They just can’t bear it!
JVL Introduction
Extra! Extra! hold the front page!
Jews to celebrate Passover!
Thus the Jewish Chronicle making a matzo pudding as usual…
And no, it’s not an April Fool joke.
This article was originally published by Jewish Chronicle on Wed 1 Apr 2020. Read the original here.
Rabbi Danny Rich to host Seder sponsored by Jewish Voice For Labour
Exclusive: Pro-Corbyn, fringe group’s event will reflect on the ‘continued misery of Israel’s occupation’
Departing Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich has agreed to take part in a “Liberation Seder” sponsored by the fringe, pro-Corbyn Jewish Voice For Labour group that aims to reflect on “the continued misery of Israel’s occupation”.
Invitations for the Seder, which will be broadcast online through Zoom, confirm Rabbi Rich will host the event along with “socialist magician” Ian Saville, who set up the Jews for Jeremy (Corbyn) group on Facebook, and is a member of the Jewish Socialist Group.
JVL official Mike Cushman has this week been sending out emailed notification of the event under the headline “Zoom-in To Our Liberation Seder to members of the pro-Jeremy Corbyn group”.
Stating that Passover ‘’is a joyous celebration of liberation from slavery in Egypt’’, it bills the Seder as “a time to reflect on modern injustices’’ including the ‘’misery of Israel’s occupation.”
The email also confirms that the organisers will be supporting “the British Shalom-Salaam Trust’s emergency appeal for the West Bank and Gaza.”
It adds: “This year, Passover will be like never before, with the traditional family Seder night (Passover service) impossible.”
The JSG and the Jews for Justice for Palestinians organisations are also listed as co-sponsors of Seder, which takes place on April 9.
The Shalom-Salaam Trust’s website states that it has supported events involving “Palestinians, Israeli Jews, migrants and asylum seekers.”
Rabbi Rich has previously sparked anger over his close links to the JVL group, who have repeatedly tried to deny claims of widespread antisemitism in Labour under Mr Corbyn.
The JC also revealed last year how he had invited Mr Corbyn for Friday night dinner.
Rabbi Rich told the JC: “I am now a freelance Jewish educator, acting in a personal capacity, and am happy to offer Jewish teachings and guidance to Jews, and people of other faiths or of no denomination.
“I know many of the individuals involved and may or may not agree with any or some of their political views.
“I am sure you would wish the Jewish community to be sufficiently liberal and mature to enable all Jews to participate in a Seder. After all it was only the wicked child who cut off him or herself from the community.”
Well – it reads to me as pretty damn accurate. The JC are clearly literate enough to read an emailed circular and get it right! I have but two major quibbles.
First is with the phrase ‘the JVL group, who have repeatedly tried to deny claims of widespread antisemitism in Labour under Mr Corbyn’. As an active friend of JVL, I know that the group has not tried to deny the claims – they have happened – but it has done a huge amount to disprove their veracity.
Second, I cannot fathom how the JC missed this British Shalom Salaam Trust self description on its website that “We work in Israel and Palestine, aiming to foster positive relations between Jews, Palestinians and other communities. This includes the rapidly increasing numbers of refugees from Africa and unregistered migrant workers.” Or maybe they have a problem with Jews, Palestinians, Africans, Philippinos etc treating each other as equal human beings
Will this be the most widely attended seder of all time?
When is Lee Harpin going to issue a proper apology to Audrey White rather than the half hearted excuse he published a while ago which was more an ‘oh well we got caught lying but so what’ .
“First is with the phrase ‘the JVL group, who have repeatedly tried to deny claims of widespread antisemitism in Labour under Mr Corbyn’. As an active friend of JVL, I know that the group has not tried to deny the claims – they have happened – but it has done a huge amount to disprove their veracity.”
Naomi: JVL and every reasonable person has tried to reject such claims.
Rightfully so. “widespread antisemitism” does NOT exist in Labour.
And theres no evidence to support such an assertion.