J Street creates council of former Jewish organization leaders in the US — Jerusalem Post
US lobbying organization J Street has announced the creation of a Jewish Communal Advisory Council, which includes former leaders of influential US Jewish institutions. As reported by the Jerusalem Post, J Street seeks to strengthen its presence in the American Jewish community’s debate on Israel policy.
J Street describes itself as an organization that supports Israel and peace. At the same time, it has long faced criticism over its calls for US pressure on Israeli governments, support for a two-state settlement with the Palestinians, and criticism of the Israeli army’s actions in the war in the Gaza Strip.
Composition of the new council
The advisory body includes, among others, former American Jewish Committee president Bob Goodkind, former CEO of UJA-Jewish Federation of New York John Ruskay, as well as former chairs of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Alan Solow and Seymour Reich.
Other members named include former chair of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel Charles Ratner, former president of the Union for Reform Judaism Rabbi Eric Yoffie, former CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women Nancy Kaufman, and former chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary Rabbi Ismar Schorsch. Separately, J Street announced that Rabbi David Saperstein, emeritus director of the Reform Movement’s Religious Action Center, had joined the organization’s board of directors.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Disputes over the approach to Israel
J Street president Jeremy Ben-Ami said that the organization wants to counter the rise of extreme anti-Israel sentiment among Democrats without denying the Jewish people’s right to their own state. According to him, this requires an open discussion about Israeli government policy.
Ruskay believes that there are differing views in the American Jewish community about what constitutes a “pro-Israel” position and that there should be room for a civil discussion among all groups that support Jewish sovereignty in Israel.
At the same time, Jason Shames, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, said that public disagreements over Israel’s security could be exploited by its opponents. A former head of one of the federations, who asked not to be named, told the publication that J Street does not represent the pro-Israel mainstream because of its positions on US military aid and weapons for Israel.
