From our CEO: Why T’ruah rabbis got arrested in NYC.

Monday, July 28, 2025

My heart is so full this morning. 

Last night, I joined a minyan of T’ruah rabbis wearing tallitot and holding sacks of flour and rice to block 2nd Avenue in New York City, in front of the Israeli consulate. We held signs that said “Food –> Gaza” and posters with images of starving Gazan children.

As we were handcuffed and taken away, a crowd of hundreds of American Jews and Israeli Americans cried out “Let Gaza Live!” (Watch the video here.) They also chanted “That’s My Rabbi,” showing just how eager the Jewish community is for their leaders to be moral voices in this moment.

A minyan of rabbis blocking traffic in front of the Israeli consulate held signs that said “Food –> Gaza” as well as “Bring them home” and “End the war.” (Ali Hirsch)

We did this because we refuse to accept business as usual while people are starving. We insist that Israel be held accountable. We insist that the war end NOW.

We rabbis who were arrested also held signs that said “Bring them home.” Why? Because we know that ending the war, getting a surge of aid into Gaza, and bringing home the hostages are not at odds with each other. Because our hearts are big enough to hold it all. And because the only future possible for Palestinians and Israelis is a shared future.

Rabbis blocked traffic on 2nd Avenue holding sacks of flours and rice, later donated to food-insecure families in Queens. (Harold Levine)
Hundreds of American Jews and Israeli Americans came to cry out:
Stop starving Gaza. (Harold Levine)
Rep. Jerry Nadler addresses the crowd. (Harold Levine)

Before the arrests, our moving speakers encouraged a packed crowd to keep speaking out and standing up for what’s right. Here’s what a few of our speakers had to say: Rabbi Roly Matalon spoke of the desperate need to come back to our deeply held values of peace and of feeding our neighbors. Representative Jerry Nadler put the blame squarely where it belongs: on Netanyahu. Rabbi Daniel Gropper shared that his son had sworn in to IDF service that very day, which was exactly why he felt it so important to be there, as he prayed for an end to the “humanitarian crisis and moral crisis” of this war.

I’m so grateful to our partners at New York Jewish Agenda, Partners for Progressive Israel, New Jewish Narrative, Smol Emuni US, J Street, Israelis for Peace NYC, New Israel Fund, and UnXeptable for organizing this protest with us. Our movement is strong and getting stronger. 

Rabbi Evan Traylor is taken away by police. (Harold Levine)
Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson, Executive Director of Partners for Progressive Israel, leads the crowd in chanting “Let Gaza Live.” (Harold Levine)
Protesters held signs urging the Israeli government to stop starving Gaza, to refuse ethnic cleansing, to bring the hostages home, and to end the war. (Harold Levine)

International pressure is working, but the airdrops and humanitarian pauses are not nearly enough to meet the need in Gaza. We have to keep up the pressure, and T’ruah will keep sharing opportunities to do that together.

Thank you for everything you are doing. 

In solidarity,

Rabbi Jill Jacobs
she/her/hers
CEO, T’ruah

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