BRATTLEBORO-I am sad to see that a petition for a ballot article in Brattleboro and other towns that includes language calling for others to join in "working to end all support of Israel's apartheid regime, settler colonialism and military occupation."
Israel is not a settler colonial state. The existence of Israel is existential for Jews and a pillar of Jewish belief.
The proposed article disproportionately criticizes Israel and minimizes Hamas's, Iran's, and other nations' role in the current war in Israel and Gaza.
As described on the website of the Shalom Alliance, "Not all criticism of Israel is antisemitic. Criticism of Israel becomes antisemitic when it presents as one of the 'three Ds' as defined by Israeli human rights advocate Natan Sharansky:...
BRATTLEBORO-How to murder a school: Trash talk it and undermine board members; repeatedly vote to close it. Persuade parents to withdraw their students; drive out dedicated, talented staff. Sue it. Jean Anne Kiewel Brattleboro This letter to the editor was submitted to The Commons. This piece, published in print...
It's mighty presumptuous to tell the members of the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community they are demonstrating "white fragility" when expressing their fears in the current political environment. I believe equating the slogans of "Black Lives Matter" and "From the River to the Sea" and the movements behind them is...
A ceasefire requires the participation of at least two parties. The demand for an immediate permanent ceasefire in the current Hamas war is a demand that Israel unilaterally surrender to Hamas. Hamas broke the ceasefire in existence on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas's stated mission is to destroy Israel and Jewish people. Israel must stop indiscriminate bombing, allow safe passage of innocents from the war zone, oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cronies, elect a democratic government that will respect...
Contrary to what Erica Walch writes, a “compelling State interest” limiting personal reproductive autonomy is clearly defined in United States law, and we need passage of Article 22 to the Vermont Constitution to limit it and protect Vermonters' right to abortion. Article 22 states: “That an individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one's own life course and shall not be denied or infringed unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved...
I have no accolades for U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, or any members of the Trump administration testifying before the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol. It is the least they can do to atone for their roles in putting Trump in power and carrying out his bidding up to the point when even they couldn't stomach it anymore, or got called out. In its post about Cheney's primary defeat, “Liz Cheney Was...
I am supporting Becca Balint for Congress because she has integrity, grit, and compassion. My late husband and I met Balint at a candidate forum when she was first running for Windham County senator. We liked everything she had to say, except about marijuana (cannabis). She was against legalizing it. We didn't vote for her that (and only) time. After she won, at our request, she came to a meeting of medical marijuana patients and advocates of recreational use. She...
I am an American Jew. I support Judaism, Jewish history, philosophy, and culture. That includes Israel, Israeli art, culture, and people. Projects, arts, and organizations that support Israelis and Palestinians, Arabs and Jews, communicating, making art, and working together for peace make me happy. My family members have worked in such organizations in Israel and the U.S. That is why I chose to attend and enjoy the Yemen Blues concert at Next Stage Arts in Putney on June 13. I...