J Street Has A Thing For Hebrew Days Of Mourning

If it is only a coincidence, it is an odd one, seeing that it has happened twice.

Last year, Jennifer Rubin wrote about how J Street threw a party on Tisha B'Av:

Joel Pollak (no relation to Noah), a fresh Republican face and strong friend of Israel, has gained the support of Alan Dershowitz against the Israel-bashing and J Street–endorsed Jan Schakowsky in the Illinois 9th. Pollak relates the following on his Facebook page:

Today is Tisha B’Av, when Jews traditionally commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem and mourn other tragedies in our history. Last night, as the holiday began, the new left-wing lobby known as J Street threw a cocktail party in downtown Chicago. The featured guest was J Street president Jeremy Ben-Ami. Since J Street has refused any previous request to debate the issues with me, I went down to speak to Ben-Ami & Co. myself.[emphasis added]

Now, we see that again J Street has a thing for dates of destruction in Jewish history.

A blog of review of Middle East books announces the release of a new book by J Street president Jeremy Ben-Ami:

Jeremy Ben Ami releases new book on the rise of Jewish moderation: A New Voice for Israel

I’m very excited to let you know that the book I’ve written about the journey that led me to J Street – A New Voice for Israel – goes on sale July 19th.

The publishing date of Ben-Ami's book is confirmed by Kirkus Reviews.

July 19th by itself is innocuous, except that this year, July 19 corresponds to the Hebrew date for 17 Tammuz. 17 Tammuz begins the 3 weeks, ending with Tisha B'Av, when the tragic process of the destruction of the two Temples is commemorated.

Obviously this could be an oversight--but the timing of the cocktail is harder to imagine as a mistake. Together, this add up to either a disregard of Judaism and Jewish history, or negligence.

Let Jeremy Ben-Ami apologize and push off the publication date, if indeed the slight is accidental.

Jennifer Rubin writes:

Street seems to want to do two contradictory things — be controversial and antagonistic toward robust supporters of Israel (e.g., AIPAC, ECI) and also be influential in House and Senate races. Unfortunately for the Democrats in those races, J Street’s behavior infects their campaigns.

Apparently, more than just those campaign have been infected.

Hat tip: Israel Matzav

Technorati Tag: Israel and J Street.