Recently, I have become involved with IfNotNow - a movement of young American Jews resisting anti-semitism and fighting for freedom and dignity for all Palestinians and Israelis. IfNotNow is grounded in the belief that the liberation of Jews is bound up with other oppressed groups, both in this country and in Israel/Palestine.
Donald Trump’s first year as president of the United States is also the 50th year of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories. The Israeli government stands poised to make the occupation a permanent reality and Trump has given every indication that Washington will support them. I am asking the mainstream AmericanJewish establishment to end its support of the Trump agenda and the occupation and are proving to them that they don't represent us.
I'm in this because like so many others in this moment, we are afraid for ourselves, for our friends and family, for our neighbors, and the planet. Through IfNotNow, I have found hope, strength, community, and a deepening bond with my Judaism as I grapple with these issues and fight to have my voice heard.
On March 26, I am participating in the largest demonstration of #JewishResistance in a generation: I am joining thousands of other Jews in D.C. at the annual AIPAC (AmericanIsrael Public Affairs Committee) conference.
The Jewish community needs to be resisting the Trump agenda,but the Jewish establishment is unwilling/unable to take moral leadership both in Israel/Palestine and in this country because of all the fear around Israel.
As long as Trump is on the books as "pro-Israel,"then all other things -- racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, etc. -- seem to get a pass amongst our Jewish communal leaders and establishment institutions. AIPAC is the biggest, most significant example of this.
And by the way – if Trump is "pro-Israel," then his definition of "pro-Israel" is very, very different than our definition of it.
As we say in IfNotNow: "We will be the moral leaders the Jewish establishment refuses to be." So while members of the Trump administration will be inside the AIPAC conference . . .we'll be outside, and if you want to join us, we'd love to be there with you! Here are more details, including a schedule at a glance, for protesting AIPAC.
We can’t make any of this happen without the support of our friends and family. I have pledged to raise $500 to support folks from around the country to get to D.C. for this powerful action, and I have already committed $36 myself.
Can you make a gift before March 24? I am asking you to consider contributing $72, the cost for one person to attend the AIPAC protest. Any amount you are able to give is welcome!
Either way, I want to be in conversation with you about this. I recognize that people have many feelings and perspectives about Israel/Palestine and would love to talk!