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rabbis for cease fire
'Stop Vetoing Peace,' Rabbis Tell Biden at UN Security Council Protest
"The U.N. was created in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust, with the very intention of ensuring 'Never Again,'" said Rabbis for Ceasefire. "We are here as Jews, as rabbis, to urge the U.N. to follow through."
Jan 09, 2024
After arriving at the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday, ostensibly for a scheduled tour, three dozen rabbis and rabbinical students made their way into the U.N. Security Council's chamber to stage the latest high-profile demonstration demanding the United States end its opposition to a cease-fire in Gaza.
The rabbis—whose action was organized by Rabbis for Cease-fire, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Jewish Voice for Peace, and IfNotNow—displayed banners with messages for U.S. President Joe Biden: "Biden: The World Says Cease-Fire," and "Biden: Stop Vetoing Peace."
The protest came weeks after the U.S. alone vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for Israel to end its bombardment of Gaza, which has killed at least 23,210 people, injured more than 59,100, and left thousands more missing and feared dead under rubble, as the population of the enclave faces starvation and disease stemming from Israel's blockade.
"[President Joe] Biden and the U.S. must stop vetoing peace and end Israel's bombing and starvation of Gaza," said IfNotNow.
In addition to vetoing the Security Council measure last month, the U.S. abstained from voting on a resolution to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and opposed a U.N. General Assembly resolution calling for a cease-fire.
The country's isolated stance was starkly illustrated by the latter vote, with 153 nations supporting the cease-fire, including longtime U.S. allies like Canada, France, and Spain backing the resolution, and only nine countries joining the United States.
"Since the Biden administration is consistently, single-handedly blocking the U.N. from taking any meaningful action for a cease-fire, we are organizing 36 rabbis and rabbinical students from seven different states to come to the U.N. themselves, and say, 'We're speaking for the people, this is a moral call,'" Sophie Ellman-Golan, communications director for Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, toldHuffPost.
Organizers said at a press conference after the protesters were escorted out of the building that six of the rabbis had gained access to the U.N. General Assembly floor, where they displayed one of the banners to the assembled leaders.
HuffPostreported that one of the rabbis signaled the beginning of the protest during the tour by blowing into a traditional shofar horn, while Rabbis for Cease-fire founder and lead organizer Alissa Wise quoted the biblical Book of Isaiah.
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks," said Wise. "Nation shall not lift up swords against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore."
The groups called on the U.S. and all U.N. members to:
- Reaffirm and recommit to the goals of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, taking meaningful action to stop the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza;
- Hold another Security Council vote to pass a resolution for cease-fire that includes lifting the siege and hostage exchange; and
- Bring to the General Assembly a resolution calling for appropriate accountability measures in line with international law, including an immediate arms embargo.
"The U.N. was created in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust, with the very intention of ensuring 'Never Again,'" said Rabbis for Cease-fire. "We are here as Jews, as rabbis, to urge the U.N. to follow through on this noble mission. Never again means never again for any of us."
An organizer said as the rabbis assembled that "the U.N. is the appropriate place for meaningful action for cease-fire and accountability for Israel's war crimes."
The demonstration came two days before the International Court of Justice, the U.N.'s top judicial body, is set to hold a hearing on South Africa's lawsuit claiming Israel has committed acts of genocide in Gaza. Turkey, Malaysia, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have all expressed support for South Africa's claim, while Jordan indicated last week it had filed documents to submit a Declaration of Intervention at the court, backing the lawsuit.
More than 900 worldwide civil society groups have joined a call for other governments to submit Declarations of Intervention to bolster South Africa's case.
The Biden administration said Tuesday that South Africa's case is "meritless," despite the country's detailed, 84-page complaint highlighting specific calls from Israeli officials to wipe out the population of Gaza and force them to leave the enclave.
"The U.S.," said Rabbis for Cease-fire, "is standing in the way of the international community taking action to save lives."
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'We Say No!' 40+ Rabbis Lead Morning Prayer and Call for Cease-Fire Outside US Capitol
"As Jews, as Rabbis, as human beings we are pleading with our communities to rise through our despair and our grief to save lives," said the group Rabbis for Cease-Fire.
Nov 13, 2023
As Israel begins the sixth week of its bombardment and attack of Gaza, more than 40 rabbis congregated in front of the U.S. Capitol Monday to lead a morning prayer and call for a cease-fire.
The rabbis, joined by other spiritual leaders and hundreds of congregants, led a Shacharit service, the Jewish morning prayer, at 10:00 am ET before marching with Torahs to speak to members of Congress, ABC 7 reported.
"The Torah: 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not stand idly by the blood of your brother,'" Rabbi David Mivasair wrote on social media ahead of Monday's event. "We are called upon to take action to end Israel's mass murder of innocent civilians and ongoing theft of their land."
More than 170 rabbis and rabbinical students have signed the Rabbis for Cease-Fire statement.
"Those of us grieving both Israeli and Palestinian loved ones this week know there is no military solution to our horror," the statement reads.
In the statement, the rabbis mourned the at least 1,200 Israelis killed in Hamas' initial October 7 attack and expressed fear for the more than 230 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. However, they noted that Israel's bombardment had killed more than 11,000 in Gaza, including one child every 15 minutes.
"We want Jews everywhere to be safe and free. And we know that cannot, and will not, come at the expense of the safety and freedom of others."
"In the face of this terrifying violence, we say no!" the rabbis said. "We uplift the Torah value of v'chai bahem—live by Torah. Torah should be a source of life, not death."
"As Jews, as Rabbis, as human beings we are pleading with our communities to rise through our despair and our grief to save lives," they continued. "As Americans, we call upon our leaders to stop supporting and enabling this nightmare."
IfNotNow shared images and video from Monday's prayer on social media.
"We love being Jewish," the group wrote. "We care about our people. We want Jews everywhere to be safe and free. And we know that cannot, and will not, come at the expense of the safety and freedom of others. Of Palestinians."
In another post, the group pointed to the concept of pikuach nefesh, or saving a life, which they said was "the most sacred obligation in Jewish tradition."
Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who has been one of the loudest congressional voices calling for a cease-fire, joined the congregants listening to Monday's prayer.
The rabbis said they would spend the day meeting with elected officials and hold a press conference at 5:30 pm ET with members of Congress who have called for a cease-fire, ABC 7 reported.
"We will pray with our feet, our voices, and our hearts because every day the cease-fire is delayed, hundreds of Palestinians are killed," Rabbi Barat Ellman tweeted ahead of Monday's actions.
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