Principal’s blog premature according to the NSWJBD
The principal of Sydney’s largest day school has penned an article in Moriah College’s blog supporting Israel’s sovereignty over Judea and Samaria inviting criticism by The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies.
Moriah president Stephen Jankelowitz and Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler
271 graduates of Australia’s Jewish day schools, youth movements and student leadership have signed a petition demanding communal leadership and institutions take an active stand and make their position against annexation known.
The petition begins: “We write to you as proud graduates of Australia’s Jewish day schools, youth movement Shnat programs, AUJS programs and other community organised trips to Israel.
We believe that all Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live with dignity and equality. As Israel’s newly elected “emergency government” proceeds with its plans to formally annex territory in the West Bank as soon as 1 July, we write with concern about the risks such a move would pose to the future of democracy and equality for all Israelis and Palestinians.”
But Principal of Sydney’s Moriah College Rabbi Yehoshua Shmukler has written an article entitled “The Myth of Annexation” in the school’s official blog.
He wrote: “Many segments of the Jewish world from the right-wing religious camp to the left-wing PC police are opposed to the Trump Peace Plan. Some say that by pursuing the plans and annexing parts of Judea Samaria to Israel, Israel will provoke sanctions from the EU or rejection from the Arab States surrounding Israel who have tenuous peaceful agreements with Israel.”
But The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff said: “As Moriah College is a constituent of The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, we wish to make it clear that the views of Rabbi Smukler do not necessarily reflect thos of the Board of Deputies or of the wider Jewish community.
We believe it is premature to comment on the extension of Israeli sovereignty, if it proceeds, given that the fundamentals of what is proposed have not been clarified.”
A former Moriah student told J-Wire the principal should only from a bipartisan viewpoint showing both sides of the argument.
J-Wire wrote to Rabbi Shmukler asking if his viewpoint is Moriah policy and suggesting if it was a personal one then it should have been published elsewhere.
J-Wire also asked the college how many readers subscribed to the blog.
No responses were received.
271 graduates of Australia’s Jewish Day schools,youth movements and student leadership are apparently ignorant of the fact that what Israel is planning involves the restoration of sovereignty in the biblical heartland of the Jewish People in Judea and Samaria after a 3000 years absence.
The legal right to do so was first recognized by the 1922 League of Nations Mandate for Palestine and preserved by article 80 of the UN Charter.
This all happened well before the invention of terms like “West Bank” (1950) and “Palestinians” (1964).
I wonder how many of these signatories know that the PLO never claimed sovereignty in the “West Bank in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan” when it was formed in 1964?
The Board of Deputies is afraid of its own shadow – missing the big picture Israel’s move involves in completing the long history of the Jewish people to reclaim sovereignty in their ancient homeland – preferring instead to surrender to politicians worldwide who seek to deny the Jews completing what was promised to them by the international community 100 years ago.
Very depressing to see how brainwashing by Arab propaganda has affected so many of the leaders – both young and old – in our community.
What an Absolute Disgrace you have crossed the Line VIC and owe the Rabbi and our democratic community an apology !!