The world cannot, and should not, stop on account of a religious holiday. When I asked that it be changed, I was advised Yom Kippur is not a holiday recognized by the city. 27).Ī local city (not Berkeley) scheduled a planning commission hearing for Erev Yom Kippur. If the American Jewish community rises up against the hatred, racism, sexism, homophobia and lust towards authoritarianism - things that dishonor our core Jewish values that elevate human life and dignity - perhaps Biden will feel empowered to confront Netanyahu, as well.īerkeley High’s refusal to change the date for the graduation ceremony is not an isolated incident ( “Berkeley High graduation on Shabbat despite years of pleas,” Feb. If you love Israel, if you love democracy, make your voices heard. There will be another demonstration on March 26. Here in San Francisco, a few hundred mostly Israeli expats turned out for a rally on Sunday afternoon. The largest demonstration in Israel’s history to fight for democracy took place last Saturday night. Some protest organizers don’t want to address the occupation, saying, “Let’s focus on the fight against the judicial reforms that will compromise the democracy Israel has been for 75 years we can deal with the occupation later.”īut there is no later. Some say we can’t afford to do anything because of rising antisemitism or the threat of the Iran-Saudi alliance. Some Jewish activists don’t want to protest this government ( “Why more American Jews aren’t protesting about Israel right now,” March 13) because they say that Israel already isn’t a democracy for the one and a half million Israeli citizens who are Palestinian Arab, not to mention several million more under military occupation. How can it be, then, that in the Jewish state, of all places, democracy is at risk? How can it be that Jews rampaged through a Palestinian town a few weeks ago, burning cars, setting houses on fire, killing one and wounding dozens? How can it be that a government leader called for the town’s destruction? Or that another government leader demanded the firing of a police chief for not coming down hard enough on peaceful protesters? Or that that same leader considers a hero someone who massacred 29 people at prayer? Or that the government is attempting to ram through judicial “reforms” aimed at consolidating power? If 2,000 years of diaspora have taught us anything, it is that democracy is good for the Jews. This letter is a cry of the heart to all J.
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