The Role of J-Street in Advancing Israel/Palestine Peace

            Malke Frank is Co-Chair, along with Nancy Bernstein, of J-Street Pittsburgh.  Her husband Ivan is very active locally and nationally with J-Street, a Jewish peace and justice organization.  J-Street is a pro-Israel and pro-peace activist community with grassroots advocacy outreach, media and communications, local education and event programming.

            Malke and her husband Ivan shared their experiences both in Israel and America which eventually shaped their pragmatic and progressive attitudes toward solutions rather than confrontation.  They actually lived in Israel and Palestine for over ten years, and they continue to focus on education which is central to maintaining and promoting the state of Israel.

            They uphold the concept of classical zionism in the positive sense which calls upon Jews to move, live and study in Israel and to strengthen the nation's existence.  They both lived, worked and participated in educational projects and enclaves such as the kibbutz.  The kibbutz was active originally in communal living where farming and education were the primary focus.  These settlements helped Israel not only to thrive but also to create a national spirit. 
Close relationships between Arab and Jewish Israelis were developed.  Human rights were understood within these communities.  A sense of equality was felt among the inhabitants.  As Mary Sheehan opened the Forum with a quote which appropriately reflected the Malke and Ivan story: "Peace is the feeling of not being threatened."  And so it was a sense of equal opportunity and integration which created a model for living together and in peace.

            According to Malke, after four or five years, the group atmosphere began to disintegrate.  The "good life" took precedence and attitudes of private possession began to take hold.  People did not want to be part of a collective anymore.  Perhaps due to growing affluence and independence, the kibbutz concept began to disperse.

            Malke came back to the U.S. and became an educator.  In the spring of 2010 on their most recent visit, eyes were opened.  There were issues in the West Bank, the peace process was broken, overwhelming settlements, right wing Likud dominance, dehumanizing experiences, passing through check points, the "Wall", the personal stories from Palestinians, and the violent Hamas reaction in
Gaza.  Touring Israel and Palestine became depressing and dehumanizing with more paranoia and violence occurring, peace became impossible.

            As both Malke and Ivan Frank emphasized, Jews all over the world have become frustrated.  Demonstrations by Israeli citizens persist.  American Jews who were traditionally liberal, progressive and advocates of peace and justice want to present an alternate voice in challenging the Likud government.

           J Street was founded to counter the APAC lobby.  J Street set out to seek a peaceful solution in the Middle East.  It now has over 180,000 members in the U.S. with 42 local chapters and with growing numbers in rabbinic cabinet members and a growing college campus presence.

            We, the Pittsburgh North People for Peace, express our appreciation to Malke and Ivan Frank for providing us with an informed and objective discussion on the Jewish voice for peace and justice.  More information is available at http://www.jstreet.org.