West Tisbury officials voiced their displeasure with the organizers of the Jewish Cultural Festival for selling too many tickets.
The festival organized by Chabad on the Vineyard was permitted to sell 350 tickets, but town officials say around 570 tickets were sold. Organizers previously told The Times that over 700 attended.
West Tisbury town administrator Jennifer Rand said the event also advertised that there would be hard liquor, which was stopped before the festival began. Only beer and wine was allowed for their permit.
Board chair Jessica Miller said during a Wednesday, July 31, meeting that the festival went “smoothly without incident.” However, she had concerns about future Chabad events. “I no longer trust them,” she said.
Following the meeting, the town’s select board is planning to invite the Chabad on the Vineyard representatives to their meeting to discuss the permit infraction. The town also sent a letter to Chabad that violations in the future may result in revocation of the permit.
Rabbi Tzvi Alperowitz with Chabad said there was a misunderstanding with the town. Alperowitz said he was in touch with the relevant town authorities, like the police department and board of health, and “fully transparent” about the number of people who would attend. He thought this information would also reach the select board and town administrator. Alperowitz underscored that ticket sales stopped when the town asked, saying there was interest from “hundreds” more people, even a week before the festival.
He also said his organization applied for the permit based on the number of people at the event last year, and attendance numbers were not really a part of the conversation with the select board. Alperowitz said there seems to have been a misunderstanding and there were no intentions to deceive the town.
“I take full responsibility,” Alperowitz said, apologizing to the West Tisbury select board and town administrator during a phone interview with The Times.
Why is the Times giving this Jewish organization such a hard time over a wonderful event? Ridiculous.
I thought all religious groups were exempt from most regulations unless there was a public safety issue. And whoever said “I don’t trust this group” should be removed from public office. I’m sure if a local Christian group did the exact same thing that comment would not have been made.
Mr Acker, Dems dont like Christians so they would apply the same rules but if it were a drag queen concert all would be well. Push the rules and hide behind them for this but not for homeless in the forest.
Clearly you do not know Jessica Miller. She is amazing in every way, and exemplifies everything we hope to see in our representatives. I hope she remains in public office for a very long time.
This comment she made was not an “amazing” thing to say. Nonetheless, it was a pull quote and it’s difficult to tell what the full statement was, so as far as the public can tell, it’s inflammatory. She is talking about a religious organization.
This group held a cultural, safe, and open event. They told the police ticket sales were over the limit before the event. There was no public safety issue. Every religious organization can only dream of high ticket sales, this group did it. For this Jessica to disparage a new religious group and call them untrustworthy makes me not trust her.
Nearly doubling capacity is certainly a public safety issue. For anyone who believes this was a misunderstanding, the only misunderstanding is that they would be held accountable.
A hat trick of negativity.
Shame on MV Times for making this into a story that made it into the paper! You had many opportunities to talk about this remarkable event before it happened but chose not to, then after the event and again chose only to highlight the protests on the road and now this? The administrative and technical issues instead of the fact that hundreds of people came together to have the most amazing time celebrating Jewish culture!
The festival has attracted so many different people of all backgrounds and it will only grow and get better every year- I hope you will send one of your reporters to cover it in 2025!
Let’s hope that the language from the West Tisbury selectman used in this article is not their real feelings. As this was a first class event where everyone had a good time and there were no issues at all. Why is this island becoming the no fun island. Please people wake up. Let’s enjoy life. It seems we need a change of selectmen across the island as Oak Bluffs selectman killed a George Clinton concert According to recent newspaper articles. That would’ve been a magical evening of live music.
George Clinton played at the strand to a full house!
Yes, Joanne they played in front of 250 people and if the Oak Bluffs selectmen had allowed it to be in a park like the organizer had wanted, there would be 10 times that number of people enjoying what turned out to be a wealthy private club event.
Different people have different opinions.
The Island needs change.
When will you step into leadership role.
Newspapers comments are the cheap seats.
You are one those magical people who always Knows what should be done yet does nothing.
Beyond keyboarding.
This “misunderstanding” can only be explained by one thing, anti-Semitism.
I mean how else can you explain brazenly flouting Massachusetts liquor laws, and wilfully exceeding permitted ticket sales?
It has to be anti-Semitism that made them do it.
I believe you are the guy that tried to sell tainted honey at Cronig’s a few years ago. Thank you for your educated opinion.
The “misunderstanding” appears to be the journalist’s description and not the director of Chabad’s. Calling it a “misunderstanding” is what the writer of the article chose to do, there is no quote from Alperowitz to suggest any of this, there is only, “I take full responsibility.” A mensch.
What drives a person to package honey in unsanitary conditions, making it unfit for human consumption, and then attempt to sell it as “local” honey at a market that bans what could be deadly? What’s the difference between a scam artist who knowingly scams and a religious leader who brings joy to islanders? Save your mocking the reality of antisemitism. You’ve already told us who you are and how disrespectful you are toward the health and safety of your neighbors.
I’m glad the town administrators are not brushing this kind of activity under the rug. Pushing our bylaws and government people beyond what is permitted and then saying “we didn’t know” does not work here.
A misunderstanding, a reasonable explanation where full responsibility is taken, and a sincere apology.
Who or what was hurt by this mistake? What damage is there? Why the intensely negative coverage, 3 weeks in a row? What does this newspaper have against a beautiful Chabad event?
“I no longer trust them.”
That’s some quote. Who exactly is “them”? Jews? Rabbis? I trust this newspaper to push forward the exploding Jew-hatred being expressed worldwide— and parroted by formerly respectable islanders who write antisemitic comments and letters this newspaper is happy to host.
How many times has the Chilmark Community Center made the same overbooking and liquor mistakes over recent years? And had a racist incident that was denied to be racial in nature? Coincidently, some of the same deniers of the Chilmark noose racism deny their antisemitic views are antisemitic. Racists and antisemites fight angrily denying their hatreds and pretenses, while justifying them.
“I no longer trust them” belongs on a blue baseball cap. Every antisemitic fool can wear one— to go with their keffiyeh— while they stand outside protesting synagogues, Jewish-owned stores, Jewish weddings, and 5 Corners on Sunday mornings. Is that what we’re coming to?
If this newspaper is stubbornly trying to excuse their prior 2 awful articles covering the pro Hamas antisemitic protesters at this celebratory event, they’ve failed, yet again. Three strikes in 3 weeks. In 3 attempts to make island Jews and their leadership look untrustworthy and like supporters of the antisemitic lie of “Gaza genocide”, they have succeeded only in making the newspaper look like supporters of antisemitism.
I tend to agree with you that there is something rotten in the state of the Martha’s Vineyard Times, that is, if they pick up the reference to Shakespeare. There does seem to be this editorial attitude of needling this group. Maybe not the Hebrew Center, but Jews know it doesn’t matter who you’re picking on, if it’s one of us, it’s all of us. Perhaps they will think about that…
Limiting tickets sales is antisemitic?
Does the Island have a pro semtic newspaper?
Why not?
Jackie– you’re on a roll with this comment.
you managed to use “antisemite” or a derivative of it 7 times
and “jew hating” once.
You also managed to insult the hard working people
at the Times, all liberals, implied people who peacefully
protest a war ( imagine that) are racist as well as antisemetis and
once again insulted the traditional dress of a culture you clearly hate,
— at least this time you didn’t make your racism crystal clear
by calling their garb “stupid” or a “cheap rag” —all in one comment .
Not bad–
But the article was about a festival not abiding by their permit.
I’m sure you and the other usual suspects would be calling for
future pride or BLM events to be banned for such a blatant
violation of their permit. Tell me I’m wrong.
You’re always wrong within this context, Keller. That’s because you always push the antisemitic view. You’ve been proven antisemitic by your own words dozens of times. If the moderator would allow it, I could post many dozens of your antisemitic comments over these last months.
But here’s one:
“If Jackie says I do that then it must be true. After all, she is Jewish, and one can’t say a Jew is wrong”. ~Keller
How this kind of hate speech against Jews from Keller manages to be okayed in a moderated public forum is beyond me.
Under the last article on this topic, the antisemitism grew to include Holocaust denial. There are apparently no limits here.
I’m Jewish, attended the event, and I think this item is newsworthy as I could easily see it appear if this had been the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival or any other. It is essential to follow the town bylaws when putting in an event. That said, rather disgusted by the quote Jessica Miller makes, unless there is more context, the reporting just seems, like the other articles, bad journalism. It certainly makes her—and West Tisbury—look terrible.
From the initial article about the festival, published two weeks ago:
“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.”
It’s obvious the rabbi had no intention of duping anyone or concealing the number in attendance. Somebody trying to put one over on the town, which seems to be the implication, wouldn’t be this open with the local newspaper.
Jackie is right. The explanation makes sense, I trust the apology is heartfelt, and, most of all, no harm whatsoever came to pass due to the misunderstanding. To claim the festival organizers (?) can’t be trusted is a major overreaction. One that raises an Eylon Levy-worthy eyebrow on the heels of so much unnecessary critism.
I will say it again—this festival is what peace in motion looks like. It’s what we should be encouraging. Happiness. Sharing of culture. Different groups mingling with the utmost respect. Celebrating. Music, art, and genuine interest.
Everybody claims to want more of that kind of togetherness, yet some knock it (or troll it) when it shows up.
*Criticism. Ugh.
Jessica Miller: “I no longer trust them.” Hmm. And the rabbi is the only one to apologize?
I’ve been staring at the blinking cursor trying to figure out what to say in response to this article because its triteness and bias seems so obvious. As I said in my recent Letter to the Editor, rather than educating its readers on the diversity and richness of Jewish culture on display at the festival, it has been only negative and critical. Rabbi Alperowitz did nothing secretive or duplicitous. He wasn’t brazenly flouting the rules as a previous writer accuses. He made a mistake which he has owned. Owning a mistake seems so rare these days. It should be seen as an object lesson not a criticism. And to say you will never trust “them” again begs the question of why anyone should bother ever apologizing. Perhaps the Times might want to consider an article on the High Holy Days and the rituals and meaning around the performance of atonement.
I don’t know Jessica Miller or the meaning behind her speech. But she should know that using the word “them” to reference any group is triggering. And at this point in time, when anti-semitism is rising, we all must be very aware of how we use words. Now is a time for sensitivity and mutual respect.
Judith– I agree with you about the use of offensive words.
Now tell that to the person who uses a seriously offensive term
to describe virtually everyone who has anything even remotely
critical of anything to do with Israel and its war in Gaza.
In case you don’t know what word I am referencing it appears 7 times
in a comment directly above this one dated Aug 8 7:56 am.
And just for good measure that particular commenter has called
the traditional clothing of a particular culture “stupid” and “cheap rags”
nothing offensive there, I guess.
Regarding keffiyahs, I thought cultural appropriation was a no-no for the woke hypocrites of the liberal left… unless they’re expressing their Jew and Israel hatred, I guess. Then they’ll steal anyone’s culture. I can understand that obvious antisemites object to the word “antisemitism” and whine that it is “overused”. The harassment, attacks, and abuse of Jewish people has increased unbelievably since 10/7, but if youre Jewish and correctly point to the underlying Jew hatred as the cause of this sad truth, antisemites will naturally get upset and object. They’ll tell you they support Israel all the while claiming self protection from terrorists trying to annhilate Israel is genocide.
I should add that Palestinian culture encompasses all the contributing cultures of Middle East peoples. It’s a mishmash. That includes Jews, Keller, who also wore head scarf shmattas for protection from the desert climate. I can only imagine with a laugh at what an antisemite’s version of “Palestinian culture” means to him. BTW, “Jewish food” comes from the local areas where Jews settled after escaping or being expelled throughout history. Maybe the local MV antisemites think lox and bagels and matzoh ball soup came from the pharaohs in Egypt. Don’t get me started on falafel and hummus.
What is driving the renewed antisemitism?
Liberals? Conservatives? Communists? Nationalists? Totalitarians? Socialists? Agnostics, Atheists? Catholics? Protestants? Evangelicals? Some of each?
What is the solution?
Antisemites are driving it. They often can’t be and don’t wish to be educated when they are stuck hating Jews, Hess. We can see in this thread and in others the lengths they go to try to deflect their bias of hate by blaming Jews themselves for being hated. There are of course books and articles and videos to answer questions on what can be done to halt the exploding antisemitism, but anyone seriously inquiring and wanting it to stop would have researched it by now. Ironically, attending events that teach about Jewish culture is one step in familiarizing oneself with what Jewish people are about. Anyone would have to be a Jew hating dope to protest a joyful event that could educate someone away from their hate and ignorance.
Thanks Judith!!!! My thoughts exactly!
The Ri’im music festival on October 7th had some “protesters”, too. What were they protesting and murdering and torturing and kidnapping and burning and raping? Anyone Jewish or remotely related to Judaism— The peaceful music festival was a target of Jew hatred. There are similarities in hate speech and what ceasefire MV would like to see happen and this is why these antisemites protest anything they imagine is Jewish-related, like a peaceful cultural festival. BTW, Chabad and Hillel are protested on college campuses by idiotic kids with antisemitic parents who cheer them on. The denials, angry attacks, pretenses, fake facts, and lies are simply a defection away from their bottom line: an irrational hatred of all Jewishness, sometimes their own, and of a tiny country called Israel.
Antisemites should look up the origin of keffiyahs. They were first worn by nomadic Bedouins as protection from the desert climate. They were made of cotton, unlike the polyester shmattas sold at Amazon and gobbled up by idiots who do not know geography, religion, culture, or history. I read about the history of these rags used today as Nazi symbols, before I said something stupid on here. Keffiyahs eventually were worn to distinguish class among Arab groups. Now they are worn, among others, by dumb American college kids who know nothing about the Middle East but suffer that same white savior guilt as their antisemitic parents. Present day “Palestinians” are Bedouin, Jordanian, Egyptian, and others. Some dope must have watched Lawrence of Arabia and was inspired by the fashion, and it caught on with the political party of antisemites: liberal left democrats.
Re: Protesting this festival.
Say the government of Brazil made a decision that proved controversial with a percentage of the U.S. Would anyone argue that it’s okay to protest and punish Brazilian-owned businesses on the Vineyard?
If there were a happy event being hosted by our Brazilian community members, unrelated to problems unfolding in their native country, would that event be deemed fair game?
After observing reactions here for years, this is one hypothetical I can tackle with confidence. There would be nothing but anger and offense taken in these comments. We’d be inundated with screams of racism and xenophobia if that kind of pointed, illogical targeting occurred.
And fair enough—I can’t think of another reason to conflate cultural joy with politics.
When it’s the Jewish community under attack, many just nod their approval. A contradiction in terms, reactions are as petty as they are dangerous. And hateful. Absolutely hateful. Jewish culture is not the same as Israeli policy.
Jewish people are not receptacles for every negative feeling about the war.
Perfect post, Katie, one that even antisemites could understand if they wanted. I can only imagine the stupidity if anyone (guess who) dares try to tell you there’s no comparison. Others have vainly tried to point out to the pro-Hamas protesters, including Ceasefire MV, what they’ve willfully misunderstood about the war against Hamas. There are other areas in the world where unspeakable terrorist torture and murders are happening. If Mintz, Scott, and Keller, and other antisemitic writers of letters to this paper, including a retired reverend, breathed one word about Bangladesh (now that I’ve mentioned it) I might think there was something in their minds that didn’t boil down to pure Israel and Jew-hatred, but unfortunately the saying is true: “No Jews, no news”. We know who the antisemites are. There’s no intelligence and no reasoning with pure the hate we see in these protests, although I love you for trying. Your words are a blessing.
here is a real Jew hater
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donny-deutsch-donald-trump-jews-democrats_n_65f9853de4b0d47c50ffecb4?dicbo=v2-sJWaoVV
Don, wish there was a true hero like John McCain.
Actually Keller, Deutsch is a secular Jew who understand very little about Judaism as a religion and what he defines as what it means to be a Jew is incorrect. Yes many of us are surprised that Jews heavily vote for Democrats who with Harris/Walz seem to be very much anti Israel as it relates to the war with Hamas.
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