Press

Reform of Solitary Comes to New York State

December 17, 2015

T’ruah wishes a mazal tov to the New York Civil Liberties Union and New York State on this week’s announcement of a landmark settlement that will create a comprehensive overhaul of solitary confinement in one of the nation’s largest prison systems, and that will provide a mechanism for ending the state’s overreliance on prolonged isolation...

From the Narrow Places I Called To You

January 27, 2016

T’ruah’s statement on historic reform of solitary confinement announced by the Obama Administration T’ruah congratulates the Obama Administration on the announcement of significant reforms of solitary confinement in the federal prison system. We applaud yesterday’s release of the Department of Justice’s Report and Recommendations Concerning the Use of Restrictive Housing, which offers comprehensive guidelines on...

T’ruah Applauds Elimination of Loophole that Allowed Slavery-produced Products into the United States

February 17, 2016

T’ruah congratulates the Senate and President Obama for taking meaningful action to prevent products produced via forced labor from reaching the United States. The Senate voted last week to close a loophole in the Tariff Act of 1930, a law that prohibits goods made by forced, child or prison labor from entering the United States...

A Clear and Unfortunate Message: Dani Dayan as Consul General in New York

March 30, 2016

The choice of Dani Dayan as the Consul General in New York sends a clear and unfortunate message that the face of the settlement movement is now the face of Israel. This decision represents an affront to American Jews, the majority of whom believe that a two-state solution and an end to the occupation will...

Jerusalem of Justice and Harmony: A Response to Elad Building in Silwan

March 31, 2016

“City of justice and harmony, peace and understanding:” A Response to Elad Building in Silwan :תהלים פרק קכז:א: לֹא־יִבְנֶה בַיִת שָׁוְא עָמְלוּ בוֹנָיו בּוֹ אִם־יְהֹוָה לֹא־יִשְׁמָר־עִיר שָׁוְא שָׁקַד שׁוֹמֵר Psalm 127:1: Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain on it; unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman keeps vigil...

NEW YORK GROUPS UNITE IN CALL FOR ALTERNATIVES TO SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN PRISONS AND JAILS

March 14, 2013

March 11, 2013 (NEW YORK) — Dozens of organizations joined together today to challenge the torturous abuse of solitary confinement in prisons and jails across New York, urging Governor Andrew Cuomo, the New York legislature, and state and city corrections officials to “Think Outside the Box.” The Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement (CAIC) is...

T’ruah Statement on Jerusalem Bus Attack

April 18, 2016

T’ruah condemns today’s terrorist attack on a bus in Jerusalem. There can be no political justification for violence against innocent civilians. This constitutes a clear violation of international human rights law, and ignores all religious prohibitions against attempted murder or harm of a creation in the divine image. We call on Palestinian leaders to join...

T’ruah Joins Amicus Briefs Filed in DOMA and Prop 8 Cases Before the United States Supreme Court

March 4, 2013

New York, NY, March 4, 2013- T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights has joined a “friend of the court” briefing filed by a coalition of Jewish organizations in support of marriage equality. The group added an extended interest statement that emphasizes the Jewish and human rights imperative for equality in civil marriage.  These two...

“The life of your young children:” T’ruah statement on the murder of Hallel Ariel

June 30, 2016

With shock and heavy hearts, we mourn the tragic murder of 13-year-old Hallel Yaffa Ariel z”l and pray for comfort for her family. We condemn this violent act of terror. No political goal justifies the murder of innocent children.

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference”: T’ruah statement on the death of Elie Wiesel

July 5, 2016

T’ruah joins with the Jewish community and the entire world in mourning the death of Elie Wiesel, z”l, who awakened the world to the horrors of the Holocaust and advocated tirelessly to ensure that such genocide never happens again. He taught us that “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of...