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The Orange Party
ZOA organizes a student protest party
by David Sarna Galdi, Columbia University
Students at ZOA’s Orange Party at the at The Northwest Lounge on the corner of 79th Street and Columbus Avenue. The party was held in solidarity with the Jewish residents of Gush Katif, Gaza, and northern Samaria who were expelled from their homes, schools, synagogues, and jobs as a result of the disengagement plan.
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Many young people went on amazing vacations this summer, or worked in exotic, far-off places. I spent the summer months in New York, which was, most likely, more hot and humid than some of the exotic, far-off places I can think of. However, if I had not been dragging myself from the subways to the streets and busses of Manhattan, I would have missed the highlight of the season. I was lucky enough to be able to cool off at the best party of the summer.
This fundraiser was named The Orange Party. The organizers wanted the party to be hip and happening as well as very focused on the current events of Israeli politics—a sort of Hillel-meets-Hollywood sort of occasion—and surprisingly, it was a strangely great mix of Jewish music, celebrities, and activists.
It all took place in the intimate upstairs lounge of an Upper West Side venue called The Northwest Lounge. Drinks were served in the comfortable but stylish room, its ceiling covered in orange balloons. I arrived early, finishing a few cocktails before the main event began. Batya Meidad, a journalist and resident of Gush Katif, opened the evening with some brief comments about the disengagement and its effects. I enjoyed her talk immensely as I waited at the bar for my next cocktail. I got it just in time for the live guitar and vocals of a Jewish artist named Rocky Zeigler. His soulful voice and guitar playing set the perfect mood for the crowd, most of which was mingling by then, some of which was still arriving.
I had a nice chat with Lenny Lubitz, the Director of Magshimei Herut, which co-sponsored the event with the Zionist Organization of America and Manhigut Yehudit. Right beside him, I met a young man from Cornell University wearing an orange Hawaiian shirt. I am definitely not acquainted with the fashion scene of Hawaii or Cornell U., but I can say quite confidently that the shirt was a poor choice for the Upper West Side.
I saw a camera flash going off every few minutes. It was Josh Mann, an organizer of the event, snapping photos on his tiny digital camera. After welcoming his friends and helping the other event planners, David Sarna Galdi, David Greenberg, and Talia Kaplan, work out some last minute issues, he gave the welcoming remarks for the evening’s main attraction—Remedy.
Jewish rap artist Remedy, of the Wu-Tang Clan, performed at ZOA’s Orange Party on July 21, 2005.
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Remedy is a rap artist and member of the well-known group The Wu-Tang Clan. He also happens to be a very opinionated and vocal Jew, already having written much material with Jewish themes. I stood on the sidelines, cradling a vodka tonic, as he performed his well-known song “Never Again” for the crowd. From the unanimous response of the crowd, who were moving, clapping, and singing with Remedy, it seemed that everyone loved it. I just wish that one clapper hadn’t spilled my drink on my Hugo Boss sport jacket with his enthusiastic shoulder.
As the evening continued on I met some interesting people and purchased one of the bright orange T-shirts I had been marveling at all night. What executive made the decision to make orange the official color of Gush Katif and the anti-disengagement effort? I would love to ask him a question or two. Actually, aside from showing my support, the T-shirt has come in very useful. I wear it for my late-night jogging so as not to get hit by oncoming traffic. So thank you to whoever it was.
Events like this one make the long, hot summer almost seem worth it. In a few days I am off on my summer vacation to Israel, where, instead of supporting only the people, I will be supporting my tan. Before I go, I just want to say: disengagement would be a terrible experience for many people. However, The Orange Party in support of those people was an amazing, fantastic experience! (Sadly, I imagine there will not be another one next year.)
David Sarna Galdi is in his senior year at Columbia University and is a Writing major.
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