Rabbi's Blog

Dear Haverim,

The American-Israeli poet, Alden Solovy, has written:

“Never surrender the fight for today,
And never give up the dream of a better tomorrow.
For this is the dissenter’s hope,
That one day,
Some enlightened day in the future,
When truth is given full voice,
Justice will win the majority,
And the bell of freedom will ring
With new clarity.

For nations and societies are ever-threatened
By oppressors and would-be despots,
New pharaohs with old designs
For power and dominion.

Never surrender the fight for today,
And never give up the vision of a better tomorrow.
For the work of liberty can be slow,
As is the ongoing pursuit of equality and love of humankind.
This is the dissenter’s hope,
That some enlightened day in the future,
Every call for justice will win the majority,
And the light of freedom will shine
With perfect clarity.”

So many Jews around the world, especially non-Orthodox ones, are heartbroken by the polarization that Prime Minister Netanyahu has brought to our beloved Israel. 

The most extremist government in Israel’s history has united “Jewish Supremacists” (that’s what the Israeli opposition has called them), Ultra-Orthodox fanatics, homophobes, and various anti-democratic elements of Israeli society in a coalition of hate against what they call Ashkenazic/European elites.

Despite not winning a majority of the votes in the last election, but because of Israel’s coalition politics and Netanyahu’s desperate attempt to avoid prison on a variety of charges, Israel has changed, and so many Jews around the world, despite and because of their love for Israel, are angry, frightened, and embarrassed.

Millions of Israelis have non-violently marched and assembled over the last 7 months to protest.   Multi-day marches from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem have grown in strength and Jewish leaders within Israel and around the world – liberal, moderate, and conservative – have begged Netanyahu’s coalition to slow down before Israel loses its proud designation, lauded by the world for 75 years, as “the only true democracy in the Middle East.”

Many organizations in Israel, including the newest “UnXeptable,”  have organized protests of Jews and Israelis, within Israel and around the world, to declare a resounding “No” to this negation of the best that Israel and Judaism have always represented in the world.

The denial of religious freedom for non-Orthodox Jews, the fervor for annexing more territory, the growth of violent Jewish settlers and the hateful anti-peace, anti-justice rhetoric of Netanyahu’s Cabinet members are more than alarming.  We know, from our own country, here in the United States, how violent rhetoric can lead to murderous action.  (Witness January 6^th or the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh!)

We, who love Israel, are pained and disturbed by the government, but heartened by the non-violent demonstrations in the streets by 20% of Israelis!  (Imagine 20% of Americans – 68 million people – marching against injustice!)

So many of us are relieved, humbled, and proud of our brothers and sisters in Israel who are protesting.  There is no better proof of Israelis’ love of democracy, expression of free speech, and commitment to justice than these marchers.

That’s why we are so honored to have as our guest speaker at Shabbat services this Friday evening, August 11, at 7:00 p.m., Dr. Alon Burstein, who will speak about "200 Days of Chaos: Israel's 37th Government.” 

Dr. Burstein is a Visiting Assistant Professor and an Israel Institute Fellow in the Department of Political Science at the University of California Irvine. His research focuses on social mobilization and collective action, specifically the dynamics that lead groups to adopt varying forms of protest. His recent research projects have analyzed the dynamics of repression and violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, minority mobilization in Israel, processes of religionization/secularization in international terror groups as well as specifically within the Middle East, and the rise of xenophobic white-power terrorism across the world. Prof. Burstein has also recently written on the process of democratic backsliding in Israel, specifically its effects on the Israeli-Palestinian arena.

Dr. Burstein is also one of the leaders of the international “UnXeptable” movement, rallying to stop the judicial coup, in order to save Israeli democracy.

This Shabbat will be one of the most memorable of the year.  (Click here to RSVP for our in-person services.  If you want to watch on Livestream, there’s no need to RSVP – just click the link on our homepage at the time of the service or anytime thereafter).  Learn and commit to supporting Israel in its time of need.  Then, we will truly be able to celebrate Israel’s 75^th year as a proud and democratic nation and a beacon of hope and love for Jews, and others, around the world.

Shavua tov/Have a thoughtful week,

Rabbi Arnie Rachlis