Last week, The Jewish Link was alerted by the Anti-Defamation League and the Community Security Service (CSS) that a protest of the upcoming Jewish Link Wine Guide Grand Tasting, taking place on February 27, would be held outside of its venue in Passaic, New Jersey. The planned protest appeared to have been organized by a consortium of 22 pro-Palestinian organizations, including American Muslims for Palestine, Council on American Islamic Relations-NJ (CAIR-NJ) and the Rutgers division of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), attacking one specific winery which is exhibiting their wines. Claiming that Shiloh Winery exists on an “illegal Israeli settlement” which has been stolen from the Qaryut and Turmusayya villages, Shiloh is one of nearly 100 kosher wineries to be exhibiting at the Grand Tasting on February 27, and is among dozens of Israeli winemakers who will be attending the event as well.
Shiloh Winery exists on land purchased from the Israeli Lands Authority in the Binyamin Region and its legality is not disputed, though it is part of lands won by Israel after the Six Day War of 1967. Jewish biblical history’s references to ancient Shiloh dates back to the Book of Joshua, which notes that the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was housed there for 300 years during 1400-1000 BC.
The Jewish Link’s event staff consulted with their security team as well as the Passaic police department and the Passaic County sheriff’s office to discuss any potential threats, as well as additional security personnel. In addition to the security which had already been planned for the event, the team decided to increase police presence, as well as secure the parking lot well ahead of the 6 p.m. start time.
“What we want these protestors to know is that we are proud to be hosting this event with so many amazing Israeli and kosher wineries from around the world,” said Jewish Link associate publisher and editor Elizabeth Kratz. “We planned the Jewish Link Wine Guide Grand Tasting specifically to express our hakarat hatov [gratitude] to the winemakers who continue to provide us with wines despite facing a barbaric war with Hamas in Israel, which has affected nearly every facet of Israeli society, including commerce.”
This is the fourth year of publication for the Jewish Link Wine Guide, an annual magazine about kosher wine that is published shortly before Passover each year, as four cups of wine are traditionally served at the Seder. It is the only independently produced magazine in America that exclusively celebrates kosher wine. The magazine (available at jlinkwineguide.com) features kosher wines and the passionate and talented professionals who work to keep wine both delicious and kosher. The magazine is produced by The Jewish Link, one of the largest weekly newspapers serving the Jewish community in the tri-state area.
“Protesters are attacking an event that is about kosher wine. Some of that wine is produced in Israel. These protesters are dead wrong to target an event that celebrates local Jewish cuisine, kosher wines and spirits and its creators,” said Moshe Kinderlehrer, co-founder and co-publisher of The Jewish Link.
In the early planning stages of the event, The Jewish Link determined that ticket sales would be donated to nonprofit organizations supporting agriculture in Israel as a way of bolstering the agricultural infrastructure of the country during this tumultuous time. “From our choice of vendors, including the food pairings, to the evening’s programming, we wanted to demonstrate our love for the kosher wine industry and our gratitude to those in Israel who have powered through to keep the industry afloat. ”
Ultimately, The Jewish Link has not been deterred by the planned protest of the Grand Tasting event, and is looking forward to an evening celebrating the delicious wines of Israel and other kosher wines made all around the world. “We want the community to come and celebrate that with us — and show these protestors that we are stronger together,” Kratz stated. “We’re looking forward to seeing everyone there.”
