Local Media Pumps ‘Noa’ Appearance
At least three local media sources have announced this Wednesday’s celebration of “Israel” featuring the Israeli performer Noa, aka Achinoam Nini. Thursday’s print edition of A2Journal carried the story “‘Noa’ concert celebrates Israel’s 65th birthday”, and included personal comments by Ron Sussman (Rabbi Dobrusin’s right hand man) and Elliot Eisenberg, who were both born in 1948. Annarbor.com on Friday ran “Performance by Israeli pop singer Noa will help celebrate Israel’s 65th birthday locally” by Roger LeLievre. The statement below was posted on LeLievre’s article as a comment. Readers can click here to see if it’s still up
The performance by Noa, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, violates the 2005 call for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions issued by over 270 member groups of Palestinian civil society, and as supporters of the BDS movement against Israel, we will peacefully protest this event. Readers are encouraged to learn more about Israel’s treatment of the +5 million Palestinians under its control by visiting websites like If Americans Knew, and are invited to join us at the Michigan Theater prior to the performance.
And of course the Washtenaw Jewish News ran a front page headline about the event and ended their April issue with a full back page advertisement
Local Rabbi Firms Up His Stance
Rabbi Robert Dobrusin of Beth Israel Congregation wrote a piece for WJN’s April issue, giving us his “Thoughts on the 65th birthday of the State of Israel”
“I believe without question in the legitimacy of Israel’s existence as a Jewish State”
Devoted readers of these reports may well be wondering why the Rabbi’s statement was not made on behalf of Beth Israel Congregation as it did in his Op-ed to the Ann Arbor News of January 14, 2007
“there is one general statement which I can make on behalf of the congregation – Beth Israel Congregation affirms without any hesitation or equivocation the legitimacy of the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish state,”
Has he lost the support of the Congregation? One can only speculate …
Our Best Behavior – Smile!
On Wednesday we will attempt to explain the purpose of our protest at the Michigan Theater via use of a bullhorn and informational flyers. Our hope is that potential concert goers will hear the information we have for them, and forego their tickets to an event that will celebrate the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.
We will be completely street legal: no blockage of sidewalks or entrances to the Michigan Theater. Conversation with interested individuals is encouraged, and those few that will attempt to entangle us in name-calling will be treated with a smile and a peace sign.
We expect a police presence, and have worked with the Ann Arbor Police Department to provide safety for protesters and concert goers alike.
Last Reminder
The flyer for our April17 protest of “Celebrate Israel Day” festivities at the Michigan Theater is complete and can be downloaded here for printing and distribution. Please make plans to join us as we stand against 65 years (at least) of ethnic cleansing. Contact this writer for more details.
WHERE: The Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor
WHEN: Wednesday, April 17th, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
WHAT: We will protest the Jewish Federation’s celebration of Israel’s ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinian people.
WHY: In 2005, scores of Palestinian civil society groups called for a global campaign including “broad boycotts” of Israel (see bdsmovement.net). That call includes the boycott of cultural events such as the Federation’s celebration of “Israel Day”, featuring Israeli performer Achinoam “Noa” Nini.
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Seven Vigilers
Liberate Palestine, End “Israel”
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends
