How should Jewish leaders confront challenge of BDS groups within their communities?

The recent decision by the Boston Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) to pass a resolution declaring that any member organization supporting the BDS movement could be expelled from the council has generated a wider discussion among Jewish leaders as to where to draw red lines when it comes to Israel.

The resolution—adopted overwhelmingly by a vote of 62-13 with eight abstentions—resolves that no member of the JCRC “shall partner with—in particular by co-sponsoring events primarily led or co-led by, or by signing on to statements primarily organized or co-organized by—a self-identified Jewish organization that declares itself to be anti-Zionist.” The resolution was primarily in response to a move by one of its members, the Boston Workmen’s Circle, which has aligned itself with the anti-Israel Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) group.

David Bernstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs—an umbrella group of Jewish community relations network made up of 125 community relations councils and 17 national Jewish agencies—told JNS that his organization supports the move by the Boston JCRC.

Read More: Jewish World News