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Magda Teter, 52, educator, scholar and writer
Magda Teter, 52, is the first-ever Shvidler Chair in Judaic Studies at Fordham University, the Jesuit university in the Bronx. Although she is not Jewish, Teter is passionate about Jewish history and culture โ as she tells the New York Jewish Week, she grew up in Poland at a time when it was taboo to discuss Jews or Jewish history. As the co-director of Fordhamโs Center for Jewish Studies, sheโs spearheaded a unique, only-in-New York project: a growing collection of items that detail the once-thriving Jewish community in the Bronx, including yearbooks full of Jewish last names, bar mitzvah invitations and phonebooks full of Jewish-owned businesses. โItโs not only preserving a piece of New York Jewish history, but also a way of life,โ she says.
For the full list of this yearโs 36 to Watch โ which honors leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers who are making a difference in New Yorkโs Jewish community โ click here.
Who is your New York Jewish hero?
Salo Wittmayer Baron, a historian and a community leader
Whatโs a fun/surprising fact about you?
One of my masterโs theses was on the Mongolian translation of the Hebrew Bible
How does your Jewish identity or experience influence your work?
I am not Jewish, but Jewish history and, especially, the Jewish past in Poland have shaped who I am. Growing up in Poland and witnessing the salient past, presence and the stark current absence of Jews were formative for me. Over the decades of studying Jewish history and culture, I have become passionate about its relevance to the broader world. Understanding Jewsโ place in history and society, on their own terms but also on the terms imposed on them from the outside, holds much relevance today. Perhaps especially today.
Do you have a favorite inspiring quote?
โThe horror of the Holocaust is not that it deviated from human norms; the horror is that it didnโtโ โ Yehuda Bauer. And: โHate, it has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yetโ โ Maya Angelou.
What is your favorite place to eat Jewish food in New York?
I miss โMy Favoriteโ restaurant at West 72nd Street and especially their desserts. Now, itโs Hummus Place.
What are three spots in NYC that all Jewish New Yorkers should visit?
1. Fordham Universityโs Walsh Family Library and the exhibits in its Henry S. Miller Judaica Research Room (of course!).
2. The Grand Concourse in the Bronx (the Heinrich Heine Fountain; the Bronx Museum, which is a former synagogue; Grand Concourse Seventh Day Adventist Temple, which was Adath Israel until 1972 and more).
3. Teitel Brothers on Arthur Avenue โ one of the oldest Jewish businesses in the Bronx (check out the Star of David on the mosaic floor).
Want to keep up with stories of other innovative Jewish New Yorkers?ย Click here to subscribe to the New York Jewish Weekโs free email newsletter.
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The post Magda Teter, 52, educator, scholar and writer appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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How to face lifeโs difficulties with total confidence
ืืื ืึทืืื ืงืขื ืืขื ืืื ืืึทืืืึธืจืขื ืขื ืคึฟืื ืืืขืจื ืคึผืึทืจืึทืืืืืจื ืืืขื ืืขื ืฉืืืื ืคึฟืึทืจ ืึท ืกืืืืึทืฆืืข ืืืึธืก ืืขื ืืืืก ืืื ืึท ืืขืคึฟืึทืจ?
ืืขืจ ืขื ืืคึฟืขืจ ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืคึผืฉืื: ืืขื ืืึทืจืฃ ืืึทืืจืึทืืื ืื ืกืืืืึทืฆืืข ืืื ืึท ืคึฟืึทืจืืขืกื, ืึทื ืฉืืึธื ืืื ืึท ืืึทืืจืึธืื ื.
ืึธืืขืจ ืืื ืึทืืื ืงืขื ืืขื ืืขืจืืจืืืื ืึทืืึท ืขื ืืขืจืื ื ืคึฟืื ืขื ืงืืงืืืื ืงื, ืึทื ืึทื ืฉืืึธื ืืื ืฆื ืคึฟืืื ืืขืจืืจืืงื ืืื ืึทื ืืืืืืงื, ืืึธื ืืขื ืืื ืคึฟืืื ืืขืฉืืึทืจืงื ืืื ืืึธืืืืืืจื?
ืฆื ืืขื ืืึทืจืฃ ืืขื ืฆืืืื ืืึทืื: ืขืจืฉืื ืก, ืืื ืคึฟืึธืจืฉืืขืื ืืขื ืจืขืืืืืึทื ืืืึธืก ืืขื ืืืขื ืืึธืื ืืืขื ืืขื ืืืขื ืืืืขืจืงืืืขื ืื ืฉืืืขืจืืงืืื, ืืื ืฆืืืืืื ืก, ืืื ืืขืืขืจืืง ืฆืืืจืืืื, ืึผืื ืฆื ืงืขื ืขื ืืฆืืื ืืฒึทื ืืื ืืืืขืจืงืืืขื ืื ืึทืจืืืกืคึฟืึธืืขืจืื ืืขื.
ืืื ืืขืจ ืคึผืจืฉื ืื ืืืึธื, ืืืฆื, ืืืืขื ืขื ืืืจ ืืื ืืขืงืึฟ ืึธืืื ื ืืื ืึทืจืืืก ืคึฟืื ืืฒึทื ืืึทืื ืก ืืืื ืืื ืืืจึพืฉืึฟืข, ืืื ืืื ืืขืืึธืื ืืื ืืืขื ืงืืื ืืจื, ืฆืื ืืืื ืคึฟืื ืืฒึทื ืืืืื ืคึฟืื ืืขืจ ืืึทืืขืก ืฆื, ืืชืืื. ืขืจ ืืึธื ืืึธืก ืืขืืืื ืืึธื ืืืฒึทื ืขืจ ืืึธื ืืขืืืึผืกื ืึทื ืืฒึทื ืืจืืืขืจ ืขืฉืื ืืืื ืืื ืืจืืขื ืขื. ืืขืงืึฟ, ื ืืฉื ืขืฉืื, ืืึธื ืืึธื ืืึทืงืืืขื ืื ืืจืืืช ืคึฟืื ืืืืขืจ ืืึทืื ืืฆืืง.
ืกืณืืื ืึธืืขืจ ืืึธ ืึท ืฆืืืืืืข ืกืืื ืคึฟืึทืจ ืืขืงืึฟืก ื ืกืืขื. ืขืจ ืืึธื ืืขืืึทืจืคึฟื ืืืื ืึท ืฉืืืื, ืืืฒึทื ืืฒึทื ืข ืขืืืขืจื ืืขื ืขื ื ืืฉื ืืขืืืขื ืฆืืคึฟืจืืื ืืืื ืืืืคึฟืคึฟืืจ ืคึฟืื ืื ืคึฟืจืืืขื ืืื ืืืืืืขื ืืื ืึผื ืขื.
ืืึธืืืจ ืืื ืึทืจืฒึทื ืฉืืขืื ืืื ืืฒึทื ืืฆืึฟ. ืืึธืก ืืขืื ืืื ืืืจึพืฉืึฟืข ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจ ืืขืงืึฟื ืืขืืืขื ืจืืึดืง ืืื ืืึทืงืืืขื. ืขืจ ืืึธื ืืขืืืืื ื ืืฒึท ืืฒึทื ืข ืขืืืขืจื; ืืฒึทืขื ืืืง ืึท ืืืืจ ืืึธื ืขืจ ื ืื ืืขืืึทืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืงืืื ืืึทืืื ืืขืจืข ืืืืืช, ืืื ืืึธื ืืขืงืขื ื ืืื ืึธืคึผืืขืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืชึผืืจื ืืื ืคึผืขืจืืขื ืืขืืขืจ ืึทื ืืืืืงืืื ื. ืืื ืคึผืืืฆืืื ื, ืืึธื ืขืจ ืืขืืืื ืึทื ืืืืืคึฟื ืคึฟืื ืืขื ืืึทืงืืืขืืขื ืืื ืืึทืฉืืฆืื ืืฆืึฟ, ืืื ืืื ืึทืจืืืกืืึธืื ืืืืฃ ืึท ืืืขื ืฆื ืึทื ืึธืจื ืืืึธืก ืืื ืืขืืืขื ืคึฟืื ืืื ืฉืืืขืจืืงืืืื ืืื ืกืึผื ืืช.
ืืืดื ืืขืจืงืืขืจื ืึทื ืืขืจ ื ืึธืืขื ืคึฟืื ืืขื ืฉืืึธื ืืจื, ืืืึผืืื ืขืจ ืืื ืืขืืึทื ืืขื, ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืืื ืื ืืืื ืืืึธืจื โืืจืื ืืฃโ, ืืืึธืก ืืืื ื ืึผืขืก, ืืืฒึทื ืืขืจ ืืืืคึฟืคึฟืืจ ืคึฟืื ืื ืืฒึทื ืืืืื ืขืจ ืืึธื ืึทืจืืืกืืขืจืืคึฟื ืืขื ืึผืขืก ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืืืืขืจืฉืื.
ืืขืจืฆื ืืื ืืฒึทื ืคึฟืขืืขืจ ืืึฟื, ืืืึธืก ืืึธื ืืขืืืืื ื ืืื ืืชืืื, ืืขืืืขื ืืึทืจืืื ืืื ืืฒึทื ืืืืขืจืืขืืงืืื.
ืงืขื ืขื ืืืจ ืืื ืคึฟืึธืจืฉืืขืื ืึท ืืจืขืกืขืจื ืงืึธื ืืจืึทืกื ืฆืืืืฉื ืืขืจ ืจืืึดืงืืื ืคึฟืื ืืฒึทื ืืืืืืฉืขืจ ืกืึฟืืึฟื ืืื ืืขื ืฉืืืขืจื ืืฆืึฟ ืืืึธืก ืืึธื ืืื ืืขืจืืืึทืจื ืืื ืืฒึทื ื ืฒึทืขื ืึธืจื?
ืึธื ืงืืื ืกืคึฟืง ืืึธื ืขืจ ืืกืชึผืื ืืขืคึฟืืื ืึทื ืืกืื, ืืืืืืืขืจืงืืื ืืื ืืืืคึฟืืึธืืืงืืื.
ืื ืชึผืืจื ืืึทืฉืจืฒึทืื ืืื ืืขืงืึฟ ืืึธื ืืืืคึฟื ืืืขื ืืื ืึธืคึผืืขืฉืืขืื ืืึทืืืขื ืขื, ืืื ืืื ืขืจ ืืึธื ืืขื ืืืขื ืฉืืืื ืขืจ ืึผืื ืืื ืฆื ืืึทืฉืืฆื ืคึฟืื ืืืืืืข ืืืืช ืืฉืขืช ืขืจ ืืึธื ืืื ืืขืืืืื ืฉืืึธืคึฟื ืืืืคึฟื ืืืขื.
ืืื ืืฒึทื ืืืื ืืึธื ืืขืงืึฟ ืืขืืขื ืึท ืืืืืขืจ ืืืึธืก ืืื ืืขืฉืืึทื ืขื ืืืืฃ ืืขืจ ืขืจื, ืืื ืืฒึทื ืฉืคึผืืฅ ืืึธื ืืขืจืืจืืืื ืืืื ืืืื. ืขืจ ืืึธื ืืขืืขื ืืืืืื ืึทืจืืืคึฟืืืื ืืื ืึทืจืึธืคึผืืืื ืืืืคึฟื ืืืืืขืจ.
ืืขืจ ืืืืืขืจืฉืืขืจ ืืึธื ืฆื ืืื ืืขืจืขืื ืืื ืฆืืืขืืึธืื ืืื ืฆื ืืึทืฉืืฆื. ืขืจ ืืึธื ืืืืขืจืืขืืืจื ืืฒึทื ืืึฟืืื ืฆื ืืขืื ืืฒึทื ืข ืงืื ืืขืจ ืืึธืก ืืึทื ื ืืืืฃ ืืืขืืื ืขืจ ืืื ืืขืืขืื. ืืขืจืฆื ืืึธื ืขืจ ืืื ืืขืืขื ืืฉื ืืื ืึท ืืจืืืกืขืจ ืืื ืืฉืืึฟืขืจ ื ืึธืืงืืืขืจืฉืึทืคึฟื, ืกืฒึท ืืื ืึผืืืช ืืื ืกืฒึท ืืื ืืืืืช.
ืืืขื ืืขืงืึฟ ืืึธื ืืื ืืืืคึฟืืขืืืขืงื ืคึฟืื ืืฒึทื ืืืื, ืืึธื ืขืจ ืืขืืึทืื ืึท ื ืืจ: ืืืื ืืขืจ ืืืืืขืจืฉืืขืจ ืืืขื ืืื ืืึทืืืืืื, ืืื ืืขืื ืืจืืื ืฆื ืขืกื ืืื ืงืืืืืขืจ ืึธื ืฆืืืึธื, ืืื ืขืจ ืืืขื ืงืขื ืขื ืฆืืจืืงืงืืืขื ืฆืื ืืืื ืคึฟืื ืืฒึทื ืืึทืื ืืื ืืฒึทื ืจืืื ืืืชืืืงืขืจ ืืื ืืึธืจืึทืืืฉืขืจ ืฉืืืืืช, ืืืขื ืขืจ ืืืืคึฟืฉืืขืื ืึท ืืืืืืงื ืึธืจื ืืึผืึฟืื ืืขื ืืืืืขืจืฉืื ืืื ืึธืคึผืืขืื ืืขืฉืจ ืคึฟืื ืึทืืฅ ืืืึธืก ืขืจ ืคึฟืึทืจืืึธืื. ืึธืคึผืืขืื ืืขืฉืืจ โ ืึทืืืขืงืืขืื ืึท ืฆืขื ืื ืคึฟืื ืืฒึทื ืคึฟืึทืจืืขืื ืืืืฃ ืฆืืงื โ ืืื ืึท ืืจืืืกืข ืืืฆืืื.
ืืืฒึทื ืืขืจื ืึธื ืืขืจืฆืืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืชึผืืจื: ืึทืึดึผืฉึธึผืื ืึทืขึฒืงึนื ืจึทืึฐืึธืื ืึทืึตึผืึถืึฐ ืึทืจึฐืฆึธื ืึฐื ึตื ืงึถืึถื. โืืขืงืึฟ ืืึธื ืืืืคึฟืืขืืืืื ืืฒึทื ืข ืคึฟืืก ืืื ืืื ืืขืืึทื ืืขื ืฆืื ืืึทื ื ืคึฟืื ืื ืืขื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืจื.โ
ืจืฉืดื ืืขืจืงืืขืจื ืึทื ืืขืจ ืืืืกืขืจืืขืืืืื ืืืขืืขืจ ืืืืกืืจืืง, โืืืฉื ืืขืงื ืจืืืืโ, ืืืฒึทืื ืึธื ืึทื ืืขืงืึฟืก ืคึฟืืก ืืขื ืขื ืืขืืืึธืจื ืึท ืกื ืืฒึทืืืขืจ, ืืืฒึทื ืืฒึทื ืืึทืจืฅ ืืื ืืขืืืึธืจื ืคึฟืจืืืืขื ื ืึธื ืืขืจ ืืึฟืืื ืคึฟืื ืืขืจ ืืขืืืขืืขืจ ืฉืืืจื. ืืขืงืึฟ ืืึธื ื ืืฉื ืืขืืืื ื ืึทื ืืึธืก ืืืึธืก ืืขืจืืืึทืจื ืืื ืืืขื ืืฒึทื ืืจืื ื. ืขืจ ืืึธื ืึธืืขืจ ืืขืืึทื ืืืืื ืึทื ืขืจ ืืืขื ืืฆืืื ืืฒึทื. ืืื ืึธื ืืขืจ ืืืืขืจืงืืื ืืึธื ืขืจ ืืขืคึฟืืื ืึทื ืขืจ ืืึธื ืื ืึผืืืืช ืฆื ืงืขื ืขื ืืฒึทืฉืืืื ืืื ืืืืขืจืงืืืขื ืืขืืข ืฉืืืขืจืืงืืื ืืืึธืก ืืึธื ืืื ืืขืจืืืึทืจื.
ืื ืืึฟืืื ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืืืืขืจืฉืื ืึทืืืื ืืื ืึธืืขืจ ื ืืฉื ืืขืืืขื ืืขื ืื. ืขืจ ืืึธื ืืื ืืืื ืืขืืึทืจืคึฟื ืืขืืขืจืืง ืฆืืืจืืืื ืฆื ืืขื ืืืึธืก ืืึธื ืืื ืืขืจืืืึทืจื.
ืืจืฒึท ืืกืืืืช ืคึฟืื ืึธื ืืขืจ ืฆืืืจืืืืื ื ืืืขืจื ืึธื ืืขืืฒึทื ืืื ืื ืืจืฒึท ืืึทืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืืึธืก ืืขืงืึฟ ืืึธื ืืขืจืืึธื ื ืืื ืืฒึทื ื ืืจ: ืขืกื; ืงืืืืืขืจ, ืืื ืฆืืจืืงืงืืืขื ืฆืื ืืึทืื ืก ืืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืขืืื ืจืืื ืืืชืืืงื ืืื ืืึธืจืึทืืืฉื ืืฆืึฟ.
ืืื ืฆืืืึธื ืฆื ืืขื ืคึผืฉืืื ืืื, ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืขืจืืขืจ ืืืื ืึท ืืฒึทืกืืืฉื ืืึทืืฒึทื:
ืขืกื ืืื ืืขื ืืขื ืืฉ ืืืืช ืืื ืืื ืืื ืึทืจืฒึทื ืึผืื. ืืืืฃ ืึท ืจืืื ืืืชืืืงื ืืืคึฟื ืืืขืจื ืื ืชึผืืจื ืคึฟืึทืจืืืืื ืฆื ืขืกื, ืืืฒึทื ืืืจื ืืืืื ืืชึผืืจื ืืขืจื ืขืจื ืืขื ืืื ืืื ืืขืืขืงืืืขื ืืื ืจืืื ืืืชืืืง ืฆืื ืืืืืขืจืฉืื. ืคึผืื ืงื ืืื ืืึธืก ืืฉืืืืชืืืงืข ืขืกื ืืืขืจื ืคึฟืึทืจืืืื ืืื ืืืขืจื ืึท ืืืื ืคึฟืื ืืขื ืืขื ืืฉ ืึทืืืื, ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืช ืืื ืึผืื, ืึทืืื ืืืื ืืืขืจื ืื ืชึผืืจื ืืืึธืก ืืขื ืืขืจื ื ืึท ืืืื ืคึฟืื ืืื ืืืขืจ ืืื ืขืจืืขืื ืืขืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืจืืื ืืืชืืืงืข ืืืืช.
ืงืืืืืขืจ ื ืขืืขื ืึทืจืื ืืขื ืืขื ืืฉ ืืื ืืึทืฉืืฆื ืืื ืคึฟืื ืืจืืืกื ืืืงืข ืืฉืคึผืขืืช. ืึทืืื ืืืื ืืืขื ืึท ืืึดื ืืื ืืงืืื ืื ืืืฆืืืช ืฉืึทืคึฟื ืืื, ืื ืืืฆืืืช, ืึท ืจืืื ืืืชืืืงืข ืืึทืฉืืฆืื ื ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืขื ืืฉื.
ืืขืจ ืืขืจื ืื ื ืืื ืืืืืืง ืืืื ืคึฟืึทืจ ืืื ืื ืืฒึทื ื.
ืึผืื ืฆื ืงืขื ืขื ืืื ืฉืืขืื ืึทื ืืงืขืื ืื ืฉืืืขืจืืงืืืื ืคึฟืื ืืขืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉืืืืื, ืืึทืจืฃ ืืขื ืืื ืฆืืืจืืืื ืืืจื ืืจืฒึท ืืึทืื: ืขืจืฉืื ืก, ืืืืื ืืชึผืืจื โ ืืึธืก ืฉืืึทืจืงื ืืื ืื ืคึฟืื ืืื ืขืืืืื ืืง ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืจืืื ืืืชืืืงืข ืืืืช ืืื ืึผืืืืช. ืฆืืืืืื ืก, ืืงืืื ืืฒึทื ืื ืืฆืืืช: ืืึธืก ืืึทืฉืืฆื ืืื ืื ืคึฟืื ืืจืืืกื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืืืืืงืข ืจืืื ืืืชืืืงืข ืฉืืืจื, ืืื ืืจืืื ืก, ื ืืฉื ืคึฟืึทืจืืืจื ืคึฟืื ืื ืืืืื ืืขื ืขื ืืืืืืืงื ืฆืื: ืืืจื ืืื ืืืขืจ ืืึทืืขืืขื ืืฉ ืืื ืืขืจ ืืฉืืืืชืืืงืขืจ ืืืขืื ืคึฟืึทืจืืืึทื ืืืขื ืืืจ ืื ืืืขืื ืืื ืึท โืืืืื ืึธืจืโ ืคึฟืึทืจื ืืืืืขืจืฉืื, ืึท โืืืจื ืืชึผืืชืื ืืโ.
ืืึธืก ืืื ืืขืจ ืืืคึฟืขืจืขืจ ืืึทืืฒึทื ืคึฟืื โืฆืืจืืง ืงืืืขื ืฆืื ืืึทืื ืก ืืืืโ: ืฆื ืืจืขื ืืขื ืื ืืึทื ืฆืข ืืืขืื ืฆื ืึท ืืฆืึฟ ืืืึผ ืขืก ืืืขืจื ืืขืจืงืขื ื ืึทื ืื ืืื ืืขื ืืึทืื ืก โ ืืขื ืืืืืขืจืฉืื ืก โ ืืืืื ืึธืจื. ืึทื ืืขืืขืจ ืืึทืืขืืขื ืืฉ ืืื ืืขืืข ืคึฟืึทืจืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืืขืื ืืึธื ืืืืกืืจืืงื ืืขื ืืขืืืขืื ืืงืืจ, ืืขื ืืขืืืขืื ืืฒึทืืฒึทื ืืื ืืขื ืืขืืืขืื ืฆืื ืคึฟืื ืืืื ืืืขืื.
ืึทื ืืขื ืคึฟืึทืจืฉืืืื ืงืืึธืจ ืืืึธืก ืืขืจ ืฆืื ืืื, ืืื ืืขื ืืจืืื ืืื ืฆื ืืื ืืขืืขืจืืง, ืืื ืืขื ืืื ืึท ืืขืกืขืจื ืฆืืฉืืึทื ื ืฆื ืงืขื ืขื ืึทื ืืงืขืื ืืืื ืืขืืข ืฉืืืขืจืืงืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืขืจืงืืื.
ืืื ืืขืจ ืืึทืจืืืืขืจ ืคึผืกืืืืึทืืขืจ ืืืืงืืึธืจ ืคึฟืจืึทื ืงื ืืึธื ืขืก ืึทืืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืคึฟืืื ืืง ืืืืกืืขืืจืืงื:
โืืืขืจ ืขืก ืืึธื ืึท ืณืคึฟืึทืจืืืึธืกืณ ืืื ืขื ืืขืื, ืงืขื ืืืืขืจืงืืืขื ืึผืืขื ืืขืื ืณืืื ืึทืืืืณ.โ
The post How to face lifeโs difficulties with total confidence appeared first on The Forward.
Uncategorized
Boston suburb votes to divest from Israel
(JTA) โ SOMERVILLE, Mass. โ The City Council in this city north of Boston voted 10-1 Thursday night to ban the municipality from doing business with companies complicit in humanitarian violations, specifically naming those operating in โIsrael and Palestine.โ
Councilor Kristen Strezo cast the only opposing vote on the 11-member board.
Opponents of the ordinance fear that in execution it would be akin to a boycott of Israel, and as such would create a negative environment for the cityโs Jewish and Israeli residents. The ban only involves companies that work with the municipality and does not impact companies that operate privately in Somerville. It also excludes sole proprietors (individuals operating as companies).
Somerville Mayor Jake Wilsonโs office said given that the ordinance passed with a veto-proof majority, the measure is now considered final.
The ordinance was originally introduced in June by Councilors Ben Ewen-Campen and Ben Wheeler, after the City Council voted in November 2025 to implement ballot Question 3 on Israel divestment, which had been approved by 55.7% of voters earlier that month. Question 3 spoke of banning businesses that sustain โIsraelโs apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine.โ
During his campaign in 2025, Wilson did not endorse Question 3.
Nine councilors on Thursday night offered comments in advance of the vote.
Ewen-Campen, who wrote and revised the ordinance along with Wheeler, spoke about the importance of a Massachusetts city passing an ordinance about a country across the world, especially at a time when the federal government has clamped down on pro-Palestinian student protesters, noting two incidents of protesters being detained by ICE allegedly for speaking against Israel.
โI think the reason that people want us to be quiet about it is because when you do talk about it, there is just no way to justify it,โ Ewen-Campen said.
โI am not under any illusion that Somerville is going to have some enormous impact on the world [by passing this ordinance], but I do think that all of us collectively deciding to be silent about this does have an impact on the world,โ he said. โThat is why I think it is worth it to have taken this action, and that is why I have asked for all of your support tonight.โ
Strezo invoked the Holocaust to explain why she considered the ban antisemitic, referring to Kristallnacht, the Nov. 9-10, 1938, pogrom against Jews in Germany and Austria.
โA few years before Kristallnacht, the Nazis worked to deter the public from shopping at Jewish businesses,โ she said. โTheir efforts started in moments like tonight.โ On behalf of her Jewish community, Strezo emphasized that the ordinance โmakes us feel targeted. It makes us feel unsafe. It makes us feel unwelcome.โ
As she spoke, members of the group Somerville for Palestine (S4P), who had gathered outside City Hall for a rally in advance of and throughout the meeting, could be heard through the window, the chanting getting increasingly louder until the words were clearly audible over Strezoโs speech: โDisclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.โ
โThis ordinance will do nothing to solve the real conflict in the Middle East,โ Strezo said. โWhat it will do and has been doing is make Jewish people and Israelis feel less welcome in our city spaces.โ
One councilor pointed out that the ordinance, while worth passing, was not what sheโd hoped. Councilor Emily Hardt said, โSupporting Palestinian human rights and standing firmly against antisemitism are not contradictory positions. I believe that both are essential to our commitment to human dignity.โ She went on to say that she would have preferred an ordinance that was focused on the actions of the U.S. government, โour government,โ but given that this was the ordinance up for the vote, she would support it. โI appreciate the attempts to align use of our resources with our commitments to the rights and dignity of all people, in Israel and Palestine and around the world,โ she said.
When the vote was finalized, members of the group Somerville for Palestine and other supporters of the ordinance, many wearing keffiyehs, stood up and cheered as they left the chamber. Shalom Somerville members and others opposing the ordinance, many of whom wore white shirts with blue square pins and had stickers with โIโm not welcome hereโ on their chests, stood silently as most of the room emptied.
โItโs disappointing seeing councilors knowingly abdicating their responsibility,โ said Sam Gechter, president of Shalom Somerville, the local community group that has been active in opposing both the 2025 ballot question and the ordinance. โ[Mayor Wilson] made several promises that he would veto it during the campaign. He said he would veto anything that named a country, so we would love to see him do that.โ
โIt feels so clear that this is what the majority want given that ten of our councilors voted yes,โ said Mo Katz-Christy, a member of S4Pโs leadership and Jewish Caucus. S4P was a major advocate for the original ballot Question 3 and worked with Councilor Ewen-Campen on the ordinance.
โThey passed a strong ordinance that named Israel and Palestine, that named the genocide,โ Katz-Christy said, as the S4P group played music in celebration behind them. โItโs targeting companies that are really bad actors.โ
Under the ordinance, any vendor who is submitting a bid for the cityโs business would have to certify it meets the criteria outlined in the ordinance. If their certification is contested, the city will consult the findings of a number of international organizations and lists, including the database of business enterprises maintained by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the divestment short-list database maintained by the American Friends Service Committeeโs Investigate Project. The ordinance specifies that a company could be excluded from this prohibition should the director of finance deem that their services โare essential to the operation of the city, including by avoiding a significant financial burden.โ
In the final Legislative Matters Committee meeting discussing the ordinance on Oct. 27, chief procurement officer Angela Allen, echoing the earlier sentiments of City Solicitor Cindy Amara, expressed concerns that the ordinance โwould likely not sustain a legal challenge.โ She noted that the city does not have the legal authority to debar bidders (prospective vendors) and that she was unsure who would be responsible for making the final call on whether or not a company met the criteria in the ordinance.
โThis adds another layer of complexity that I am concerned, from a practical standpoint, could cause confusion and delay that would not be in the best interest of the city,โ she said.
The vote came after several rounds of negotiations in the cityโs Legislative Matters Committee, during which councilors debated the ethical and financial merits of the ordinance. The final ordinance that was voted on included updates in language that specified the companies that would be included in the ban must be โdirectly, knowingly and consistentlyโ enabling or facilitating violations of humanitarian law, including in โIsrael and Palestine.โ
Longtime Somerville resident and Shalom Somerville member Kate Auspitz, who was present at the meeting, said, โI will never vote for any of them [city councilors] again except for Kristen Strezoโฆ I do think itโs antisemitic, whatever they say. I think itโs denying Jews self-determination.โ
Outside, in line to enter the City Council chambers, Willie Burnley Jr., a member of Boston Democratic Socialists of America who ran for mayor against Wilson last year and supported ballot Question 3, said: โIโm here to support my neighbors who are fighting for a better world, who are trying to get their city councilors to fight for the will of the people.โ
This article originally appeared on JTA.org.
The post Boston suburb votes to divest from Israel appeared first on The Forward.
Uncategorized
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries calls for โdramatic changeโ in Israel policy
(JTA) โ U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat poised to become the chamberโs speaker in January, called for a significant shift in the U.S.-Israel relationship but stopped short of opposing defense partnerships.
โThe status quo is unacceptable, and we need dramatic change,โ Jeffries told reporters at a Thursday press conference.
Jeffries expressed a need for such change with respect to the West Bank, to Gaza and to a memorandum of understanding with Israel over military aid set to expire in 2028. That agreement, signed by the Obama administration in 2016, pledged $38 billion in military aid for Israel from fiscal years 2019 through 2028.
President Donald Trump has said he will wind the aid down before it is set to lapse, citing Israelโs unpopularity, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also backs ending military aid and replacing it by strengthening U.S.-Israel military cooperation.
But when asked about recent demands from Sen. Chris Van Hollen to remove provisions on defense collaborations with Israel from the National Defense Authorization Act โ the model of what Netanyahu hopes to sustain โ Jeffries responded that he hadnโt spoken with the senator. Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, plans to challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer leadership of the Senate Democratic caucus when Democrats take over the chamber in January.
Instead, Jeffries said that โthings have to dramatically change over in the Middle East,โ without elaborating on the details of such changes. He stressed the importance of ensuring โa safe and secure Israel living side by side as a Jewish and democratic state with an independent Palestinian state that provides dignity and self-determination for the Palestinian people.โ Netanyahu and much of the Israeli public oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state.
While Jeffries noted that he wasnโt saying anything he hasnโt โpreviously said publicly,โ his decision to reiterate this need for change following the election as Democrats are set to seize control of Congress demonstrates how the party is adopting a more critical posture on Israel.
This past summer, Jeffries wrote to colleagues urging them to reject an amendment proposed by Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, that would have cut military aid to Israel. While a slight majority of Democrats voted in favor of the measure, it was defeated after getting no Republican support aside from its sponsor.
Jeffries had argued at the time that โthere are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it comes to the far-right Netanyahu government,โ warning that Massieโs amendment would have restricted Israelโs ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terror groups.
Nonetheless, Jeffries also noted in the letter that the Obama-era memorandum of understanding โexpires imminently,โ and that โa meaningful change in direction is needed.โ Writing that Israel has a robust economy and is capable of paying for its own weapons, he said that future security arrangements โshould be structured consistently with defense agreements that exist with our other Western allies.โ
Since writing that letter in July in the lead-up to the midterm elections, Jeffries focused primarily on domestic issues and didnโt often address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On Thursday, however, the topic was back on the table.
โWeโll work as a caucus to make sure that we can bring about the just and lasting peace that Israelis and Palestinians deserve,โ Jeffries said.
This article originally appeared on JTA.org.
The post House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries calls for โdramatic changeโ in Israel policy appeared first on The Forward.
