Hebron gets its own flotilla

All in the same boat

By Sergey Kadinsky

The new Jewish year has passed, but the trend towards floating political rallies continues as the Hebron Fund prepares for its flotilla fundraiser on the Hudson River on Nov. 16.

“The outpouring of hate against Israel and the Jews after the flotilla incident was absolutely unprecedented,” said Hebron Fund Executive Director Yossi Baumol. Baumol claims that the international outcry against Israel following the Mavi Marmara incident on May 31, very much resembles existing efforts to delegitimize and isolate the Jewish settlers of Hebron. As a result, mainstream supporters of Israel and supporters of the settlement enterprise are finding themselves in the “same boat,” according to Baumol.

The Hebron Fund will be honoring Israeli journalist Caroline Glick at the floating fundraiser. Glick is a deputy editor at The Jerusalem Post who also produces the Israeli Latma TV political satire videos. She will be the event’s keynote speaker and recipient of the Fund’s Gevurat Ha’Imahot award.

“Her acceptance of the award speaks for itself,” said Baumol. “Her thinking is so clear and forthright on so many issues, that I had no need to speak with her about it.”

Baumol cited an article that Glick wrote around Rosh Hashanah, where Glick denounces the Israeli political leadership for agreeing to the concept of exchanging land for peace.

“In Israel, rather than proudly assert the extraordinary, tenacious and indeed miraculous nature of our people, our law and our land — our leaders have turned our creed into a bargaining point,” wrote Glick. “And if this course is not soon abandoned, it will be our undoing.”

Latma TV’s most controversial video “We Con the World,” was a parody of Michael Jackson’s “We are the World,” where actors playing the flotilla crew sing of their ability to score public relations points against Israel. While criticized for not showing sensitivity to the activists who were killed in the incident, Glick defended the video on her blog as “an important Israeli contribution to the discussion of recent events.”

The parody song will be played on the fundraiser cruise. Alongside Glick, the Hebron Fund will also be honoring local attorney and The Jewish Star columnist David Seidemann and his wife Jane with the Bonei Hevron award for their leadership in the organization. Prominent local attorney Benjamin Brafman will emcee the event.

With the settlement-building freeze behind them, the Hebron Fund hopes to see a resumption of Jewish construction in the biblical city and the upkeep of existing structures.

“Operation and maintenance of the Machpela, renovation and upkeep of the Jewish homes and properties, educational outreach, tourism and projects for the community,” Baumol said when asked where the money raised at the dinner will go.

The boat, which will depart from Pier 59 on the Hudson River, can hold up to 1,000 guests.

“There is still plenty of room,” said Baumol. “Invitations are just getting to people’s homes now. We expect a big turnout.”