‘We don’t want a Zionist on our stage’

In what can only be described as a shocking turn of events, a planned book launch at the Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn was effectively canceled just hours before it was set to begin.

The reason? The moderator, Rabbi Andy Bachman, was deemed too controversial due to his pro-Israel views.

The decision, which has ignited a firestorm of debate, underscores the growing polarization within American discourse surrounding Jewish identity and Israel.

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Joshua Leifer, a respected journalist and author of Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life, was eagerly anticipating the event, where he was set to discuss his new book with Rabbi Bachman.

The discussion was to explore the complexities of Jewish life in America, a topic deeply rooted in Leifer’s work.

However, just hours before the event, Leifer was informed by a Powerhouse Arena employee that Bachman’s presence was unwelcome due to his Zionist beliefs.

“[They said they] would not be willing to host a conversation between me and Andy because they wouldn’t allow a Zionist on the premises,” Leifer recounted in an interview.

The store’s refusal to allow Bachman on stage, despite his long-standing contributions to Jewish thought and community leadership, effectively canceled the event, even as the store’s management attempted to argue otherwise.

The decision to pull Bachman as moderator at the last minute was described by Leifer as “unacceptable and unprofessional.”

The store’s management, despite having had ample time to vet both participants, chose to raise concerns just hours before the event, citing fears of negative audience reactions.

This decision not only disrupted the event but also disrespected the audience, many of whom had already purchased tickets and books in anticipation of the discussion.

Leifer’s frustration was palpable as he noted that the bookstore’s actions amounted to a de facto cancellation.

“It was billed as a conversation between me and Andy. That’s what people bought tickets for,” he emphasized. The Powerhouse Arena’s offer to let Leifer take the stage solo was a poor consolation, as the essence of the event—an engaging dialogue between two thoughtful individuals—was lost.

Rabbi Bachman, who arrived at the venue only to learn of the event’s cancellation, expressed his shock and dismay.

“It was an utterly shocking, disheartening experience,” he told The Post. Bachman, a proud Zionist who has been critical of certain actions of the Israeli government, found himself silenced by the very platform that should have facilitated an open discussion.

“They are basing decisions merely upon their own perception of my identity and this is exactly what’s wrong with the current discourse right now,” Bachman lamented.

His words resonate deeply in today’s climate, where identity and political beliefs are increasingly used as a litmus test for participation in public discourse.

The refusal to host Bachman reflects a troubling trend in which nuanced views are cast aside in favor of rigid ideological purity.

This incident is not just a reflection of the state of Jewish discourse but of American society as a whole.

The polarization that has gripped the nation is manifesting in ways that stifle conversation and intellectual exploration.

As Bachman noted, “I can’t believe that this is how American democracy devolved and yet at the same time this has been an erosion that has been ongoing for many years.”

The cancellation of the event has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, with notable figures like former Mayor Bill de Blasio and South Bronx Representative Ritchie Torres weighing in. De Blasio questioned the decision, asking, “Shouldn’t a bookstore in NYC be a place committed to hearing all voices?

Aren’t the right-wing the ones who ban books, not us?” His words echo the frustration of many who see the left, traditionally a bastion of free speech, increasingly adopting tactics of censorship.

Torres, a pro-Israel Democrat, was equally critical, accusing Powerhouse of canceling the book launch “abruptly and arbitrarily.”

His comments highlight a growing concern among many Jewish Americans that Zionism is being singled out as incompatible with progressive values. “The far left is making ‘Zionists’ (i.e. most Jews) the exception to progressivism’s rule against discrimination,” Torres wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The real tragedy of this incident is the missed opportunity for meaningful dialogue.

Leifer’s book, which delves into the complexities and internal debates within the American Jewish community, could have served as a catalyst for a thoughtful discussion on the role of Zionism in Jewish identity.

Instead, the decision to exclude Bachman reduced the event to a mere controversy, overshadowing the important issues the book seeks to address.

Leifer, undeterred by the bookstore’s actions, took his audience to a nearby bar, where the discussion continued in an improvised setting.

While this impromptu gathering demonstrated resilience and a commitment to dialogue, it also underscored the unfortunate reality that such discussions are increasingly difficult to have in traditional public spaces.

The incident at Powerhouse Arena is a stark reminder of the fragile state of free speech and open discourse in America today.

As identity politics continue to dominate the conversation, the space for nuanced, thoughtful discussion is shrinking. The refusal to host Rabbi Bachman, based solely on his Zionist beliefs, is not just a disservice to him or to Joshua Leifer, but to everyone who values intellectual freedom and the exchange of ideas.

In silencing one voice, Powerhouse Arena has inadvertently amplified the voices of those who see the need for a broader, more inclusive conversation about Jewish identity and the complexities of Zionism.

As Leifer and Bachman’s experience shows, the conversation will continue—if not on a bookstore stage, then wherever people are willing to listen.

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