To Members of the Shabtai Society:
As Jewish clergy and Yale University alumni, we oppose Israeli Minister for National Security Itamar Ben Gvir and everything he stands for. We are disturbed that the Shabtai Society has invited Ben Gvir and given him a platform, and we urge you to rescind your invitation. We believe strongly in free speech, but free speech does not mean that everyone has to be invited to speak.
We join the loud chorus of Jewish voices, in Israel, the United States, and beyond, who reject Ben Gvir’s brand of Jewish supremacist hatred and extremism. Ben Gvir is a criminal with 13 convictions, including for hate crimes and promoting terrorism. He and his party traffic in racism and homophobia, advocate for the deportation of Palestinian citizens of Israel, and incite violence against Palestinians and Israeli leftists. He first came to attention in Israel threatening the life of Prime Minister Rabin in 1995, and he has not ceased his dangerous rhetoric since.
Most importantly, this is a man who has bragged about cruelly and repeatedly blocking a hostage deal between the Israeli government and Hamas. He is directly responsible for the suffering and deaths of dozens of hostages and thousands of Gazan civilians, as well as hundreds of Israeli soldiers killed in battle. He openly promotes ethnic cleansing and resettlement in Gaza.
Ben Gvir is a danger to all Israelis and Palestinians.
In spite of this, your society will welcome him in New Haven and in New York City this week, giving him legitimacy he does not deserve. We urge you instead to disinvite Ben Gvir and denounce his shameful politics, which fly in the face of our Jewish values.
Ben Gvir does not speak for us.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Joel Abraham – Fanwood, NJ
Rabbi Thomas Alpert – Franklin, MA
Rabbi Lester Bronstein – White Plains, NY
Rabbi Joshua Cahan – Bronx, NY
Rabbi Eric Cohen – Lambertville, NJ
Cantor Josh Ehrlich – Scarsdale, NY
Rabbi Josh Feigelson – Skokie, IL
Rabbi Avigayil Halpern – Washington, DC
Rabbi Beth Kalisch – Gladwyne, PA
Rabbi Margie Klein Ronkin – Jamaica Plain, MA
Rabbi Sarah Krinsky – Washington, DC
Rabbi Harry Manhoff – Berkeley, CA
Rabbi Marc Margolius – New York, NY
Rabbi Sara Meirowitz – Lincoln, MA
Rabbi Margot Meitner – Jamaica Plain, MA
Rabbi Randy Sheinberg – New Hyde park, NY
Rabbi Daniel Smokler – New York, NY
Rabbi Joel Soffin – New York, NY
Rabbi Peter Stein – Chicago, IL
Rabbi Rachel Timoner – Brooklyn, NY