Amir Levy/Getty Images
A woman sits near the entrance of a shelter against rockets fired from the Gaza Strip on May 17 in Ashdod, Israel.
My mother, a survivor of Auschwitz and the Death March, always thought Israel’s position on Palestine was a greater threat to the peace and security of Israelis than the Palestinians ever could be. I agree.
OPINION: A few years ago I was writing a review for
The Spinoff of Diana Wichtel’s award-winning book
when, out of the blue, I received two emails from Israel. The first was from a student engaged in Holocaust studies who had come across a book of interviews with children resident in a particular orphanage in Chorzow, Poland. It was compiled by a clinical psychologist in 1947, but published only recently, and only in Hebrew. One of those testimonies was from my mother.
, 10/1/21
Two organisations – the Israel Institute of New Zealand and the NZ Jewish Council – have again accused groups and individuals – including Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman – of anti-Semitism for speaking out against unjust Israeli government actions.
We at
Sh’ma Koleinu/Alternative Jewish Voices challenge the allegation that criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic per se. We are committed New Zealand Jews who support the core Jewish values of social justice, fairness, and human rights. When a state does not live up to these principles, we will stand up and criticise it. Criticism of Israeli policy and actions of a secular government for violating human rights is justified, and cannot be construed as anti-Semitism.
,
10/1/21
Two organisations – the Israel Institute
of New Zealand and the NZ Jewish Council - have again
accused groups and individuals – including Green Party MP
Golriz Ghahraman – of anti-Semitism for speaking out
against unjust Israeli government actions.
We at
Sh’ma Koleinu/Alternative Jewish Voices
challenge the allegation that criticism of Israel is
anti-Semitic per se. We are committed New Zealand Jews who
support the core Jewish values of social justice, fairness,
and human rights. When a state does not live up to these
principles, we will stand up and criticise it. Criticism of
Israeli policy and actions of a secular government for