Change in leadership needed?

Letters

Editor: If I had to gauge the feelings of the community by the number of calls and messages I have received and the discussions I had with several members, I would say that the anger and disappointment with the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver for the debacle created by allowing the use of "our" premises for the anti-Israel propaganda show presented by the so-called Peace Walkers is steadily gaining momentum. Many wondered why the leadership of the JCC refused to listen to the warnings of some people, myself included, and stubbornly persisted in giving these people a forum from which they were able to spread their pro-Palestinian misinformation and fabrications in the middle of the house of the Jewish community, which belongs to, and is supported by, the Jews of the entire Lower Mainland.

I communicated my misgivings to the JCC and executive director Gerry Zipursky guaranteed me in written correspondence, and Zev Shafran, over the phone, that, if the first Peace Walker event turned into a political, anti-Israel event, the rest of the series would be cancelled. I naively trusted them but, even after the fiasco described by Kyle Berger ("Campbell blames Israel," Bulletin cover, March 28), Zipursky and his board, broke the promise and decided to continue the "show."

I wonder, therefore, whether I am in a minority in thinking that, after these serious, damaging, errors in judgment by the JCC leaders, which they have incredibly decided to repeat in the near future, a change in direction and/or leadership at the JCC, might be beneficial. At the end of the day, they were hired and elected to represent and serve the community and not its detractors and enemies.

Jack Chivo
West Vancouver

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