The dialogue and jazz performances by Gilad Atzmon and Rich Siegel in Rochester, NY and in Geneva, NY were a great success in spite of Zionist attempts to silence them and our organization, Deir Yassin Remembered. Both events drew “a full house” with audiences saying how much they enjoyed meeting Rich and Gilad. Typical was one gentleman who wrote, “To hear your individual stories and your political analyses, combined with world-class music, doesn’t get much better.”
Rich Siegel (right) and Gilad Atzmon in Geneva, NY
The Rochester event was to have been held at the First Unitarian Church, but a simple protest from the local rabbi caused the church to roll over and cancel the event, with no compensation, a mere five days before its scheduled time on June 29th. Fortunately, Rochester Against War, offered us even better space at “The Flying Squirrel Community Center,†complete with audio hook ups. We are indebted to Brian Lenzo and Doug Noble for their support.
The Geneva event was a $100-head fundraiser at Billsboro Winery overlooking beautiful Seneca Lake. In spite of pressure on the winery to not host us and on local people to shun the event, we filled the space and raised $4,800. This is (almost) enough for two additional DYR Scholarships for young people wishing to study in Palestine. (One man drove over 300 miles from Boston just to hear Gilad.)
Both Gilad and Rich addressed the audience on their personal experiences of overcoming political Zionism. Gilad’s grandfather was a commander in the Irgun, the Jewish terrorist gang that committed the massacre at Deir Yassin. Rich was the president of a Zionist youth group as a teenager.
Both Gilad and Rich share my belief that within the borders controlled today by Israel (that is, all the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River) there already exists a single state. It has one electrical grid, one road system, one monetary authority, one postal authority, one water system, etc. etc. The problem is that over half the population within this existing state or those people that are non-Jews, have lesser rights or none at all.
Zionists refuse to recognize this simple fact, because they continue to dream of a state where Jews are in a majority and have superior rights to non-Jews. That dream is based, to a large extent, on “chosenness” or superiority to non-Jews or goyim, a more derisive term. And that obsession has led to the apartheid state that Israel/Palestine now is and to the racist transfers and ethnic cleansing plans that it currently employs.
Here are my opening remarks to give you a better idea of what Deir Yassin Remembered is and why were so proud to have hosted Rich Siegel and Gilad Atzmon. Hopefully we shall see them return next year, perhaps as the NTFADA Ensemble.
The Times, They Are Indeed Changing
(opening remarks by Daniel McGowan for Gilad Atzmon DYR Fundraiser)
A month ago the whole world saw Jewish Power attack unarmed humanitarian activists in international waters with no existential threat to Israel. It was another clear demonstration of the criminal side of political Zionism, meaning the quest to build a Jewish state in Palestine, ignoring the fact that over half the population is not Jewish. It was a demonstration of the colonialism, the discrimination, the collective punishment, the racism, the siege and starvation techniques, the ghetto-ization of the Palestinians, namely the indigenous population.
It was also pivotal event. First, Gaza became recognized as the obscene ghetto Israel created. Second, for the first time, The Holocaust was not used as the shield to justify naked Israeli aggression. Third, the myth of the United States as an “honest broker” was rendered inane. Our government denied the facts, failed to call for an international inquiry, ignored our own citizens’ participation, passed resolutions condemning the victims, and turned against our NATO ally Turkey whose citizens were killed and wounded.
General David Petraeus said that the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is endangering the lives of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator Schumer, Howard Berman, and other Israel-Firsters couldn’t care less. When Petraeus fainted last week at a Senate hearing, some of them viewed it as divine punishment.
Deir Yassin Remembered is a not-for-profit organization of Jews and non-Jews working to build a truth and reconciliation center at Deir Yassin, site of a massacre on April 9, 1948 of over 100 Arab men, women, and children by Jewish terrorists of the Irgun and Stern Gang. The massacre was a pivotal moment in Palestinian history, one known to virtually every Palestinian and a historical fact that has been deliberately flushed down the memory hole by political Zionists and those who tell only the Jewish narrative of the conquest of historical Palestine. (By the way Gilad’s father, a devout Zionist, was a member of the Irgun.)
Deir Yassin Remembered was founded in 1995 at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Over the years The Colleges hosted several of its Board members, including Sahar Ghosheh, Mubarak Awad, Edward Said, and Hanan Ashrawi, and The Colleges were to have been the repository for the DYR Archives. Today, the only memorial to the dispossession of the Palestinian people, the only one in the United States, is located on the lake frontage of Houghton House, which is the Colleges’ art department.
As part of our mission the Deir Yassin Remembered Scholarship Fund is designed to help young people receive college education in Palestine/Israel under the motto of “Peace Through Education.” Last year we gave seven scholarships. Tonight’s fundraiser, donated by Gilad Atzmon and Rich Siegel and by contributions from DYR members from all over the world will allow us to give an additional two scholarships this year.
Rich Siegel is a free-lance pianist/vocalist/songwriter/bandleader. He has appeared as a piano-vocal soloist in various venues including the Carlyle, the Waldorf Astoria, the NY Inter-Continental, Tavern on the Green, 21 Club in New York; Nova Park Elysees and Maxim’s de Paris in France, Bowden Square Club in the Hamptons, Upstairs in Montreal, Le Jazze in Quebec, Club Baron Shimaguchi in Japan, and “Bleu Marine’ in Abidjan, West Africa.
You may have seen him in the national ad for Steinway Pianos or accompanying pop stars like Laura Branigan or various other jazz and cabaret artists in NY scene.
Before becoming a pro-Palestinian activist and a Board member of DYR, Rich was a former teenage president of a Zionist youth group.
Gilad Atzmon is a world renowned jazz musician, author and blogger. He was born in Israel and trained at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, where he learned to play saxophone and clarinet.
But Gilad is not just an outstanding musician. He is an unrestrained political activist who serves music with raw political passion and a message. His views, born from experience can be unsettling – especially to an American audience taught to avoid all criticism of Israel for fear of being destroyed with the tar brush of anti-Semitism.
Gilad’s main instrument is the alto saxophone. His jazz style is bebop/hard bop, veering at times into free jazz. The London Times calls him, “the hardest-gigging man in British jazz … the music here is subtle, ambiguous, often beautiful … a saxophonist playing deep from the heart.”
But if his eclectically inclusive music prompts rave reports, his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his intensely anti-Zionist views have provoked outrage, not least among some other anti-Zionists, and he has been condemned as an anti-Semite and even a Holocaust denier.
Ask him about such claims and he sounds cheerfully, indeed pugilistically, unrepentant. He refutes accusations of Holocaust denial, arguing that it should be treated as historical fact rather than as “religious myth.” So far as being labeled in some quarters as a “self-hating Jew,†he responds: “Self-hating Jew is almost correct. I would say a proud self-hating Jew,” and continues, unabashed, “I would remind you that great thoughts have been contributed by Jews who were self-hating – Christ, or Marx, or Spinoza… whenever you come across a mega-Jewish thinker, there’s always this element of anger against oneself.
Gilad has earned many jazz awards including the “Best Jazz Album of 2002” (BBC Jazz Award) and is regarded as one of the greatest saxophonists of this generation.
In 1982 he completed obligatory military service during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, where his experiences brought about a major change in his thinking. He currently lives in exile in Great Britain and regards himself as a Hebrew-speaking Palestinian.
July 10th, 2010 - 1:03 pm
Helpful report. Talmudic counterfeit-Jew racism and its consequent behavior needs to be exposed and reported.
July 12th, 2010 - 6:07 am
Concerned mr. Petraeus, that he fainted away during the hearing in the Senate, was according to some, a divine judgment. Well, we may not know it yet, but this is exactly what some preachers teach in the churches of America (and also to a lesser extend in Europe.) And this are not just local preachers. No, these are the “great names” who are very powerfull (and some of them have a lot of money.) They too, claim that we all have the absolute duty to support Israel unconditionally. Even the slightest deviation from the divine doctrine, brings our lives in danger, they claim.
And you know what? That what is announced now by the “Israel-firsters” has remarkable similaritys with the so-called “prosperity-gospel” what now is being preached by influential chuch-leaders as Benny Hinn. Paul Chrouch, Tommy Lee Osborn, and many others.
Let’s look at some of these similaritys:
1: When one give (for example) $ 100 to some prospeity-teacher, one will receive (again, for example) $ 500 in return.
 Preaching concerning Israel: if one bless Israel with a (financial) gift through one of the many Jewish organisations, God wiil bless you with a multiple of money.
If one criticize a prosperity-teacher due to his wrong doctrines, you will soon or later, be punished by God.
Preaching concerned Israel: If one has the courage to criticize Israel because of her infringement of the human rights of the Palestinians, or saying “negative confessions” about the perilous situations of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan (just as mr Petraeus did), you will inevitable (again, sooner or later) punished by a wrathfull God. That’s why we are expected, to say “positive confessions” about Israel. (for example: Israel is still God’s chosen people, regardless what it does with or say about the Palestinians.)
The most outspoken church-leader nowadays in America, is mr. John Hagee. He is very influential, has much power in the evangelical movement, and he wrote recently a book, entitled: “In Defense of Israel.” In his book, he claims among others that the destiny of the United States is at stake, when they will ceasing support Israel The fate of America is, according to him is inextricably bound up with Israel; when Israel goes under, the United States will go with her.
Well, why do I write this? Because, it is my strong conviction that the “Israel-doctrine” (wich is in fact the “Zionist-Christian gospel”) what is currently teached, somewhere in the future will be the dominant factor in many if not all the churches in America and Europe. Yes, persecution is coming and it will not be the Moslems, who are nowadays libeled as the imaged “terrorists.”
As the Zionist-Christian religion is inextricably bound up with a great part of the Obama-administration, and a great part of the American people (wich is also the case in Europe), it will be a religious persecution of everyone who will have the slighted criticism on Israel. Take besides that in account the powerfull Jewish lobby in America (and in Europe too) wich are fervent supporters of Israel, maybe thán, we can to a certain extend image how heavy, and fierce the persecution will be in the (nearby) future. Yes my friends, you have your share of it already. But -and I am sorry to say this- the worst is yet to come. The only solution for the problem will be: enlighten the people in a honest and open way of the truth about Israel, the Middle East, and the unnecessary relations between the United States and Israel. . Maby, there is a chanche, that all this can be avoided.
And that’s is what you are doing, friends.
Ton Nuiten – 12-7-2010
Â
July 16th, 2010 - 5:47 am
Yes indeed, Latimer. You know, Talmudic racsism was already apparent in biblical times during the rule of the Pharisees and Sadducees. For example, the Lord Jesus used during one of His many parables the rol model of a Samaritan to give a good defenition about the love for one’s neighbour. Already in Jesus’times, the Pharisees alleged that they and the Jews who had enjoyed their Talmudic teachings, where superior to the “common man” of the street, so to speak. Especially the Samaritans where for them nothing more than outcasts, an inferior race.
In chapter 4, of the gospel according to John, we read the story of Jesus Who was travelling through the land of Samaria. eventually, He meets a Samaritan woman and He has a little talk with her. First of all, He asks he to give Him a little bit of water to drink. And listen to the reply of this woman:
“Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him: How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (John 4:9)
So, here we see that the Samaritans where considered as very low in the eyes of the Pharisees and the Jews at that time. In Luke, chapter 10, we read a emarkable story; a certain lawyer asks Jesus the following:
“Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He”(Jesus) ” said unto him: What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And He said unto him: Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” (verses 25-28)
So, it is very easy to understand by now, but listen to what the lawyer says:
“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus: And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chanche there came down a certain priest that way:” (who was a Jew) ” and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite” (who was also a Jew), “when he was at the place, came amd looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a cerain Samaritan as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him: Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Wich now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves? And he said: He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him: Go, and do thou likewise.” (verses 30-36)
Well, what has this all to do with the Jews of today? And here is the secret: just as inferior the Samaritans where in the eyes of their forefathers in the past, just as inferior are the Palestinians in the eyes of their descedants of today! And not only that: reportedly, the Palestinians are descedants of the early Samaritans in Jesus’days. But there is something changed: the Jews of today (and I am talking nót about évery Jew of course, because there are also many good Jews out there!), are a lot worse, than their forefathers where in the past; had the Jews at the time of Jesus just no relations with the Samaritans, the Jews of today have not only no relations with the Palestinians, but they oppressing them to boot!
And … what a remarkable question of this lawyer: “who is my neighbour.” What was he talking about? Didn’t he knew what he was saying? Oh, of course he did! Because the Talmud teaches indeed the love for the neighbour. So, everything is well, isn’t? But what is the Talmud teaching in reallity? It teaches the Jews that only “they fellow-Jew” is the neighbour, and nót the non-Jews who are just “cattle!” What he was trying to do, was this: his real motif was, to deceive Jesus so that He would give the lawyer the “right reply”: “Yes, only we Jews, are the master race and all the the other outside our class, including the Samaritans, are nothing more but beasts.” But that was not the answer of Jesus. For Jesus, the Son of God, everybody is equal. Everybody, wether they are Jews, Palestinians, Turks, Egyptians, Americans, Russians etc. have the sane rights, the same privileges. And it was God’s purpose from the beginning that we all should love each other without discrimmination.
The question is: what would Jesus do if He was nowadays returned back in Jerusalem, within the Knesseth? Well, I know the answer already. He would chase off the Jewish leaders in the same way as He did in the past with the the moneychangers in the temple. (Mark 11:
15-17)Â
September 22nd, 2010 - 10:16 pm
I am shocked to read of your comments regarding “jews’ and find it all very anti semitic.
Also, were you aware that because you published the name and location of the rabbi who expressed his concerns to the Unitarian Church the congregation got over 400 hateful threats? What on earth is wrong with you people? Are you really that full of hate?
I can’t believe my beloved alma mater HWS hosts such a bigoted group.
May God free us all from such hatefulness as you people show.
I noted in the rules for comments that nothing is said about jew hatred, it would seem the post above made it! I doubt you print this, and I say shame on you for causing so much heartache and stress for the family of that rabbi whose name went up on one hate site after another thanks to you.
September 24th, 2010 - 5:47 am
Dear Callie:
First of all, critisism on Israel is not “hate against Jews.” And if there are people who threat Rabbi’s, this is a sad thing indeed. And I do not approve this kind of behavior. You know, when the Second World War came to an end, the atrocities and the horrors, wich were committed by the Nazi’s, became known. The result was, however, that not only those who were guilty of the crimes, were punished. The innocents Germans too, were the victim of the revanche by Jews and non-Joews who didn’t discriminate between the guilty and the innocents. What most (if not all) the history books tells us, is the fact that many Germans dissaproved Hitler’s criminal actions against the German Jews. And if you wont to know what happened besides all this, read the story of the Jew Shlomo Morell, one of the cruel Jewish guards wich was charged with supervision of one of the many death camps wich were created by Joseph Stalin just after the war ended. Thousands and thousands of innocent Germans who have had nothing to do with the Hitler governemt, were tortured to death by this thug! And you know what? While the tv-screens were filled with pictures about the holocaust, no single word about the crueltys, committed by Morell. and other revencefull Jews on innocent Germans at that time.  When the Polish governemt had deceided, to bring Morell for court (the horrors were committed in Poland at that time), he fled to Israel. So, the Polish authorities aksed the Israeli government for permission, to deliver Morell out to them. Israel, however, refused this. Recently, Morell died peacefully, without stood for trial for his crimes.
Second: for almost sixty years now, we have repatedly heard the story about the fate of the Palestinians during the Israeli War of Independence of 1948. The official story is as follows: When a part of the Jewish people had turned back to what at that time still was Palestine, the Arabic leaders announced to the Palestinians, to leave the area temporaly. When those leaders had expelled the Jews, they could returned, to celebrate the victory over the expelled Jews. David Ben-Gurion, the author of “Plan Dalet”, (and later the first Premier of Israel), said publicy that there was an “iminent Holocaust”, because the Jewish minority was confronted with superior Arabic forces. This is the story wich we repeatedly heard on TV, the papers, and magazines etc. In 2006, a courageous Jewish researcher and author comes along with a remarkable book entitled: “The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.” In this book, mr Ilan Pappe, documents the true history about what happened at that time. It were the Haganah, and the Irgun, Jewish militant organisations, who expelled the Palestinians, not the other way around! Thereby, it were those Jewish forces who were far more superior against the Palestinian resitance fighters, who used old weaponry wich had its origine from the First World War! Thousands and thousands helpless Palestinians wer expelled and a great part of it murdered in cold blood. In total, 1 million Palestinians were expelled and most of them slaughtered by Jewish criminal organisations. Still, however, the myth is maintained about a deserted Palestinian wasteland wich was tilled by Jews into a blossoming prosperious area. Tha Arabians began to envy them. As result (still according to the myth), they send in their heavy armed armys, to repell the Jews. But while they were far more powerfull than the helpless Jews, they didn’t succeed, to get the victory over them. And this lie is still believed by millions the whole world over. But now, the real facts are showing up. And that’s why many people are angry with the Jewish leaders in Israel. Not because it is “antisemitism”, but because this is the truth. So, although I strongly dissaprove what people did with their hate mails to the Rabbi (and believe me, it is completedly wrong and evil!), I do understand it. So, it is not “antisemitism”, but the sad, inevitable result of Jewish misconduct. I am very sorry to say this, it is nevertheless the truth. And many innocent Jews as you, are the victims of it.