Letters By Pablo Nankin: Jews vs Jews?

JWeekly.com: Figures who once defined Jewish establishment line up behind J Street
Letter to the Editor —

By Pablo Nankin, M.D.

Today marks another anniversary of October 7, 2023, a day of profound sorrow. More than a thousand people were killed in Israel in the Hamas attack. The victims included children and families, and the attacks involved killings, torture, sexual violence, and people being burned. It is a day that should be remembered and mourned by anyone who values human life.

However, if we have to rely on certain Jews to speak up for Jews and Israel, we have a problem.

For example, J Street and Jewish Voice for Peace, organizations supposedly representing the Jewish people, have chosen to affiliate themselves with other organizations and individuals with whom many in the Jewish community strongly disagree.

This is precisely why we are always behind the eight ball. Organizations and individuals can describe themselves as Jewish, and because they carry that Jewish identity, many people automatically give their statements greater credibility. That assumption needs to be challenged. People and organizations should be judged by what they say and do, not simply by the fact that they identify as Jewish.

We are seeing a similar problem in New York. Some Jewish voters appear to place their identification with the Democratic Party ahead of other considerations, even when the candidate they support has made statements or taken positions that critics regard as hostile toward Jews or Israel. A significant percentage of Jewish voters supported him, and similar voting patterns do occur in other communities, including Minnesota and elsewhere.

Before donating to any of these organizations or communities, we need to know exactly who they are, what they stand for, and where their funding comes from. Donors should investigate the sources of financial support and understand whether foreign governments, wealthy individuals, foundations, or other organizations are contributing to groups whose activities they support.

We need transparency, accountability, and the willingness to examine groups or individuals based on their actions rather than simply accepting their claimed identities or affiliations.