For the past year, I’ve been organizing with IfNotNow - a rising movement of young American Jews to end our community’s support for the occupation. IfNotNow is grounded in Hillel’s 3 questions:
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?
These questions guide us in fighting for our own liberation as Jews, as well as standing up for freedom and dignity for all people and responding the the urgency of the moment.
Like so many of us in this moment, I am afraid for myself and for my friends, my family, my neighbors, and the planet.
But I also have hope. Over the past three weeks, IfNotNow has brought more than 2000 people into the streets under the banner of #JewishResistance. You can see photos from our “Day of Jewish Resistance” in 30 cities here. You can see local Philly actions here.
We are calling on the American Jewish establishment to stop its silence and come out against Stephen Bannon. We know our alliances with other targeted groups is both the right choice for our security and to live out the values inherent in our tradition.
Over the next few months, we will continue to build the #JewishResistance by mobilizing locally and across the nation. We want to start new IfNotNow hives (local chapters) across the country, train hundreds more people as members, and bring thousands more into the streets. We will continue to tell our story to the Jewish community and to the world. The Jewish establishment’s morally bankrupt support of Israel’s occupation, and now President-Elect Donald Trump does not reflect the values of the American Jewish community. We will stand with our friends and neighbors and all people as we fight for freedom and dignity for all here in America and abroad in Israel/Palestine.
However, we can’t make any of this happen without the support of our community. I have pledged to raise $1500 to support this work, and I have already committed $54 myself. I am asking friends and family to consider contributing $36 for two doses of life for this tough year ahead of us. However $18 or any amount is also greatly appreciated! .
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.