| Blood Money from Germans: The Reparations of 1952
Thursday July 1, 2021, 12:30 PM PDT (3:30 PM EDT, 23:30 Israel Time)
Israel was deeply divided over the issue of reparations from Germany to compensate for the loss of Jewish property during the Shoah and to assist immigrant absorption in the early 1950s. The left and right fervently opposed negotiating with Chancellor Adenauer and receiving German money while the centrist Mapai looked at the pragmatic needs of the young state and recognized that the receipt of billions of marks would necessitate direct contacts. The Knesset debates and large demonstrations brought about violence, attacks on the parliament and dangerous speeches, including a 3 month suspension of Menachem Begin.
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| Black Lives Matter: The Black Panther Movement in Israel
Thursday July 8, 2021, 12:30 PM PDT (3:30 PM EDT, 23:30 Israel Time)
In 1971 the Black Panther movement by Mizrahi Jews and later, many demonstrations by Beta Israel Ethiopians, pose the question of discrimination in Israeli society. Whether it is a matter of the haves and have nots, or about the Ashkenazi/Sephardi-Mizrahi divide, these protests highlight the pain of marginal groups. The session will delve into the goals of the two groups, their actions and dreams while, at the same time, recognizing that the situation is improving as the country grapples with multiple challenges.
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| The Longest War: Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian Refugees
Thursday July 15, 2021, 12:30 PM PDT (3:30 PM EDT, 23:30 Israel Time)
The 1982 “Operation Peace for Galilee” war in Lebanon resulted in an 18 year presence there and one event, more than others, brought Israelis onto the streets – the massacre by Israel’s Christian Phalangist ally in the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps. Some 400,000 Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv, demanding the resignation of political and military leaders, a commission of inquiry and the withdrawal from Lebanon. In addition, the resignation of a senior officer in the early stages of the war, the Kahan Commission and the Four Mothers protest movement show the grappling with complex realities.
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| The Government Against the Settlers: Gaza 2005
Thursday July 22, 2021, 12:30 PM PDT (3:30 PM EDT, 23:30 Israel Time)
The decision by the right-wing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to unilaterally disengage from Gaza brought thousands of police and army personnel into conflict with an even larger number of settlers. There were dramatic images of Israeli personnel removing Israeli citizens from their homes and synagogues. The question arose whether religious soldiers would disobey military orders as a result of the former Chief Rabbi’s ruling that an order to take part in the evacuation of Jews from their homes in order to give over the land to non-Jews is an order that is against the religion of our holy Torah and forbidden to fulfill.
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Paul Liptz, a social historian and CSP’s recent 19th Annual One Month Scholar in Residence, was on the Tel Aviv University faculty for 40 years, teaching graduate and undergraduate students in the Department of Middle East and African History and the International School, where he dealt with a wide range of topics. His main interests are History of the Yishuv [Pre-State], the Modern State of Israel and Arab Women and Nationalism in the Middle East. Paul was born in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and came as a volunteer to Israel one day before the Six Day War on June 4, 1967. He decided to stay in Israel, married Brenda and they have 4 children and 12 grandchildren.
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There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.
CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego, CA), Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, WA), Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Congregation B’nai Israel (Tustin, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, CA, Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Emet (Anaheim, CA), Temple Beth Ohr (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Tikvah (Fullerton, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Sholom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Town & Village Synagogue (NYC, NY), University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA) & Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA)
