Jewish Core Values Under Attack

Click here to visit the RabbisLetter.org website and watch the video of support for divestment. In a few weeks, the United Methodist  Church will make a crucial vote on  whether to divest from companies  that profit from the Israeli occupation.  A few months later, the Presbyterian  Church-USA will vote on the same  issue as well. These churches, and the people of  faith behind these initiatives, are  already being viciously attacked for  saying what many of us have been  saying all along: that the Israeli  settlements in the West Bank  and East Jerusalem must go and that  the Israeli occupation must end  because a true foundation for peace  between Israelis and Palestinians can only  be based on justice and equality for all. They are taking a stand, with their own  resources fueled by their faith—and so must we. That is why a number of rabbis from Jewish Voice  for Peace's Rabbinical Council got together and  wrote an open letter—and we even made  a video—expressing our support for these  churches.Please take a moment to watch it! We believe that investing in a companies that  profit from the Israeli occupation furthers injustice,  reduces the chances for peace, and is contrary to  the Jewish values we hold dear.  We take on the challenges raised by the churches'  initiatives to stand up for those core values. This is what I have learned about the companies  the churches are addressing with their proposed  actions: Caterpillar profits from the destruction of  Palestinian homes and the uprooting of Palestinian  orchards by supplying the armor-plated and  weaponized bulldozers that are used for such  demolition work.  Destroying homes is not a Jewish value. Motorola Solutions profits from many aspects of  the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip,  including developing perimeter surveillance systems  installed around dozens of Jewish-only settlements  in the West Bank, built on Palestinian land.  Defending stolen property is not a Jewish value. Hewlett-Packard provides ongoing support  and maintenance to a biometric ID system installed  in Israeli checkpoints in the occupied West Bank  which deprive Palestinians of the freedom of  movement in their own land and allows the  Israeli military occupation to grant or deny  special privileges to the civilians under its control.  Discrimination is not a Jewish value. The Jewish values we hold dear will be in evidence  tomorrow, as we sit down at the Passover Seder  table and recount our story of slavery and deliverance.  We will remember our bondage, an experience  we do not wish upon ourselves or others.  We believe in freedom/herut for all.  And  we stand together with others who share the  same belief. We hope you will too. Happy Passover, Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council