Young, Proud Jews lead a flash mob inside site of AIPAC policy conference
Young, Jewish, and Proud participants lead flash mob protest at the beginning of AIPAC policy conference.
Audio of the Performance: http://bit.ly/YJPHavaNagila
Young Adult Wing of Jewish Voice for Peace rewrites “Hava Nagila” to protest human rights abuses
Contact:
Hanna King, hking1 AT swarthmore.edu
Jesse Bacon, jesse AT jvp.org
[May 22, 2011-Washington, D.C.]-- Young, Jewish and Proud-- the young adult wing of Jewish Voice for Peace, performed a flash mob inside the AIPAC policy conference as participants were registering. The action was set to the traditional Jewish folk tune of “Hava Nagila” and featured interpretative versions of “Horah” folk dance, with lyrics included below.
Inspired by the democratic uprisings sweeping the Arab World, members of Young, Jewish, and Proud called for respect for democracy at home and abroad. The “Hava Nagila” flash mob was to protest “bluewashing” the use of Jewish identity to cover up abuses against Palestinians and to highlight the generational split on the issue in the Jewish community. Young, Jewish, and Proud was responsible for the widely debated protest interrupting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in New Orleans in which they said “the Occupation delegitimizes Israel.”
Hanna King, 17, Swarthmore College, “We are the next generation of American Jews, raised on the values of human rights and dignity, and we will apply those values to all peoples, including Palestinians. AIPAC’s support of Israel’s repressive policies is an embarrassment, and we have a responsibility to voice our strongest dissent, including through creative protest. The legacy of the Jewish people is ours to carry forward, and we are doing so with pride. AIPAC does not represent us.”
Jesse Bacon, 33, participant in the flash mob, and editor of Jewish Voice for Peace blog, The Only Democracy? “We are singing and dancing to challenge AIPAC’s overwhelming dominance over US foreign policy in Israel and Palestine and to say: Move over AIPAC and recognize our diverse Jewish communities and identities for what they are! We used “Hi ne ni {I am here} to emphasize our standing up and taking responsibility. We are Young, Jewish, and Proud and we won't let AIPAC promote U.S. support for over 4 decades of an illegal and brutal Israeli Occupation which denies the human rights of Palestinians. They don’t represent Jews, and they don’t represent the best interests of Americans, Palestinians or Israelis. We support democracy and self-determination for all people, and we want it in our own Jewish communities on this issue.”
Elise Goldin, 23, participant in the flash mob, Member of Jewish Voice for Peace, “We have a new word to describe what AIPAC does- "bluewashing," which is the use of Jewish culture, religion and history to hide human rights abuses against Palestinians. AIPAC purports to be the "pro-Israel" lobby but is but is lobbying on behalf of weapons manufactures, not Israeli people. AIPAC gives the incorrect impression to many people including members of congress that it speaks for all Jewish Americans. It doesn't speak for me, and many young Jews like myself are especially alienated by its behavior. Policies such as unconditional US support for even the most right wing Israeli governments are harmful to Palestinians and to Israelis and do not speak for us. Neither does perpetual occupation and settlement growth, which is a path to more violence, destruction and death with no peaceful resolution. By using Hava Nagila in our protest, we are showing our respect for our culture and reclaiming our culture from human rights abuses.”
VIdeo, audio, and stills of the protest will be available soon. Email jesse AT jvp.org to make sure you hear when it is available
LYRICS:
AIPAC is meeting
We have a greeting
Cuz they're not speaking
For these young Jews.
Justice is dying
AIPAC is lying
Lies we’re not buying
Hi ne ni.. (I am here.)
AIPAC don't speak for me
Bluewashing's not my cup of tea
Palestine must be free
Occupation’s heresy!
Buying Congress with their cash
All opposing Jews they bash
AIPAC wants peace to crash
Hi ne ni (“I am here.” )
Move, Move, Move over AIPAC!
Move over your weapon hawking
Move over your racist talking
Move over we're justice seeking
Move over cuz we are speaking
Move over move over
Cuz we're young Jewish ,and proouuuudddd.