Israel-Bahrain peacemaking draws applause

 

Other items in today’s column include:
*At the synagogues
*Jewish organizational news
*Political bytes

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO — On a day that the world mourns the 2001 terror attack that felled the World Trade Center in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and took the lives of passengers aboard four hijacked airliners, there was some hopeful news as well.  Peace in the Middle East is becoming contagious.  Encouraged by the United States government, Bahrain and Israel have announced that they — like Israel and the United Arab Emirates previously — will sign a peace pact.

On behalf of the Republican Jewish Coalition, former U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota) had this comment Friday:

The UAE and Israel will sign a treaty of peace next week, and now Bahrain and Israel have agreed to normalize relations as well. President Donald Trump has played a key role in these truly historic changes in the Middle East. We commend the President and his team for their efforts to bring Israel and her moderate neighbors in the region together in peace.

Bahrain’s decision to normalize relations with Israel demonstrates the growing conviction in the region that now is the time to set aside old conflicts, stand united against the threat of Iran, and engage in economic, technological, scientific, and cultural cooperation with Israel that will improve the lives of all the peoples of the Middle East.

As we approach Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, these historic diplomatic achievements – fostered by the Trump Administration – give our community hope that the coming year will usher in greater peace and prosperity for Israel. We look forward to seeing more Arab and Muslims states, and one day the Palestinian people, join hands with Israel in peace and friendship.

The Anti-Defamation League ‘s CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt also applauded the U.S. announcement that Bahrain will join the United Arab Emirates in recognizing Israel.  “”Making peace between nations in this manner is a courageous action that will help make the region a safer and more tolerant place,” he said. “We hope the Bahraini and UAE agreements lead others in the region to revisit longstanding opposition to Israel and to move the region away from hate and extremism towards peace and reconciliation.”

From Ori Nir, spokesperson for Americans for Peace Now, came this reaction:

“Today’s announcement of Bahrain’s decision to formalize its relations with Israel, while welcome in and of itself, is used by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to distract from the very real challenges that Israel is facing.

Official normal relations between Israel and Arab states is a positive development, and Bahrain joining the United Arab Emirates in doing so is welcome. But Israel’s national security concerns are not about its relations with Gulf states, which were never in a state of war with Israel. Israel’s chief national security challenge is its continuing occupation of its Palestinian neighbors. Israel’s 53-year-old occupation denies Palestinians their most basic civil and human rights, and has created an apartheid-like situation in the occupied West Bank.

Formally normalizing relations with Arab states that lie far beyond Israel’s horizon is fine. But not if it distracts Israelis, Americans, and other stakeholders in Israeli-Palestinian peace from the disgraceful reality in Israel’s backyard, its ongoing occupation, disregard for Palestinian rights, and continuing settlement expansion. In fact, we worry that this is a motivation behind this otherwise positive trend.

“Normalization with the Arab world is welcome, but not as a tool to normalize the occupation and the conflict with the Palestinians,” said Hadar Susskind, Americans for Peace Now’s President and CEO. “We hope and wish that all stakeholders would find a way to use Israel’s establishing closer relations with Arab states as a way toward a conflict-ending resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

Other comments on the historic development included:

Christians United for Israel (CUFI) –“The descendants of Isaac and Ishmael are embracing one another, and we should all rejoice. Peace is the goal of all people of conscience and every step towards peace should be celebrated. We commend President Trump on his bringing yet another Arab nation and Israel together, and we likewise commend the leadership of Bahrain and Israel for showing the world what is possible when leaders are committed to making peace,” said CUFI founder and Chairman Pastor John Hagee. “From the failed effort to condemn to the UAE-Israel peace agreement at the Arab League to today’s announcement on the normalization of ties between Israel and Bahrain, the anti-Israel, anti-peace naysayers are being ignored. The only path forward for the region is an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict and we are witnessing once unthinkable progress on that front,” added CUFI Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Parker.

*Israeli-American Council: “…This agreement is a product of the hard work and dedication of the United States, Israel, and Bahrain in striving to create a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East. We are thankful for the leadership of President Trump and the U.S. administration in brokering this historic agreement. We commend Israel and Bahrain for their courage and commitment towards launching bilateral relations and for accelerating the winds of change in the region. Bahrain’s choice to join the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan in their recognition of Israel presents a great opportunity for other Arab countries to be part of this shift from boycotts and hostility to cooperation and collaboration. The result will be a more stable and prosperous Middle East.”

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At the synagogues

*In its newsletter, Chabad of University City includes the folktale of a king refusing to hear the petition of a Jewish delegation, unless they included Berel the Wagon Driver within their group.

*Rabbi Cantor Cheri Weiss of the San Diego Outreach Synagogue will be joined via Zoom for Selichot services by Rabbi Jules King of the Desert Outreach Synagogue at 7 p.m., Saturday, September 12.  For more information contact Rabbi Weiss via this email.

*Cantor Dudu Fisher will perform in a pre-holiday concert sponsored by Chabad headquarters in Scripps Ranch and a number of affiliate Chabad houses in the county at 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 13 via Zoom.  More information via this website.

*He is 96 years old, but Cantor Emeritus Sheldon Merel of Congregation Beth Israel will be participating in that Reform congregation’s Internet High Holy Day services.  He has pre-recorded the Shehekiyanu prayer and the Benediction.

*Usumain Baraka, a refugee from Darfur now living in Israel, will speak about minorities in Israel at 8:30 p.m. prior to Selichot services at Tifereth Israel Synagogue to be led by Rabbi Josh Dorsch and Cantor Hanan Leberman.  The cantor, residing in Israel, will introduce Baraka during the Zoom services.  More information via this website.

*Young Israel of San Diego is taking orders through Thursday, Sept 24, for arba minim sets for Sukkot. They may be ordered via this website.

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Jewish organizational news

*The Jewish Education Project has received a $20 million seed gift from the Marcus Foundation to provide major subsidies for teenagers seeking to participate in group travel to Israel with such organizations as BBYO, USY, Ramah, Union for Reform Judaism and NCSY.  “Teen travel to Israel is a deeply impactful experience that can set a teen on a path for ongoing, meaningful Jewish engagement filled with lifelong friendships,” says David Bryfman, CEO of The Jewish Education Project. “We are thrilled to partner with these youth serving organizations that have the track record and experience of running great Israel travel programs. Now, together, we can transform the field and elevate the experience to make it more accessible for more teens.”

*The South African Jewish American Community (SAJAC) holds a Zoom forum on genetic diseases affecting Ashkenazi Jews at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, with chat room discussions to follow.  Keynote speaker will be A. Karim Kader, M.D., Ph.D, chief medical officer and cofounder of Stratify Genomics and a UCSD professor of urology. Other speakers will include Franklin Gaylis, M.D., FACS, chief scientific officer at Genesis Healthcare Partners; Clive Essakow, providing a lay person’s perspective on prostate cancer, and Sara Abelsohn, who will tell of her experience as a BRCA carrier detected after her mother, Sandi Abelsohn,z”l, died of breast cancer.  Registration via this website.

*High School juniors may apply for Bronfman Fellowships for five weeks of travel to Israel next summer, followed by monthly virtual experiences and a winter and spring seminar in the United States.  More information via this website.

*Respectability has released a guide for congregations that wish to make their High Holy Day services more accessible for people with disabilities.  it may be viewed via this website.

*Scholars for Peace in the Middle East present via Internet a discussion with Elan S. Carr, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16.  Registration via this website.

*StandWithUs reports that bidding is continuing through Sunday for a portrait of Theodor Herzl by artist Solomon Souza.  More information via this website.

*AMCHA Initiative is circulating a petition asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto a bill requiring ethnic studies courses in public schools, or to insist upon safeguards preventing anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism from being part of those courses.  More information via this website.

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Political bytes

53rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT — The Progressive Turnout Project, which turns Democrats out to vote on Election Day, has endorsed San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez in the race to succeed retiring Congresswoman Susan Davis.  “In the midst of Donald Trump’s unprecedented attacks on fair and free elections, Georgette Gómez has served San Diegans with the ethics and accountability that being a public official demands. Congress needs elected officials with the integrity of Georgette Gómez, and San Diego needs her in Congress. We are proud to support her campaign,” the organization’s statement said.  Meanwhile, rival candidate Sara Jacobs has won the endorsement of  U.S. Rep. TJ Cox (D-California).  Cox,  the first Filipino American elected to Congress from California, commented: “Sara Jacobs is the kind of leader we need more of in Congress. She’s passionate, sharp and has experience building diverse coalitions in and out of government. We have a tremendous amount of work to do to get our economy and country back on track in the next Congress and Sara is ready to meet these challenges head-on. We’ll miss Susan Davis – and she leaves big shoes to fill – but Sara is going to be an excellent addition to our California delegation.”

SAN DIEGO MAYOR’S RACE — Responding to a demand by Assemblyman Todd Gloria,  KNSD/ Channel 39 (Cable 7) retracted a story that suggested he was involved in underhanded dealings in the City of San Diego’s ill-fated decision to acquire 101 Ash Street building, now unable to be occupied because of asbestos problems and other issues.  Gloria had said a footnote was forged to a document upon which the story was based.  In another development, Gloria attacked his opponent, San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, saying she is helping corporations deny their employees sick leave, health care and unemployment benefits.  Bry responded that the non-specific attack apparently referred to her opposition to AB 5, a bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez and co-authored by Gloria, that required companies like Lyft and Uber, to treat their drivers as employees rather than as independent contractors, and imposed similar requirements on other industries operating in the gig economy.  Bry said that AB5, which since has been amended to exclude some industries, “has resulted in thousands of people out of work, and businesses hiring outside of California to fill the gaps. This is devastating for workers and bad news for California, especially during this pandemic.”

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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.   He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com