Published December 31, 2008 @ 08:45AM PST
The progressive Jewish community (as it relates to Israel) is made up of a handful of pressure groups that actually do political work: J Street, Americans for Peace Now, the Israeli Policy Forum, and Brit Tzedek. They all follow the same basic line: A two state solution is good for Israel, and the American Jewish community should reject AIPAC's rightward tilt in favor of a US policy that pressures Israel more publicly and forcefully to make peace.
Over the past weeks, all of these groups came out with nearly identical "online actions" aimed at influencing the next Administration. All of them have come out in favor of US pressure to force Israel to halt it's assault. This is pretty good, in light of the fact that the Zionist parties they are most closely linked to - Labor and Meretz - have come out in favor of the assault. Labor's Ehud Barak is Defense Minister, and as such he is actually leading the Israeli war effort.
The similarities don't end there. None of these groups has seen fit to cooperate closely with the others to forge a united platform to address the current crisis. None of the list building exercises they are engaged in constitute actual pressure on anyone; in large part, they are collecting email addresses of people who are already on some other groups email list. Since the groups aren't cooperating closely or sharing data, we have no idea if the collective list size of these groups is stagnant, declining or rising.
We also observe that none of them appear to be calling for local, on the ground activities related to grassroots organizing against the war. Across America, rabbis are preaching solidarity with Israel 'at it's hour of need.' A very small number will preach that what Israel needs most of all is pressure from the United States to make peace, end the occupation, dismantle settlements, end the siege of Gaza, negotiate with Hamas, free Palestinian prisoners, divide Jerusalem, and accept a limited number of Palestinian refugees. [That's what peace looks like, and these folks know it.]
This is a list of all the remotely useful activities that progressive Jewish organizations should already have done:
- Create a downloadable flyer with arguments against the current violence, or at least asking Jews to publicly demand an immediate ceasefire and break with Israeli PR talking points.
- Ask supporters to call the Israeli consulates expressing outrage at the death and destruction rained down on Gaza, and speaking as American Jews who support Israel.
- Conduct a united, nationwide effort to hold gatherings where supporters of peace can find each other, hear expert analysis from respected community leaders, and brainstorm about the best ways of mobilizing progressive Jews at this time.
- Call for a demonstration in New York or Washington D.C. that will condemn the invasion while refusing to accept support from enemies of Israel. The current wave of demonstrations will not attract 'respectable' progressive Jews, so let's have one of our own. Can't we find a minyan in either of those cities willing to brave the cold for an hour? Will it have to be grassroots activists like myself putting out the call, while you dither about the language of your next press release? Must we give the Israel-haters the entire public stage?
- Engage in online activism that can make a difference: ask supporters to send emails to Israeli consulates, leaders of the Reform and Conservative denominations, and the Conference of Presidents.
- Write an open letter to the progressive Jewish foundation community criticizing them for being stingy with peace organizing in the Jewish community, pressuring progressive Jewish groups to stay out of foreign policy, and creating an artificial division between "progressive Jewish" and "progressive Jewish on Israel."
- Ask your rabbinic cabinets and board members to write articles and statements right away making their positions widely known. Now, not after the scale of the tragedy makes is easier.
- Have supporters write letters to the editor aimed at the Jewish press expressing dismay at the violence.
- Ask your leaders to contact the columnists and editors they know, and get them to generate stories about American Jewish opposition.
- Highlight your relationships with Palestinian, Arab and Muslim voices in the United States that are outraged, but still want to develop positive relationships with progressive Jews.
- Pay for a blog ad campaign that appears on progressive Jewish websites like Jewschool or Jewcy, as well as DailyKos and Haaretz.com. Send out an alert raising money for Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, to address urgent needs.
Are you listening?! More can be done, even with the limited resources at your disposal. Your silence when the Lebanon war began in 2006 stands as an indictment you have yet to overcome. You all KNOW that this round of violence is counter-productive, should end as soon as possible, and is related to in part to pre-election posturing. Say so! Loudly! And do it in statements that are short, unified, and aimed at influencing American public opinion outside the Jewish community.
To quote Thomas Paine: "Lead, follow, or get out of the way."
PS: I write this as a lover, not a hater. If reps from any of these groups wants to reply here, shoot me an email.
Why would you try and stop the fight against terror? Does anyone have a better way to stop the rockets falling daily for the last three years on Israel, then please tell the IDF, I am sure they are interested, no one wants to harm innocents. So before you go out and demonstrate against the war on terror, please find a solution to the rockets falling on women and children in Sderot, Ashdod and Bersheva, and tell Livni and Barack they would love to use a less violent solution.
Posted by Michael Ross on 12/31/2008 @ 09:54AM PST
The Rainbow Bridgeto Peace On Earth
A New Message for World Peace
The phrase "To All My Relations" is an English translation of a Lakota Sioux prayer of oneness and harmony with all forms of life: other people, animals, birds, insects, trees and plants, and even rocks. It reminds us that we are connected to these other aspects of Creation, that we share a common kinship in the Hoop of Life. It is an acknowledgement of love, respect, humility, and gratitude for everything in the Universe.
Every action we take in the Universe is connected with everything that exists, from the smallest creature to the farthest star. Quantum physicists have been investigating this mystery for years. Gregg Braden has written about this web of energy in his book The Divine Matrix.
During our travels, we were fortunate enough to happen across a gathering of Peacemakers in Spring City, Utah. There, on the evening of November 17, 2008, beneath a gigantic horseshoe formation of stone in the mountain, the Rainbow Bridge Ceremony, also known as the Last Ghost Dance, or more appropriately the Last Dance of Friendship and Welcome, began on November 17, 2008 at the Wind Walker Ranch and ended at dawn on November 18, 2008. By any other name the prayer (or heart song, intention, meditation, invocation, or wish - it's all good!) that follows is a new message for world peace. It lets departed loved ones know where they can go to find a Stairway to Heaven...whatever version or understanding of Heaven an individual's particular spirituality celebrates. It can be spoken at any cemetery, memorial, for any loved one, or any place with a troubled history in need of healing to let "stuck" spirits and souls know where to move to the Light of Heaven if they so choose.
Following are English language versions of the Peace Prayer interpreted in the most common spiritual understandings. Choose the one that resonates with you.
~~~~~~~
This spiritual gateway to Heaven is known in Norse Mythology and by some Native American groups as the Rainbow Bridge:
To All My Relations,
The Rainbow Bridge Is Open
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
The prayer as understood in ancient Sanskrit and Hinduism reads as follows:
To All My Relations,
The Antahkarana has been completed
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
In the language of the world's oldest spiritual practice, Shamanism, as well as several others, the prayer reads:
To All My Relations,
The Axis Mundi has been completed
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
In the Hebrew Bible, as well as Christian, Mormon, Kabbalistic, and some Islamic traditions, the Rainbow Bridge is known as the Tower of Babel. It is not a physical tower, as is commonly envisioned, but a spiritual gateway for anyone to ascend into Heaven should they so choose.
To All My Relations,
The Tower of Babel has been completed
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
In Islam, this is known as the completion of the House of Peace:
To All My Relations,
The House of Peace has been built
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
In terms of the Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime, it is called the Rainbow Serpent:
To All My Relations,
The Rainbow Serpent has returned
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
In terms of numerology, the message reads:
To All My Relations,
The Rebirth began
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
In common Buddhist terms, the message reads:
To All My Relations,
The Buddhist Stupa Has Been Built
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
In terms of Tibetan Buddhist beliefs, the message can also read:
To All My Relations,
The path to Shangri La can be found
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
The Essenes, a Jewish religious group which share mystic, eschatological, messianic, and ascetic beliefs, would know the message as:
To All My Relations,
Oneness with God has returned
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
Expressed one way in Rastafarian beliefs, the message would read:
To All My Relations,
The way to Rainbow Country is
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~
The word "Babel" in the Torah roughly translates as "confusion," as the original Tower of Babel was a monument to the notion that humankind could somehow be equal to the Creator, rather than honor the Creator by living with Love and Harmony from the heart. In the Hebrew Bible, as well as Christian, Mormon, This spiritual tower represents reversal of the scattering of the races across the Earth, and the confusion of many languages, which slowed down the spiritual growth of people everywhere. The word "Babel" in Hebrew has a reversed spelling, which in the English language is pronounced "Levav," meaning "Heart." Reflecting this reversal, the prayer would read:
To All My Relations,
The Tower of Levav has been completed
In Spring City, Utah
At The Wind Walker Ranch!!!
~~~~~~~A note on life's lessons: sometimes a number is just a number, a bird is just a bird, the flu is just the flu, and a coincidence is just a coincidence. Yet sometimes in your life you may experience synchronicities, which are patterns, feelings or connections to numbers, animals, or other things you are drawn to. Pay attention, as this may be the Universe speaking to you, and trying to teach you a lesson.
Nearly all spiritualities contain a promise of Life, Death, and Rebirth. Each are different paths to Heaven, though often the message has been confused with the messenger. As the Bahai believe, there are no incarnations of God on Earth, there have merely been prophets. Everyone is free to believe in whatever path they choose: free will does indeed exist in the universe.
~Love Always~
Posted by Mark 4:20 on 12/31/2008 @ 10:50AM PST
I'm amazed that Charles Lenchner, given his background, apparently has never heard of Jewish Voice For Peace, the existence (and prominence) of which is the answer to his question: www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
Posted by David Gaines on 12/31/2008 @ 11:34AM PST
Posted by David Harris
Israel's military operation against Hamas targets in Gaza should have come as no surprise. The handwriting was on the wall. No more than any other country, Israel could not tolerate a terrorist regime on its border that was launching repeated rocket and mortar attacks - 200 in the last week alone - against Israeli towns and villages. Some context is needed. Israel, which entered Gaza in 1967 after a successful war of self-defense, left the region unilaterally in 2005. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faced down strong domestic opposition, indeed active resistance, to remove Israeli troops and civilians. He announced that Israel had no claims on Gaza and wished to see it become part of a peaceful Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. This was the first chance in Gaza's history for its residents to govern their own affairs - something too many of Israel's detractors conveniently forget. Immediately prior to Israel's presence, Gaza had been under Egyptian military rule for two decades, during which there was never, not for a moment, discussion of independence. But things rapidly spiraled downward after Israel left. Local elections in 2006 led to a coalition of Palestinian Authority and Hamas leaders, followed by a bloody Hamas coup d'état the following year. The PA was ignominiously expelled from Gaza, seeking refuge in the West Bank. The choice of Hamas to govern led to international isolation. Hamas is defined as a terrorist group by both the United States and European Union. The international community set forth three basic conditions to engage Hamas - recognition of Israel's right to exist, an end to violence, and willingness to abide by previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements To date, predictably, Hamas has not fulfilled any of the conditions. After all, its charter calls repeatedly for the elimination of Israel and, citing the infamous Protocols of the Elders of the Zion, spews hatred of Jews wherever they might live. Thus, since gaining control of Gaza, Hamas has focused not on building Palestinian society, but rather on seeking to destroy Israeli society. With substantial help from Iran and a labyrinthine smuggling network across the Gaza-Egypt border, Hamas has turned Gaza into a veritable armed camp and munitions factory. The result has been that Israeli towns near the border have been targeted, in recent years, by literally thousands of rocket and mortar attacks. As the range of the rockets has grown, so, too, has the arc of vulnerable Israeli population centers. In truth, Israel's policy options have been limited. Negotiating with Hamas is impossible, unless Israel is prepared to discuss the terms of its own capitulation. Seeking a ceasefire or lull, as occurred earlier this year, buys quiet, yes, but isn't cost-free. Hamas used the break to enhance its weapons capabilities, train its fighters, and reinforce its command-and-control infrastructure, modeled on Hizbullah's example in Lebanon. Hamas has counted on its ability to attack Israel at will, while relying on Israeli restraint. The terrorist group calculated that Israel no longer had the will to fight and risk military casualties in teeming Gaza. It also doubtless assumed that Israel would be held back by fear of negative publicity, since Hamas has, as standard operating procedure, skillfully exploited the media to focus on Palestinian civilian casualties, real or contrived, that inevitably lead to diplomatic and editorial condemnation. This time, Hamas erred. It misread Israel. It opted to believe its own propaganda about an Israel fearful of striking, trembling at the prospect of a sustained barrage of Hamas missiles aimed at southern Israel, or worried about an exit strategy once it entered Gaza. Until Saturday, Israel showed remarkable restraint, which Hamas read as weakness. But Israel has an obligation to defend its borders and its citizens. Clearly, as has been on display, it has the military and intelligence capability to do so. And, no less, despite upcoming elections, it has the collective political will. All these elements have been impressively demonstrated in the current military operation. As soon as Israel struck, some in the international community predictably returned to formulaic stances. Most Arab leaders, not to mention the "Arab street," condemned Israel, but what else is new? Egyptian and Palestinian Authority leaders, the exceptions, noted that Hamas brought this upon itself. In truth, there are others as well who couldn't be more pleased that Israel is dealing a blow to Hamas and its Iranian paymaster. The European Union referred to Israel's "disproportionate" use of force, but what exactly is "proportionate" in a situation where Hamas-led Gaza, part of the jihadist network, seeks a permanent state of conflict with democratic Israel? The UN leadership called for an immediate end to the violence, as if that will in and of itself magically persuade Hamas to rethink its reason for being. And that rather bizarre coalition of extreme left-wingers and radical Islamists - who, at the end of the day, have about as much in common as North Korea and North Dakota - resurfaced on the streets of London and other cities to burn American and Israeli flags. Let's be clear. It is in Israel's vital interests to have a peaceful and prosperous Gaza on its border. This point needs to be hammered home again and again. Instead, it is faced with Hamastan, a terrorist enclave. What Israel is doing now is exactly what any other nation would do under similar circumstances. In fact, Israel has probably held back longer than many other nations, including the United States, would have done, and, judging from modern history, is exercising more care to avoid civilian casualties than many other armies, though that's particularly tough when the enemy callously uses civilians as human shields. Some argue that there is no military solution to Gaza. Quite true. In the long term, Gaza's residents need to decide if they want a potentially bright future without Hamas or an assuredly bleak future with it. But in the short term, Israel must convey the clear and unmistakable message that it will defend itself. And that, to its credit, is exactly what it is doing right now.
Posted by Michael Ross on 12/31/2008 @ 11:59AM PST
Why would Israel choose not to defend herself against terrorists? Being a member of the progressive Jewish community doesn't mean ignoring regular terrorist attacks.
Posted by Marc Steinberg on 12/31/2008 @ 12:18PM PST
Why wouldn't any progressive person oppose Hamas' relentless attack on civilians by firing over 4,000 rockets at Israeli cities these last seven years? I'm curious, did this poster speak out against that? Also, it's an interesting selection of pictures for this post. Notice the sign saying, "Free Palestine from the River to the Sea." Everybody knows that this is code for, "Wipe Israel off the map and kill all the Jews." Who's the progressive, now?
Posted by Earl Bills on 12/31/2008 @ 12:46PM PST
American citizens, whether they voted for the Bush or against him are guilty of the war crimes committed by his administration unless and until the guilty are held accountable. The same is to be said of the terrorist hawks that are governing Israel. There are no crimes more heinous than those being committed by our respective governments
Posted by Robert Castle on 12/31/2008 @ 01:16PM PST
The only thing that will change Israeli policies is, of course, meaningful pressure from the U.S. Such pressure will only happen, of course, when U.S. leaders perceive that a critical mass of American Jews understands that supporting Israel means getting Israel to make peace, dismantle settlements, agree that Jerusalem will be the capital of a Palestinian state as well as of Israel, etc.
I do not fault progressive Jewish organizations for not yet bringing about such change in American Jewish public opinion. I fault people like myself who have quietly decried Israel's actions to friends (at least as far back as 1982), but not wanted to "air our dirty laundry." This silence has not only been a form of complicity in many of Israel's indefensible policies but it has also done a terrible disservice to Israel and to Israel's relations with younger American Jews. It is time for progressive American Jews to come out of the closet and say MASPEEK! We need to write letters to the editor of our local newspapers, be willing to speak out within our shuls and put as much energy into supporting progressive voices and causes within Israel and in the American Jewish world as we have put into other progressive causes in the U.S.
I think the failure of progressive Jews in America to organize sufficiently to sway opinion of other American Jews is one of the most tragic political failures in America during the past twenty years.
Jeff Bercuvitz
Posted by Jeff Bercuvitz on 12/31/2008 @ 01:47PM PST
Thanks for the article..
--
Salaam. nadia
http://www.nadiasindi.110mb.com
http://nadiasindi.blogspot.com/
http://www.studentloanjustice.Org
"As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression.
In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains
seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all
must be most aware of change in the air - however slight -
lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness."
-- William O Douglas
“The ink of the scholar is holier more than the blood of the martyr"- Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
Posted by Nadia Sindi on 12/31/2008 @ 01:52PM PST
Jeff, nothing wrong with Israeli politics, look to the Palestinians for the problem, they are the ones supporting terror, Israel is acting in self defense, you can't hold it against Israel that it is strong.
Progressive, Shomgressive, all labels, we all want peace, except Hamas, Hizbellah and Iran, we just disagree on the methods to reach it, its unrealistic to negotiate with your executor, what will you discuss, murder by bomb or by suicide bomber?
Terrorists have to be exterminated, pure and simple. We tried Oslo, we tried leaving Gaza and what did we get, more terror, so now what's left? Exactly, eliminate the bastards.
Posted by Michael Ross on 12/31/2008 @ 02:16PM PST
MIchaelyou kicked them from their homes and they have no right for resisting the occupation in what logic you are thinking?
Posted by Mohammed Hossam on 12/31/2008 @ 04:44PM PST
Mohammed, If they had not supported the suicide bombers and other terrorists, they would still have a home. The Palestinians were offered peace numerous times, and each time the offer was rejected.
Posted by Michael Ross on 12/31/2008 @ 05:01PM PST