176: He's The DJ I'm The Rabbi, with Rabbi David Mivasair

Quick Overview

The podcast episode features Rabbi David Mivasair discussing his political and spiritual development, his departure from mainstream Jewish institutions due to his activism, and the work of Connecting Gaza, a direct-aid organization supporting families in Gaza, contrasting this grassroots effort with the perceived ineffectiveness of traditional charity models.

Key Points: Rabbi David Mivasair was effectively made persona non grata by Jewish community institutions in Hamilton, Ontario, after the local Jewish Federation held an emergency meeting regarding his arrival. Mivasair recounts being forced out of his rabbinical contract in Vancouver after a sabbatical because the board replaced itself with members who opposed his subtle critiques of Israel, illustrating a dynamic where reactionary members dictate terms of peace. Connecting Gaza, the featured charity, operates by establishing direct personal relationships via WhatsApp groups between supporters and families in Gaza, providing life-saving essentials like food and firewood. Mivasair relates his current work to the concept of 'empathic witnessing' and the historical actions of those who helped Holocaust survivors, stating that Connecting Gaza's direct aid sustains people while massive atrocities occur. The podcast hosts sarcastically announce a move to CBS, rebranding as 'Good Hasbara' under Barry Weiss, satirizing the commodification of anti-genocide commentary by suggesting they will now confirm their reports as 'true and good' for money. Mivasair is actively working on Avi Lewis's campaign for the NDP leadership in Canada, believing Lewis offers the 'greatest hope for change' in Canadian politics, despite previously supporting Eve Angler. Kyrie Irving once donated $25,000 to Mivasair's GoFundMe supporting Gaza relief, demonstrating significant, resource-mobilizing support for Palestine from an independent thinker.

Context: The episode of the 'Bad Hasbara' podcast, hosted by Matt Leeb and Daniel Matt, features an interview with Rabbi David Mivasair, a Canadian activist, rabbi, and member of Independent Jewish Voices, who discusses his journey away from established Jewish institutional roles due to his outspoken advocacy for Palestinian rights. The conversation touches upon Mivasair's early political development, influenced by figures like Gabor Maté, and contrasts the institutional resistance he faced with the direct, person-to-person aid model employed by the charity Connecting Gaza.