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December 3, 2004/Kislev 20 5765, Vol. 57, No. 14
YWCA USA Middle East task force issues statement
DEBORAH SUSSMAN SUSSER
Associate Editor
The national YWCA has posted a statement on its Web site confirming that its position differs from that of the World YWCA on the 2003 Middle East Resolution and noting that "The YWCA USA currently is working on a resolution regarding the Middle East to present to the next YWCA World Council."
"They understand it's a more serious issue than what they may have thought before," said Barbara Lewkowitz, who resigned as executive director of the Maricopa County YWCA on Oct. 29., "and that it's necessary to make a statement and to think about how they handle these things in the future. So I'm pleased. Every small step."
The original 2003 Middle East Resolution approved by the World YWCA Council calls for "an end to Israeli military aggression, and occupation of Palestine, Lebanon and Syria," "a halt to the ongoing illegal actions of Israeli forces in the Palestinian territories," as well as "the immediate withdrawal of occupation forces from Iraq." The resolution further calls on its member national associations to "educate their membership about the root causes of the conflict in the Middle East" and "endorse the 'Free Palestine Campaign' initiated by the Palestinian YWCA/YMCA."
A recently established Middle East task force, which includes Glenda Dubois, president of the board of directors of the YWCA USA; Jane Lee Wolfe, immediate past president of the World YWCA; and Lewkowitz, had its first conference call at the end of September, Lewkowitz said. The Nov. 23 call that generated the statement on the national Web site was "probably our third conversation."
The task force was established at the urging of Lewkowitz and other regional YWCA representatives. Its statement reads in part, "At times...the YWCA USA differs with the World YWCA on how best to promote its shared vision through policy statements. This occurred during a 2003 YWCA World Council vote on a resolution addressing the Palestinian/Israeli situation. The YWCA USA is on record as voting against the resolution which has since become a World YWCA policy statement. The objection is based on the YWCA USA's belief that the resolution inadequately addresses the issues of safety and security for the Israeli people and thereby falls short of the YWCA's mission of promoting peace, justice and freedom for all in the Middle East."
Asked about her continued role in the YWCA as a member of the Middle East task force, Lewkowitz said, "I feel very honored to have been included. And I'm still the vice president of the (YWCA) Southwest Delta Region. No one's asked me to resign my position at the regional level.
"I felt it was very important to me personally for my local association to talk about this, and they didn't choose to."
In an e-mail sent to the Jewish News on Nov. 30, Lewkowitz wrote, "I still believe the YWCA of the USA should pressure the World YWCA to change on this issue. And it is only through our new structure of local associations asking regions and regions asking national to communicate with World YWCA that we will effectuate change. In fact, the Middle East Task Force had its best conference call after the story (about my resignation) hit."
As a result of the World YWCA's position on the Middle East, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix has decided to discontinue its association with the YWCA of Maricopa County. In an e-mail statement to the Jewish News, the JCRC wrote, "As recent events have come to light, it has become apparent to us that the World YWCA supports and sanctions a position on Israel that is in direct conflict with the fundamental beliefs of our organization. The position that the World YWCA has taken makes it impossible for us to continue to work with the YWCA of Maricopa County."
Last year, Mitzvah Day volunteers visited the YWCA's Haven House and prepared dinner for residents. This year, however, the JCRC, which coordinates Mitzvah Day, feels "it is inappropriate to send volunteers to participate with an organization that so strongly opposes basic and deep-rooted values of our Jewish community," according to the statement Michelle Steinberg, director of the JCRC, said that while volunteers will not be visiting Haven House this year, the children of Haven House will still receive the gifts collected in the Mitzvah Day toy drive. "We don't want the children to be punished by the actions of the adults."
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