The World Union for Progressive Judaism, an international umbrella organization of the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements, has issued a statement condemning the recent attacks on the Dawabshe family in the West Bank village of Duma and on the Jerusalem Gay Pride parade. However, from the statement it seems clear where the organization’s sympathies lie:
On Sunday August 2, three days after being critically wounded by an ultra-Orthodox man who went on a stabbing rampage at Jerusalem’s Gay Pride Parade, Shira Banki, a 16-year-old Israeli teen, succumbed to her wounds Sunday afternoon.
The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) mourns the tragic death of Shira Banki and offers its sincerest condolences to her grieving family, as well as to the friends and loved ones of the five other people who were wounded in the attack.
Sadly, an outburst of extremist violence gripped Israel in recent days.
On July 31, the homes of two Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Douma were firebombed, and the words “Long live Messiah the King” and “Revenge” were painted on the walls. An 18-month old baby was burned to death. The baby’s parents and 4-year-old brother are fighting for their lives in the hospital, with burns covering 70-90 percent of their bodies.
The WUPJ condemns both these cold-blooded acts of cowardice and is mindful of the chilling prospect that these unconscionable acts could spark a renewed cycle of violence in our beloved Jewish homeland.
President of the WUPJ Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander stated, “The life of a beautiful young woman was cut short, but Shira Banki’s death cannot be in vain. She bravely supported every human’s right to live one’s life in dignity. Thousands of Israelis across the country have since protested against these attempts to spread and justify violence. Firebombing the home of a Palestinian family or brutally assaulting fellow Jews during a parade are both intolerable acts. We join with the good and decent Israelis who say: ‘enough’. Our Jewish state should be a safe place for all its citizens. Religious inspired violence cannot be tolerated.”
Rabbanit Hadassah Froman, the wife of the late rabbi and coexistence advocate Menachem Froman said, “To merit living in this country we must chose life and see the spark of God in everyone. We must remove the barriers between us and create a bridge, because anything is possible but it depends on us.”
Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander, WUPJ President
Carole Sterling, WUPJ Chairman
Dr. Philip Bliss, WUPJ Advocacy Committee Chair
Is it beyond the World Union for Progressive Judaism to mourn the death of a Palestinian toddler?
Or even name the Dawabshe family members who are still fighting for their life following an attack by Israeli settlers?
Rarely has the moral failing of liberal Zionism been demonstrated so starkly.
“Rarely has the moral failing of liberal Zionism been demonstrated so starkly.”
You nailed it. I’ll not forget it.
Thanks, Adam.
I can guess what Rabbi Brant Rosen would do. This is what he did before the latest Israeli terror attacks:
“The American Friends Service Committee’s morning remembrance on Montrose Beach consisted of placing black pinwheels in the sand. Each pinwheel symbolizes a child killed, and is labeled with their name and age. One pinwheel was included to remember the one Israeli child that was killed last summer, and pinwheels represent children and innocence. Attendees placed pinwheels in the sand in a formation that wrote out “GAZA” and heard a poem read by Rabbi Brant Rosen. Following the poem, a litany for Gaza was read. AFSC was inspired to use the pinwheels by Gazan artist Mohammad Hassona.” – See more at: https://mondoweiss.mystagingwebsite.com/2015/07/commemorates-attacks-remembrance#sthash.aYvbWwpf.dpuf
“For Tisha B’Av: A Lamentation for Gaza”
http://rabbibrant.com/2014/08/01/for-tisha-bav-a-lamentation-for-gaza/
“Is it beyond the World Union for Progressive Judaism to mourn the death of a Palestinian toddler?”
Yes I’m afraid it is beyond them Adam. In order to mourn the death of a Palestinian toddler you have to honestly and sincerely believe that toddler to be an equal human being deserving of the same rights to life, peace, justice, dignity and human rights as you.
They just don’t believe that.