Jewish Conscience

High Holidays Video: 2006

2006-10-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

Watch If Not Now, When?, a short film in which Jews speak out against the illusion of Jewish consensus on Israel.

Bay Area

2006-10-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

Philly High Holiday Press Release and Images: 09-28-06

2006-09-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

Contact: phillysolidarity@gmail.com

Thursday, September 28, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Philadelphia Jews Honor High Holidays with
"10 Days of Jewish Solidarity with Palestine & Lebanon " Campaign

Activists Hang Banners Calling for an End to U.S. Military Aid to Israel

STILL AND MOVING IMAGES AVAILABLE

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Jews continued to honor the High Holidays this week by unfurling banners reading "U.S. Jews Say: Stop U.S. Military $ to Israel " and "U.S. Jews Stand Against Israel's War Crimes." Similar banners have adorned bridges over interstate highways throughout the city in honor of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the holiest days of the Jewish calendar.

The "10 Days of Jewish Solidarity with Palestine & Lebanon" campaign began on Rosh Hashanah, Friday, September 22. It continues through Yom Kippur on Monday, October 2. The campaign is coordinated with groups of Jewish activists in Boston, Detroit, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

"In this period of reflection and renewal, it becomes all the more urgent to separate a centuries-old complex and living tradition from a highly militarized and relatively new state," said a health care professional and participant in this week's actions.

During the high holidays, Jews traditionally reflect and atone for the individual and collective injustices each person has committed or allowed to happen. The national campaign calls on Jews of conscience to honor the High Holidays by taking action in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Lebanon. According to its mission statement, the campaign calls on Jewish communities to question the effect of the U.S. government's unconditional political and financial support of Israeli policy.

These protest actions come one month after Jewish groups in Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco hung banners, held a die-in, and committed civil disobedience in response to Israel's war in Lebanon and the unquestioned U.S. government support for it.

Since June, the actions of the Israeli military have resulted in the deaths of over 1,600 people in Lebanon and over 200 Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. This crisis in Gaza is only the latest chapter in the consistent displacement and dispossession of the Palestinian people from their homeland that has been an inherent part of Israeli state-building. Such violence is an affront to the historic Jewish commitment to justice, say campaign organizers.

"Many American Jews don't support Israel 's recent actions in Lebanon. There is no Jewish consensus on this issue," said a Philadelphia rabbinical student who recently returned from a month on the West Bank documenting human rights abuses against Palestinians.

Boston Images: 09-21-06

2006-09-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

Boston Jews Confront Combined Jewish Philanthropies Board with Message: In the New Year, Support Justice, Not War, In Palestine and Lebanon.

High Holidays Campaign Statement

2006-09-21T23:10:00.000-07:00

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
And when I am only for myself, what am I?
And if not now, then when?
— Rabbi Hillel

Campaign Statement
We call on Jews of conscience to honor the High Holidays by taking action in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Lebanon. At this time, our tradition asks us to reflect and atone for the individual and collective injustices we have committed or allowed to happen. We are mobilizing Jews across the U.S. to honor Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur through educational, spiritual and creative actions, that challenge the violence done in our name in Palestine and Lebanon.

We raise our collective voice to condemn the destructive policies and practices of the State of Israel. Specifically, as Jews living in the United States, we call on our communities to question the effect of our government’s unconditional political and financial support of Israeli policy. This uncritical support has enabled the continuing oppression of the Palestinian people and Israel’s historic and current military aggression in the region, including the recent war in Lebanon.

Since June, the actions of the Israeli military have resulted in the deaths of over 1600 people in Lebanon, and over 200 Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. In Gaza, Israel has continued to violate the well-being and self-determination of Palestinians by sealing Gaza’s borders and destroying civilian infrastructure, leaving over 1.4 million people with little access to water, electricity, food and medicine. This crisis in Gaza is only the latest chapter in the consistent displacement and dispossession of the Palestinian people from their homeland that has been an inherent part of Israeli state-building. This history is an affront to the historic Jewish commitment to justice and it must be examined and questioned.

Our silence about these injustices is a dishonoring of Yom Kippur – an ancient commitment to reflecting on and taking account of our individual and collective actions. Hope for a new year of reconciliation can only be found by taking responsibility for our actions, and working for justice in Palestine and an end to Israeli aggression Lebanon.

We invite Jews of conscience to join us in honoring our tradition of self-reflection in the New Year by taking creative action in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Lebanon. We celebrate the possibility of transformation made possible through our collective accountability.

National High Holidays Actions & Events

2006-09-20T23:56:00.000-07:00

READ THE FULL CAMPAIGN STATEMENT HERE.

New York | Seattle | Boston | Philadelphia | Bay Area

NEW YORK

JATO HIGH HOLIDAYS EVENT

Thursday, September 28, 2006 from 7:00PM to 9:00PM

Organized by: Jews Against the Occupation/NYC

Contact: jatonyc AT yahoo.com

Join Jews Against the Occupation to welcome the New Year. Enter into a space of personal and communal reflection as we discuss the year's events in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon and journey through the Days of Teshuva reasserting our commitments and renewing our drive for action. Let us come together to recount where we have been and envision new directions for future work to end the occupation. Snacks and schmooze to follow.

Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center

107 Suffolk Street between Rivington and Delancey Streets

(Subway Directions: F to Delancey St, or J,M,Z to Essex St)

Jews Against the Occupation is an organization of progressive, secular and religious Jews of all ages throughout the New York City area advocating peace through justice for Palestine and Israel.

SEATTLE

TASHLICH L'TZEDEK

Sunday, October 1st, 2006

Organized by: Jewish Voice for Peace, Seattle

Contact: info AT jvpseattle.org

The traditional Tashlich ritual of the Jewish New Year allows for reflection and accountability for our actions/inactions of the past year. We will create a community space where we can reaffirm our commitment to working for justice in the Middle East.

Jewish Voice for Peace is a national organization opposed to Israel's military aggression and occupation of Palestinian land. The Seattle chapter engages in ritual and political activity in support of self-determination of Palestinian and Israeli people.

BOSTON

TASHLICH

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Contact: JewsforJustice AT gmail.com

Where: Post Office Square (Intersection of Congress and Milk Streets)

Young Jewish people will gather to hold a Tashlich ceremony. At this high holidays' ceremony, they will throw bread crumbs into the fountain to symbolize the casting off of collective wrongdoings from the previous year.

CONFRONTING Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Contact: BostonJewsforJustice AT gmail.com

Young Boston Jewish activists will confront the Board of Directors of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) at their board meeting. Focusing on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, they will demand that CJP reflect upon their support for Israel's bombing campaign in Lebanon; occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem; and ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip. As is traditional for the high holidays, the group will be dressed in white and will sound the shofar (ram's horn) as a wake-up call to CJP about their role in the Middle East and the opinion of young Jewish Bostonians about this role.

DISTRIBUTING Pledge Cards to Support Palestine at Boston Area Synagogues

Saturday, September 23 and Monday October 2, 2006

The High Holidays are often a time when synagogues offer their members pledge cards for suggested donations to Israel. This year, in response, Boston Jews will meet High Holiday service attendees at each of the Boston-area synagogues on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with pledge cards suggesting commitments to support Palestine and Lebanon.

YOM KIPPUR COMMUNITY BREAK-FAST

Monday Evening, October 2, 2006
Contact: BostonJewsforJustice AT gmail.com

Activists and allies will join together for a break-fast dinner to signify the end of the 10 Day Solidarity period and the beginning of a New Year of commitment to justice for in Palestine and Lebanon.

PHILADELPHIA

Contact: PhillySolidarity AT gmail.com

Several events organized by Jews in Philadelphia will take place during the 10 Days of Solidarity. For more information about their High Holiday activities or future events, please contact the organizers at the above address.

BAY AREA

Please join Bay Area Jews of Conscience in honoring the high holidays and our commitment to challenging the violence done in our name by the State of Israel. We are a network of Jewish Palestine solidarity activists committed to making visible our opposition to the historic and most recent crimes against humanity committed by the state of Israel in Gaza, Palestine and Lebanon.

ROSH HASHANAH Synagogue FLYERING

Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2006

Organized by: Bay Area Jews of Conscience

Contact:: JewishConscienceBayArea AT gmail.com

Focusing on the theme of Jewish community accountability for the actions of the State of Israel, flyering will take place on the evening or morning of Rosh Hashanah at the services of selected progressive Bay Area congregations.

WOMEN IN BLACK TASHLICH

Sunday, September 24, 2006 at 3PM.

Organized by: Bay Area Jews of Conscience

Contact: JewishConscienceBayArea AT gmail.com

Bay Area Jews will participate in the Bay Area Women in Black Tashlich ceremony at the Emeryville Marina.

YOM KIPPUR BREAK-FAST Cultural/Political/Religious Event

SUnday Evening, October 2, 2006

Organized by: Bay Area Jews of Conscience

Contact: JewishConscienceBayArea AT gmail.com

Bay Area Jews will participate in a joint Jewish and Muslim Yom Kippur/Ramadan solidarity Break the Fast fundraiser and potluck dinner. They will raise funds for humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza and Lebanon, asking for admission donations on a sliding scale.

The event will feature Muslim and Jewish ritual, spoken word, dancing, and music. Location to be announced.

SF Die-In VIDEO: 8-22-06

2006-08-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

Click Here to Watch the Die-In Directly on YouTube

NYC Die-In VIDEO: 8-22-06

2006-08-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

Click Here to Watch the Die-In Directly on YouTube

Philly Banner Drop Images: 8-22-2006

2006-08-22T22:31:00.000-07:00

SF Lockdown Images: 8-22-2006

2006-08-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

Photo by Lisa Nessan http://freckle.blogs.com

NYC Die-In Images: 08-22-06

2006-08-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

more photos

Press Clips: 8-22-2006

2006-08-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Press Clips and Links...more to come!

Ora Wise (NYC) and Adam Horowitz(Philly) on Wake Up Call (Download here)

Ora Wise (NYC) on WBAI Evening News (Download here)

JTA on NYC and San Francisco.

KTVU on San Francisco.

Gawker on NYC.

The Gothamist on NYC.

The Gaelic Starover on NYC.

Pass the Roti on NYC.

Jewschool on New York and San Francisco

Norman Finkelstein on San Francisco

KABOBfest on San Francisco.

Information Clearinhouse on San Francisco.

Reclaiming Space on Philadelphia.

Angry White Kid

OneWorld.net

Boston Die-In Press Clips: 08-01-06

2006-08-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

NYC Die-In Press Release: 08-22-06

2006-08-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release – August 22, 2006

New York Jews Stage PENN STATION “DIE-IN”

Say to Israel and U.S.: The War Didn’t Work, Honor the Cease-Fire!

Destroying Lebanese and Palestinian societies is a crime, not a security policy

New York City - A group of more than 20X Jewish protestors staged a “Die-In” during rush hour this morning outside Penn Station, unfurling large banners and lying down on the ground to demand a cessation of continuing Israeli military aggression in Lebanon and Palestine. In a peaceful demonstration, silent protestors created a harrowing scene reflecting the large civilian death toll in Lebanon and the aftermath of war. Coordinating with the group in New York, Jews in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Francisco staged similar events throughout the morning.

Participants expressed outrage at what they believe is a failed and immoral Israeli policy backed by the U.S. in Lebanon and Palestine. The burden of Israel’s U.S.-funded Israeli military action has fallen overwhelmingly on civilians and civil society, with over 1,000 Lebanese and 175 Palestinians killed since June 28 and over $3.5 billion worth of damage to Lebanese infrastructure. Protestors claimed Bush’s pledge yesterday of $350 million in aid falls dramatically short of a serious contribution to reconstruction, and does not excuse the rush to war supported by the Administration and Congress, including New York representatives.

The group included those with strong family ties to Israel, long-time American civil rights activists, and those speaking out against Israeli military action for the first time.

Mario Yedidia, a Die-In participant with
family spread across Jerusalem, Tel Aviv,
and Haifa said, “killing civilians, attacking
government institutions and destroying the
 infrastructure of modern society is an
immoral course of action that will ensure
 security for no one. Israel is unsuccessfully
challenging a simple truth: no one is secure
while others live in terror.”

With a recent raid by Israel inside Lebanon
 this weekend, and hundreds of cluster
bombs scattered in civilian areas, it has
 become clear that Israel is not abiding
by the cease-fire.

“The current ceasefire exists in words
only,” insisted Rebecca Steinfeld, a
Die-In participant and native New Yorker
also with Israeli family in Israel. “The
 people of Southern Lebanon still suffer
 daily Israeli violence, and the Palestinian
people are in their 39^th year of living under
 Israeli occupation in the West Bank and
Gaza.”

“If 5000 Israelis can demonstrate against Israel’s policies, so should I," said long-time civil rights activist Dorothy Zellner, age 68. “There are hundreds of thousands of silent Jews who believe in justice and oppose Israeli policies and it's time we stood up and spoke out."

The day of coordinated actions across the country has been organized by a wide spectrum of American Jews committed to peace and justice in Palestine, Israel and the entire region.

Flyers: 8-22-2006

2006-08-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

New York City

San Francisco