I cannot praise The Jewish Week enough for your sensitive, comprehensive, intelligent coverage of Mayor Ed Koch (Feb. 1 issue). What most impressed me were your reports of his public pride in being Jewish and his “special pride in Israel.”
As a lifelong Democrat, he nonetheless broke ranks to take unpopular, politically incorrect but intellectually honest positions on Israel because they were simply the right thing to do.
How do we perpetuate this uncommon courage and legacy on Israel? For starters, our community leaders and rabbis can take public stands against BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel) and all forms of Israel-bashing and go proactive — TV interviews, social media, motivating millions of passive Jews. We can temper the bones we have to pick with Israel, accentuating the positive, so we don’t inadvertently add to the worldwide epidemic of delegitimization and anti-Semitism.
Then Ed Koch will be smiling down on us.
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