As we approach the High Holidays this year, many of us will engage in cheshbon hanefesh—taking account of our actions over the past year. As individuals dedicated to bringing about change and building a better future for our own country and for Israel, we are continually striving to fully realize our own power, to find our own voice and to live in accordance with our values. Thankfully, Judaism gives us this unique opportunity to process, to repent, to renew our energies and to steel our resolve in commiting to the important work that lies ahead.Not surprisingly, J-Street's cheshbon hanefesh shows that it has nothing to apologize for in the past year. It is proud of what it did so this Rosh Hashana provides no opportunity for it to think there is anything wrong about an organization that is against every single thing Israel and the US does - including declaring Jerusalem to be Israel's capital. No introspection about supporting UNRWA to the hilt, including the so called "right to return" whose only purpose is to destroy Israel No problem being adamantly against a peace plan before it becomes public.
As an organization, J Street is undertaking our own cheshbon hanefesh—reflecting on the record of our movement this past year and on our goals for the coming year. We protested the Israeli government’s demolitions of Palestinian villages; we spoke out about the nation-state law, which erodes israel’s foundation as a tolerant, democratic and pluralistic state; we fought for humanitarian aid to the most disenfranchised Palestinian communities; and—here at home—we opposed President Trump’s cruel immigration policies.
Today, we are fighting for important victories in the midterm elections that will enable us to build a bulwark against the administration’s most reckless inclinations going forward.
As you look at the examples of J-Street's activism in this letter and the linked newsletter where activists talk about how proud they fought for Palestinian rights, it occurred to me that not one person said that they helped the poor or downtrodden in Israel. Not one said that they worked against Arab terror. Not one said that they were trying to mainstream haredim into Israeli society. Not one talked about how they might have volunteered to help Ethiopian communities in Israel. No, the only examples of cheshbon hanefesh they had is how aligned they are with Israel's enemies.
Yes, J-Street needs to engage in some cheshbon hanafesh - not self-congratulatory nonsense that they care about every human being.