Filed under: Israel
I’ll cut to the quick. Last month I returned from an incredible 2-week adventure. I traveled with Rabbis for Human Rights-North America (RHR-NA) through the West Bank and Israel seeing their works and the works of other Israeli Human Rights groups. Last year I had given up my work for an Israeli-Palestinian peace out of frustration, disappointment and anger. My despair was so deep that I had moved away from Judaism and my community. I was ready to sever the tie.
I saw ‘Rabbis for Human Rights’ choosing to look directly at the abuses of human rights in Israel and the West Back. Choosing to look and choosing to speak out! And choosing to work to repair the broken world!! I met many people who chose to say loudly what they knew in their hearts. I met many people willing to put their lives and livelihoods on the line.
I have been inspired by Rabbis for Human Rights. My commitment has been rekindled. What right do I have to sit in the comfort and safety of my home in Austin and whine? Over the last few years it has become crystal clear to me that in order to save Israel as the Jewish, democratic state that we love we need to end the occupation and create a just and viable two state solution. I will return home and renew that work.
Please go to the website of Rabbis for Human Rights- North America www.hr-na.org and click on the Israel Trip tab to read all about our trip. And if you to are inspired please make a donation. I believe that they are working to save Israel and to save Judaism.
Below are some of my thoughts about our trip. They are random and often skip the background one might need to understand. They are largely unedited. They are long. If they arrived in my in box no matter how much I cared I wouldn’t find time to read them.
So; above is the pitch, below are some of my thoughts and on the website you’ll find the best description of this amazing trip and the opportunity to donate to Rabbis For Human Rights North America.
11-09-2008; ON THE PLANE TO ISRAEL
I turned 60 this year and so did Israel. Emily, Sam and I had planned to celebrate both birthdays this past summer in Israel visiting with Ben. (He’s studying at Hebrew University) Those plans didn’t materialize for many reasons. Emily did get to go and had a wonderful visit with Ben and his friends in Jerusalem. Sam visited last winter.
Now it’s my turn. I’m writing this on the flight to Tel Aviv. I will be joining Rabbis for Human Rights – North America on a ten-day mission to Israel and the West Bank. The mission is part of RHR-NA yearlong Pursuit of Justice Campaign marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel and the 20th anniversary of the founding of Rabbis for Human Rights. We will be visiting with the leaders and members of Rabbis for Human Rights and other Israeli human rights groups like Betzelem, the Israeli Human Rights organizations; Machsom Watch, women who witness the treatment of Palestinians at checkpoints, Shovrim Shtika, soldiers who break the silence about human rights abuses, and many others.
This will be my fifth visit. The first was in 1969 when I did my junior year in Jerusalem at the Hebrew University. I lived for a half a year in an Arab village on the West Bank and half the time in Jewish West Jerusalem. That shaped me in many ways. More on that later. The second time was with Emily on our honeymoon in 1984. The third was for a celebration of my Dad’s 80th birthday in 2005. And the 4th was with Ben, Sam and Emily in 2006.
This visit has two purposes. The first is to celebrate our 60th birthdays. (Mine and Israel’s) and second to explore the bond I have with Israel and to examine the bond I have with Judaism and Jews.
I began working for peace between Israel and Palestine almost a decade ago. For five years early in this decade I worked actively with as small group of concerned Jews trying to explain to the Austin Jewish community what we believed the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank was doing to the Israelis, the Palestinians and to Judaism. Over the past few years I have become disheartened. With each new counterproductive action or statement by the Palestinians, or Israelis, or the American Jewish community or by the Bush administration I have become more disillusioned. As the silence from the Jewish community becomes louder and louder my alienation deepens and my faith lessens.
This trip is as much serendipity as planned. Other commitments over the summer caused us to drop plans for a family visit then an e-mail announcement of this trip from Rabbis for Human Rights put the idea in my head. Emily, lovingly, gently nudged me onto the plane. And here I am a few hours from Tel Aviv wondering; Will I learn anything new? Will my spiritual connection to Israel and Jerusalem be strengthened or will it be severed? (more…)
