thu10feb1:00 pmthu2:00 pmKavod on the Road Virtual Program: The Olympics That Never Were
(Thursday) 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Denver was set to host the 1976 Winter Olympics. The establishment heralded the winning of the games as a sign that Colorado had come of age. So
Denver was set to host the 1976 Winter Olympics. The establishment heralded the winning of the games as a sign that Colorado had come of age. So what went wrong? This leads to a discussion of the rise of the ski industry, the extreme politicization of the Olympics, the horrors of the 1972 Munich massacre of Israeli athletes at the Summer Olympics, and the changing world of state politics. Phil Goodstein will weave this compelling story and also share how Jews were involved and what happened to the legacy of the anti-Olympic campaign.
“We welcome the Israeli government’s suspension of legislative consideration of judicial reform measures.
“The last three months have been painful to watch and yet a textbook case of democracy in action. We respect the political leaders, business executives, community activists, cultural figures, and ordinary Israelis who took to the streets, exercising their love of country, and their passion for democracy.
“As a next step, we encourage all Knesset factions, coalition and opposition alike, to use this time to build a consensus that includes the broad support of Israeli civil society.
“Israel’s political leaders must insist on a more respectful tone and debate. A hallmark of democracy is public consensus and mutual consideration.
“The Conference of Presidents, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, AIPAC, and the Jewish Federations of North America will continue to confer with Israel’s governmental and civic leaders to ensure that the views of American Jewry are represented in the discussion. We are confident the resilience of Israeli democracy will successfully overcome the tremendous challenges it faces.”