A new religious venture, Tzedek Chicago, is headed by the rebellious, anti-Zionist and Psalmist, Rabbi Brant Rosen. “We reject the view that any one people, ethnic group or nation is entitled to any part of our world more than any other.”
Do Black lives matter in America? After the murders in Charleston, the historic debate about race in American history rages on a new level. Do Black lives matter to Jews? Another longstanding debate stretching from the Civil Rights era to the present. Yet of late a new and dangerous element is being reintroduced into the discussion by BlackLivesMatter and Jews of Conscience that threatens to resolve the issue in a definitive and negative way. The issue revolves around Jews and Palestinians: If Palestinian lives don’t matter to Jews, how can Black lives matter to Jews?
The United Church of Christ’s divestment resolution from Israeli occupation, to be heard in Cleveland in late June, is revolutionary. But the UCC should go further, and not endorse dialogue with the official Jewish organizations. For the Jewish establishment and the local congregations are enablers of occupation.
Church divestment from the occupation is not enough. Churches have to do more than shift stocks. A church should dedicate the next five years of its corporate life specifically to Israel-Palestine. Declare Israel an apartheid state.
Rabbi’s are under scrutiny for ethical violations — Peeping Rabbis in the mikvah and assorted violations relating to sex. But other ethical violations are under reported or, actually, never mentioned. Like rabbis enabling congregants to flaunt International Law by supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. Only with the emergence of Jews of Conscience has the Jewish establishment been called to task.
Old wine in a new bottle. Former Israeli Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin says Israelis are fearful of a one-state solution and Palestinians need Israelis to get their economy running, so he proposes a federation.
Marc Ellis first met Cornel West almost thirty years ago when he was invited to share the podium with him on the subject of Israel and the Palestinians. Since then West has become a leading African American public intellectual and has taken daring stands in support of Palestinians, including during Israel’s attack on Gaza last summer. Ellis reflects on West’s career and prophetic voice in light of Michael Eric Dyson’s New Republic article excoriating West. Ellis writes, “Though Dyson’s predicted fall of Cornel West is clearly exaggerated, his penchant for disciplining West’s prophetic voice should be taken seriously.”
Ayman Odeh of the Arab List and Yariv Oppenheimer or Peace Now are both in a dead end: Odeh’s the dead end of Holocaust remembrance when the Nakba is still unfolding, Oppenheimer the dead end of serving the occupation
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Gaza remains unreconstructed. Settlements continue to expand. The Israeli populace moves farther and farther to the right. The churches continue to write documents against the occupation that mean little. Jews who enabled the occupation for decades and now come out against it are honored.
How many more Passover and Easter seasons will Jews and Christians of Conscience observe until our dissent rings hollow even to ourselves? Marc Ellis asks