Jewish Leader in Brazil Accuses Israel of Doing Dirty Work in Lebanon

[bemildred]

The president of the Israelite Confederation in Brazil, rabbi Henry Sobel, informed that the Lebanese and Israeli communities in Brazil are holding a campaign to collect clothes, medications and money for the victims of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, in Lebanon.

"We are raising funds to send to the governments of Lebanon and Israel", Sobel said. The help is organized and sent by the São Paulo Israelite Congregation.

The rabbi regretted the innocent victims from both sides of the conflict. "Unfortunately, Israel is doing the dirty work and the victims are the innocent Lebanese", he stated.

The Lebanese community's humanitarian help in Brazil is organized by the Federation of Muslim Associations of Brazil. The entity is promoting now the Campaign SOS Save Lebanon.

Brazzil

[IntiRaymi]

1. Those Jewish leaders in Brazil are obviously antisemitic.

Why else would they criticize Israel?

[bemildred]

2. I just thought it was nice they were getting along with the muslims.

Trying to help the people caught in the middle of this atrocity. Exemplary for all of us, but especially political leaders.

[IntiRaymi]

3. Well, there are jewish communities worldwide.

After that synagogue attack in Brazil, I would think that there is a strong push to defuse tensions locally.
But this is not to say that symbolic gestures are without substance, since they will set the tone, and as such they are to be taken gratefully. However, I highly doubt that these acts will change the past, nor are they likely to affect much the military tactics that the IDF has been using so far.

[bemildred]

4. Diaspora, I think they call it. nt

[adriennui]

5. are you implying it's OK to attack a synagogue in brazil

if you're against the israeli/hezbollah war?

[IntiRaymi]

8. What in the HELL are you talking about?

?????

[OrechDin]

10. Which Synogogue attack in Brazil?

I know of a JCC terrorrist attack by Hezbollah in Argintina. Which attack in Brazil?

[Meshuga]

11. There was a drive by attack on a synagogue

in Campinas (suburb of Sao Paulo, Brazil) where some people in a car threw molotov cocktail and rocks at a synagogue.

[Meshuga]

6. self delete (dupe)

I meant to post as a reply to the OP.

[barb162]

12. They are obviously humanitarians

as they are trying to help people; there's nothing anti-semitic there

[Meshuga]

7. I don't know whether the site you quoted is legit

or not as far a news goes but I work closely with the community in Brazil and I know Rabbi Henry Sobel is supporting Israel's action in Lebanon. Actually, the assistant rabbi at Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP), where Rabbi Sobel is the president, happens to be a very good friend of mine.

I found this thread interesting because Rabbi Sobel was in a big pro-Israel event in São Paulo this past week with 1000 other Jewish leaders which included the Israeli ambassador to Brazil.

So I began my search of the web for news articles in Brazilian websites (in Portuguese) to find quotes by Rabbi Sobel and I was only able to find his involvement in pro-Israeli events or being supportive of Israel.

If people here think Sobel was criticizing Israel, they may not realize that his words were probably taken out of context.

Any pro-Israel event (not only in Brazil but also here in the US) sponsored by Jewish congregations don't ignore the suffering of civilians in Lebanon and many congregations are organizing help for the afflicted.

Being surprised about the actions of members of the Jewish community like displayed in a quote like "I just thought it was nice they were getting along with the muslims" or saying that the work by Rabbi Sobel and CIP is a "symbolic gesture" shows that some here judge the Jewish community.

We do not hate Arabs or Muslims or Lebanese or whoever. If people are suffering we organize as a community to help the afflicted whether in Israel or in Lebanon. Why wouldn't we want to get along with Muslims? Why would it be surprising that Jews would be willing to work with other groups to help Lebanese victims in this war?

:eyes:

[DemFromMem]

9. I don't think you interpret the quote as intended.

I read the article and my read was that Sobel was saying that Israel has to do the dirty work of clearing out the terror haven that is southern Lebanon. The Lebanese are indeed victims since their country was hijacked by a rogue army and they are paying a severe price.

I don't think Sobel was saying that Israel should NOT have responded to being attacked and I don't think he is saying that the response was inappropriate. That was your spin.

[barb162]

13. I agree with your interpretation. Lebanon was supposed to

do the "dirty" work of cleaning out its "terror haven that is southern Lebanon"