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Friday, October 3, 2014

NYC area signatories of letter protesting Klinghoffer opera as morally objectionable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open Letter to Peter Gelb

September 22, 2014

Mr. Peter Gelb
General Manager
The Metropolitan Opera
Lincoln Center
New York, NY 10023

Dear Mr. Gelb,

We have closely followed the events which have unfolded since the decision to stage “The Death of Klinghoffer” at The Metropolitan Opera.

In making the decision to stage this opera in New York at this time, it could well have been anticipated that this production, and the sensitivities around its story, would generate divisiveness. The disappointment and negative reaction that is now playing out is therefore not surprising.

There are many dimensions of this opera that are upsetting. In particular, the opera’s juxtaposition of terrorists and their victims on the same moral plane is gravely inappropriate. Moreover, this production runs the risk of legitimizing acts of terror, which is particularly sensitive now as anti-Jewish attacks and expressions of hatred against Jews have reached frightening levels around the globe, and innocent American journalists have been cruelly beheaded by radical Islamists.

As we would never try to find the humanity in those who perpetrated the barbarism of 9-11, whose 13th anniversary we just commemorated, it is surely morally objectionable to seek the same for Mr. Klinghoffer's executioners.

Mr. Gelb, while we recognize the steps you have taken to minimize the viewership outside of New York, we remain deeply disturbed that this production will be staged at the Metropolitan Opera.

Signed,

Ronald G. Weiner, President, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York

Michael S. Miller, Executive Vice President and CEO, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York

Alisa R. Doctoroff, President, UJA-Federation of New York

Linda Mirels, Chair of the Board, UJA-Federation of New York

Eric S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York

Rabbi Steve Gutow, President and CEO, Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Ethan Felson, Vice President and General Counsel, Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner, President, New York Board of Rabbis

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President, New York Board of Rabbis

Marcie Natan, President, Hadassah

Ellen Hershkin, Coordinator of the PRAZE Division, Hadassah

Gail Perl, President, WIZO USA

Martin Nachimson, President, Orthodox Union

Allen Fagin, Executive Vice President, Orthodox Union

Richard Skolnik, President, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Rabbi Steven Wernick, CEO, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Farley Weiss, President, National Council of Young Israel

Robert Levi, Chairman, National Council of Young Israel

Rabbi Yosef Blau, President, Religious Zionists of America

Martin Oliner, Chairman, Religious Zionists of America

Feliks Frenkel, Chairman of the Board, Council of Jewish Emigre Community Organizations

Roman Shmulenson, Executive Director, Council of Jewish Emigre Community Organizations

Jack Grunspan, Executive Vice President, Bnai Zion Foundation

Alicia Post, Director, Northeast Region, Bnai Zion Foundation

Michael Feinman, Greater New York Executive Director, Jewish National Fund

David Newman, Executive Director, JCRC-LI

Paul B. Warhit, President, Westchester Jewish Council

William H. Schrag, Executive Committee Member, Westchester Jewish Council

Gale S. Bindelglass, Chair, JCRC of the Jewish Federation of Northern NJ

Joy Kurland, Director, JCRC of the Jewish Federation of Northern NJ

Rabbi Steven Moss, President, Suffolk County Board of Rabbis

Rabbi Michael Stanger, President, Long Island Board of Rabbis

Cynthia Zalisky, Executive Director, Queens Jewish Community Council

Stephen Reiner, President, Kings Bay YM-YWHA

Leonard Petlakh, Executive Director, Kings Bay YM-YWHA

Maya Gurevich, President, New York Association of Jews from the Former Soviet Union

Inna Arolovich, Vice President, New York Association of Jews from the Former Soviet Union

Zaki Tamir, Chairman, Crown Heights Jewish Community Council

Rabbi Eli Cohen, Executive Director, Crown Heights Jewish Community Council

Avrohom Hecht, Executive Director, JCC of Canarsie

Michael Rosenbaum, President, Board of Directors, Sid Jacobson JCC

David Black, Executive Director, Sid Jacobson JCC

Steven Markowitz, Chairman, Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County

Avi Posnick, New York Regional Coordinator, StandWithUs


*Full list in formation