Bend the Arc claims to be “a movement of progressive Jews across the country who are fighting for justice and equality for all.” Of course, progressive equates to liberal. And ironically, among those liberal Jews are some of Israel’s harshest critics. You could call them Israel-hating Jews. They loved Obama’s hatred of Netanyahu and they hate Trump for his friendship with Israel.
When President Trump announced he planned to visit the Tree of Life synagogue, the Pittsburgh chapter of Bend the Arc sent him an open letter denouncing his words and policies and telling him he is not welcome in Pittsburgh. The letter all but accused Trump of being directly responsible for the synagogue massacre.
Here is that Bend the Arc letter:
President Trump:
Yesterday, a gunman slaughtered 11 Americans during Shabbat morning services. We mourn with the victims’ families and pray for the wounded. Here in Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood, we express gratitude for the first responders and for the outpouring of support from our neighbors near and far. We are committed to healing as a community while we recommit ourselves to repairing our nation.
For the past three years your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement. You yourself called the murderer evil, but yesterday’s violence is the direct culmination of your influence.
President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism.
Our Jewish community is not the only group you have targeted. You have also deliberately undermined the safety of people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities. Yesterday’s massacre is not the first act of terror you incited against a minority group in our country.
President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you stop targeting and endangering all minorities.
The murderer’s last public statement invoked the compassionate work of the Jewish refugee service HIAS at the end of a week in which you spread lies and sowed fear about migrant families in Central America. He killed Jews in order to undermine the efforts of all those who find shared humanity with immigrants and refugees.
President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you cease your assault on immigrants and refugees.
The Torah teaches that every human being is made b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God.
This means all of us.
In our neighbors, Americans, and people worldwide who have reached out to give our community strength, there we find the image of God. While we cannot speak for all Pittsburghers, or even all Jewish Pittsburghers, we know we speak for a diverse and unified group when we say:
President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you commit yourself to compassionate, democratic policies that recognize the dignity of all of us.
Signed,
Bend the Arc: Pittsburgh Steering Committee
This organization has no shame! It has shamed me, a Jew. It has shamed all of America’s Jews, both the liberal and the conservative Jews. It has used the synagogue massacre as a means to further its left-wing political agenda. Bend the Arc makes me want to puke.
What the jerks at Bend the Arc don’t seem to realize is that all their shameful letter does is fuel more anti-Semitism.
At least Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who was leading prayers in the main sanctuary of the Tree of Life synagogue when the gunman burst in, had the decency to welcome a visit by the President.
I don’t usually agree with Mr. Katz, but his assessment is spot on here.
No. Nearly every Jew I know thinks Netanyahu is a dangerous undemocratic criminal. Of course, they also think Trump is a demagogue and conman.
Benjamin Netanyahu has been elected to office as Prime Minister, in free elections, 4 different times, three of them consecutively. Obviously the Jews you know are missing something that the people in Israel have seen. (They are also wrong about Trump). I’d suggest you find some brighter Jews to hang out with.
Not so fast there Fat. First of all, I have always been a strong supporter of Netanyahu. And I do not hang around with liberal Jews either. I don’t know what gave you that idea. Almost all of my friends are good Christians like yourself. I suggest you stop getting your exercise by jumping to conclusions.
Howie,
I was addressing Easter’s comment, NOT your article! Your article never mentions P.M. Netanyahu.
BTW, I think Mr. Netanyahu may be the best Prime Minister Israel has ever had. He’s certainly the right man for the time.
And I absolutely agree with your article. Shalom!
Fat, thanks old pal. It looks like I’m the one that got his exercise by jumping to conclusions. Sorry about that.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers also had pointed remarks that applied to Trump and others.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/10/30/rabbi-jeffrey-myers-leaders-stop-hate-newday-vpx.cnn
Sadly, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers has now caved as well.
Howie your in good company. CBD at Ace of Spades had the exact same take on Bend the Arc that you did. Liberal Jews are just as Marxist as other liberals. They use their religion as their shield.
Top banner on their website:
If politicians are going to enable the immoral agenda of the Trump administration and the Republican Party, we’re going to hold them accountable. And we won’t hesitate to organize and fundraise to replace them with progressive champions.
comment from CBD: The answer is that these people are not Jews…they are leftists first and foremost, and any connection to Judaism and world Jewry is a convenient tool with which to further the explicitly stated goals of Socialism.