Rabbis For Ceasefire Statement And Video
These snatches of Prophetic Vision sometimes agree and sometimes disagree with each other. For not even prophetic vision can adequately express the Infinite ways to seek deep healing and justice inherent in the Breath of life. For instance, among people who accept the duty to protect innocent lives of both Israelis and Palestinians, some affirm an immediate cease-fire of all parties as the best or only way to achieve that result, and others counsel a “humanitarian pause“ as the best or only way to that end. We think both views may have elements of Truth. On the other hand, while we understand the all-too-human response of some people in all communities to respond to grievous wrongs with vengeful willingness to kill, maim, imprison, or otherwise damage innocent members of another people, we think that impulse is not rooted in the Justice and Healing affirmed by the Breath of life and cannot be treated as prophetic vision.
Rabbis for Ceasefire Statement and Video
About ten days ago, on Friday, October 27, a group of approximately 80 rabbis and rabbinical students released the video and statement below, calling for ceasefire. The number of sigantories now stands at over 150.
Watch the video and read the statement below.
You can also visit the original webpage for the Rabbis for Ceasefire initiative, where you can view the full list of signers.
If you are a rabbi or rabbinical student and would like to add your name to the statement, here is a direct link to the sign-on form.
STATEMENT
We are Rabbis and Rabbinical students and at this moment of great moral reckoning, we are speaking out with one voice.
Those of us grieving both Israeli and Palestinian loved ones this week know there is no military solution to our horror.
We know that many Jews in our communities are feeling confused, afraid, and despairing over the events that began on October 7th.
Together with Jews in Israel, we are in deep grief over the 1400 Israelis who were brutally killed by Hamas.
We are terrified for the over 200 Israeli hostages - adults, children and infants - who remain in captivity.
However, the U.S. and Israeli governments are using our grief to justify genocidal violence directed against the people of Gaza.
As we speak, over 6000 Palestinains have been killed,including 2,400 children
According to Defense for Children International, the Israeli military is killing one child in Gaza every 15 minutes.
Scores of people are still buried in the rubble with no one able to rescue them.
Israel has cut off all access to electricity, water and medicine - and now Gaza is on the verge of running out of fuel. Threatening the lives of 2.2 million people.
In the face of this terrifying, violence, we say no!
We uplift the Torah value of v’chai bahem– live by Torah. Torah should be a source of life, not death.
As Jews, as Rabbis, as human beings we are pleading with our communities to rise through our despair and our grief to save lives.
As Americans, we call upon our leaders to stop supporting and enabling this nightmare
We call upon all Americans to call their representatives and demand that they act immediately
Our tradition is an Eytz Hayim - a tree of life. Life, not death, are its fruits.
We ask you to join our calls for a complete ceasefire now.
Ceasefire means no more bombing
Ceasefire means no ground war
Ceasefire means all Israeli hostages must be released now.
Ceasefire means immediate engagement by the international community toward a just and lasting peace in Israel-Palestine.
Ceasefire is the only way to prevent more death and destruction.
All human beings are made b’tzelem Elohim - in the image of the Divine. All human life is sacred and precious.
Too many precious lives are being killed.
The voice of the Jewish people, now more than ever, must be clear and united:
Never Again is Now.
Never again for anyone.
Not in our names.
Ceasefire now!