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Controversy over B.D.S. groups funded by UJA & JCRC marching in US Jewish parade persists


Jeff Dunetz takes aim at the United Jewish Appeal and the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) pressure groups they finance. These groups attempt to try to influence Israeli policy on Judea and Samaria through economic pressure and Washington lobbying. 

"Why I Won't Be Going To Today's Israel Parade (And Why You Shouldn't Donate To UJA)" by Jeff Dunetz in "Yid with Lid."
"Your donations to UJA go to delegitmize the state of Israel. The findings come on the back of a JCCWatch investigation on Tuesday that showed that UJA-Federation leadership have been pressuring former Israeli diplomats, and the office of the current Consul-General in New York, to give cover for their support of the New Israel Fund to participate in this weekend’s Israel Day Parade.
Israeli Knesset's Nissim Ze'ev led NY rally opposing BDS'ers in Parade, 4/8/14
Flanking him Rabbi David Algaze & Helen Friedman (Photo:Maxine Dovere)
From "Israel Rejects as ‘False’ UJA Federation’s Claims about Israel Parade ‘Inclusion’" by  Lori Lowenthal Marcus in The Jewish Press 

The organizers of the event, N.Y. City’s Jewish Community Relations Council and its financial big brother, New York City’s UJA-Federation, insist a show of unity is what matters. ...
Richard Allen, a New York City businessman and the driving force behind JCCWatch.org‘s effort to expose and to end the participation of those who seek to harm Israel in the Celebrate Israel Parade, had this response to the latest Federation statement: “It is sad that the UJA-Federation continues to connive and hoodwink the Jewish community as they provide support to groups that work for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. Their current leadership has corrupted this once great charitable organization. They must remove those within their Board that support these anti-Israel groups.”
We caught-up with several people involved in the controversy at the parade in 2013. (Advance through the video playlist using menu on top or next arrows on lower left).



It appears that the issue is getting further, not closer, to a solution in the years since.

At annual, Ariel Avrech Memorial Lecture, African-American radio-host, Larry Elder, takes-on anti-Semitism in Black culture

Screenwriter/author Robert Avrech and wife Karen hold an annual Ariel Avrech Memorial Lecture, in memory of their son, which features Zionistic and conservative communicators addressing an audience at their temple, Young Israel of Century City.

In the 2015 Lecture, radio host Larry Elder discussed why Black anti-Semitism is misplaced- and why Jews and Israel deserve greater respect and friendship than the Black leadership and community have offered.


Larry Elder responds to Jews' questions about African-American conduct towards Jews.



Attorney, Baruch Cohen, offers his views of the Black anti-Semitism and scapegoating of Jews which Mr. Elder addressed.

Orthodox Jewish author and radio-host, Ben Shapiro, will present the next address on May 22, 2016. 

Celebrate Israeli Festival event inspires Israel's family & friends across America

Event is one of five, Israeli-American Council-organized public Israeli Independence events being held around the US this month.

An estimated 15,000 Zionistic Americans and Israelis celebrated Israeli Independence and Jerusalem Day at the Celebrate Israel Festival in Los Angeles' Rancho Park on Sunday, May 17, 2015. 

Dennis Prager and Consul General David Siegel were among the luminaries who spoke with JewTube after addressing the crowd, which was comprised of Israeli-Americans, Jewish-Americans, and some Zionistic - Christians. I.A.C. organizational leaders also spoke to JewTube about their role in adapting the previously low-budget, San Fernando Valley event. The video-playlist plays automatically in the first raster frame, or you may select your preference from the menu of a dozen clips is in the upper left corner. Several of the segments are parsed below the fold.




Excerpts can be found in the next section.

Celebrate Israel Festival unites Zionistic Americans and Israelis to rejoice with Zionist pride

Celebrate Israel Festival is held in America's 2nd most populous Jewish city, Los Angeles, annually. Enjoy some video clips from JooTube's coverage at last year's Festival.

Rabbi's "Roadmap Genesis" leads Jews and Christians together

Roadmap Genesis is a film that makes the case that the Book of Genesis is an international roadmap for morality across faiths.



The film exposes viewers to a wide spectrum of ideas and dialogues, including conversations with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Alan Dershowitz, Rabbi David Wolpe, Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, and Rabbi Sharon Brous. Roadmap Genesis promises to lift the U.S. out of its current decline, and return it to prosperity, promise, and accomplishment. 

"Roadmap: Genesis" director, Rabbi (in training) Nolan Lebovitz @ L.A. Jewish Film Festival spoke with us at the premiere. 
Question and Answer period of Roadmap Genesis panel discussion with Rabbis David Wolpe  (Sinai Temple) and Sharon Brous (IKAR),  moderated by Jewish Journal Managing Editor, Susan Freudenheim (left).

Dutch Resistance fighter honored for humanitarian work by filmmaking project at LA Musuem of Holocaust & LA Jewish Film Festival

Dutch Resistance survivor, Curt Lowens' story of escape and resistance during World War II to the screen (see below) was produced into a film, A Life of Changes," at last summer's Harvard-Westlake's Summer Film program, with the Righteous Conversations Digital Storytelling Workshop. Their mentor filmmakers and animators were Alyssa Sherwood, Cosmo Segurson, and Cheri Gaulke.



Hilary Helstein, Executive Director of the L.A. Jewish Film Festival, explains how the 70th annivesary of the liberation of Auschwitz factored in to the selections at the 10th annual Festival.

Curt Lowens was presented an Humanitarian Award for the lives he helped save against Nazis- and educating the next generations to defeat anti-Semitism before it gets out of hand.

Watch the presentation and Curt Lowens' story in his own words in this JewTube exclusive video.

Watch "A Life of Changes" on Vimeo
Curt Lowens: A Life of Changes from TheRighteousConversationsProject on Vimeo.

Netanyahu forms new government; Judiciary positions go to Bennett's Jewish Home Party/ Habayit haYehudi

Bennett & Netanyahu announce coalition agreement (Photo:Emil Salman/HaAretz)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finalized a deal late Wednesday evening to establish a new governing coalition, concluding weeks of negotiations after his March 17 election landslide victory, Israel Radio reported.

An announcement from Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud Party said that the prime minister would deliver a joint statement with Naftali Bennett, the leader of the pro-settler Jewish Home Party, who was the final hold out in the coalition haggling.

Mr. Netanyahu’s new majority is likely to have just 61 seats held by right-wing and religious factions, leaving Mr. Netanyahu with little margin for error in the 120-seat parliament, known as the Knesset.

Read More in the Wall St. Journal

Ha'Aretz reports: "According to the deal, aside from the education portfolio, Habayit Hayehudi will get both the justice portfolio and the chairmanship of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, giving it unique control over the judiciary. The party will also hold the deputy defense minister position, and will get control of the Civil Authority, in charge of the Israeli-controlled areas of the West Bank."

L.A. Jewish Film Festival opens with bio-pic of Sophie Tucker, the female Al Jolson


Actress, Kat Kramer at the L.A. Jewish Film Festival premiere
The 2015 premiered with a screening of biography, The Outrageous Sophie Tucker by Lloyd and Susan Ecker.

The week-long, Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival began in a big way with the Los Angeles premiere for the biography, “The Outrageous Sophie Tucker.” This film from Susan and Lloyd Ecker tells the story of legendary entertainer Sophie Tucker who shocked and enthralled audiences with her booming voice, outsized personality and musical talent. The film features appearances by Tony Bennett, Carol Channing, Michael Feinstein, Shecky Green, Bruce Vilanch and Mamie Van Doren. 

JooTube interviewed director William Grecki, Sophie Tucker and Ted Shapiro performers Suzy Williams and Brad Kay, and filmed the post-screening discussion with the producers, moderated by Stan Taffel, Emmy-Award winner and classic film archivist.


The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival runs from April 30 to May 7th.