Rav Naḥman bar Kohen interpreted a verse as follows. What is the meaning of that which is written: “The king by justice establishes the land, but he who exacts gifts [terumot] overthrows it” (Proverbs 29:4)? If a judge is like a just ruler, in that they do not need (to take) anything from others, they can establish (themselves in the land). But if they are like a priest, who seeks to take from from others, they overthrow the land. – Ketubot 105b
Dear is peace, that the Holy One Blessed Be He only comforts Jerusalem with peace. From where do we know this? As it is written “Behold I will extend peace to her like a river” (Isaiah 66). – Devarim Rabbah 5:15
T’ruah has been committed to ending the occupation and bringing about a just resolution to conflict between Israelis and Palestinians since our inception. While we know conversations around Israel/Palestine can be difficult to have with our Jewish communities, we hope that these resources can help finding the right words to facilitate these important discussions. Below are resources offering prayers, text studies, divrei Torah, and general advice to the Jewish community, particularly American Jews, about how to help end the occupation.
Resources
- A Very Brief Guide to the Occupation
- Yovel: A Sourcebook for Fifty Years
- The Halakhic Status of the Occupation (Rabbi Aryeh Cohen)
- Torah Against Incitement (From a speech by Rav Aharon Lichtenstein)
- On Not Attending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s AIPAC Speech: Jewish Sources and Analysis (A text study on lashon harah and incitement)
Articles
- American Jews, Stop Funding Jewish Terrorism (Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Haaretz)
- Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem – All Jerusalemites – with Our Words, Our Money, Our Advocacy (Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewschool)
- Why Does the Democratic Party – like American Jewish Institutions – Refuse to Condemn the Occupation (Daniel Skokatch and Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the Forward)
Prayers
- Five Prayers for the State of Israel including Ron Aigen z”l’s “Prayer for Israel in Time of War”
Divrei Torah
- Naso: A Blessing of Peace for Jerusalem (Rabbi Lev Meirowitz Nelson, (M)Oral Torah)
- Yom Yerushalayim: Yom Yerushalayim Obscures the Reality of Modern Jerusalem (Daniel Seidemann, Torah 20/20)
- Yom Haatzmaut and Kedoshim: Loving Israel with all of my Jewishness: A Photo Essay (Gili Getz, Torah 20/20)
- Toldot: Redigging the Wells (Avner Gvaryahu, Torah 20/20)
- Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach: Atzma’ut and Atzamot: The Bones of Israel (Rabbi Emily Kippley Ogman, 2017)
- Devarim: Repetition, Compulsion, and Night Vision (Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, 2014)
Statements
- North American Rabbis React to Vote on New Israeli Government: “A Necessary Step Forward for Israel” (6/13/21)
- North American Rabbis Praise Ousting of Netanyahu Government, Will Continue Pursuit of Human Rights for All (6/2/21)
- Praying for peace, taking responsibility for our complicity (5/14/21)
- Rabbis Respond to Escalating Violence in Israel and Gaza (5/11/21)
- Rabbis Praise Delay of Eviction Proceedings in Sheikh Jarrah, Condemn Violence by Police and Extremist (5/10/21)
- In Response to Jerusalem Anti-Arab Violence, Rabbis Cite Connection to Recent Far-Right Electoral Successes (4/23/21)