Palestinian and Jewish Safety
Judaism teaches that it's our human obligation to pursue justice and preserve the lives and dignity of all people. Whoever destroys a single life is considered to have destroyed the whole world, and whoever saves a single life is considered to have saved the whole world. This is why, as an American Jew with family in Israel, I advocate for the security and equality of all human beings in the region.
Since Oct. 7, I've been deeply disappointed by how various communities have responded (or not responded) to this conflict. I grieve not only for my own family but also Israeli and Palestinian civilians, including the remaining 132 hostages still held captive by Hamas and the 2 million Gazans who face horrific daily struggles.*
I believe that building peace is practical, because there's no ultimate security for Israelis or Palestinians unless the cycle of violence is broken. Some say that Israel must defend itself against terrorism and those who threaten it with annihilation. While I believe that nations have the right to defend themselves, security should not be used to justify deadly violence against innocent civilians.
The belief that Jewish safety must come at the expense of the people of Palestine is a falsehood I reject. Furthermore, I refuse to weaponize Jewish suffering to deny or deflect from the suffering, oppression, and dispossession of Palestinians.
No one needs to have all the answers to the complex web of geopolitical conflicts in the region in order to speak out. The path to a lasting peace begins with truth-telling, so why not start there? If we hope to heal the world and mobilize others in the service of justice, we must tell the truth about collective harm (past and present) and its consequences for our communities, nations, and world.
My work starts with a recognition of common humanity and human dignity, and the value of both Palestinian and Israeli lives. Human rights shouldn't be the privilege of people of certain races or nationalities, or people who live in certain places.
The people of Palestine are not, and never have been, my enemy.
*Let me be clear: empathizing with Palestinians and expressing legitimate criticisms of Israel is not equivalent to sympathizing with Hamas. As human rights advocates have warned us for years, Hamas is a grave threat to people of all faiths and nations in the region.
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