Success on Judge Goldstone's grandson's Bar Mitzvah   

Posted April 23, 2010

Even little victories deserve to be celebrated! Particularly when it forces religious authorities to become more aware of the ethical meaning of their tradition!

A Success!  

 Last week Judge Richard Goldstone (the South African jurist who authored the UN report showing prima facie evidence that during its invasion of Gaza in Dec 2008 andJan 2009 which had resulated in the death of 1600 Palestinians,  Israel--and Hamas--had committed violations of human rights and that they should do their own credible public investigation of the hundreds of pages of documentation he was submitting to the UN)  was told that right-wing Zionists in South Africa would picket his grandson's bar mitzvah, and that the synagogue would not be able to vouch for his safety, so he should not attend.

Tikkun Magazine and the Network of Spiritual Progressives publicly invited Goldstone to the Bay Area where we would perfom a Bar Mitzvah for his grandson while honoring Goldstone.

When he told us that the Bar Mitzvah was taking place in a few weeks and so it would be impossible to shift the location for his grandson, we announced his agreement to receive the annual TIKKUN AWARD in 2011 for his work in service of human rights and social justice at the conference celebraton of Tikkun's 25th anniversary.

     Today, I received the following email from Judge Goldstone:

Michael,

I am happy to inform you that after being approached this morning by the Jewish communal organizations, the following statement was issued by the Director of the South African Board of Deputies, Wendy Kahn:

"The SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) is pleased to announce that, following consultation between all the parties involved, an agreement has been reached confirming Judge Richard Goldstone attending his grandson's forthcoming barmitzvah ceremony.

It was agreed that a meeting hosted by the SA Zionist Federation would take place between Judge Goldstone and leadership of the SA Zionist Federation and other Jewish Communal representatives to discuss the Jewish community's response to the report of the Commission chaired by Judge Goldstone last year and for Judge Goldstone to give his perspectives on the issue.

It was further confirmed that Judge Goldstone would attend his grandson's barmitzvah and that there would be no protests associated with the barmitzvah.

The SAJBD respectfully requests, in light of the agreement reached, that all parties immediately desist all public activities on this matter so that the young man's barmitzvah celebration can be returned to the privacy and dignity that it deserves.

Judge Goldstone said that "I am delighted that I will attend the barmitzvah of my grandson.""

I need hardly say how happy our family is that I will be attending the synagogue services.

Thank you again for your tremendous and much appreciated support. I am moved beyond words by the honor that you have announced [the Tikkun Award to be given in 2011 to Judge Goldstone during our 25th anniversary celebration/conference]. I look forward to being with you on joyous occasions.

Warmest regards,
Richard