To recap: Watertown unceremoniously kicked the ADL’s No Place for Hate program out of town when the ADL refused to recognize the Armenian genocide as a genocide. The head of the ADL’s New England office, Andrew Tarsy, with the support of his regional board of directors, bravely spoke out against the ADL’s stance and was promptly fired.
The good news is that the Greater Boston Jewish community has now rallied around Tarsy and stood up for our Armenian neighbors. The Globe reported today that the JCRC, the CJP, the BJE, and others in the alphabet soup of establishment Jewry are publicly supporting Tarsy and recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
Sadly, Grand Rabbi Korff, scion of a famous Chasidic dynasty and the Chaplain of the City of Boston, has supported the national ADL on the grounds that it is better suited than the Boston office to assess “very sensitive international and diplomatic nuances and ramifications.” I will assume that Rabbi Korff is right on this point; probably the national ADL is better attuned to diplomacy and matters of state. But the ADL is not AIPAC. It is a civil rights organization that should be focusing on what’s right, not on what’s in the geopolitical interests of Israel, Turkey, or the United States.
TedF
afertig says
The crucial next step, I believe, has got to be starting to persuade the NY branch of the ADL to speak up for Tarsy. The national ADL won’t change its tune unless the New York Jewish community — specifically those who help finance the ADL — starts challenging Foxman.
iandb1 says
See these threads on DemocraticUnderground.com
<
p>
Antibias effort stirs anger in Watertown, Debate focuses on Armenian genocide
Topic started by IanDB1 on Aug-02-07 11:11 AM (1 replies)
Last modified by notmyprez on Aug-03-07 11:58 PM
http://www.democrati…
<
p>
Anti-Gay Bigot Y. A. Korff fto speak at memorial for fallen police officers in Mattapan– June 3rd
Topic started by IanDB1 on Jun-02-07 06:29 PM (0 replies)
http://www.democrati…
<
p>
Patriots Who Love the Troops to Death (NYT: Frank Rich eviscerates the sissyhawks)
Topic started by Aviation Pro on Aug-05-07 01:01 PM (6 replies)
Last modified by IanDB1 on Aug-06-07 08:02 AM
http://www.democrati…
<
p>
The Redstone Saga. Falling out puts future of cinema chains run from Dedham in doubt
Topic started by IanDB1 on Aug-06-07 07:58 AM (0 replies)
http://www.democrati…
<
p>
Relationship Between Sumner, Shari Redstone “Shattered”
Topic started by IanDB1 on Jul-30-07 09:56 AM (5 replies)
Last modified by IanDB1 on Jul-30-07 04:20 PM
http://www.democrati…
tedf says
iandb1, I think it’s way over the line to call Rabbi Korff and (if I’m reading your post right) his forebearers “evil trolls.” You’re entitled to your opinion about his views on the Armenian Genocide or any other public issue, but I don’t think you show either wisdom or decorum by attacking a major religious figure so venemously. And I think that your post can be read as an unfounded attack on Chassidism. So I suggest you tone it down.
<
p>
TedF