Proposed Ban Roiling Park Slope Co-op
A neighborhood institution known for its earnestness and political correctness, the Park Slope Co-op now finds itself at the center of a mounting media circus revolving around a recent proposal by a member to ban products from Israel as a statement of protest against the state’s recent actions in Gaza. About 10 people reportedly support…
A neighborhood institution known for its earnestness and political correctness, the Park Slope Co-op now finds itself at the center of a mounting media circus revolving around a recent proposal by a member to ban products from Israel as a statement of protest against the state’s recent actions in Gaza. About 10 people reportedly support the measure; the Co-op has about 15,000 members. While on a practical level all that’s at stake here is a few boxes of peppers and persimmons, the symbolism is causing controversy throughout the neighborhood and beyond. There are so many Jews who shop there, there are so many Israelis who shop there, there’s a huge number of frum people from all over Brooklyn who shop there, said Rabbi Andy Bachman of Beth Elohim in the original article in the Jewish Daily Forward, so my guess is that if it passes, and I want to emphasize that I don’t think it will, they will lose a lot of members. Assemblyman Dov Hikind echoed these sentiments: “[The co-op would] lose a great number of people,” he told The Post. Even TimeOut New York has chimed in: “The motion feels born from the very stiff and self-righteous soapbox awareness that many naysayers feel makes the Co-op unpalatable under normal circumstances,” writes TONY, making to sure to add “we support the Co-op’s open forum for this kind of divisive dialogue.” Still no word on where Adrian Grenier stands on the issue.
Food Fight: Brooklyn Co-op Mulls Israel Ban [Forward]
Park Slope Co-op to Ban Israeli Products? [TONY]
‘Ban Israel’ Bid Mushrooms Into B’klyn Food Fight [NY Post]
Photo by pseudoreal
So in order to show Israel that they did something wrong, were not selling their produce. The government of Israel, since its formation has been strictly favoring Jewish citizens. Now, I would have no problem with that if they at least called themselves just a Jewish nation. That’s not what they say in their constitution they refer to the State of Israel as both a Jewish nation and democratic state. Seems like they forgot the democratic part. My family has been documented for more then 600 years in Nazareth. Yet my family and hundred of others that still reside there have certain disadvantages as citizens. This of course is a non issue in the news. What I don’t get, is how a big bad Christian nation like America, would fully and sometimes blindly support Israel while they discriminate against Christians. That is just one of the problems. So yeah, ban the Israeli food. I’m sure it will make all the difference in the world.
Folks, since nobody else is stating this let me say it loud and clear: There is no ban. There is no proposal. There is no agenda item. There is 100% of nothing.
The whole piece in the Jewish Daily Forward is factually incorrect and I—and others—have contacted the editors of the Jewish Daily Forward to set the record straight.
The reality is every few years someone mentions a ban of Israeli products at a meeting. Past this, 100% nothing ever happens.
As far as Dov Hikind goes, as a Jew I cannot think of a bigger advocate of Jewish paranoia/fear than that guy. There is real anti-Semitism out there. Real issues. Real victims. He constantly fans the flames of paranoia with calls of anti-Semitism to the point you wonder if he’s a parrot or a robot.
The Jewish Daily Forward and Lana Gersten (who wrote the horribly non-researched piece) should be ashamed of themselves because they are actually feeding the stereotype that Jews will cry anti-Semitism at any little thing.
This is just horrid and a waste of time for all involved.
Since the boycott advocates all but certainly likewise condemn as evil everything the United States does in the world — it follows that they should ban themselves and other US citizens from doing business at the Co-OP.
“hey bxgrl, I’m going to keep this civil. you are jumping to conclusions, I’m guessing the next thing you’ll be saying is that I’m anti-Semitic, right?? You’re one of those kinds of people. Qucik to judge and quick to slam those who don’t agree with you.
Well, I’m not anti-Semitic. But, these 10 people have a right to have an opinion, as much as it might not comport with your opinion. That’s what I’m saying. Loudly and slowly. I believe others have said the SAME EXACT THING. You obviously did not get this with your poor reading comprehension.”
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Why yes- i see by your post you are a very model of rationality and civility. If I may do a little character analysis of my own, you seem like a guy who can’t bear different points of view or that the depth and brilliance of your posts goes unappreciated.
You have a habit of writing scenarios based on misinterpretation and ignorance, while patting yourself on the back for being a great judge of character. And once you make your malformed judgement, you take great offense when that judgement is disputed.
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No one, certainly not I- expects to influence what happens in the co-op simply by discussing it here. It was put up as a topic for discussion. If you don’t understand this basic concept of blogging, than you have no business being here.
I’d be willing to put up with almost any crap to get fresh Alaska salmon at $10 a pound, but there is no way to get there from where I live.
love these threads where the the stereotypes of “dumb, ignorant guy from brooklyn” are so evident. Congrats idiots!
oh, and goldie, your take on things going on the Middle East are pretty one-sided don’t you think? Sort of like these 10 people speaking up at the Co-op. And no, I don’t think you’re right either.
bxgrl – did you or did you not accuse me of being one of the 10 that was interested in banning Israeli products? And somewhere in your earlier diatribes you mocked and denigrated those very people. So, if anything, you are the asswipe here. Whatever. At this point, your statements will have no effect since no one at the Co-op will take into consideration your stance since you’re not a member, right? For what it’s worth, there isn’t anything you can do if they do end up approving the suggestion as banning the Co-op is not an option.
i know having to actually think about both sides hurts the brain tiptoe, sorry.
sorry snark, 100 was too round and even of a number. i like prime numbers. 🙂