On Monday, The Jerusalem Post was abuzz with news of the “Israel 68” sneaker release, created by Reebok in honor of Israel’s 68th Independence Day celebration. It was to be auctioned off on Facebook with proceeds benefiting a mental disabilities charity.
As you can tell from the above pic, this is a very cool-looking blue & white shoe and the idea behind it is even cooler. (Personally, I would love to wear these sneaks!) They were guaranteed to be popular with Jews around the world as a collector’s item and I really wanted a pair.
Almost immediately, protests came from the Arab world, stirred up by the “Divestment, Boycott, and Sanctions” lunatics whose sole mission is to destroy Israel’s economy. I was concerned, but not overly so, because they make a lot of noise and no legitimate person would pay attention to them anyway.
Fast forward a day. To my complete shock and horror, the latest news is that Reebok has cancelled the release, bowing to Arab pressure in a most gutless fashion. It is so unbelievably sad that any company would behave in this way!
What is so controversial about the sneaker? That it says Israel or that it’s celebrating the 68th anniversary of modern Statehood? (Perhaps both concepts are equally intolerable to anti-Semites?) Whatever the excuse, the result is inexcusable. I’m very upset that Reebok would turn their back on the Jewish community and I will not be buying anything from them in the future.
Weigh in on the controversy. Do you think the sneaker is good or bad?
ok..so can they take off Israel and leave the 68 on the sneaker?? seems like a simple solution to me..I would wear these or my boys would like to wear these sneakers too!
I think taking “Israel” off would defeat the purpose which is to commemorate the establishment of the modern state of Israel. But is there a significance to the 68 years? I mean would they come out with a 69, 70, 71 etc in the coming years? As for Reebok, surely opposition to the sneaker by Muslim groups was considered before they made the decision to make it. What has changed? If their reasons to manufacture it were valid then, they are valid now. It is cowardly to pull the sneaker & I suspect many Jewish people will stop buying Reebok products.
68 years, to me, is significant. Every single year of modern statehood is truly a miracle and each anniversary should be celebrated. Israel is facing constant destruction and that should be acknowledged. I don’t know if Reebok didn’t anticipate trouble, but they should’ve. Just so crazy!
I am not Jewish but I am pro-Israel and this makes me mad and sad at the same time. What is happening to the world? America has always been supportive of our Israeli brothers. Israel is very much like the USA. Americans, Christians and Jews are all persecuted by Muslims! Why do we continue to bow down to them?
I know many Christians that truly love Israel. This is not just a Jewish issue. I think Christians and Jews must unite together to support and defend Israel!