We joined the co-op for the food. We didn't join to have our politics decided for us. We didn't join to have ourselves identified with an organization that supports something we don't support. We joined for the food...and lots of it.
Today, we met. There were 19 of us who oppose the coop joining the BDS movement. We decided for every issue of Linewaiters' Gazette to submit a letter stating reasons why joining BDS is detrimental to the coop. We will all put our names on the letters.
Then we wanted a name for our group. We chose "More Hummus, Please." We want hummus...and local produce, organic vegetables, environmentally-friendly products and we want a pleasant store, where we will feel welcomed. Food brings people together.
In the spirit of food, and bringing people together, I share with you this video from the folks at Israel21c. "Taste of Peace" is a unique master chef's team based in Jerusalem, consisting of a Jewish, Arab Christian, Arab Muslim, and Armenian chef. They recently won several Gold Medals in the "Olympics of Cooking", the Villeroy and Boch Culinary World Cup, in Luxembourg. Here they cook a lavish meal together in a Jerusalem home. Video by Harvey Stein.
Four Jerusalem chefs - hey, where is the hummous?
In March 2012 we defeated a BDS initiative at the Park Slope Food Coop.
In 2024 we will stop them again.
We applaud your efforts to fend of BDS’s attempts to force a boycott of Israeli products at the Park Slope Food Co-op. We neither live nor shop in your area, and we cannot vote against this. But we sure hope there are enough of you out there, who are not indifferent to these attacks on Israel, which are really attacks on Jews, wherever they are, by biased people.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, God bless.
Boo.
DeleteYou should be booing yourself! All that is happening is that the coop is ignorant about what is going in Israel. I believe that Israel should not be the victim of outside ignorance, but the Israeli Likud party should be at fault. Most Israelis, like myself, support a Palestinian state, and so do most kibbutzim, responsible for the majority of the agricultural output of Israel. So don't boycott Israeli kibbutzim who support peace and human rights, but boycott the Likud party and BiBi Netanyahu!
DeleteI am a coop member for 15 years and lived in Israel for 11 years. I am concerned about the BDS effort.
ReplyDeleteI just read the NY Times article about the Coop and BDS.
ReplyDeleteBelow is the link to my Huffington Post blog (3/23/12) entitled, How The Split In The Jewish Left Helps AIPAC And What Can Be Done About It. I point out the very harmful effect of the BDS movement.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/myriam-miedzian/how-the-split-on-the-jewi_b_1368751.html
So using this logic, people who disagree with the US invasion of Afghanistan should boycott the coop until it is successful in pressuring politicians in Washington to withdraw from Afghanistan?
ReplyDeleteAre you aware that Humus, and falafel, are traditional Palestinian dishes?
ReplyDeleteExcuse me, but, these dishes are Mediterranean. Humus was originally created by the Ancient Egyptians and falafel was created in the Balkans. So to say that they are exclusively Palestinian is extremely misleading. And let us not forget who lived in the Land of Israel before the Romans exiled these people! The Jewish people lived there, and so they played a roll in developing the diet in use by Palestinians, those who inhabited the land after the forceful exile by Titus.
DeleteVoted down.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=263728&R=R4
hello I like you, the BDS people are people who need to be destroyed in any way possible
ReplyDeleteI wish there were more Israeli products where I live, I have to send through mail order to buy most things
Making a special trip to buy only Israeli products. Suzy Sandor
ReplyDeleteThank you! A movement like this shouldn't gain momentum
ReplyDeleteI don't see a problem with someone wanting to boycott a country if they feel there is injustice. I come from a family that has a long line of jewish heritage, yet it's my personal choice to be an atheist. I respect and love all religions as long as they are not used in violence or forced upon others. I go to a predominately jewish school and I've dedicated long hours and read multiple books written by Rabbi's and other figures. But, after I read everything and learned about all the facts and talked with multiple people I believe that it is unjust what Israel has done and continues to do. Now I don't support Hamas, but I support the Palestinian people. There is no need for the US to support Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people. And to allow the Israeli's to disregard the borders and allow settlements to be put into Palestinian territory. It disgusts that the US can look a blind eye to these atrocities. I want to know why you people support Israel besides being Jewish? I want to know why you like many Israeli's even want is peace? I don't think you can call someone anti-Semitic for boy cotting a country that commits these crimes. And i'm not anti-semetic. My grandfather and Grandmother who I love are Jewish, it's part of my heritage, I carry a Jewish last name proudly. Yet, no matter who the people I can't stand by and not say something about this injustice.
ReplyDeleteYou support the Palestinians, yet you don't support the Israelis. Israeli civilians protect their country, and Hamas destroys the country. I support human rights, peace, and equality, and with that, how can I say I support innocent Palestinians, and that I don't support innocent Israelis?
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