Opinion

Time to speak out

OPINION PIECE BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN

In last weeks column, reference was made to the National Jewish Assembly. This new organisation has declared itself to deal only with issues affecting the Jewish Community and in addition, reflect the views of the silent majority of that community. As with any latest venture, all talk would be about what the organisation is going to do, does it challenge the status quo and crucially is it needed.

Yet, perversely, that which has proved most productive have been the articles in the Jewish News and the Jewish Telegraph raising various historical issues about the new organisation’s CEO. It is hard to understand why this should happen, and perhaps not.

There is a nasty culture in society generally and in the Jewish Community specifically whereby unless an individual adheres to a left-wing agenda they are characterised as being on the right. If there has been a meeting with someone deemed far-right, then automatically that individual becomes far-right. At that point, they become fair game for intense criticism and vilification as per last week’s articles.

So what is the answer? A free society, accurate reporting, even of historical matters which can be quoted legitimately or out of context as may be the case. For the ordinary person such an attack might be enough to persuade them to back down, resign or in some circumstances for the organisation they represent or work for, let them go. Not everyone has the social media reach of JK Rowling, who has had to bear visceral attacks by some of those who disagree with her on issues concerning gender and sexuality.

For those though without that social capital there is often little that can be done, by them. The answer lies with those who claim to be leaders of this community. Being a leader is not just about heading a committee and turning up to events for people to shake your hand and say what a great job you are doing. It is more than having your picture in the paper or your name engraved on some stone or other. It is about taking a stand on issues which affect everyone and the articles from the Jewish Telegraph and the Jewish News are cases in point.

So, back to the leaders. The leaders who now need to stand up and declare that articles such as those described here have no place in the Jewish Community, that the community is a place of many ideas and beliefs from across the political and religious spectrum. In the face of the pieces in the two national media outlets it will be interesting to see which of those leaders who claim to hold sway in our community actually have what it takes to justify their status.

For the ordinary person such an attack might be enough to persuade them to back down, resign or in some circumstances for the organisation they represent or work for, let them go.

Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.

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