Mayor’s cold shoulder to shul
Mosman Mayor Peter Abelson declined an invitation to attend a service at The Great Synagogue, citing Israel’s “gross and illegal” occupation of the West Bank.
MOSMAN Mayor Peter Abelson has denied shunning a service at The Great Synagogue next month, after he declined an invitation from the shul’s rabbi, citing Israel’s “gross and illegal” occupation of the West Bank.
Abelson was invited to the shul’s 2017 Law Service on February 8, an annual event which marks the beginning of the new law term.
Abelson turned down the invitation, telling the synagogue’s chief minister Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton, “Thank you for your invitation … I will not be attending.”
He went on to express his “deep personal concern about the gross and illegal occupation of the West Bank which creates intense international division and bitterness and, unresolved, will cause endless terrorism across the globe, including here”.
Writing to the mayor, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff said, “We are appalled that you would refuse to represent the Jewish constituents of your ward because of your views on the Israel-Palestine conflict and that you seemingly hold Australian Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions.”
Stating that “we strongly disagree with your characterisation of Israel’s actions”, Alhadeff highlighted that “there is no issue about your right to accept or decline invitations as you see fit or to express your personal views on any issue”.
“The issue is the link in your letter between your views about Israel and your decision not to attend this event, which has absolutely nothing to do with Israel,” Alhadeff wrote.
“Your views about Israel will inevitably be seen as a pretext for shunning the local Jewish community in Australia. This is unacceptable.”
Speaking to The AJN, Abelson said he did not shun the event.
“I have to manage my time for both professional and civic duties (for which combined I work a 60-hour week) and I accept only a few external civic invitations when there is some clear gain for the Mosman community,” he said.
“My judgement was that my community would not receive any gain from my simply attending the religious service. In declining the event I also saw fit this time (partly because of the UN Resolution) to make my personal observations on the situation in Israel.”
Rabbi Elton told The AJN, “The Great Synagogue is proud to hold the Law Service as an inclusive community event.
“It is very regrettable he is using it to grandstand about an unrelated issue. Especially in such an unpleasant way.”
EVAN ZLATKIS
comments