In response to the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, my dear friend and colleague Rabbi Brian Walt and I have organized a new initiative, Ta’anit Tzedek – Jewish Fast for Gaza.
See below for the press release about the project, which is already attracting increasing numbers of supporters, including many rabbis. Click the link above to [...]
Archive for the ‘Israel’ Category
Jewish Fast for Gaza
Posted in Gaza, Human Rights, International Aid, International Health, Israel, Judaism, Palestine, War on July 10, 2009 | 9 Comments »
Rescue the Spirit of Humanity
Posted in Gaza, Global Activism, Global Health, Human Rights, International Aid, Israel, Palestine on July 1, 2009 | 3 Comments »
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has grown beyond intolerable. If you have any doubts, just read this devastatingly important article by Sara Roy, senior research scholar at Harvard’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies:
Today, 96 percent of Gaza’s population of 1.4 million is dependent on humanitarian aid for basic needs. According to the World Food Programme, [...]
Banksy and the Art of Protest
Posted in Art, Great Britain, Israel, Palestine on June 30, 2009 | 2 Comments »
I just read that the famed anonymous British graffiti artist Banksy is mounting his largest project to date: an unusual showcasing of his work at England’s Bristol Museum. Although this particular project was legit, it still bears the hallmarks of Banksy’s trademark guerrilla approach:
He filled three stories of the building with [...]
I Can’t Dance Any More
Posted in Gaza, Human Rights, Israel, Movies, Nonviolence, Palestine, Politics on June 26, 2009 | 3 Comments »
I know there are those who wonder why, with all of the various injustices going on in the world, do I seem to dwell on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians? It’s a fair and important question. For me it boils down to this: I’ve come to believe that too many of us in the Jewish community [...]
The Ottomans: Gone But Not Forgotten
Posted in Art, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Palestine on June 22, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Read an interesting article in the NY Times Saturday about the new $200 million museum opening in Athens. Apparently there is now hope in Greece that it will become the permanent home for the Parthenon Marbles – an ancient frieze from the Parthenon that was taken by the British in the early 19th century.
Toward [...]
Bibi’s History Tutorial
Posted in Israel, Palestine, Peace, Politics, Politics/Middle East, Refugees, Zionism on June 15, 2009 | 5 Comments »
I’m in agreement with the pundits who conclude that there was absolutely nothing new for consideration offered in Netanyahu’s speech. Perhaps he achieved a personal milestone by finally uttering the words “Palestinian state” but beyond this it was a tune we’ve all heard before. He offered “peace negotiations immediately without prior conditions” then proceeded to [...]
People You Should Know About: Ezra Nawi
Posted in Human Rights, Israel, Nonviolence, Palestine, Peace, People You Should Know About on June 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
If you’re looking for the definition of an Israeli hero, here’s my nomination: human rights activist Ezra Nawi. Well-known in the Israeli-Palestinian peace movement, Nawi is a true original. This is how he was described by journalist Neve Gordon in a recent Guardian article:
Nawi is not a typical rights activist. A [...]
The Power of the Word
Posted in Iran, Islam, Israel, Palestine, Peace, Politics, Politics/Middle East, Religion on June 5, 2009 | 4 Comments »
I’m going to step back from my regularly scheduled cynicism and simply savor the profound and deeply inspiring message that Obama offered the world today. Yes, he is a politician, and yes, every word was carefully calibrated with political implications, but my God, what a tremendous blessing to have an American President who would end [...]
Confessions of a Peace Process Cynic
Posted in Israel, Palestine, Peace, Politics, Politics/Middle East on June 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Don’t get me wrong. I’m on board. I’m in there with the American Jews who are reassuring Obama that we’ve got his back. But I have to say it’s all I can do to resist my cynicism when I read about Peace Process, version 5.0. (And for safety’s sake, let me just reiterate my blog’s [...]
In Search of Perspective in Bil’in
Posted in Israel, Nonviolence, Palestine, Politics/Middle East, War on May 27, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Recently read a piece on Ynet describing the experience of IDF soldiers stationed in Bil’in – a Palestinian village which has been the site of a weekly demonstration for the past four years. I was particularly intruiged by the description of one soldier, who described the detail as “more terrifying for [...]
