[HANASHIR:13546] Re: Learning Instruments

[K. B. <kbmusic...>]

Hi All,
I don't know if you have seen this petition, or the information contained in 
the letter....
Signing information is at the end.
Karen

 
Open Letter to the British Musicians Union
 
We, the undersigned Jewish musicians, applaud the recent vote of the British 
Musicians Union rejecting a proposal to ban Israeli musicians from performing 
in the United Kingdom. We do, however, remain deeply concerned about the racist 
nature of this proposal and find within it seeds that could eventually bear 
dangerous fruit -- such as the Nazi government's prohibition of all Jewish 
musicians, actors, and directors from German state employment in 1933. 

We are aware that the reasoning behind this proposal and similar boycott 
proposals equates Israel's actions with that of an apartheid government. We 
strongly disagree. Since 1977 and the peace with Egypt, the majority of the 
Israeli people have asked for a cessation to violence, and an exchange of land 
for   peace with recognition of the right to exist. Today the nation of Israel 
is one whose civilian population is under the continuous threat of death or 
disfigurement from suicide bombing. Would not anyone seek the most immediate or 
effective way of curtailing such disasters? We ask the citizens of Great 
Britain and other nations to judge the Jewish state with no greater or smaller 
moral compass than they would the rest of the world.

We believe the boycotting of any musician for political reasons to be an act of 
both bad moral and cultural judgment. We call on all musicians, Jewish and 
non-Jewish, as well as all Europeans of good faith, to speak out against recent 
incidents of anti-Semitism in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, which appear to 
be on the rise. 

Now that this beautiful land has been built into a democratic nation of laws, 
commerce, and culture, we ask you to support Israel's right to live in freedom 
from fear and terror. Finally, we ask you to join us in promoting constructive 
dialogue towards a peaceful resolution of this conflict, so that one day the 
Palestinians may live in a safe, democratic, and prosperous country as well. 


Signers of the Petition
 
Dr. Eliott Kahn, composer
Dr. Michael Isaacson, composer Los Angeles, USA 
Judith R. Cohen
Adam Davis
Jack (Yankl) Falk, Portland, Oregon   
Eliezer Kaplan
Sandra Layman, violinist 
Alex J. Lubet
Judith Pinnolis, librarian, Waltham, MA
Shirona
Awi Blumenfeld
Bernard Draper, guitarist, Castlegar, B.C., Canada
Barbara Stambler
Dr.David Chevan, New Haven, CT
Sylvia Schildt, Baltimore, MD
Dr. Irwin Oppenheim, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amichai Margolis, Musical Director, Camp Ramah,N.E.
Francine Berg
Adrian A. Durlester, Alexandria, VA
Joel Shickman, Dallas, Texas
David Harris, Houston, Texas
Yosl(Joe) Kurland, violinst, singer, Musicians Local #1000 AFM
Judy Farber
Rochelle Potak, Port Washington, NY
Judi Tal, Cape Charles, VA
 
Those who would like to add their voice to this petition, please send an email 
with subject line PETITION to:  petition (at) jmwc(dot)org

Be sure to include your name, and city or institution.

The petition will be available only briefly online, and then sent to the 
British Musicians Union.










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