Israel Matzav

Surprise: Most of the 340 'rabbis' for Iran came from Iran-supported J Street

After the 98 'Hollywood Jews for Iran' letter, the Obama-Kerry junta has produced 340 'rabbis' Iran. I'm sure you'll all be shocked to see this Zionist Organization of America press release disclosing that the vast majority of them are affiliated with Iran-funded J Street (Hat Tip: Liz B).

ZOA Analysis Shows "340 Rabbis For Iran Deal" Are From Groups Hostile to Israel, Including J Street (Which Works With Apparent Iranian Regime Group NIAC), BDS Group "Jewish Voice for Peace," and Israel-Bashing "Rabbis for Human Rights"

94% of U.S. Rabbis Did NOT Sign Pro-Iran Deal Statement, While American Jews Oppose Deal by 2-1, Israelis 7-1, and All Americans by 2-1

NEW YORK, August, 18, 2015 -- The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA)'s analysis shows that the overwhelming majority of the "340 Rabbis for Iran Deal" come from groups that routinely take positions and engage in activities that are hostile towards Israel and inimical to American interests. The "340 Rabbis for Iran Deal" are a small fringe group. There are over 5,000 Rabbis in the United States. In other words, 94% of American Rabbis did not sign the statement supporting the Iran deal.

The majority of the Iran Deal Rabbis come from the Soros-funded J Street. (George Soros is a self-described anti-Zionist billionaire.) Liberal Professor Alan Dershowitz explained that J Street "always seems to be taking positions that are anti-Israel." J Street U's new student board president is an anti-Israel Muslim.

J Street has financial and other ties to the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), an apparent arm of the Iranian regime. Dissident journalist Hassan Daioleslam revealed that NIAC serves as a lobbying group for Iran, and that NIAC's president and founder, Trita Parsi, has a long-term close relationship with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. J Street's financial filings revealed that J Street's initial funders included NIAC board member Genevieve Lynch. J Street's first national conference held an Iran panel with NIAC head Trita Parsi and Iran apologist Hillary Mann Leverett, who insisted that no sanctions be placed on Iran. At the J Street event, Leverett also condemned anyone who did not trust the Iranian regime as "reinforcing stereotypes of Iranian duplicitousness" and asserted that such "stereotypes" of Iran's Mullahs were "fundamentally racist." Leverett also compared Iran's mullahs to Israeli rabbis. See Trouble on J-Street, by James Kirchick.

J-Street has a long history of supporting the Iran regime's interests over those of America and Israel. For instance, J Street lobbied Congresspersons to simply "believe in Iran" - despite the Iranian regime's responsibility for murdering hundreds of Americans, Israelis and others, and history of undeclared sites for carrying on its nuclear weapons program. Former Congressman Allen West, who noted that J-Street was a "Pro-Palestinian Jewish organization," related that J-Street told him that he should just "believe in Iran."

In addition, several months ago, J Street ran and touted a phony poll to falsely claim that Jews support the Iran deal. The poll asked about a hypothetical Iran deal that would only give Iran "modest relief from sanctions," and that would only reduce sanctions gradually as Iran met compliance benchmarks, in exchange for enrichment restrictions to civilian use and full time inspectors at Iran's nuclear facilities "to make sure Iran is not developing nuclear weapons." This loaded polling question is a far cry from the actual Iran deal, which gives hundreds of billions of dollars of sanctions relief and economic windfalls to Iran, allows enrichment in excess of the amounts needed for civilian use, and delays and places all sorts of roadblocks in the way of obtaining inspections of Iran's undeclared nuclear activities. In addition, no Americans are allowed to inspect Iranian facilities, and inspectors must first be approved by Iran officials before they can even enter Iran.

Moreover, Ameinu (which is the group promoting the "340 Rabbis for Iran Deal") is closely tied to J Street. Ameinu appears to be serving as a front group for J Street here - since J Street has been so discredited. Ameinu National President Kenneth Bob doubles as J Street's Treasurer. Ameinu Vice President and Executive Committee Chair Judith Gelman is a member of J Street's Montgomery County, MD steering committee. Ameinu and J Street recently ran together on the same election slate.

Other "340 Iran Deal Rabbis" include a board member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). JVP is featured on the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) list of the "Top 10 Anti-Israel Groups in America," and actively promotes anti-Israel boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS).

The Iran Deal Rabbis also include over a dozen significant contributors to the so-called "Rabbis for Human Rights" (RHR). RHR participates in anti-Israel demonstrations and, along with other anti-Israel groups, launched a website with false testimonies accusing Israel of human rights violations in Gaza. ZOA members witnessed an RHR Rabbi invent and widely publish false stories to demonize pro-Israel young people at the Israel Day Parade Concert in New York several years ago.

ZOA's comparison of the names and locations on the 340 "Rabbis for Iran Deal" list with lists published on the websites of hostile-to-Israel groups showed the following:

187 (the majority) of the Iran Deal Rabbis are members of the "J Street Rabbinic Cabinet."

12 of the Iran Deal Rabbis are members of the "J Street Rabbinic Cabinet Executive Council"

The Iran Deal Rabbis also include 2 (out of 3) of the J Street cabinet's co-chairs

13 of the Iran Deal Rabbis are significant donors to the falsehood-purveying "Rabbis for Human Rights."

Iran Deal Rabbi Linda Holtzman is on the Board of Directors of the anti-Israel BDS group, "Jewish Voice for Peace." Rabbi Holtzman is known as a "pioneer lesbian Rabbi." As a homosexual, she should be the first to condemn Iran's horrendous human rights record, which includes Iran's brutal executions of hundreds of innocent individuals for the sole reason that they are gay. Incredibly, she is fostering a deal that will give the Iranian regime hundreds of billions of dollars to continue its brutal oppression of gays and minorities.

Iran Deal Rabbi Arthur Waskow [pictured - CiJ] states that the people at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) are "people I trust and admire and respect." CAIR is an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation case (the case against groups that sent funding to Hamas). CAIR is also among the top groups that ADL has frequently condemned for its anti-Israel activities.

ZOA President Morton A. Klein stated:

"The Rabbis signing the Ameinu letter do not in any way represent the viewpoint of American Rabbis. To only be able to get 6% of U.S. rabbis to sign this statement supporting the catastrophic Iran deal clearly indicates that Rabbinic leaders are deeply concerned about the Iran nuclear deal. This is especially true when 75% of American Jews voted for President Obama. More importantly, reliable polls show tremendous opposition to the Iran deal. The Quinnipiac poll shows that Americans oppose this dangerous deal by a margin of 2 to 1, and the Israel Project poll shows that American Jews also oppose the Iran deal by the same 2 to 1 margin. In addition, a poll conducted this week by Israel's Channel 10, reported in the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz, shows that Israelis oppose the Iran deal by a margin of 7 to 1."

"Almost every major Jewish and pro-Israel group strongly opposes this disastrous Iran deal. These major groups opposed to the Iran deal include: the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC); the Anti-Defamation League (ADL); the Zionist Organization of America; the American Jewish Committee; the American Jewish Congress; B'nai Brith; Christians United for Israel (CUFI); the Orthodox Union; over 100 organizations who are members of the StopIranRally.org Coalition; and Jewish Federations across the country including in Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Houston, Phoenix, Chicago, New York, and many more."

Labels: anti-Israel rabbis, J Street, J Street funding, J Street U, Jewish Voice for Peace, Zionist Organization of America

Confirmed: J Street is not 'mainstream'

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has resoundingly rejected the application of J Street, the American 'Jewish' pro-'Palestinian' organization, to become a member. The vote, which required two thirds in favor to pass (34 out of 51), was 17 in favor, 22 opposed and three abstentions.

Professor Jacobson presents a whole bunch of commentary from across the spectrum and I urge you to read his entire post. What bothers me about this is that 17 groups voted in favor, and more importantly, that so many 'opinion makers' believe J Street is already 'one of us.' An anti-Israel group that is financed by non-Jews and whose membership is largely not Jewish is not 'one of us.'

Labels: American Jews, J Street, J Street funding, pro-Israel pro-peace

J Street Funder Bill Benter paying MJ Rosenberg's salary at Media Matters?

I'm sure that many of you remember Bill Benter, the mysterious, Hong Kong-based gambler who financed much of J Street's budget. Well, it seems that there's another US-based organization that has been the beneficiary of Benter's generosity: Media Matters. Specifically, Benter may have contributed money to keep Jewish anti-Semite MJ Rosenberg on the payroll (Benter wouldn't confirm that part).

“I have been a contributor to Media Matters for many years and am proud to support the important work that it does fighting for truth in media, working for more honest political discourse and promoting our shared progressive values,” Benter told TheDC in a statement.

A source told TheDC that Benter donated to Media Matters, at least in part, so the liberal organization could bring MJ Rosenberg on board as its foreign policy voice.

Rosenberg has become a lightning rod for questioning the loyalty of American supporters of Israel by calling them “Israel firsters,” and for taking other radical positions. Alan Dershowitz, the liberal Harvard Law School professor, has denounced him in a series of recent interviews and articles, saying that Rosenberg’s rhetoric and ideas are similar to what neo-Nazi and pro-Hezbollah websites offer.

According to tax documents obtained by TheDC, the Media Matters Action Network paid Rosenberg $129,568 in 2010, plus $4,505 in other compensation. That organization is one of Media Matters’ political arms. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

TheDC wasn’t able to independently confirm the source’s claim that Benter donated to Media Matters with the intent of endowing Rosenberg’s salary, and it appears that Benter contributed directly to the 501(c)(3) — not to its affiliated 501(c)(4) group.

When TheDC asked Benter’s intermediary, Matt Dorf of Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications, whether Benter was in any way involved in bringing Rosenberg on board, and whether Benter possibly solicited funds for Media Matters’ (c)(4) affiliate to help pay Rosenberg’s salary, Dorf said the latter question was “exactly the right question” and that he would ask Benter.

Dorf later replied that Benter would not be providing any further statement.

Read the whole thing. Gee, you think J Street and Media Matters could have the same sources of funding? What a shock that would be.

/sarc

Labels: Bill Benter, J Street funding, Media Matters, MJ Rosenberg

Puppeteer to vote for his puppet

Guess who is getting George Soros' vote in 2012.

Let's go to the videotape (Hat Tip: Weasel Zippers). More after the video

The funny part is Soros saying that he has 'always given my money openly.' Really?

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, George Soros, J Street funding

J Street becomes mainstream in Boston

If I was going to pick one Jewish community in the US where this was most likely to happen, Boston would have been high on the list (in fact, I can't think of anyplace other than San Francisco or Washington where the Jewish community comes anywhere near being as left-liberal as Boston). The Boston Jewish Community Relations Council admitted J Street as a member two weeks ago, and that means that the radical Leftist anti-Israel organization now has its hands in the communal till.

Lacking community support for its hard-left positions, J Street seeks a foothold inside establishment Jewish groups to push its policies to counter mainstream efforts defending Israel and, at the same time, to claim it speaks for more than a small fringe.

On May 25, 2011, the group scored big in Boston, when it was voted onto the Jewish Community Relations Council.

The saga began in January 2010 when the JCRC ignored its own bylaws and allowed J Street to slip in the back door, without applying like all other groups. This happened without discussion, without a vote, without a shred of publicity. The group was simply added by committee, via supposedly absorbing an existing member organization, Brit Tzedek V’Shalom, which was closing down.

No coverage followed in The Jewish Advocate. Nothing. The wider Boston Jewish community had no idea the group had been admitted to what is assumed to be the mainstream voice of Boston Jews on various issues, including aspects of Israeli policy. The facts only emerged nearly a year later when the group’s director, Jeremy Ben Ami, was disinvited from a speaking event at a Newton synagogue. In media reporting on the controversy, it was noted that J Street was a JCRC member.

Even the Combined Jewish Philanthropy’s Barry Shrage was surprised by the revelation, though the council is heavily funded by CJP. Shrage checked into the story and was told of the Brit Tzedek–J Street merger.

Damage-control efforts ensued, including the announcement that all 41 JCRC organizational members would be rescreened for adherence to membership requirements – an unprecedented measure and a transparent effort to deflect focus from J Street’s irregular admission.

CAMERA, a national, Bostonbased organization and council member for 20 years, asked renowned non-profit law specialist Bruce Hopkins about the Brit Tzedek–J Street merger. His response was that J Street’s admission to the JCRC was clearly “illegal.” Brit Tzedek V’Shalom, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization – and J Street’s backdoor route to JCRC membership – cannot, in fact, legally merge with J Street, which is a 501(c)4 lobby. Non-profit groups receive tax-deductible donations; lobbies do not.

Adding to the deception, Brit Tzedek V’Shalom is not actually defunct; it filed a governmentrequired annual report in January 2011 – a full year after J Street claimed Brit Tzedek had disappeared.

CAMERA provided all this information to JCRC officers and to member organizations. But many in the JCRC are J Street allies and so, again, the council ran interference for the group. This time J Street was made kosher by a retroactive name change.

Instead of J Street being on the council, it would be J Street Educational Fund – a 501(c)3 adjunct of J Street. The yearand a-half-long membership, during which time J Street was seated unlawfully while pushing through radical policy recommendations, would be retroactively legitimized!

This was all perfectly fine with most of those attending the May 25 meeting. Even a proposal to postpone a vote and have J Street finally apply in a normal process without special treatment and in the full light of day was voted down. In the final tally, 9 voted against admission, 11 abstained and 56 voted for the group. These numbers include as many as 41 “community representatives,” individuals whose vote is the same as that of someone speaking for an organization with thousands of Boston-area members. Notably, several of Boston’s largest Jewish organizations were absent, abstained or voted against.

Many Jews in Boston would be appalled to know how the JCRC bent the rules for J Street.

Read the whole thing.

In light of this story, I suppose I should not be surprised that I was in Boston when this happened and did not hear a word about it.

Labels: Boston, J Street, J Street funding, Jewish Community Relations Council, pro-Israel pro-peace

EXCLUSIVE: Who is J Street's mystery donor?

Last September, I published a post in which I asked "who the heck is Consolacion Esdicul?"

Another lie that was exposed by Eli Lake on Friday was the claim that most of J Street's money came from small donations by American Jews. In fact, aside from the 15% that came from George Soros, 50% came from a woman in Hong Kong named Consolacion Esdicul.
The group's 990 forms -- which I've also obtained and put online for the first time here -- show the group's single largest contribution, in the odd sum of $811,697 coming from one Consolacion Esdicul of Happy Valley, a Hong Kong suburb. Esdicul, whose name is Filipino, has no presence on Google or Nexis aside from this story, and people I spoke to in Jewish groups left and right had never heard of her.

Spokeswoman Amy Spitalnick tells me the same thing the group told Lake:
She is a business associate of Bill Benter, another J Street supporter from Pittsburgh who solicited Consolacion's gift. It's a large gift, but it should be put in the context of the $11.2 million the J Street family of organizations has raised over the last 2.5 years (full details below).
Esdicul's contribution was just about half of the $1.6 million the group received during the year in question. Spitalnick says that they haven't received any other contributions from Esdicul , and that their operating budget over the last three years for the group's "family of organizations" is $9.5 million.

It is, to say the least, unusual that a group would get half its budget from a foreigner doing a favor to a business associate. I left a message for Benter, who heads a medical transcription company, to ask about how that came about.
Benter, as it turns out, is one of the world's most successful betters on horse races, and Happy Valley, a Hong Kong suburb, is the location of one of the world's largest horse race tracks.

I did a lot of speculating about Connie Esdicul here and here. I theorized that she might be the sister of Benter's wife, Vivian Fung, or the widow of Benter's former betting partner Alan Woods. In the course of my research, I discovered that Benter was also a donor to Barack Hussein Obama, the Democratic party of Virginia and Rabbis for Human Rights.

But the truth came to me from a source I found while in the US. The answer is really quite simple according to my source: Consolacion (Connie) Esdicul is Bill Benter's long-time secretary. She has been his secretary for the last 25 years, and may have been even more than his secretary at one time. So Benter (surprise, surprise!) is the likely source of all that money, which may not have been reported as such to the appropriate US authorities.

Just so you know that the source is authentic, here's a picture of Benter's office building:

I have the address and the phone number. Google Street View did the rest.

When you are a rich man you can buy a lot of things. But honesty cannot be bought.

Hmmm.

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Bill Benter, Consolacion Esdicul, George Soros, J Street funding, Jeremy Ben Ami, Rabbis for Human Rights