there is absolutely no justification for the invasion of #Lebanon, just like there is no justification for the consistent bombardment of #Gaza, just like there is no justification for the ongoing occupation of the #WestBank, just like there is no justification for the embargo that prevents aid and goods from entering Gaza.
I've had a complicated relationship with Judaism since the IDF bulldozed #RachelCorrie and I woke up to the reality that actually, we weren't 'the good guys', and yet all of my Hebrew school programming revolved around Birthright—which is basically Zionist indoctrination to normalise Israel to American and European Jewish youth—and etc.
I walked out of my suburban Sun Valley shul in California in 2008 because when there was politics from the bimah it wasn't being told that we should not oppress the stranger, a teaching that is so important in Judaism that it is repeated a staggering thirty-six times throughout the Torah! instead it was isolationism and reactionary fear, and repetitive outdated racism thinly veiled in the guise of religion.
I stayed away for years and years and in my shame did neither speak up nor even identify as Jewish in public while I watched American Judaism continuously turn to avodah zarah at the idol of the state, making for themself a graven image of the Israeli flag. I thought that if I ignored Judaism then I could absolve myself of the actions of the Jewish state and the actions of the Jewish people. but I was not happy, out there and disconnected.
I returned tentatively to some form of observance that I'm still discovering and negotiating the boundaries of every day, as I learned in 12 Step programs that I could have a Higher Power of my own understanding and wanting to return to rituals which connect me to my zayde and his zayde and all those before me. and I integrated my position against nationalism deeply rooted in my Judaism, because we are a people, and as a diasporic people we have spread to every corner of the earth. and although I have come to an understanding that the actions of the Jewish state are not the responsibility of every American Jew, we cannot simply be stolen by and look away and pretend we do not see. to be very clear, my anti-Zionism does not stem from post-colonial theory or other Western readings, but from Judaism itself.
we need to show up, for our Palestinian brothers and sisters with whom we are more alike than we are apart. we need to be loud and be clear that these are not actions we want perpetrated in our names. we need to lobby our political representatives to take a strong stand against the United States continuing to outfit the Israeli military, and those of us who are Israeli citisens (which I am not) need to do all of these same things with their representatives.
we need to learn from our fellows! we need to learn and take to the streets and demonstrate with our bodies that we know that it is not our duty to finish the work but neither are we free to ignore it (Pirkei Avot 2:16). we need to show up alongside those who are putting themselves out there and tell them they are not alone.
I still have difficulty in organised Jewish spaces funding an appropriate way to express my outrage at the bombing of hospitals and universities and primary schools, and today I get to add the ground invasion of Lebanon to that list of crimes.
but I am learning. not only day by day, but from my teacher, my rabbi, who supports my anti-Zionism even though there are a few points where we agree to disagree.
and I don't have the privilege to look away. none of us do. regardless of our attention this is going to continue to be a major conflict and war in the Levant. I've seen it called the beginning of World War III. whatever it is, we owe it to all if the children who have been robbed of their future, to stand up and stand against it, in whatever ways we can.
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La memoria de Rachel Corrie vive en la resistencia del pueblo palestino y en todos aquellos que luchan por la justicia. La sangre de Rachel no se olvida. Palestina será libre
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