Are Montreal Jews passive?

[eveglass]

Today, I was at a screening of Jenin: Massacring Truth, which was hosted by the CIJR. The movie was interesting and thought-provoking (albeit with a clear bias), and afterwards the conversation among the dozen-odd attendees turned to how to show it to a wider audience, particularly a wider Jewish audience. Someone suggested hosting it in a synagogue, another said that it would never happen because Montreal Jews are "passive." The bitterness in his voice was shocking. If only those Montreal Jews would stand up and DO something! If only they'd be more vocal and supportive of Israel!

The statement went unchallenged, as everyone silently nodded their heads. Those passive Montreal Jews...

I was disturbed at this statement, because I don't find Montreal Jewry passive at all. They donate to Israel. Almost all the Jewish households I know either donate to Israeli charities or have a tzedakah box (where you collect spare change and then donate it to Israel when it gets full).

The Montreal Jewish community sends its youth to Israel to experience the country first-hand. They fund the Birthright Israel programs, letting young Jewish adults travel to Israel for free. They support the March of the Living, which I participated in as a high-school student. Montreal routinely sends the most students from a single city in the world! (249 in 2008, according to this source.)

Montreal Jews educate their children in being Jewish. According to this source, there were 7,000 students enrolled in 33 Jewish schools in 2009. (Caveat: I don't know where they get their numbers.) I went to one of those schools, and we definitely learned about the history of Judaism in general, and of Israel in particular.

Yes, granted, Montreal Jews don't go out on protest marches or even pride marches, flags a-waving and voices raised in chant. That might be because the average Montreal Jew is 41 years old. Let's face it: when you're in your late 30s and early 40s, you show your support by donating money, influencing business and politics where you can, and writing letters to the editor. You don't start shouting the street and screening controversial movies in your synagogue.

Is the Montreal Jewish community passive towards Israel? Hardly! Just because they're not setting up tables next to the Palestinians on campus doesn't mean they're not doing their part. Or at least, that's the way I see it. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Comments

[freya46.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with the gentleman. I think what he meant was the fact that we DON'T set up those tables, or blow our own horns, or march with flags waving.

[eveglass.livejournal.com]

Absolutely that's what he meant. I just think that the lack of tables and marching shouldn't eclipse the stuff that gets done in a quieter way.

[freya46.livejournal.com]

It doesn't eclipse the stuff that gets done quietly. I personally think we should stop being so quiet about the good stuff.... like getting a bunch of Islamic Serbs out of their own land before they were slaughtered by the non Islamics. I didn't notice that any Islamic countries rushed to their aid.

Why wasn't that shouted from the rooftops? Why aren't our leaders combating the constant negative press Israel gets from the Western nations.? Why aren't we demanding results from the interfering Western nations?

It's time our *leaders* did a little shouting and propagandizing of their own.

Sorry, Julie. I didn't mean to hijack your LJ. I just get really frustrated sometimes. I've been shot at as a civilian. I've walked through civilian fields not being sure that all the mines were found. I get tired of hearing how horrible Israel is for refusing to disappear quietly into the night.

[rfmcdpei.livejournal.com]

It's a common enough complaint made about diaspora communities that aren't active enough for the speakers' liking, no matter how active they are: Jews, gays, Serbs, et cetera.

[soch.livejournal.com]

Before I say anything about the Montreal Jewish Community (MJC) in particular, I'd like to point out that having a point of view IS NOT the same as having a bias. I've not seen the movie you watched, but the descriptions sounds like it addresses anti-Israel bias in regards to the supposed Jenin incident. If it really is limited to that topic, or uses that case as an example of media bias, that does not necessarily mean it is made with a bias... certainly not necessarily an extreme bias.

This ties into the discussion of the MJC nicely. See, we question our leaders and organizations. We're taught to. We don't assume that everything negative about our side is false, and everything positive is true. In many ways it is an asset, but when it comes to raising a full-throated defense of Israel, we sing out of tune. We disagree on if, when, and how, to defend Israel, Judaism, or the community, and so end up doing a mediocre job of it, regardless of passionate individuals or groups who spend their time working for the causes.

The organized anti-Israel and anti-Semitic camps (not always the same, but there is significant overlap) on the other hand march in lockstep. From the campus organizers to the media regulars, they don't research issues for themselves, question statements from within their groups, or listen to counter-arguments. It makes them much more effective.

If debating with these people is not enough to teach you that much about these groups, I recommend reading pretty much any of Irshad Manji's books. She addresses the Muslim population of these groups, but while they are not the only population in them, they do represent a large contingent.

That's the only external reference I can think of at the moment that confirms my experiences with these organizations. There are others, and if you really want, bug me about it and I'll dig up more.

I acknowledge there are organizations on the pro-Israel side that are just as biased. I deny that that makes any difference to my point at all - which is that the organized pro-Israel lobby is largely open to (often heated and passionate) debate. Maybe individuals are not, but they are more than balanced by those who are.
This is NOT the case when discussing the organized anti-Israel lobby or the organized anti-Semitic lobbly.