Presbyterian divestment vote riles Jewish leaders

From The Post-Gazette-

The Presbyterian Church (USA) will vote next week at its biannual meeting in Pittsburgh on a proposal to divest from three companies whose products are used by Israel to enforce occupation of the West Bank.

The closely watched resolution has ignited a firestorm of criticism from Jews nationwide.

In Pittsburgh, Jewish leaders are mobilizing to convince the church that divestment is more than a quiet rebuke, and instead represents a one-sided indictment that feeds global campaigns to undermine Israel. Jewish leaders say that the vote endangers continued collaboration between Jews and Presbyterians on a range of social justice issues in Pittsburgh and the influence of a growing peace movement within mainstream American Judaism.

"We're united because we see it as delegitimization of Israel," said Rabbi Alvin Berkun, rabbi emeritus of Tree of Life Congregation in Squirrel Hill, who attended a June 18 meeting between Pittsburgh Jewish and Presbyterian leaders. "Divestment is meaningless in a dollar sense. But it sends a powerful message."


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http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/presbyterian-divestment-vote-riles-jewish-leaders-642293/#ixzz1z5Tu3fer