B’nai Jeshurun Cheers Push for Palestinian State

By JTA December 5, 2012

The leaders of a prominent New York City synagogue sent out an email to congregants praising the U.N. vote that elevated the Palestinians to non-member state status.

“The vote at the U.N. yesterday is a great moment for us as citizens of the world,” said the email, signed by the B’nai Jeshurun’s three rabbis, cantor, the president of the board of directors and executive director. “This is an opportunity to celebrate the process that allows a nation to come forward and ask for recognition. Having gained independence ourselves in this way, we are especially conscious of this.”

The email was sent Friday, the day after the Thursday’s U.N. vote. The New York Times, which first reported the email on Tuesday, said that it elicited “shock” from some members and was welcomed by others.

B’nai Jeshurun, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, is a large synagogue known for its liberal politics and lively, music-infused services. It is not formally affiliated with any religious movement.

The email expressed hope that the U.N. vote would advance prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

“As Jews deeply committed to the security and democracy of Israel, and in light of the violence this past month in Gaza and Israel, we hope that November 29, 2012 will mark the moment that brought about a needed sense of dignity and purpose to the Palestinian people, led to a cessation of violence and hastened the two state solution,” the signatories wrote.

This story has been amended to reflect the fact that the president, not the whole board of directors signed the email.

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