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Letters: In defense of the "Ten Thousand Villages" store in Highland Park, reader Rob Lowe (Nov. 23 issue) complains that the original article about the store did not present an accurate picture of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Mr. Lowe, however, presents his own inaccurate picture. Mr. Lowe claims that the organization is a "witness against forces that contribute to poverty, injustice and violence." However, according to an MCC white paper (http://mcc.org/papers/2005-05_Peacebuilding_in_Palestine-Israel.pdf), it has worked alongside "Palestinians" since the "Nakba, or catastrophe, of 1948." If the creation of the State of Israel is a catastrophe, it's not unreasonable to conclude that the MCC would have preferred a different "final solution" to the "Jewish problem." Additionally, according to the NGO Monitor (http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article.php?id=839, "The Mennonite Central Committee continues to promote a radical pro-Palestinian agenda, including support for the demonization of Israel through divestment campaigns." The MCC's website features more highly distorted reports on the conflict while erasing the context of terrorism. This NGO is also active in funding radical political groups as BADIL and Sabeel, in sharp contrast to the goal of peace that the MCC professes to seek. Is this the "pursuit of peace" that Mr. Lowe mentions? Reader Joy Schulman, in the same issue, writes a lengthy diatribe about diversity and tolerance, summing up by declaring, "Royal investigations are not necessary for merchants; reserve them for potential spouses." I don't know what a "royal investigation" is, but if a former Nazi or other Jew-hating scum was selling anything in my community, I would certainly want to know about it so I could make an informed decision as to whether I wanted to further the livelihood of someone who would just as soon see my children roasted in an oven as take a walk in the park. Given the MCC's support of terrorist organizations that murder Jewish children, they would appear to qualify. If Ms. Shulman wants to patronize stores that support organizations that murder Jews, that's certainly her choice. However, boycotting Ten Thousand Villages is an appropriate, reasonable, and legitimate response to the murderous Jew-hatred promoted by the MCC. I urge all those who feel that a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict includes the right of Jews to live in peace and security to support the boycott. Benjamin Feigenbaum East Brunswick
I'm writing in response to the article in the Jewish State about Ten Thousand Villages and the two letters to the editor in the Nov. 23, issue responding to the article. I, too, supported the store in its first incarnation as the "Fair Trade Store" for all of the years it was open as such. I, too, thought the merchandise was very attractive and liked the idea that I was helping third world artisans make a living. Yes, when the store opened on Raritan Ave. in its second incarnation as "Ten Thousand Villages," I went to check it out. I, too, thought the merchandise in the new store to be even nicer than in the old one and thought it was wonderful to have a much bigger selection and a real store open daily instead of the other one with limited hours. Then, I, too, did notice things on shelves made by Palestinian artisans but not Israeli artisans. I thought it slightly odd, but unlike your reader, I didn't question the store. I just figured, there isn't anything in there from Western European countries or Japan either. I just figured Israel, being much more western and industrialized, probably didn't qualify as a needy third world country. So I bought some nice tablecloths from the store. A week later, upon reading the Jewish State front page article investigating this store, I had second thoughts about supporting this store and using the tablecloths I purchased. I hadn't kept the receipt since, before reading the article, it hadn't occurred to me that I would return the tablecloths. I went to the store with the tablecloths still in the original bag and still newly folded with the original tags intact, but no receipt. I tried to return the tablecloths. The manager said that the store policy was to give store credit only for merchandise returned without a receipt. Yes, I realize this is a policy at most stores, but in this case I felt my reason for returning the tablecloths was political and had nothing to do with the specific merchandise bought. I actually think the tablecloths are beautiful. Therefore, store credit wouldn't solve my problem of not supporting this store. I told the manager in that case I'm not returning the tablecloths, but I'd like him to know my reason for wanting to return them in the first place. I mentioned the Jewish State article. Apparently he had already heard about it and didn't want to hear any more. I still felt a need to explain my reasoning for not being able to support his store any more. I told the manager as a Jew, I couldn't support a store whose parent organization blames Jews for killing Jesus. I also told him as a descendant of an Iraqi Jew who was kicked out of Iraq with his family for no other reason other than the fact that he was Jewish, I can't support a store whose parent organization blames Israel for all problems in the Middle East. As I'm expressing both of these issues, the manager is yelling at me throughout this conversation to be quiet, that he doesn't want to hear me any more. He then threatened me that if I didn't get out of his store now, he'd call the police. Although I knew that the manager would not be happy about what I had to say, and I'm not sure what reaction exactly I expected from him due to my revelations, somehow I didn't expect his reaction to be to threaten to call the cops on me. I thought that to be a little extreme for merely stating opinions. I left his store with my tablecloths before he had a chance to call the cops. Then I got another unexpected and unpleasant surprise. I was approached outside the store by another customer who was irate with me. This person said to me that I must not know how it feels to be a third-world person. Judging by the fact that she was white, dressed in a middle-class manner and had no foreign accent, I have a feeling that neither does she. I didn't mention that though. I merely told her that I don't want to hear about third world countries as my father was kicked out of Iraq for no other reason but that he was a Jew. She asked me what he was doing in Iraq to begin with. I said, "Living there". She said, "Give me a break!" She basically was letting me know she didn't believe me and didn't want to hear it. I walked away as I had nothing more to say to her but this person aggravated me more than the store manager did. At least the manager has a store to protect. She had no vested interest other than to be nasty to me. This is a story that needs to be told as, while Israel may not be perfect, it is far better than it's Arab neighbors. It is the only country in the Middle East that didn't kick out its citizens. The Palestinians still live there with Israeli citizenship. Every Middle Eastern country kicked out its Jews for simply living there. Most even have problems with Muslims who don't believe in the same type of Islam as the ruling party. Certainly Israel is not the country to be blamed for all the problems in the Middle East. Rachel Weintraub Edison Tipster's son says 'Kol HaKavod' to Mom for reporting on Ten Thousands Villages I have followed the story of the Raritan Avenue Ten Thousand Villages store with no small amount of interest since I was provided with an advance notice about the Nov. 9 article. You see, I am honored to publicly state my pedigree. The activist who stirred that hornet's nest of controversy is none other than my mother. I believe that my mother, normally mild mannered and quiet, performed a public service to the community at large, as well as to our people by bringing to light just what the owners of Ten Thousand Villages store stand for -- the end of the State of Israel as we know it, and its replacement with a one-state solution, a Palestinian state. Shoppers are free to spend their money in establishments of their choosing. However, thanks to my mother, and to The Jewish State article that resulted from her contacting its Seth Mandel, a bit less cash may find its way to those for whom Israel can do no right. Kol HaKavod, Mom! Alvin M. Cheslow Freehold |