T’ruah calls on more American Jewish organizations to speak out against judicial coup, support Israeli protest movement.
NEW YORK – T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights organization representing over 2,300 rabbis and cantors in North America, is protesting Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to New York in light of his continued plans to gut Israel’s judicial system and his willingness to destroy democratic norms and ally with extremists.
T’ruah rabbis and others will gather outside UN headquarters in New York City at 8 a.m. E.T. on Friday for a public prayer service in advance of Yom Kippur to commit to protecting human rights in the coming year and will participate in major demonstrations later that morning and all week. Rabbi Jill Jacobs will speak at a protest outside Prime Minister Netanyahu’s hotel on Thursday night.
In advance of the gathering, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, said:
“Over the past several months, Prime Minister Netanyahu has deepened Israel’s democratic crisis and has made no indication that he is willing to work towards a just society in good faith. Netanyahu claims to be a voice for all Jews. But his support for a judicial coup in Israel, his alliances with violent far-right religious extremists in Israel as well as dictators around the world, and his expected visit with Elon Musk in the aftermath of yet another antisemitic rant on social media demonstrates how quickly Netanyahu is willing to abandon the safety of Jews and ally himself with bigots in his pursuit of power.
“American Jews, including T’ruah rabbis, have been on the streets for months in solidarity with Israeli protesters, demanding accountability and democracy in Israel. We continue to make clear that Netanyahu and his accomplices do not speak for us.
“When Netanyahu arrives in New York, he will be met by thousands of American Jews and Israelis protesting his cynical tactics that continually violate democratic ideals and human rights. We hope that our opposition serves as a wake-up call to all those who have legitimized the gutting of democracy in Israel. We also call on more of our fellow American Jewish organizations to join together in the fight for justice.
“As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, our community enters a period of deep reflection and commits to renewal. It is in this spirit that we once again renew our dedication to a democratic Israel where everyone’s dignity and rights are respected.”
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About T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights mobilizes a network of more than 2,300 rabbis and cantors from all streams of Judaism that, together with the Jewish community, act on the Jewish imperative to respect and advance the human rights of all people. Grounded in Torah and our Jewish historical experience and guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we call upon Jews to assert Jewish values by raising our voices and taking concrete steps to protect and expand human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.