It is part of this newspaper’s mission to serve as a virtual town square for the politically diverse Bay Area Jewish community. We strive to be a free speech zone for the civil exchange of ideas.
Last week and this week, J. provided a safe space for diverging views on the funding guidelines of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation. The debate in our publication, both in print and online, has been laudably civil, and proves that even the most divisive perspectives can be discussed respectfully and with overarching Jewish unity in mind.
Jane Kahn and Michael Bien wrote a thought-provoking op-ed last week regarding their unhappiness with the federation denying their donor-advised fund grant request. The couple wished to give to Jewish Voice for Peace and American Friends Service Committee, two nonprofits that support the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. That contravenes federation guidelines instituted in 2009 designed in part to prevent monies donated in its name to organizations that support BDS.
In their op-ed, Kahn and Bien argued the case for supporting Israel while fighting its West Bank policies. They also pointed out a double standard, noting that the federation permits funds to go to right-wing organizations that arguably violate certain values, such as democracy, that the Bay Area Jewish community supports.
Last week, federation CEO Danny Grossman responded to the couple’s op-ed, and this week former federation officer Michael Jacobs also rebuts their argument. In addition, we are publishing several letters to the editor and excerpts from online comments addressing the same issue. We applaud all of these contributors for their respectful tone and reason-based arguments.
Some of the letter writers have suggested that the federation guidelines be revisited. That is not an unreasonable request. After all, it’s been nearly seven years since the guidelines were instituted in response to a controversial screening and on-stage conversation at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Times change, circumstances change, and no institution should rigidly adhere to a policy ad infinitum, especially one as sensitive as this.
Unless and until they are revisited, however, the guidelines remain the consensus viewpoint of the San Francisco federation and should be respected as such.
As your Jewish commmunity publication, we will continue hosting these important debates on our op-ed and letters pages, and we welcome your views.