The Washington Post published a video report, and later a text report, about a Reconstructionist "rabbi" Lonnie Kleinman, who describes herself as "a white, queer, fat, cis femme from the Sonoran desert of the Southwest (she/they.)"
The video title is "A rabbi called for a cease-fire in Gaza. She lost her job."
But Kleinman didn't lose her job at Moishe House because she advocates for a ceasefire in Gaza, as she claims.
Kleinman is a liar.
Moishe House builds communities for Jews in their 20s worldwide. It allows diverse opinions on Israel. It would not fire someone for saying they want a ceasefire in Gaza.
However, the organization is committed to Israel and creating relationships between its members and Israel. It supports Zionism. It even supports Israeli soldiers.
Its resident handbook says that its facilities and programs cannot
• Partner or work with individuals, organizations, or movements that seek to create a combative political environment, impose one particular political or religious agenda as the truth, or whose core values, strategies, or tactics include antagonizing those with different political views, Jewish people, or Jewish organizations.• Act as a platform or tool (at Moishe House programs or through Moishe House affiliated social media accounts) to impose personal religious or political views on participants or the community.• Endorse, advocate, or serve as a platform for physical harm to Israelis or deny Israel’s right to exist as a secure, democratic Jewish state, including support for or participation in the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement.
Kleinman violates Moishe House's written policies.
She is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council.. This disqualifies her from any role in a Zionist organization. Indeed the only reason she could want to be a member of such an organization without being a hypocrite would be to poison it from the inside. After all, JVP supports BDS. JVP has supported Hamas, saying kaddish for terrorists and sponsoring events that called October 7 "resistance" an "self defense."
Even in this video, Kleinman calls Israel's actions in Gaza "genocide." If you ask her whether Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state, you can be sure her answer would be no.
The Washington Post does not see that as a reason that she might be fired from a Zionist organization. It didn't even ask Moishe House for their side of the story. Instead, it takes her at her word that she was fired because she advocates for a ceasefire.
