Wednesday Apr 22, 2009
Posted by Zach Novetsky
Yesterday morning began with the troubling news that we, the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS), lost our United Nations accreditation. What did we do to deserve this punishment? We were not the clowns.
As we listened to our group leader explaining why the UN revoked our badges, he was interrupted by an urgent announcement: we could not leave our (heavily guarded) regular meeting area because of possible security threats. Rumors circulated that the United Nations revoked our accreditation because of related security concerns but they turned out to be untrue. After an hour of waiting indoors, we found out that thanks to behind-the-scenes diplomacy, our badges were returned and that we received "clearance" to return to the United Nations' conference. However, no sufficient explanation for the revocation was granted.
Tuesday Apr 21, 2009
Posted by Zach Novetsky
Forget about Ahmadinejad. His address to the UN on Yom HaShoah [Holocaust Remembrance Day] was the most despicable affront to Holocaust remembrance (nay, human dignity) that has ever happened in the post-WWII era. Instead, let me attempt to salvage some of the world's lost dignity by remembering the Holocaust in a way that it should be remembered, in a way that it must be remembered.
At 6PM, we gathered in front of the United Nations, again at the Plaza des Nations. However, this time, we were joined by two-thousand people to commemorate the systematic extermination of six million Jews, and many millions of non-Jews. And for several hours, we stood together as a single body, simultaneously forgetting the travesty of the day's events while remembering the greatest tragedy in modern history.
Tuesday Apr 21, 2009
Posted by Zach Novetsky
Although Monday's opening events at the Durban II conference are now old news, let me tell you what you did not see because Monday was a day that brought a brief encounter between three "clowns" (i.e. Ahmadinejad and the courageous French students).
It all began at 8AM this morning. After a quick breakfast, a large group of EUJS students hurried to the Plaza de Nations to protest the Second Durban Debacle before it officially began. Arriving at the Plaza, we took hold of our signs, placed a black piece of masking tape over our mouths, and stood in unity - silently.
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About this blog
At Durban II
Zach is a member of the European Union of Jewish Student's delegation sent to the United Nations' 2009 World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Other Intolerance - dubbed Durban II after the 2001 World Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa - which is taking place April 20-25 in Geneva, Switzerland. Zach will be blogging for JPost about the conference as the event unfolds.
Zach is currently a junior at New York University, majoring in Philosophy and minoring in Religious Studies, with intentions of attending law school. On campus, he is involved in Muslim-Jewish interfaith activities with Hillel, and is the 2009 Winner of the PANIM: Aaron Goldman Young Jewish Activist Award. Before college, Zach attended Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi in Katamon, Jerusalem.
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Recent Comments
Joey B.: Zach: why should it come as a surprise to you that the U.N. so despises Israel? It, like Europe in general, has for years and will continue to do so. Know this for sure, however, that there are many Christian students who, while not Jewish, are still strongly pro-Israel. In fact, it is the Christians in the U.S., especially in the southern U.S., that continue to defend Israel and her right to exist. Let it be known that while Jewish complacency may exist on American college campuses, we Christians who believe in Israel will never relent our support. The God of Abraham lives! Shalom.
Fro, New Zealand: Lone voices joining each other make up a power to be reckoned with in the face of blatant UN sanctioned 'injustice' and 'racism'. Well done. You and your family are blessed in history. Thank you.
Daniel Orvomaa - Univ. of Helsinki: Great job Zach! Don't know if you remember but we did meet briefly last Monday. I just finished my own report for a paper back home and you wouldn't believe how similar it was to yours! unfortunately so few will ever hear about all this, and by all this I don't mean only the events at Durban, I mean Darfur, Iran and everything that's seriously wrong with the world today. I'm grateful for the whole experience, although it left me feeling more sad than victorious. Keep up the good work, next year in Jerusalem!
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