Members of Jewish Voice for Peace disrupted an event at a Northbrook synagogue on Sunday, in which Chicago Representative Bob Dold addressed local Jews, as well as federal and state legislators. Dold is the primary sponsor of the Combating BDS Act.

A video credited to JVP-Chicago member Michael Deheeger shows the disruption and the anger that ensued. It contains some strong language.

A JVP press release showed that the group openly supports a boycott of the Jewish state.  "As young Jewish progressives we support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in bringing about human rights and equality for Palestinians,” Eli Massey, a 22-year-old member of JVP-Chicago, was quoted as saying. “We are here to say that organizations like the Jewish United Fund and StandWithUS do not speak for all Jews, and on this issue are on the wrong side of history.”

The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) have "actively supported legislation in Illinois and at the federal level to oppose efforts to leverage economic pressure to bring about change in Israeli policies towards Palestinians," they accused.

“This bill is a sign of desperation in the face of shifting public opinion," said Massey, "as more and more people realize that support for Israel’s repressive policies toward Palestinians is completely inconsistent with values of human rights and equality."

The Anti-Defamation League has called JVP one of the "top 10" anti-Israel groups operating in the United States. "While JVP's activists try to portray themselves as Jewish critics of Israel, their ideology is nothing but a complete rejection of Israel. In May 2008, for example, members of JVP protested many of the celebrations of Israel's 60th anniversary that took place around the country, essentially illustrating that they oppose Israel's very existence," the watchdog group noted.