Credit: Creative Commons/eddiedangerous
Speak up. You, of Jewish faith or heritage, however religious or however secular, now is the time to speak up.
Speak up because you cannot stand by and watch and do nothing while a military acting in the name of your people destroys the cities and homes and clinics and mosques of a people who have already suffered far too much.
Speak up because you can’t stomach seeing another sweet little girl lying in a hospital bed, bandaged because a missile bought with your tax dollars hit her home.
Speak up because you can’t sit idly by while images of grieving mothers cascade across your television screen, yet again tonight. Speak up because you don’t want to see yet another picture of a crowd of Palestinian civilians surrounding a home in ruins.
Even if you aren’t sure what the answer is, speak up. Even if you don’t know ‘enough’ about what’s happening, speak up. Even if you doubt it will make a difference, speak up.
Yes, you may piss your family off. Yes, some friends may condemn you. But many people will also honor your courage and your heart. And besides, we’re Jews, we know how to argue and it won’t kill us.
Either way, take the risk. Take the heat because each and every one of us wishes in the depths of our bones that enough people who belonged to the nations who persecuted and tortured and murdered and expelled our people would have done the same. Now it’s Our time to speak up. Now we are the privileged ones who must speak up.
Speak up because you know that violence only spawns more violence, and you are as sick and tired of seeing those images of dead and grieving and frightened Palestinians as you are of worrying about the children in Israel who will go to sleep scared tonight. Speak up because enough is enough.
Speak up because you want to show the world that there is an alternative to violence, racism and vengeance. That there is another way to solve problems. That there are Jews who want peace – really want peace – and will take a stand for it even and especially when times are tough, even when it feels risky.
Speak up because you can’t stand by silently while the extremists take over a land you love. Speak up because you know there is another way. Speak up and be a voice of reason and heart.
Speak up because you know speaking out against war and violence is not anti-Semitic. Speak up because you know speaking out against war and violence supports Israeli civilians as well as Palestinian civilians.
Speak up because your heart breaks each time the cycle of violence begins again. Speak up because you know deep in your heart that we can all live together as the cousins we are, because so much beauty could be possible between our people if there were peace.
Speak up because as a Jew, your words about this conflict carry a great deal of weight. Let’s counter the voices of hate and violence, and speak up.
___________________
Roni Krouzman is an American Jew born to Israeli parents.
I really think your anger is misdirected. It comes from not understanding why Gaza is the focus of an Israeli offensive. Can we agree o one thing. Those rockets, however crude they seem, are being directed exclusively at Israeli population centers, Ok, we can continue form here. Hamas, with all their effort at the manufacturing of these crude offensive weapons has pul little effort into infrastructure development that would benefit Gazans. Which leaves one to believe that Hamas really just uses Gaza as a launching pad. I share your sadness over the loss of life in Gaza, but it is not of Israel’s doing. Hamas brought this on themselves and and is bringing grief to the whole region. This is not the path to peace and a 2 star solution. And just s you understand, Israel is well within their rights to defend its citizens. and believe me, they are far more sensitive about doing it than the British wee after this cities were bombed by the Germans.
The primary contradiction in the conflict is not the instant behavior of either Hamas or the IDF, but the occupation itself. Israel has occupied the west bank for almost 50 years, and while it withdrew settlements and troops from Gaza, it maintains a chokehold on Gazan borders, its ability to import and export, its economy and politics — in other words it occupies Gaza as well. As long as the occupation continues, which is a sustained act of violence, there will be resistance, and some of it will be violent. Given how Israel has treated the Palestinians over the decades, I’m amazed at how non-violent their resistance has been. TIkkun is on the right track by continually asking us to look at the big picture, as Jews and as human beings. At this moment, the cause of peace is best served, in my opinion, by demanding that Israel negotiate in good faith with the Palestinians (if they don’t like Hamas, they should stop disrespecting the PLO representatives), dismantle the colonial settlements in the west bank, and lift the blockade of Gaza. And the US should stop sending billions in military aid to Israel…we’re a huge part of the problem here too.
The situation in Gaza is a slow motion plane crash, every so many days another plane crash. It is indeed time to speak out, to stand up and to be counted, to stand against the disorder, everywhere and anywhere in the world.
We in the United States are slow to speak out on behalf of the dispossessed, because there has never been a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the dispossessed of our land.
George Mandel
Unity, Maine
Israel has ever rich to defend itself. That’s no a war crime
Repeating the same hollow Hasbara slogans again and again, it proves two things at least; you have no argument what so ever to support your or Israel’s stands and the second repeating it again and again sounds like a broken record and one that will not convince anyone of the legitimacy of what Israel is doing ,but a war crimes against civilian population !
Monir, when the UN found rockets hidden in a Gaza school, you are left with empty arguments.
Stan could you please direct us to the evidence for this statement?
Stan and Sam,
Israel can only speak of defending itself once it stops violating international law. If it stops the occupation, stops the illegal settlements, and stops human rights abuses, THEN Israel can defend itself. Otherwise there is no basis for discussion.
As far as Haman not building infrastructure, if you did some research you would know that Isarel controls every single item that goes through to Gaza and does not allow some of the most basic materials, including building materials.
I am sorry, but security is a key part of a lasting peace not an after throught.Isael can speak about defend itself and how, when over a thousand rocket have been shot at its citizens.
As for e development of Gaza, the Palestinian Authority had every opportunity to start developing Gaza after withdraw and before Hamas seized power there.. To date, Hamas has spent resources on amassing rockets rather than building housing and and economy. The blockade was imposed only after Hamas seized power.
Olga, Hamas seized power in Gaza as soon as Israke withdrew and has since used it as a launching pad for rocket attacks, I guess a well informed person such as yourself knew that already.
BTW, Israel can speak of defending itself when its citizens are at risk, not when you say it is ok to do so.
LOLOLLLL. By “withdrew” do you mean retaining control of every aspect of life including caloric intake. Comical.
Olga, just ask this Hasbara mouth piece to explain to you who destroyed the only electric generators of Gaza? Who bombed and destroyed the sewer purification system in Gaza, and did not permitted any parts to rebuild ,so sewage would flow to the sea where kids swim and hepatitis B has increased 1000% times, and most medication is restricted or forbidden from entering Gaza? Ask them to explain why does Israel steals the ground water from Under Gaza and sell it back scarcely to Gazans in limited quality and quantities? Ask him who has taped and steals the natural gas that is under Gazas territorial waters, and the Palestinians don’t get a cent? Shall I continue about the humanitarian behavior of the Israelis toward the Palestinians? I think you and the readers who care for the truth got it and don’t need to read the Hasbara lies.
Well said, Monir. I’ve read enough Hasbara lies to last me a lifetime already, and there was actually a time I when I believed them. Not for a while, though–and I resent having to read them here at Tikkun Daily.
Great article and very well pointed in the right direction! Speaking out the truth and taking a stand by some of the Jewish people is a duty and an honor at the same time. And God know, Israel lacks lots of that!
Monir, not too long ago you had one of your response removed that illustrated a world wide Jewish conspiracy. It was classic anti Semitic material. You had also questioned the Holocaust.
Stan, you and few others like you have exhausted the weight of the label ,anti Semitism ,were it carries no value what so ever for an argument. So, please try to find some reason and sensibility in your comments and thinking so you don’t disgrace and discredit yourself and what you are defending. Israel is doing a very good job by itself and does not need more opinions and Hasbara like yours as its all open now and the good Jews are aware of what they have been fed for all those years. For Jewish people to put their humanity ahead of their Jewishness is not a crime. What you and Israel are doing is!
Well said, Olga!
Let the Gazans speak up, grow up and get rid of Hamas.
Don’t patronize the Gazans.
They chose Hamas and they knew that Hamas wants war to push the Jews out completely of all of Israel.
So they have war.
It is what they asked for.
Your position is vile.
Based on what, the Hamas Charter to rub Israel off the map. Do you think Hamas seeks peace? Do you?
I am not shure that the Gaza people have “chosen” Hamas, as you chose food in the restaurant, or as you “chose” these you want to be ruled by, when you are voting in free democratic elections. Gaza civilians are hostages of Hamas, just as allegedly pro-Russian Donetsk civilians in Ukraine are hostages of the far-right Russian militias. In both cases, civilian neighborhoods are misused as launching pads. However, the Gaza people are caught between the terror of their own missile-launching kin and the Israeli blockade and bombing. In this situation, they “chose” a fortress truce.
I am not shure that the Gaza people have “chosen” Hamas, as you chose food in the restaurant, or as you chose these you want to be ruled by, when you are voting in free democratic elections. Gaza civilians are hostages of Hamas, just as allegedly pro-Russian Donetsk civilians in Ukraine are hostages of the far-right Russian militias. In both cases, civilian neighborhoods are misused as launching pads. However, the Gaza people are caught between the terror of their own missile-launching kin and the Israeli blockade and bombing. In this situation, they “chose” a fortress truce.
Avi, Tikkunistas prefer myths to facts
Mr. Krouzman, I appreciate your voice. This piece is lovely and touching and strong in its sincerity. I submit my remarks not as a critique but as a tiny gesture of gratitude. Before I am anything, I am a human being. I am a human being in an ugly world. Life is short, legacy is long, and how we treat each other matters – I dare say it’s everything. Thank you for your voice.
Pett, amen.
Roni Krouzman, thank you for writing this.