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THE VIEW FROM HERE - Most of America’s leading Jewish agencies like the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Anti-defamation League (ADL) and many Jewish Federation Councils (JFEDs) have supported Woke DEI for years, knowing that they were promoting a form of barbarism which was 100% compatible with Nazism, murderous Islamists like Hamas, and hostile to individual inalienable rights as set forth in the Declaration of Independence. In the early 1970's, when I was briefly assistant area director of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, we faced incipient Wokeism, albeit that name was not used.
In those days, the relationship between Jews and American values were summed up by Marshall Sklare, who among other achievements was editor of the AJC Annual Yearbook and my professors at Yeshiva University. He coined the term “homofluous” from the Greek “homo” meaning the “same” and the Latin “flumen” meaning “river” to highlight that traditional Jewish value and American values flowed together like two rivers. George Washington’s 1790 letter to the Jews of Newport, RI, was based on these shared values and ways of life. Washington explained that in America, no person need to seek government permission to actualize himself, nor did any group such as Jews have to seek tolerance from the government. Instead, each individual human being, no matter his ascriptive characteristics, had inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. In brief, in America no group had inalienable rights because rights attached to the individual and not to the group into which one is born. See Washington’s 1790 Letter
Identity Politics and Wokeism as promoted by Nancy Pelosi, however, did not attribute Jewish success to our work ethic, to our choice to pursue higher status professions (even when closed to us), and to our earning our way based on merit. Instead, Pelosi’s Wokeism cast aside individual behavior in favor of Jews being Oppressors who had stolen their success from Blacks. Like Whites, Jews owed minorities reparations. See Pelosism
Today most nations side with Pelosi and her Wokeism, claiming that the sole cause of any difference between White/Jewish achievement and minorities is racist oppression. Pelosi used her Identity Politics to promote wokeism in higher education, and to advance anti-Semites such as Rep. Ilhan Omar in Congress and to urge Woker President Biden to withhold aid to Israel, while engaging in non-stop Blood Libels against Jews as committing genocide against Gazans. Europe turned far more anti-Semitic than America; far away Australia was particularly anti-Jewish. See Biden’s Blood Libels
Australia’s Timeline Documenting its Anti-semitism Is Unknown to Americans
While Australia’s anti-Semitism was more active than America’s, Wokeism is inherently lethal to Jews everywhere. How could Wokeism have any other outcome? After all, it blames Whites and Jews for all the problems any minority has anywhere in the world. Is it so far-fetched for Australians or Americans, who have no reason to know the realities of Israel, the Palestinians, Hamas, and Islamists, to believe Wokeism’s anti-Jewish propaganda? Australia’s government response to anti-Semitism was so non-existent that it was seen as encouraging violence against Jews. See Australia’s Time Line
Leaders of American Jewish Organizations must Register as Independents
After WW II, when Germany was being de-nazified, no German could identify as a Nazi and hold a position of status. America can expect no less from its Jews. The professional leadership of not-for profit Jewish organizations and their lay officers must de-register from the Dem Party which is being dominated by Wokeism. Just as Nazis could not rebuild Germany, Wokers with their decades of support for the racist Identity Politics cannot rehabilitate America or protect Jewish Americans. Leaders in non-profit Jewish organizations should de-register from any political party and re-register as Independent. The legitimate function of American Jewish institutions is to protect both America and Jews. Because American values and Jewish values are homofluous, all agencies should be non-partisan.
Ron Galperin Must De-Register from the Dem Party
Los Angeles’ former Controller Ron Galperin is the new Interim Director of the Los Angeles Chapter of American Jewish Committee (AJC). Let’s be clear, condemning anti-Semitism while belonging to the most anti-Semitic political party in American history is unacceptable.
While it seems that the ADL is beyond hope, the AJC’s ambivalence on Wokeism is evident. The slaughter of Australian Jews on erev Chanukah 5785 (2024) should make it clear to the American Jewish Committee that its fence sitting is no longer an option. The AJC has to be clear that Wokeism is anti-American and harms all Americans, Jews and non-Jews.
As Rabbi Hillel asked:
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
And if not now, when?"
The AJC has to stop its hypocrisy of condemning individual anti-Semitic actions, which international Wokeism has brought upon us Jews, while accepting millions of tax payer dollars from the Dems to support Woke DEI. AJC’s substituting “Diversity” for “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion” does not solve the problem; it merely highlights that the AJC knows that DEI is indefensible.
Jewish leaders like Ron Galperin have the duty to stand up for America, to stand up for Jews, and to do it now, today. If Jewish leaders do not set an example by distancing their organizations from political parties, then they’re a shanda.
As a Gay Jew, I add the following for Galperin Woke is Bad for Gays
(Richard Lee Abrams is a former Los Angeles-based attorney, an author, and political commentator. A long-time contributor to CityWatchLA, he is known for his incisive critiques of City Hall and judicial corruption, as well as his analysis of political and constitutional issues. Abrams blends legal insight with historical and philosophical depth to challenge conventional narratives. A passionate defender of civic integrity and transparency, he aims to expose misuse of power and advocate for systemic reform in local government. You may email him at [email protected])
