(JTA) — A Boston-area synagogue canceled an appearance by J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami after objections by shul members.
The Reform Temple Beth Avodah of Newton canceled the event — scheduled for Thursday — at the last minute; Ben-Ami’s lecture has been moved to a nearby elementary school.
Rabbi Keith Stern, spiritual leader of Temple Beth Avodah, told The Boston Globe that a "small, influential group" of members strongly opposed hosting the event, leading the synagogue to cancel. Stern said that he did not want to "threaten the fabric of the congregation."
Ben Ami responded: “My reaction is really one of sadness that this is the state of the conversation in some parts of the Jewish community," he told the Globe. “That a small handful of zealous donors to an institution can prevent a larger community from an open and honest conversation is a real shame.’’
J Street, which calls itself a "pro-Israel, pro-peace" group, supports U.S. pressure on Israel and the Palestinians in pursuit of a two-state-solution.
Ben-Ami angered some supporters recently after it became clear that his denials of support of J Street by George Soros, a Jewish billionaire who has been a strong critic of Israeli actions, were false; Soros in fact was a major funder of the organization.
J Street Boston has held events at several synagogues in the Boston area, according to the Globe. It is a member of the Boston Jewish Community Relations Council.
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