Monday evening marked the second annual Jewish Culture Festival in West Tisbury, an event organized through Vineyard Chabad to bring the Vineyard’s Jewish community together.
But not all members of the Island’s Jewish community felt the same sense of unity.
Outside the cultural festival, a gathering of about 10 protesters, part of a group called Ceasefire MV, held signs calling for the liberation of Palestine. Part of their intention, they said, involved protesting the appearance of controversial Jewish-American musician Matisyahu.
Inside the event, attendants danced, laughed, dined on Jewish cuisine from around the world and connected with friends, some aware of protesters, but none appearing outwardly impacted by their presence.
About four white tents housed several exhibitions, showcasing paintings, jewelry, and other forms of art. Featured artists included Barney Zeitz, displaying award winning glass, metals, and drawings and Enatnesh Yallow, a multidisciplinary artist who blends Ethiopian and Israeli culture.
With about 700 people attending the event, Rabbi Tzvi Alperowitz said it’s “grown tremendously” since its the inaugural celebration last year. Tickets were sold out a week before the event.
“We’re building community and strengthening Jewish identity on the Island,” Alperowitz said.
“We have people here from all backgrounds.”
Shortly after about 7 pm, Matisyahu — a Jewish American reggae singer who has been criticized for his support of the Israel Defense Forces — performed at the festival. The globally recognized artist has been removed from performing at several venues across the country, as well as being booted from Spain’s Rototom Sunsplash music festival. A recent video has depicted Matisyahu singing his hit song “One Day” to a group of Israeli soldiers.
At the Rototom music festival in Spain, Matisyahu had been denied the ability to perform due to his refusal to “issue a statement endorsing a Palestinian state.” He was later invited back to the festival, and, as reported by BBC, festival organizers said that they “respect the Jewish community and ask for sincere apologies for what happened.”
In response to the Spanish festival’s original decision, Matisyahu said on Facebook he felt his removal to be “appalling and offensive.” He said he felt he was being coerced into making political statements.
Despite his controversial background, Matisyahu was invited to play at Monday’s Jewish Culture Festival.
And near the entrance of the festival, across Edgartown–West Tisbury Road, the group of protesters stood holding signs calling for a cease-fire over the war in Gaza. Talia Weingarten, among the group, said they were there partially in response to Matisyahu’s presence.
She said while the group recognizes many people see Matisyahu’s music as hopeful, that message of hope and unity can’t ring true when there is a “simultaneous denial” of the existence of Palestine.
“We are here to reject the presence of someone who performs and fundraises for the Israeli Occupation Forces and the AIPAC lobbying group, condones violence against the Palestinian people and land in the name of Jewish safety, and denies ongoing genocide, as an extension of our Jewish values,” said Weingarten.
The rallyists also chose the venue with an understanding that many at the celebration and the organizers are supportive of Israel, including sponsors Vineyard Chabad.
The protestors remained across the street, and did not cross over to the festival grounds. The group of mostly Islanders was formed last year as Ceasefire MV or MV for Palestine, and they hold weekly vigils at Five Corners on Sundays.
Inside the festival, some artists and attendants said they felt disrespected by the presence of protesters nearby, when asked directly.
Elizabeth Sutton, an artist setting up a table of her paintings at the event, said she felt the protesters were disrupting a “cultural celebration about being Jewish.”
Sutton said she advocates for Israel, despite the impact it’s had on her business. “My advocacy for Israel has lost me 10 out of 12 corporate partnerships. I lost licensing deals. I got kicked out of my retail distribution,” Sutton said. Her work focuses on art therapy and female empowerment, she said, with the concept of Jewish community highlighted.
Rabbi Alperowitz said he considered the protesting across the street to be “blatant anti-Semitism.” He said he didn’t see protesters himself, but had heard about them.
“Obviously they have their right, but I would say it’s sad that they would do that across the street from a Jewish event,” he said. “Chanting for things that they themselves don’t know what they’re doing.”
While protesters remained standing with signs for several hours, attendants inside the event continued mingling under tents in celebration of Jewish tradition well into the evening.
These protestors are mostly unaware that Iran is feeding them propaganda and funding the movement. Please ask these protestors why they aren’t protesting Russia’s bombing of Ukraine? Or ask them why they are not asking for the release of both American and Israeli hostages?
Mark– I have a feeling that if this were an event
celebrating Russian culture there might be a few people
protesting the bombing of Ukraine. Would that mean
that the protesters hated all Russians ?
I’m sure these people would love to see all hostages
released. I think we all hope for that.
It’s a matter of how you accomplish that.
We saw one ceasefire in this war that resulted in the release
of nearly 1/2 of the hostages. Since then the relentless
bombing of Gaza has resulted in a few being rescued. More
hostages have made it back to their loved ones in body bags
than alive. If you really want the hostages released, support
a ceasefire. it works– nothing antisemitic about it.
Get these innocent people home.
Pro Hamas useful idiots.
Pro Israel…
Netanyahu had a beautiful speech today that every American should watch. Antisemitism should not be tolerated in this country, I stand with Israel.
Semitic people or Semites is an obsolete term for an ethnic, cultural or racial group[2][3][4][5] associated with people of the Middle East, including Arabs, Jews, Akkadians, and Phoenicians.
Netanyahu’s “beautiful speech” was boycotted by well over a hundred of our liberal legislators, including Elizabeth Warren. Perhaps they knew the speech would be cringe-worthy. Hey, all you Netnayahu supporters will be voting for Trump, right?
Netanyahu, an internationally wanted war criminal who was a guest in this country, was oafish in his comments regarding a large portion of the taxpayers who fund his genocide and who exercise their right of free speech in **their own country**. His speech was a parade of outright lies.
I was not at the protest on Monday so I cannot comment on the events there. However, Rabbi Alperowitz’s “antisemitism” accusation, a standard response to criticism of Israel that is so well worn as to have become threadbare, is absurd and somewhat pathetic.
As someone who attended the event it was one of the most down to earth cultural evening that reminded me of the Vineyard from 40 years ago. Not sure those protesters accomplished anything other than breathing in some car exhaust fumes, and standing on the side of the road. But inside a good time was had by all where everyone is welcome.
This was a solid festival of music, food, art, and community—a diverse community attending, one might add, of people of many different backgrounds, races, genders, all the things intersectional people love. But of course the headline and story is “if it bleeds, it leads.” which the MV Times can do better than…no coverage of really much of anything about the actual JEWISH CULTURE to be engrossed in at the festival. A missed opportunity to celebrate diversity on the island among a Jewish population that gives back in many ways to Martha’s Vineyard. Better coverage please! Yes, we know, people protest Jewish stuff. Add to that: EVERYONE wants a ceasefire! Get a new slogan. Well, one collective of people seem to not want one, the group that won’t agree to it, and it’s not Israel.
Great comment, Dean. I would like to read more about the festival itself.
I came here to say this. I have one thing to add. Maybe, I’m incorrect and maybe this is irrelevant to the majority of people. But, I have never seen a significant protest against a musician or other entertainer in response to a performance for US troops. The civilian deaths during the active (more active?) war on terror were significant. The US has a volunteer army, Israel has mandatory military service, however, in neither country should these potentially vulnerable individuals be demonized. These soldiers both American and Israeli are not the people waging war. I would begrudge either some entertainment and support.
Seven hundred people of diverse ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds joined together on Monday afternoon to joyfully celebrate Jewish culture, and the MV Times, in its only reporting on the event, publishes an article focused on ten protestors standing outside? One wonders about the MV Times’ editorial priorities.
As for the specifics of the reporting, it is incorrect that the protestors remained across the street and did not attempt to enter the festival grounds. In fact on two occasions, protestors did try to enter the grounds by unlawfully attempting to breach or circumvent fencing and in spite of the fact that the event was held on private land. Those efforts were thwarted.
It is also incorrect that the protestors only held signs calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The reporter might have asked them, for example, what specifically they meant by calling for “the liberation of Palestine.” Is that a call for a ceasefire in Gaza or a call for destruction of the State of Israel?
Finally, the fact that Matisyahu has been protested in the past for what is arguably a mainstream political viewpoint does not make him “controversial” any more than, say, anti-gay protestors at a Pete Buttiegig event would make him “controversial.” The author implicitly criticizes Matisyahu for singing his peace anthem, One Day, to a group of Israeli soldiers. Here is a link to the lyrics for that song: https://genius.com/Matisyahu-one-day-lyrics. “All my life I’ve been waiting for, I’ve been praying for, For the people to say,
That we don’t wanna fight no more, there’ll be no more wars, And our children will play, One day…” Perhaps someone should go sing that song to the Hamas murderers and their supporters.
Sending my support to those that showed up to protest Matisyahu & all the sponsors that send so much money to the state of Israel. Divest from genocide! Free Palestine!
@Lia DeRisi CeasefireMV thanks you. Feel free to join the island’s substantial and growing anti-genocide movement! https://ceasefiremv.org
Though Israel-bashers deny being antisemitic, they sure sound as if they are when they use the classic antisemitic stereotype about money to bash the Jewish Festival’s sponsors. Minnesota Congresswomen Ilhan Omar’s reprehensible comment about support for Israel being all about the Benjamins seems to be echoing on the Vineyard.
Didn’t see them, didn’t hear them, didn’t speak to them? So naturally by all objective evidence they are practicing “blatant anti-Semitism.”
There is no way possible any reasonable person would mistake the protestors presence with being protected activity and dissent under the US Constitution.
In case anyone has forgotten Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, bribery and breach of trust in three cases filed in 2019. He can be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail and/or a fine if convicted in a bribery case.
But always better to direct ones animus towards those who are actually obeying the law rather than those who are violating it.
Netanyahu was not present at this celebration so what were these idiots objecting to that you’d like to condone?
For some idiotic reason, based on hate and ignorance, antisemites now think anything remotely related to Jews anywhere in the world, is a target for hate and venom. I’ve been verbally assaulted 2 separate times on nyc sidewalks. What was my crime? I was wearing a visible Star of David necklace. These protesters are indeed antisemitic and dumb. They are on the side of terrorists and should be arrested for hate crimes. Did you want to condone the D.C. proHamas morons, too?
Sending you love, Jackie. 😔 It’s obscene that you were treated that way. To say I’m sorry doesn’t cut it.
I’ve been trying to explain the same about antisemitism for months, and few can claim to get it, despite the fact that it’s simple enough for children to comprehend—
It’s the height of hateful intolerance to target and punish American Jews for a foreign war. One that wasn’t started by Israelis to begin with.
Some will take any excuse to spew rage.
While protesting is very much part of the protections to be found in the Bill of Rights (not the Constitution), I don’t think we saw “blatant anti-Semitism.” Nonetheless, this article became, primarily, a summary of such a protest and the circumstances which surrounds that—don’t you think it’s unfortunate that the festival itself and the Jewish Culture was not covered? This was a very diverse festival that, yes, included Israeli elements, but the focus was not on Israel. It’s a pity in my view, because the Martha’s Vineyard Times missed a genuine opportunity to cover a rich celebration of the culture of a people who make an extraordinary contribution to Martha’s vineyard. The island loses in articles like these, not Jews and not protestors. It’s very depressing and I would hope the editors, if they see this comment, look more deeply into the articles filed about Jewish events on Martha’s vineyard.
*Martha’s Vineyard (the lower caps strikes again on the word “Vineyard”)
Thank you, James Kozak, for calling into question the well-worn, slanderous lie that equates opposition to genocide with anti-semitism.
I was among the protesters, there for two basic reasons. One is that in the face of the Israeli government’s ongoing genocidal assault on Gaza, the most atrocious war crime of the 21st century, I regard it as a moral obligation to speak out.
The other reason is that it is necessary to fight the absurd and vicious lie. It’s absurd, because genocide is not a religion. Our hostility is to the actions of the murderous Zionist regime, not to Jews or Judaism. The fact that Netanyahu and friends are Jews is irrelevant. If you were to criticize the behavior of someone who happened to be Jewish — say, Harvey Weinstein, or Bernie Madoff — would it make you antisemitic? You see the absurdity.
And the Big Lie is vicious, because this weaponization of antisemitism is a despicable and cynical attempt to shut down opposition to Israeli war crimes. The sad fact is that the Israeli government and its agents in the US, such as AIPAC, have run what is perhaps the single most massive and effective propaganda and public relations campaign in all of human history. Lies, distortions, manipulation and intimidation are their stock in trade. Many people who oppose the Isreali war of extermination stay in the closet for fear of being slandered as antisemites. We protest in public to encourage them to come out.
Fortunately, there is a vast and ever-expanding amount of journalism and filmmaking by responsible people, and the world has been awakened to the truth. That is why millions have taken to the streets, and that is why the BDS movement is having a powerful impact on the Israeli economy.
Now there will follow a torrent of hateful spew in reaction to this comment, and I will ignore it. But if anyone wants to have a serious discussion, Iet’s do it.
I’d like to express my appreciation to Rabbi Alperowitz, security staff, the police, and everyone else responsible for security operations at the Jewish Festival. Thanks to them, despite antisemitism being at its worst since the Holocaust — from protesters in our nation’s capital calling for Zionists to gather for the Final Solution to protesters on the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road spreading the contemporary version of the classic antisemitic blood libel which falsely accuses Israel of genocide — more than 700 people were able to celebrate Jewish culture and community in safety on the Vineyard.
An example of how the iconic One Day has long been received in Israel, a diverse location despite rumors to the contrary.
Please make note of the video’s title and caption:
https://youtu.be/RjPpMXMjIj0?si=Un6X0DMJ6aqY9h37
I can’t speak for Matthew Miller, aka Matisyahu. Maybe he doesn’t believe a two-state solution is possible right now, with terrorists refusing to surrender or withdraw their promise of Jewish annihilation. It remains that no one wanted this war but Hamas.
Maybe he understands that to give in to terrorists is to incentivize future hostage-taking and weaponization of hospitals, a profound risk the West fails to calculate. When a tactic works, expect repeats.
What I do know is that Miller has been successfully encouraging unity for well over a decade. Ceasefire MV has had the opportunity to do the same since October, albeit on a much smaller scale.
Instead, they chose to spread dangerous lies that suit a one-sided agenda. I was going to go into detail but feel they’ve been given more than enough press. There are no heroes among these protesters. Nobody was helped by their inane display. Certainly not Gazans.
Why target folks who are celebrating life and causing harm to absolutely nobody? Last I checked, that sounds an awful lot like peace in motion. A beautiful thing.
But then, Ceasefire MV has never advocated for a true peace, or even anti-violence across the board. The Times should’ve prioritized the festival’s highlights. Judaism is not defined by its detractors and their politics.
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