JIMMY CARTER AND ARAFAT

Jimmy Carter invited to receive a "human rights award" at Yeshiva University's Cardozo School of Law. Unreal what we constantly do to ourselves. Jimmy Carter, America's worst President who has become America's worst ex-President invited to one of American Jewry's once-treasured institutions. Reminds me of the early days of what is now JFNA...

Way back when...shortly after the installation of the first Chairs and CEO of the newly formed by merger national organization, someone (I think I know just whom it was but why embarrass that professional once again) in power decided that the organization should "put itself on the map" by giving the prestigious Isaiah Award -- only given to the beloved Yitzchak Rabin, z'l,  and Max Fisher, z'l, to that point in time, if memory serves -- to, yes, Yasser Arafat. There was a Mission going to Israel as I recall, and the first Chair of the Executive was leading it, and he really wanted to present this Award to the leading terrorist in the world. So you will know that things don't change much, there had been no processing of this insanity with any governance body. The physical award was readied and a presentation speech prepared.

And, then...someone leaked the story to a Boston Jewish newspaper and the proverbial s__t hit the fan...and elsewhere. Denials everywhere, except from the PLO. The award was hidden away, the presentation speech "never existed." I happened to be in the office of the UJC CEO the day this all exploded and he engaged in a frenzied phone call with the Board Chair, after which he told me: "We are hiring Kroll and Associates to investigate this, heads will roll." Much like my eyes.

At the end of the day, it appeared that it was the PLO which had leaked the story but one UJC staffer was fired anyway -- someone had to be the scapegoat. So, I just wonder who will be scapegoated for inviting Arafat's friend Jimmy Carter to receive a "human rights award" at the Cardozo School of Law? One thing is for certain, Justice Cardozo is certainly rolling over in his grave.

Rwexler