Home

I am writing in response to your article about the Ten Thousand Villages store in Highland Park. ("H.P. shop: Questionable connections" -- Jewish State, 28 Cheshvan 5768).

I am a Highland Park resident and a Jewish parent, and I am very proud of the fact that my daughter has for several years performed the Mitzvah of volunteering at the Ten Thousand Villages store, both in its new location on Raritan Ave, and prior to that when it was affiliated with the Fair Trade Store located in the basement of the Reform Church of Highland Park on South 2nd Ave.

While the article faithfully presented much information on the views that the MCC has published concerning the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, I feel it did not present an accurate picture of the movement as a whole. As a result, I believe the article will create a divisive and confrontational atmosphere in our town at a time when religious groups should be respectful and attentive to each others perspectives, opinions, and intentions.

The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) referred to in your article represents an affiliation of various Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and Amish bodies in the U.S. and Canada. It was originally founded in 1920 to provide food for Mennonites starving in the Ukraine.

It subsequently evolved into an organization seeking "to be a witness against forces that contribute to poverty, injustice and violence." It encourages the pursuit of peaceful resolution to conflicts throughout the world and over the years has been actively involved in the founding of mediation workshops in Northern Ireland and South Africa, and is currently engaged in dialog with both Palestinians and Israelis in its efforts to help resolve that conflict.

The relationship between Ten Thousand Villages and the MCC is two-fold. Whilst some of the revenue from Ten Thousand Villages does indeed support MCC activities, it is at the same time encouraging the practice of "Fair Trade" by buying crafts directly from artisans in the developing world and endeavoring to pay them a living wage.

Your reader, who visited the store and was outraged to find that they did not carry items made in Israel, was perhaps missing this point. Ten Thousand Villages only carries artifacts from emerging and developing countries. And for that reason, you will not find articles from Israel, or for that matter the U.S. or China. Anyone wishing to purchase Israeli crafts need only walk a block or two to enjoy any one of Highland Park's excellent Judaica stores.

Entering 'Israel' as a search word on the MCC website (www.mcc.org) will return a long list of articles on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict that many Jews and Americans will find offensive. The articles are, for the most part, highly critical of the State of Israel and its policies towards the Palestinians. However, a closer reading of the articles will also reveal that the views expressed are, in many cases, those shared by various legitimate groups within the broad spectrum of current Israeli politics.

While I, too, abhor the director of the MCC's Washington office participating in a dialog with the Iranian President (and referring to him as "having a measured tone, seeming reasonable…"), I feel that as a Jewish community we should not be condemning a group that, in keeping with its religious beliefs, has sought to promote peace and understanding in the midst of conflict and war. Rather, we should be trying to engage in dialog with those who do not necessarily share our views and opinions, but who do share our desire for peace in the Middle East.

Yours sincerely,

Rob Lowe, Highland Park

Dear Jewish State:

I am writing to comment on the controversy over the store Ten Thousand Villages in Highland Park.

I found the hate posters stuck on the window, encouraging a boycott, most disturbing. Though, I moved recently, I lived and was active in Highland Park for many years. I served on the School Board and my two children went to school there. My children and I both come back often to see friends, and still feel very connected to the people and politics of Highland Park.

I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Newark in the 1950/60s. Though that has not been my frame of reference, as an adult, I have many observant cousins, including some who live in Highland Park. I am writing this little bit of personal history to establish that I feel intimately connected with the issues that this controversy brings up.

Highland Park is not a physically beautiful place. Its congested and its property taxes are high. However for many in central Jersey, including me, it is considered a very desirable place to live. That is because for many years, perhaps because of the proximity to Rutgers, it is a place that has attracted a diverse population from all the world; and that diverse population has not been just tolerated, it's been welcome, and seen as enriching the town. So there is a Chinese language program at the school; English as a Second Language instruction is given to children from over 40 language groups, including many recent Russian Jewish immigrants' children; and children are encouraged to share, rather than hide, their families' varying traditions.

The embrace of people outside of the mainstream culture has extended to the Orthodox Jewish community. Town sports are played on Sundays, rather than Saturdays, so Orthodox Jewish kids have the opportunity to participate. There is an Eruv, so observant Jews can carry, and wheel baby carriages during the Sabbath. Kosher restaurants and shops that feature exclusively Israeli or Jewish products are seen as part of the rich atmosphere, and are frequented by many non-Jews.

This openness in Highland Park embodies the best of the United State's ideals. This openness is why people historically and presently want to migrate here. For generations, the United States has been viewed as a place where people are free to worship and prosper economically. Ancestry, religion or private beliefs do not exclude people from the public sphere of civic and economic life.

All buyers and sellers are welcome in the marketplace. Jewish people, as a tiny minority in the United States, have benefited tremendously from this secular society, where everyone is free to sell their skills and merchandise, and prosper economically. There are places in the world, not very long ago, that people did not want to do business with "Christ killers;" nor were Jews allowed to participate in many professions.

Before the concentration camps, Jews were barred from owning businesses in Nazi Germany; and reports from Russian immigrants reveal the persistence of discrimination against Jewish university scholars. Coming out of this history of discrimination, Jewish people should be very wary of anyone who advocates that you do not do business with someone, not because of what they are publicly selling, but because of who they are or their private associations and beliefs.

Ten Thousand Villages sells beautiful products. The store's uniqueness is that all the things they sell are from underdeveloped countries and regions. The store's goods come from individuals and collectives who are trying to eek out a living by selling their handicrafts. There is not merchandise in the store, from the United States, France, Italy, Israel, or other developed countries.

Thankfully, people in the developed world do not survive by having an outlet for their handicrafts. Anybody who likes what Ten Thousand Villages sells, and wants to buy crafts from underdeveloped countries, should consider shopping there. Period.

Royal investigations are not necessary for merchants; reserve them for potential spouses.

Joy Schulman, NY, NY