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November 7, 2008 | 3:24 pm

Handling Norman Finkelstein

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Photo: Solomonia

I’ve attended two speaking engagements this year for Norman Finkelstein, the notorious anti-Israel critic and Hezbollah cheerleader—first at CSUN, where Finkelstein was accosted by the Jewish Defense League, and later during Palestinian Awareness Week at UC Irvine, when Finkelstein accused writer Jeffrey Goldberg of torturing Palestinians.

I wondered then how much the defamed former professor earned every time he delivered a lecture. Looks like no less than $2,000.

Jewcy, courtesy of Action Palestine, got its hands on notes for booking and working with Finkelstein. Read on:

NOTES RE: NORMAN FINKELSTEIN HIMSELF–No cell phone or laptop, yet needs to check email often(so have a computer handy). Enjoys swimming b4 speaking(clears sinuses). Prefers healthy food, not necessarily kosher. Replies quickly, but can be very difficult via email correspondence. Would say “whatever is fine” when he really means “I will not speak at your school for under $2000 and without a motel room next to the airport”. Would routinely answer only 1/3 of questions asked in emails. Got angry a few times. Also canceled on us 3+ times, twice after signing the contract, because disliked having layover in DC for 2 hrs on flight back to NYC, or thought the honorarium too small. He sometimes reads his emails in a great hurry. My advice=Be succinct. Ask multiple questions in multiple emails. Spell out exactly what is being asked/said. If you hear “Whatever is fine”, then confirm a second or third time, or via the phone. He told us that he was working on a list of suggestions/requirements for hosting him.

In person, NF is an entirely different person–extremely enjoyable to work with, very accessible. Does not care how last name is pronounced, insisted we call him Norman. Open to discussion of politics, but quick to state his opinions. Is a bit of an “Absent-minded Professor”, however, and so tends to get lost, misplace items, forget the schedule, etc. I advise assigning him a helper during his entire time.

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg in 6 Comments — Leave your comment

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it is kind of sad to see that memo leaked. palestinians should be happy to have norman defend their cause out there. i don’t seee many christians or muslims loosing their reputation and job for the palestinian cause!!!
what do they expect??? 2000 is not very much for a speaking fee!!

Comment by shamir on 11/07/08 at 6:49 pm

Norm Finkelstein should have been an abortion.

Comment by bill Pearlman on 11/08/08 at 6:25 am

Something I’ve always wondered about. What makes somebody a Jew. To me it rests on two pillars. You need some modicum of observance. Something, anything. And you have to be pro-Israel. And by that I mean simply this. If there is a battle between the IDF and an armed Arab force. Hezbollah, Syria, whatever. You have to want the IDF to win. That’s all.
Norm Finkelstein is an avowed atheist, no bar mitzvah, no nothing. And he wants Hezbollah to triumph over Israel. So, I ask. Other than his last name, which is essentially an accident of birth. WHAT MAKES THIS GUY A JEW.

Comment by Bill Pearlman on 11/08/08 at 6:31 am

If this is intended to condemn Finkelstein, it is an utter failure. Speakers like Alan Dershowitz and Elie Wiesel demand $10,000 (or more) for lectures. Worse yet, Dershowitz has nothing of value to say. It is generally impossible to host any public intellectual for less than $2000. Even speakers who would not be considered noteworthy receive sums approaching $2000. Eats healthy and exercises, no wonder he is so resented. Who is he to show up at a university and embarrass the large majority of scholars who are fat and slovenly?

Comment by Matt on 11/08/08 at 7:37 am

Matt, you’re correct, $2,000 is small potatoes on the speaking circuit. This specific post is not intended to condemn Finkelstein, though I think his potemkin scholarship is condemnable. I just found these notes funny; Finkelstein comes off like Oscar the Grouch.

If you disagree about his “research,“ read what Benny Morris, no darling of the Jewish right, <a hef=“http://www.jewishjournal.com/thegodblog/item/benny_morris_slams_finkelstein_as_a_notorious_distorter_of_facts/“>had to say</a>:

“Norman Finkelstein is a notorious distorter of facts and of my work, not a serious or honest historian.“

Not a serious or honest historian ...

Comment by Brad A. Greenberg on 11/08/08 at 8:28 am

It is fascinating to see how an article and the commentary written about such an opinionated person as Norman Finkelstein can be so utterly devoid of any of his opinions. Maybe it is because his detractors on this site can’t deal with the facts NF presents? ...  Why not discuss his eating habits?

Comment by itch on 11/12/08 at 3:18 am

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