To Beth Jacob Synagogue: How Could You?

Tonight, your synagogue is co-sponsoring a fundraiser for the legal defense of Mohsen Mahdawi.

I read that sentence. Then I read it again.

And I still cannot understand it.

A synagogue is putting its name behind this fundraiser.

How could you?

Before you walk into that event tonight, I beg you to read Kevin Deutsch’s deeply disturbing article about Mahdawi and your congregation’s decision.

Read what he reports. Read the allegations he documents—including the police report cited in federal court proceedings alleging that Mahdawi once spoke of building modified submachine guns “to kill Jews.”

Then stop.

And ask yourself:

Why is my synagogue raising money for this man?

Please don’t tell me this is about free speech.

Please don’t tell me this is about Palestinians rights.

Please don’t tell me this is about disagreeing with the Israeli government.

Of course Mohsen Mahdawi has legal rights. Of course Jews can disagree about Israel, Gaza, Zionism, Netanyahu, Trump, and immigration.

That is not what is tearing at me.

What is tearing at me is you.

A synagogue. A Jewish congregation.

At a time when Jews are once again looking over their shoulders. When Jewish students have learned what it feels like to be intimidated on American campuses. When the word “Zionist” is too often used as permission to say things about Jews that decent people would never tolerate about another minority.

Did your leadership know about these allegations?

Did you read them?

And did anyone—anyone—stand up and say:

What about us?

What about the Jewish student who sees a synagogue sponsoring this and wonders if even his own community will stand up for him?

What about the frightened Jewish parent?

What about the Jews who have spent the years since October 7 watching people excuse words and actions they once believed no decent person would excuse?

Where is your compassion for us?

There has to be a line.

If a synagogue cannot draw it, who will?

There must still be moments when Jews are willing to say:

Not in our name. Not in our synagogue. Not in the name of Jewish values.

So I am asking every member of Beth Jacob who plans to attend tonight’s fundraiser at the Unitarian Universalist Church:

Before you go, read the article.

Read the allegations.

Then look at the name of your congregation as a co-sponsor of this event.

And ask yourself—not as a progressive, not as a conservative, not as a supporter or critic of Israel, but simply as a Jew:

Is this really who we have become?

Because if we Jews will not draw the line when hatred is directed at us, how dare we ask the rest of the world to draw it for us?