via Adam Keller, with Gush Shalom,
Rabbis for Human Rights, Dani Brodsky
[ Editor’s Note: This came via Gush Shalom, the organization that has stood for Palestinian Justice unrelentingly for decades. With Uri Avnery gone, God rest his soul, Adam Keller is at the helm of what publishing we are getting on their activities.
The last time these activists went out to help the West Bank Palestinians, the settlers attacked and beat the crap out of them, with the police and army just watching as usual.
The semi worthless UN doesn’t even bother to monitor any of this anymore, finding it easier to just look away. Actually, that is what most of the world does, not realizing that when you let the bad guys do what they do with no consequences, they just get more aggressive.
As for Rabbis for Human Rights, I had never heard of them before, so they must be doing something good. VT readers know how that works. Our allegedly free press seems to never see certain kinds of activities that might piss off people they do not want to piss off.
Here is what I was able to quickly find on them. Surprise, surprise, they are just a hundred people, men and women, righteous Jews, people who would be great neighbors to have.
We have to keep an eye out for people or groups like this all the time, as mass media never seems to know anything about them. We live in a world where good examples are hidden.
I changed my usual format below. I have the Rabbis for Human Rights background next, with the protest material below it. It’s cold on the West Bank now. These people are troopers.
When the Israeli cops and soldiers go home after this event, they will all know who is the better among them, and that is always a victory, even if they would never admit it… Jim W. Dean ]
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First published … February 4, 2022
“Happy are those who act justly, who do right at all times.” (Psalm 106.3)
Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) is an Israeli organization, active in three main areas – work within and about the Occupied Territories; work to promote social and economic justice within Israel; and activities in the fields of education and interreligious dialogue.
RHR was founded in 1988 in response to contraventions of human rights taking place in the Occupied Territories. Since its inception, its activities have expanded to include
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To articulate a vision of justice rooted in Jewish tradition, in the spirit of the Rabbinical teaching that all persons are created in God’s image
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To act in order to prevent violations of human rights taking place within Israel and in the Occupied Territories
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To further a vision of Judaism sanctifying life, justice and equality and to increase awareness of this vision within Israeli society
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To further these values on the basis of constant engagement with Jewish tradition
We are guided by the richness of Jewish tradition, and by the call to advance the dignity and protect the rights of all individuals which we find at its heart. This reading of Judaism informs our activities in a variety of fields.
It emboldens us to try wherever possible to influence government policy, to hold the State of Israel to live up to its vision and its responsibility: to defend the weak and the downtrodden in society regardless of race, religion, affiliation or orientation. We strive to live in an Israel true to the call of the prophets of old, and the spirit of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
Approximately one hundred men and women are currently members of our organization. They are rabbis, cantors, seminary students and others occupying positions of religious leadership. Several hundred volunteers from throughout Israeli society and beyond Israel’s borders are active in RHR.
RHR is not affiliated with a political party. When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we do not promote one approach over another, but we do insist that whatever policy prevails is consistent with principles of human rights, dignity and justice.
Our members are affiliated with different streams within the Jewish world – Orthodox. Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal, and Humanist. A number of our members serve in communal positions as rabbis and educators and on other capacities, and are active in effecting significant change in Israel.
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Tomorrow, Fri. Feb 4, we are heading to Burin, to go tree planting activity in
support of Palestinian farmers and to take a stand against Jewish terror and
settler violence. This email contains all the information needed to make Friday
safe and effective, so please read it carefully.
What to expect
We plan to arrive in Burin at 9 a.m. and leave Burin at 12:30 p.m.
In the previous activity in Burin, volunteers experienced severe violence from
settlers. Most activities take place safely without any violence or danger, but
there is always a risk of violence during activities in the Occupied Territory.
and the army, and we always recommend not going anywhere alone. The commitment of so many people to stand side by side in the face of settler violence is our strength and shield. The activity will be led by very experienced activists who are committed to maintaining your safety.
request of the residents of Burin and due to the fear that after the volunteers
leave, the settlers will use violence in retaliation against the Palestinian
residents of Burin, without anyone protecting them or standing by them. The
focus will be on completing the tree planting and making a clear and determined statement against the ongoing violence.
umbrellas! For those interested, on Wednesday evening, at 20:00, there will be a preparatory Zoom for the activity (in Hebrew). In the Zoom we will talk briefly about what the activity will look like, we will share some safety tips, and we will open the stage for you to share thoughts, concerns, ask questions, etc.
North: a bus leaves Maalot (in front of the Bella Mia restaurant) at 5:50, the
old central station in Carmiel at 6:15, Alonim (first bus stop before the
square) at 6:50. and Yokneam (bus stop in front of Mall G) at 7 p.m.
South: A bus leaves Be`er Sheva (parking lot in the Teachers` Center) at 6:45.
Rosh HaAyin: A bus leaves from the Rosh HaAyin train station at 8 p.m.
If you would like to arrive by car, you are welcome to join the WhatsApp group
for rides: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E6fe3bcabItEzxYoEgF7Fc
Indicate there whether you will arrive by car or need a ride.
COVID precautions
Due to the risk of COVID infection, we recommend arriving by car. During the
entire bus ride, it is mandatory to wear a mask. If you do not feel well, please
stay at home. If you can do a COVID test before going to Burin, it will help
reduce the chances of infection.
What to bring
-Water (3 liters) and food (snacks and lunch)
-Hat, sunscreen, long work clothes suitable for rain and a raincoat, closed
shoes, and an umbrella
– ID (or passport)
-Work gloves (optional)
-Tools: garden hoe, pickaxe, and/or shovel (optional)
Please reply to this email address whether you are
coming and how (by bus or car) and if by bus, which one (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv,
etc.).
If you have any questions, I am at 052-2847-685. Thank you and see you on Friday!
Dani Brodsky, Director of the OPT Department, Rabbis for Human Rights, 052-2847-685
Jim W. Dean is VT Editor Emeritus. He was an active editor on VT from 2010-2022. He was involved in operations, development, and writing, plus an active schedule of TV and radio interviews. He now writes and posts periodically for VT.
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