"Tikkun Community Reaffirms Its Commitment to UFPJ"

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Tikkun Community is headed by Rabbi Michael Lerner.  It's views
are expressed, broadly speaking, in the quarterly Tikkun (healing or
reconciliation in Hebrew) magazine. This is good news, given the
UFPJ's and ANSWER's extremely positive decision to cosponsor and
co-organiz the October 25 demonstration against the occupation of
Iraq.  I don't know what position the Tikkun community has adopted on
the demonstration.
Fred Feldman


The following letter was sent to the Forward:

Tikkun Community Reaffirms Its Commitment to UFPJ

The Tikkun Community would like to clarify its position in regard to
the alleged schism in UFPJ headlined in the September 5th article
(Peace Front Faces Schism Over 'Right Of Return').  We have long
espoused the principle that any solution leading to peace in the
Middle East must provide for the viability of both the Israeli and
Palestinian states.  That principle includes the terms of any right of
return agreement that will eventually be worked out.

Although Rabbi Lerner was correctly quoted as saying that the Tikkun
Community would not be part of any coalition that demeans Israel or
the Jewish people, he did not state that the thought that the
leadership or the majority of UFPJ has taken that position.  To the
contrary, he clearly stated that he was encouraged by the direction
being taken by the leadership of UFPJ and felt that the extremist
positions taken by certain elements in the coalition were in the
minority.

Therefore, the Forward in headlining a ?Schism in the Peace Movement?
is inventing a schism where none exists.  Indeed, the Tikkun Community
is proud to be part of the UFPJ because it is an organization that is
respectful to all parties in its diverse coalition.  We hope and fully
expect that UFPJ will continue to oppose oppression and domination in
all its forms and will continue as a forum for promoting peace and
justice for people of all religions and beliefs.

The Tikkun Community reaffirms its support for UFPJ and does not wish
to be on record as being a party to this non-existent schism.  By
reporting this alleged schism the Forward is sowing the seeds of
discord at a time when all people of goodwill should be seeking
consensus.

Marvin Feldman
Tikkun Community Representative to the UFPJ national Steering
Committee




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