After it was revealed earlier this week on these pages that the Center for Jewish History (CJH) in conjunction with the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) was hosting multiple events with the anti-Zionist organization Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) they agreed to cancel said events. In a statement, AJHS said that it canceled the two events because they “do not align with the mission of the AJHS.” The group’s executive director, Rachel Lithgow is a former student, and “close friend” of David N. Myers, CEO of the Center for Jewish History.
The reality remains that it is not disputed that the CEO of The Center for Jewish History (CJH) David N. Myers is an active leader of the New Israel Fund, If Not Now, When, J Street and more. Jewish Voices for Peace has him listed on their website as an advisor, he claims that is inaccurate – and his writings reveal hostile-to-Israel viewpoints, including an affinity for boycotts of Israel and sympathy for the Palestinian “Nakba.” Despite these learnings, the Center for Jewish History has defended Mr. Myers and insisted he will remain in his position.
While Mr. Myers may be a first-rate academic, someone with viewpoints such as his must not hold any position of Jewish leadership. Heads must roll for the fact that multiple JVP events were allowed to be hosted at the Center for Jewish History, the venerable Jewish Library of Congress.
Mr. Myers’ fundraising appeal for If Not Now — an organization that, according to Haaretz, holds “…sit-ins in the lobbies of buildings housing Jewish groups” to protest their ‘not loud enough’ condemnation of Israel’s West Bank “occupation” shows the desire to infiltrate Jewish organizations.
The Center for Jewish History must not allow Mr. Myers’ radical support for extremist organizations to redefine Jewish history, regardless of how strong a historian he is.
It’s good news that the JVP events were canceled, but it is not enough. This is not a matter of right vs. left – this is a matter of right vs. wrong. David N. Myers must not continue as head of the Center for Jewish History.
Reprinted with author’s permission from Israel National News
