states that "Picketing a place of worship ... violates any reasonable norms of civil and mutually respectful behavior."

Several ministers proposed the statement to Beth Israel several months ago, about the same time the congregation was considering ways to seek community support against the protests, said Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, leader of the Conservative synagogue on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor.

"We're hoping the letter is another clear statement within the community about how misguided and insensitive" the demonstrations are, Dobrusin said.

Stob echoed other ministers in questioning how protests at a local congregation regarding an international issue can create serious change. "What are they expecting the local congregation to do?" Stob asked.

Herskovitz, speaking this week of several local Jewish leaders, said: "They've never seen the barrel end of occupation."

Ed D'Angelo, president of Beth Israel, doesn't believe Herskovitz and his group have standing.

"Just because he spends a couple of weeks (in the West Bank) doesn't make him an expert," D'Angelo said.

"Any Tom, Dick or Henry can stand on the street with signs," he said. "It doesn't translate into effectiveness."

Catherine O'Donnell can be reached at codonnell@annarbornews.com or (734) 994-6831.

Local ministers urge pickets to quit Saturday protests at Beth Israel

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

OTHER VOICES

Over the past 14 months a small group of protesters has picketed outside Beth Israel Congregation nearly every week on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, as congregants arrive to participate in religious services.

We recognize that well-intentioned and well-informed people can disagree and encourage open, candid, respectful dialogue on difficult issues.

We recognize and applaud a number of local groups, from all ideological strands, who have been addressing the difficult issues in the Middle East in an informed and thoughtful manner. However, we repudiate the tactic of picketing a place of worship, be it a synagogue, temple, church or mosque. This is not an effective way to generate productive dialogue on difficult topics.

The actions of these pickets have thus far been within the law. Furthermore, all of us, along with the members of Beth Israel Congregation, respect and value our constitutional right to free speech. However, this tactic of picketing a place of worship nonetheless violates any reasonable norms of civil and mutually respectful behavior. People go to houses of worship to contemplate difficult issues in their lives and in the world, to celebrate happy occasions and to seek solace in times of struggle. It is inappropriate to subject worshipers to a political protest.

While this protest activity primarily affects Beth Israel Congregation, we are joining together in solidarity across all faiths and across religious traditions in this statement. We all suffer individually and communally with Beth Israel Congregation. If this form of political protest is allowed to continue unchallenged outside Beth Israel Congregation, it will be just a matter of time before it spreads, causing worshipers of other faiths also to be unfairly subjected to this form of intimidation and harassment in connection with any number of other issues. These individuals must end this ill-conceived and illegitimate protest, because it impedes meaningful dialogue, and is an affront to the members of Beth Israel Congregation and to citizens of all faiths in the Ann Arbor community.

Signed:

Bishop Corey Killpack, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Rev. Ken Wilson, Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth W. Phifer, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Ann Arbor

The Rev. Peggy Garrigues-Cortelyou, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Ann Arbor

The Rev. John S. Nieman, Rector, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

Joe Sazyc, pastor, Ann Arbor Assembly of God

The Rev. Sally Webster, Priest Associate, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

John Dambacher, pastor, Chelsea Free Methodist Church

Rabbi Robert Levy, Temple Beth Emeth

Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, Beth Israel Congregation

The Rev. Paul Simpson Duke, pastor, First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor

The Rev. Stacey Simpson Duke, pastor, First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor

The Rev. James C. Rhodenhiser, St. Clare's Episcopal Church

The Rev. James McDougall, pastor, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Ann Arbor

The Rev. Dr. Robert K. Livingston, senior minister, First Congregational Church

Mike Frison, associate pastor, Knox Presbyterian Church

Bob Lynn, associate pastor, Knox Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Laurie Gailunas, Scientologist, Ann Arbor

The Rev. Barry W. Ludwig, senior pastor, Zion Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor

Board of Trustees, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Ann Arbor

Aaron Goldstein, rabbi, Chabad House

The Rev. Harvey Stob, Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church

The Rev. John Groen, Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church

The Rev. Linda L. Dominick, senior minister, Unity of Ann Arbor

The Rev. Robert Hill, Christian Love Fellowship Church

Pastor Seth S. Kim, Harvest Mission Community Church

The Rev. Mark Vanderput, Covenant Presbyterian Church

Pastor Doug Burch, Evangelical Friends Church

The Rev. Kirk Schneemann, Frontline Church of Ann Arbor

Jason Miller, rabbi, University of Michigan Hillel Foundation

Steven A. Hedquist, stake president, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Barbara J. Yoder, senior pastor, Shekinah Christian Church

The Rev. Levon Yuille, The Bible Church, Ypsilanti

The Rev. Lori Carey, Trinity Lutheran Church

News readers can contribute essays of general interest to Other Voices. Please call the editorial page editor at (734) 994-6764.