One Gentile man’s failed attempt at bridging the gap between
the the non-Jewish Canadian public and the Alliance of
Concerned Jewish Canadians.
‘The first fifty years of ‘the Jewish century’ have had
their natural effect on the Jewish soul, which once again is
in violent unrest. They have made chauvinists of a mass of
Jews who, a hundred and fifty years ago, seemed committed to
involvement in mankind. They are once more in captivity (the
recurrent ‘captivities’ of the Jews were always captivity by
the elders and their creed of exclusion, not by alien
taskmasters). In the Zionist captivity, and under the
pressure of the elders, they have been made into the most
explosive force in recorded history. The story of this
century, of its wars and revolutions and the denouement yet
to come, is that of Talmudic chauvinism, which has its roots
in Deuteronomy.’
Douglas Reed, The Controversy of Zion, Ch.
45, The Jewish Soul
The struggle to find common ground with Jewish chauvinism in
a world dominated by over a century of clandestine Zionist
influence is both a daunting and challenging task.
As a Canadian-born citizen of English and Ukrainian ancestry
I, like most other Canadians, grew up in a socio-cultural
world that was already well advanced in its acceptance of,
and submission to, Zionist propaganda; so advanced in fact
that we were generally unaware of its nature or its
subconscious effects upon our then young and malleable
minds.
Throughout my formative school years in the 50s and 60s I
had come to believe, like most Canadians, that the Jews were
a downtrodden group of hapless victims of Nazi atrocities
and that even to mention the name, i.e. ‘Jew’ required a
conscious effort in order to avoid being misconstrued as a
racist, bigot or an ‘anti-Semite’. (The term ‘neo-Nazi’
would later become another of the standard epithets employed
by the Zionists). Because of this subtle manipulation via
the education process and the media, average Canadians of my
generation rarely, if ever, broached the subject of the Jews
and political terms such as ‘Zionism’ of course were as
rare as hen’s teeth in common, everyday discussions of
current events.
This Zionist-induced program of mendacious mind-control,
which had its beginnings in the propaganda workings of the
B’nai Brith and its 1913 offshoot, the Anti-Defamation
League (ADL), was to continue unabated throughout the latter
half of the 20th Century and it wasn’t until the onset of
the personal computer and the internet that discussions
surrounding this sinister, covert operation began to appear
on the web.
Even after decades of engagement in political analysis of
varying issues when I first began publishing the alternative
monthly newspaper, The Radical, in June of 1998, I was still
not aware of the magnitude of the hoax that the Zionists had
orchestrated over the past century and it wasn’t until the
process of publishing and researching finally awoke me to
this fact that I suddenly came to the rude awakening of what
had actually been going down throughout the whole of my
lifetime and the lifetime of my parents’ generation as well.
And so, when on November 17th, 2006 an article titled, ‘Open
Letter to the Jewish Communities of Canada’ came across my
news screen regarding a newly-formed group here in Canada
calling themselves the Alliance of Concerned Jewish
Canadians I was both pleasantly surprised and interested.
By all appearances, after reading the Open Letter, it seemed
to be just the voice that I had been waiting for years to
hear; a Made-in-Canada, Jewish alternative to the one-sided,
pro-Zionist perspective that the Canadian Jewish Congress
(CJC) and their affiliate organizations the B’nai Brith and
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), were incessantly
presenting to the Canadian public via their monopoly media.
It was obvious to people like myself that whenever it came
to information related to the tragic injustices existing in
Palestine and the Middle East in general that Israel could
never do wrong.
Finally, I thought, a group of Jews who have risen above the
lies, hypocrisy and the lock-step ideology of the political
Zionists and are willing to break from the traditional,
status quo mindset in order to expose the horrors and the
genocide being perpetrated against the Arabs.
I immediately posted the Open Letter on my site at
http://www.radicalpress.com/?p=261 and, at the same time,
made the decision that I would contact this nascent alliance
of liberated Jews and offer my assistance, in whatever
manner, to help them in their quest for recognition and in
their efforts to help the Palestinian people.
My reasons for taking such a step, I felt, weren’t too out
of line. Having been a left activist for forty years or
more, associated with Jews through marriage for thirty and a
publisher of an alternative newspaper and website for close
to a decade it seemed natural that I might be able to act in
some intermediary fashion to help bridge the gap between
those within the Jewish community in Canada and the rest of
the population.
And so I applied to join the new yahoo group for the ACJC
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ACJC2006 and was accepted.
I decided to wait awhile and read some of the announcements
and submissions to the group before, with mild trepidation,
introducing myself. Then, on November 19, 2006 I sent the
following email to the ACJC:
‘Dear ACJC members.
Greetings. I am a recent member from B.C. who joined the
group after reading the initial letter sent by your
organizers to the CJC.
Like some previous comments to the group from other
Canadians I was heartened by the fact that those within the
Canadian Jewish community who understand the situation in
the Middle East to be more than what meets the eye of the
average Canadian via his news media have taken the
initiative to organize and speak out publicly against the
discrepancies in reporting.
Not being Jewish myself but having family ties via my Jewish
wife of close to 30 years I take an avid interest in what is
transpiring in Israel, the Middle East in general and
throughout the Jewish Diaspora globally.
As well, having been in the publishing industry for a number of years as a member of the alternative media I’ve had ample opportunity to study and research the ever-growing interest in the phenomenon known as Political Zionism. As I understand it that aspect of Jewish political life is what predominates throughout most current discussions involving Israel and Palestine and beyond.
My support for Palestine during these trying times might be best summed up in Gilad Atzmon’s talk which I am including in this initial submission to the group.
I welcome comment and look forward to assisting the group to become a strong voice for a just and peaceful world for all peoples.
Arthur Topham’
The article in question by Gilad Atzmon was entitled,
‘Palestinian Solidarity Discourse and Zionist Hegemony’ and
was the substance of a lecture he had recently given in
Scotland.
On Nov. 24, 2006 I received the following reply from the
ACJC group moderator ‘Abraham (eibie) Weizfeld’ saalaha
@fokus.name :
To Radical Press:
Thanking you for your interest in the ACJC I have forwarded
your contribution to the discussion and news List JUNITY of
the ACJC with these comments following;
As for the writings of Gilad Atzmon, he presents problems
which are incompatible with the nature of the ACJC.
For example, he states ‘Zionism is a continuation of
Jewishness’ and that,
‘1. If Israel, the ‘Jews Only State’ is wrong for being a
racially orientated adventure, then ‘Jews for peace’, ‘Jews
against Zionism’, ‘Jewish Socialists’, ‘Jews Sans
Frontieres’ etc. are all wrong for the very same reason
(being a racially orientated adventure).’ which means that
he is opposed to the existence of the ACJC, evidently.
Atzmon is obsessed by Zionism to the extent that he cannot
distinguish between that ideological current and the Jewish
People per se. He is ignorant of the various other Jewish
currents of thought that have and continue to exist such as
the Autonomists, the Bundist and the Communists as well as
other leftist currents such as the Trotskyists and
Anarchists. All of these are Jewish despite the flawed
definitions of Marx and Zionism.
The fact that he opposes the formation of Jewish dissident
organizations is an indication that he does not serve the
interests of acting in defence of the Palestinian People.
Abraham Weizfeld
Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadian
Somewhat taken aback by Mr. Weizfeld’s cool and matter of
fact response I nonetheless replied the next day with the
following:
‘Dear Abraham.
Thank you for writing and sending along your comments on
Gilad Atzmon’s talk.
While I may not agree with your assessment of Atzmon’s work
I do appreciate the fact that you took a moment to respond.
Also, I believe I was in error in thinking that the ACJC
group was a place to send such articles and comments. I
gather from what you’ve said that it would be better to join
the JUNITY group? Is it open to non Jews?
Regards,
Arthur Topham
Radical Press’
Abraham Weizfeld then sent the following terse reply:
Radical Press,
You are mistaken to be taking my comments as an assessment.
The quotes I provided indicate that this piece of writing is
opposed to the existence of the ACJC.
Am I mistaken in that respect or not?
As for JUNITY, that is the same question again is it not?
Please provide a site address for the Radical Press or an
appropriate description.
Abraham Weizfeld
I then sent another reply to Mr. Weizfeld with the following
comments:
‘Dear Abraham.
Again thank you for writing.
I feel you are mistaken about Atzmon’s quote regarding the
various left groups in that you have overlooked one
important word in his remark i.e. ‘if’.
‘If Israel, the ‘Jews Only State’ is wrong for being a
racially orientated adventure, then ‘Jews for peace’, ‘Jews
against Zionism’, ‘Jewish Socialists’, ‘Jews Sans
Frontieres’ etc. are all wrong for the very same reason
(being a racially orientated adventure).’
As the old saying goes, ‘If wishes were horses beggars would
ride’. The same holds true for what Atzmon is saying. Now
whether or not this is the case is another story and one
that I believe requires greater discussion. By simply
dismissing him outright because you are assuming that his
comment is categorical rather than a suggested possibility
is not giving a fair hearing to that particular remark nor
to all that he says in the piece….’
Arthur Topham
I then went on to ‘provide’ the additional information i.e.
my website at http://www.radicalpress.com which Mr. Weizfeld
requested of me, ignoring the obvious curt manner in which
he was presenting himself and his group.
Following these initial discussions I also applied to join
the JUNITY-CANADA junity -CANADA@yahoogroups.com discussion
group with hope that it might prove more receptive than my
first encounters with the ACJC. I was accepted into the
discussion group without a problem but also found that this
group was also being moderated by Mr. Weizfeld.
Then, on the 26th of November I received the following email
from Mr. Weizfeld:
To: Radical Press
Thank-you for your response and explanations.
To take up the discussion that you present I would begin with the response to the last question that you
have posed wrt [with respect to?]the JUNITY news List.
There is no problem with your membership in the JUNITY List
and the point I made was simply a note to the effect that
JUNITY is also a Jewish organization as is the ACJC and its
List. As such the objection still stands since the ‘if’
that you refer to is a common assessment of all concerned in
this discussion. As such it is evident that the accusation
is being made against any and all Jewish organizations as
well as if we are all a ‘racially orientated adventure’.
That is the logical consequence of the words of Atzmon. It
is not a matter of feeling, it is only his logical
consequence. He would likely confirm his argument if
questioned.
I notice in your web site that you have featured Israel
Shamir. At least I should thank you for not having included
Ernest Zundel but you should be aware of the anti-Jewish
formulations propagated by Israel Shamir. You have likely
not noticed this inclination of his since you have not
noticed the same in the words of Atzmon. Nonetheless this is
a crucial point to address.
Abraham Weizfeld’
After reading Mr. Weizfeld’s acerbic reply, compounded by
his additional negative comments about Israel Shamir and
Ernst Zundel, I knew for a certainty that I was not making a
favourable impression upon this person!
But not only that. Here was Abraham Weizfeld, the Acting
Administrative Secretary for the Alliance of Concerned
Jewish Canadians, moderator of the ACJC and JUNITY-CANADA
yahoo groups and the public contact for an organization
that, ostensibly, in its Open Letter to Jewish communities
throughout Canada, had stated, ‘It is time for those of us
[Jews] who have a different vision to come forward publicly
to present our views to the Canadian Jewish community and to
the people of Canada…For these reasons we have joined
together to create a cross-Canada alliance of Jewish
anti-occupation forces and to make our case both within the
Jewish community of Canada and before the general public.’
My immediate impression was that this person was ill-fitted
for such an ambassadorial position. Assuming a dogmatic and
suspicious position from the start I could not imagine how
such behaviour would go over with the majority of the
Canadian public. It certainly did not bode well for an
all-inclusive position with respect to other non-Jewish
groups who might be working for peace for Palestinians.
In a further comment by Weizfeld to another group member at
this time, Stephen Aberle, who had also disagreed with his
harsh assessment of Gilad Atzmon, Weizfeld wrote:
‘If Atzmon wants to believe that the Zionist claim is valid,
that is his problem.
If Atzmon and Israel Shamir want to declare all Jewish
identified organizations as Zionist then again that is their
problem not ours.
The credibility of discounting the existence of Jewish
organizations on a Jewish oriented List is nil and I would
refer one to the original piece to verify that this is a
serious issue of denial of Jewish identity based on the
excuse of dismissing Zionism. Is this not a shame!
Surely one could not consider JUNITY or the ACJC to ‘being a
racially orientated adventure’.
Abraham Weizfeld’[1]
In response to Stephen Aberle’s comments I posted the
following remarks on the JUNITY-CANADA list:
‘Dear Stephen.
…I must concur with your appraisal of Atzmon’s article. I
have been reading and publishing his work for some time now
and find his perspective to be very refreshing, relative to
the sometimes deep, complex intellectual summations that
tend to surface during political debates.
Too, I personally see the subject of Political Zionism as
very much the key to unlocking the doors to our perception
of how the present world works behind the scenes cast upon
the screens of our televisions and the pages of our
mainstream media.
Abraham’s comment that Atzmon is ‘obsessed with Zionism’
resonates with me but possibly not in the same context.
Having studied this topic in detail for a few years I
sometimes wonder how anyone who truly wants to delve to the
bottom of the question of political control wouldn’t become
obsessed with Zionism in some manner when they realized the
extent to which it overshadows much of our present dilemma
both in the Middle East and around the world generally.
As I see it Zionism was created for the purpose of not only
establishing a beach head in the Middle East for corporate
and ideological marauding but also as a vehicle for
surreptitious lobbying and the of gaining financial and
political control of foreign governments over time. Bluntly
put the notion of a Homeland for victimized Jews was more of
a ruse for the general public and secondary to Zionism’s
main purpose.
Also, I find it very interesting that since the Lebanon war
the topic of Zionism has virtually exploded upon the world
like some sudden and unexpected incendiary giving rise to an
unprecedented amount of publicity on the issue and
presenting Jews around the globe with a collateral problem
of how to justify and/or defend oneself from the multitude
of negative reactions to what is being perceived as a viable
threat not only to peace in the ME but to global stability
as well.
It’s a very very complex issue indeed not to mention one
steeped in emotional and spiritual attachments.
Thanks for your comments Stephen.
Arthur Topham‘
Returning to Mr. Weizfeld’s comments which he made regarding
my website and its contents I quickly realized that he had
made but a cursory check on the numerous articles posted
there. The truth of the matter was that I did in fact have
information posted on Ernst Zundel and other political
prisoners locked up by the Zionists and so being a
conscientious publisher I chose to enlighten Mr. Weizfeld on
that account and therefore wrote him back on Nov. 28th, 2006
with the following comments:
Dear Abraham.
Sorry for the delay in replying to the comments below. Work,
extreme cold weather, etc.
You wrote: ‘I notice in your web site that you have featured
Israel Shamir. At least I should thank you for not having
included Ernest Zundel but you should be aware of the
anti-Jewish formulations propagated by Israel Shamir. You
have likely not noticed this inclination of his since you
have not noticed the same in the words of Atzmon.
Nonetheless this is a crucial point to address.’
I’m afraid you didn’t look far enough into my site as I do
include information on Ernst Zundel and every other
political prisoner and Revisionist who is in jail for either
questioning Authority in general or asking for proof on
whatever issue they may feel is important. As a Bundist I’m
surprised that you would hold to such an opinion.
Are we to imprison people for questioning the nature,
purpose and design of the Zionists? Isn’t it bad enough that
those who do are already considered to be anti-Semitic?
Considering what the Bolsheviks did to those who didn’t
conform to their ideology I would think that we had
progressed well beyond such dangerous confines….
Arthur Topham
While these exchanges were going on I had also informed Mr.
Weizfeld privately that I was an Anarchist. His response to
my disclosure that I carried articles on the Revisionists
and was also an Anarchist was contained in the following
reply of Nov. 28, 2006:
‘To: Radical Press [
radical@radicalpress.com ]
One cannot be both a revisionist and an anarchist. You are
very confused and should reconsider political activity.
…Presenting Ernest Zundel as a legitimate critique or
anti-Zionist when he is a self-declared neo-Nazi or Nazi
sympathizer is part of the revisionist trip of Holocaust
trivialization. This is all part of propagation of hatred
towards the Jewish People and not a matter of freedom of
speech, a point well understood by the German People who do
not tolerate pro-Nazi insanity.
Consequently you are banned from the JUNITY LIST. You have
joined Israel Shamir in his ouster from the Al-Awda-unity
List and the Association for One Democratic State. Now you
have the message but are you able to understand it.
[underline and bold are mine. A.T.]
AW‘
Well so much for crossing the great divide between
supposedly pro-Palestinian Jewish Canadians and the rest of
the country and helping to mediate any increase in
solidarity! I had come up against the same abyss that so
many others had encountered when attempting to navigate safe
passage from an open-minded, inclusive perspective on global
politics to the shores of an isolated and fear-ridden
ideology that refused to accept any perspectives that
collide with this entrenched Zionist worldview. Realizing
that I had now been consigned to the same fate as Gilad
Atzmon and Israel Shamir and would therefore be unable to
present any counter argument to the JUNITY-CANADA group I
penned one further reply to Mr. Weizfeld which I sent to him
on Nov. 29, 2006.
Dear Abraham.
Thank you for your reply to my last email.
I must say in all honesty that your knee-jerk reaction to my
comments, freely given, doesn’t come as a surprise. From the
outset of my request to join both the ACJC and the JUNITY
group your manner of communicating has been cold and
mistrusting; hardly encouraging traits for a moderator who
has chosen to take an active role in attempting to convey to
both Jewish Canadians and non-Jewish Canadians as per the
‘Open Letter to the Jewish Communities of Canada’ an
‘alternative vision’ to that of the present leaders of
Israel, the Harper government and the CJC.
I have been a free-thinking individual for 60 years now and
my study of Anarchism and also my life’s experiences both
confirm that a person who IS FREE to think will not condemn
others to prison cells because their opinions and ideas
happen to be different from one’s own. So for you to say
that one cannot be a revisionist and an anarchist is both
meaningless and illogical. The purpose of debate is to allow
for all civil discourse and to either defeat offending or
differing positions amiably via the use of reason and fact
or to realize the error of one’s own position and thus
revise one’s ideas. From your behavior I must assume that
you have never revised your perspective on the issues which
confront you.
Also, I’m not sure what gives you the right to judge me or
anyone for that matter on issues of thought especially
considering your reactionary response to my open and honest
dealings with you. From what I’ve observed thus far you
carry a glaring degree of mistrust and it’s reflected in
your approach to those who don’t fit into your particular
ideological cubicle. Again, hardly assets one would wish to
see in a person who is basically acting as an online
ambassador for the alternative Jewish community in their
dealings with the rest of us Canadians.
In your previous email you expressed thanks that I wasn’t
carrying any articles on Ernst Zundel on my website as if
you were some sort of self-appointed censor working for the
ADL or B’nai Brith. I could have left you in your blindness
but instead, and correctly, I pointed out to you that I do,
in fact, carry articles on political prisoners of thought
and otherwise and then, you react to my honesty, by claiming
that I’m trying to portray him as an anti-Zionist which I
never did. I ought, though, to have emphasized the fact that
it was Jews who have imprisoned him and it is Jewish-induced
legislation which is powering such censorship of free
expression both here in Canada and abroad and inflicting
such gross and unjust sentencing upon people innocent of any
real crime. These are the new realities that both alternate
thinking Jews and non-Jews are facing and your erasure of me
from the group for having the audacity to be open and frank
(in a private email to you no less!) does not bode well for
the future of your newly found group. One final thought with
respect to Revisionists like Ernst Zundel. You, Abraham, are
turning a blind eye to the Zionist control of the present
German government when you fail to acknowledge that fact and
try to suggest that it is the ‘German People’ who are
perpetuating this fraud of blatant injustice.
I’m afraid Abraham that it is you who may be confused. What
does banning me from the JUNITY list accomplish for either
the Jews or non-Jews of Canada or the current victims of
Israeli aggression i.e. the Palestinian people which you and
your group purport to support? Nothing. You’re doing
precisely what you ought not to be doing during times like
this when, as you further state in your open letter, ‘all
Jewish people are tainted by default with the fallout from
such policies’ as those being committed by the Jewish
state. The facts are growing daily; facts which expose both
the Zionist agenda within Israel and without in most of the
Western world and it behooves those of us who are cognizant
of these facts to try and mitigate their ultimate effects
should said policies ever reach the dreadful fruition which
they are bound to if left unchecked.
I believe there are Jews within your community who realize
this and are willing to adopt a more open attitude toward
ideas and answers (and questions) that for many still carry
a too emotive quality for them to consider rationally. Much
of that mindset is but a measure of the last century of
purposeful Zionist influence upon both World Jewry and the
non-Jewish world. Mind control affects everyone Abraham.
This is likely the greatest challenge facing all of us who
want to change the world back to a more sane and harmonious
balance and your abrupt and, quite frankly, short-sighted
dismissal of a new member who requested admission for the
sole purpose of mutual aid sets an old but familiar tone
which is not helpful in the least.
My offer to collaborate and work with the group has been met
with insults, judgment and an overbearing sense of
know-it-all-ness from yourself. How is that sort of behavior
supposed to be interpreted by someone who has spent the last
forty years of his life fighting and struggling for human
equality and freedom? How is that sort of reception supposed
to assist me in my own dealings with those who see ALL Jews
as sinister, right-wing, blood thirsty co-conspirators
involved in a madcap attempt to take over the world? The
growing sense of the ‘Jewish Conspiracy’ in the minds of
the general public will not be quelled by Zionist-style
legislation which imprisons individuals for expressing their
views. That only ends up exacerbating the growing problem.
What’s required Abraham is the humble acknowledgement that
maybe, just maybe, the Jews will have to break out of their
self-imposed cocoon-consciousness and start treating others
as they themselves would prefer to be treated and to respect
diversity and equality for all humans.
If you are representative of the type of Jew who wishes to
convince the average Canadian that you are being open and
honest and transparent in your desire to achieve peace and
justice in the M.E. then I fear you are fated to fail for,
by example, your initial reactions to my overture of
assistance is a pathetic example of diplomacy and cannot but
lead to further confusion and mistrust among a Canadian
public that is waxing in its understanding of the
controversy known as Zion.
It took me close to 60 years to figure out how the Zionists
had been instrumental in brainwashing my generation of
Canadians and for much of that time I was completely unaware
of their actual existence. But once the nature of their game
is realized the pieces of the puzzle fall into place with
little effort. Its only then it seems that the magnitude of
their ambitious scheme begins to dawn on one and thus the
importance of exposing it.
So….alas, maybe Gilad Atzmon was correct in his assessment
of certain ‘left’ Jewish orgs especially the ACJC and it’s
exclusive JUNITY list. Just another Gatekeeper for the
Zionists hidden behind the rhetoric of the day. But even
that may not be correct. Maybe it’s just you Abraham who is
perpetuating this notion as you fulfill your role as
Gatekeeper for the ACJC and the JUNITY list. I wonder how
the rest of the members would feel about your arbitrary
decision to ban me based upon my openness and the fact that
the Radical Press would carry contentious articles and
alternative views? Would you have the courage to post this
reply to them?
In closing I must say that under the present circumstances I
cannot even wish you well in your endeavor to reach out to
the greater Canadian community for I now realize that your
modus operandi may be no different than that of the Israel
government of which you incessantly cry foul. Methinks
sometimes you cry too much and too loudly to be believed.
All of what you personally are doing (as in my case) only
accents the inevitable end that you are preparing for
yourself and your group if such an attitude doesn’t change.
Now YOU have the message from a non-Jewish Canadian
regarding your project. Hopefully you will understand what I
am trying to convey to you. Or will this be just another
case of sad but true? I hope not.
In Peace & Light,
Arthur Topham
Pub/Ed
The Radical Press
I never did receive a reply to my last email.
