Australian Jewish Democratic Society
A PROGRESSIVE VOICE AMONG JEWS, A JEWISH VOICE AMONG PROGRESSIVES
The Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) is pleased to announce an upcoming film event in conjunction with the Jewish International Film Festival – A screening and panel discussion around the Israeli director Dror Moreh’s Academy-Award nominated documentary Gatekeepers.
THERE is a scene in The West Wing where the US president’s advisers caution him about launching another bid for Middle East peace. Toby Ziegler says to President Jed Bartlet: “The road to the Nobel Prize is the road to noble failure.”
The 4th Renate Kamener Oration with James Button – TOPIC: Do Traditional Political Parties Have a Future?
Open discussion is an important aspect of any community. When the AJDS launched its ‘Don’t Buy from the Settlements’ Campaign at Pesach this year, we did so with the aim of being part of an ongoing, world-wide discussion about Israel/Palestine.
There have always been claims that the leadership of the Jewish community tries to silence critics – whether they are critics of Israel or the Jewish community. But I disagree.
The Jewish Community Council’s condemnation of the AJDS for alleged sins and crimes brings forth the big question—so just what is BDS? What the bulls, bullies and others in the Lobby present is something far different from the reality.
At a recent plenum meeting of the JCCV the policy of the AJDS calling for a boycott of goods manufactured in the West Bank was strongly condemned. Some of the opinions expressed about the AJDS at the plenum meeting were quite robust and emotional.
Recently, the Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) was condemned by the JCCV in a motion moved by the State Zionist Council of Victoria. The motion ‘deplores and condemns the [Don’t Buy from the Settlements Campaign] policy on the basis that it is repugnant.
The proposal by the Coalition as reported in the media to block funding to individual academics and institutions who support or propose Boycott Divestment or Sanctions (BDS) is a draconian attack on academic freedom and independence.
Last year the Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) hosted Micha Kurz the co-founder of Grassroots Jerusalem on a national speaking tour. This year we are asking for your support to keep alive and strengthen the Grassroots Jerusalem project.