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The mission of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace is to educate and mobilize American Jews in support of a negotiated two-state resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Grassroots Leadership Training Institute & Join us in Washington to build our movement and spread our message during this critical election year. Help us to build on our momentum as we bolster the political will of the present Congress. Help us maintain the momentum to enable the next administration to move Israeli-Palestinian peace to the top of the agenda. Register • Draft Agenda • Lodging • Fees • Scholarships • Report from 2007 Action Alert! Call Today: Ask YOUR Rep to Promote Israeli-Palestinian Peace on Israel's 60th! Next week President Bush travels to the Middle East and will celebrate Israel's 60th birthday. Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Ray LaHood (R-IL) have a perfect birthday gift idea: reinvigorate Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking! The Price-LaHood sign-on letter to President Bush is the first constructive, pro-peace Congressional initiative to address the ongoing violence in Gaza and southern Israel. It calls on the President to prevent the crisis from undermining progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks by urging efforts to achieve a Hamas-Israel ceasefire and an end to the Gaza blockade. [Take Action] • [View the Current list of Signers] Israel's 60th: Reflections, Resources, & Activities Brit Tzedek's Rabbinic Cabinet has developed peace-oriented resources for this important anniversary year in a new guide,"Pointing the Way to Peace and Security: A Resource for Rabbis and Cantors on Israel's 60th Birthday." It includes reflections by prominent rabbis, suggested synagogue-related peace activities, a bibliography of recommended reading, a timeline of "defining moments" in the Arab-Israeli peace process, and stories from an Israeli and Palestinian who were personally involved in the events of May, 1948. [Read more] • Download the Text here • Order a copy of the guide Action Alert! Tell Bush: Peacemaking Takes More Than Idle Words! "A Palestinian state is a high priority for me and my administration...I'm confident it can get done...I appreciate a chance to talk about peace." (President Bush, 4/24/08). Offering pleasantries about peace won't be enough to make real progress towards a two-state solution. Please contact President Bush today and demand vigorous U.S. engagement to produce tangible, on-the-ground changes in the West Bank and Gaza now! [Take Action] Liberation and Obligation The Biblical story of Pesach, the story and the very notion of exodus from Egypt, stand at the root of what is today known as "liberation theology," faith ideas about a Divine imperative to free the slave, the weak, the small, the few, from the master, the strong, the giant, the many. [Read more] Building Momentum for Israeli-Palestinian Peace Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations are in a tenuous position. Yet, in this election season, the candidates are talking about almost every key domestic and foreign policy issue except the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Help us build the momentum of people to enable the next administration to move Israeli-Palestinian peace to the top of the agenda. [Read more] Tuning in to the Back Channels of Peace Talks Advocating for peace between Israel and the Palestinians has never been simple, or easy. We often have to work against conventional wisdom and harmful policies, sometimes with little open support from our decision makers. It's a lot like the peace negotiations themselves. [Read more] IPCRI Tour Going Strong After 7 Cities Gershon Baskin and Hanna Sinioria, co-directors of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI), will continue touring with their message of hope and peace to Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, and finally Providence. [Read more] The American Jewish Community Takes Another Step Towards Peace After weeks of violence and tragedy in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, hopes for a final peace agreement by the end of this year are fading rapidly. Nevertheless, Brit Tzedek continues to organize and advocate in the American Jewish community for a two-state solution, and we are pleased to share an exciting development that demonstrates a real move towards peace in the American Jewish landscape. [Read more] Brit Tzedek Mourns Victims of Jerusalem Yeshiva Shooting Steve Masters, President of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, issued the following statement in response to today's terrorist shooting at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem that left 8 students dead and many wounded. [Read more] Action Alert! Hamas-Israel Ceasefire Now! In the past week, Palestinian militants fired over 700 rockets into Israel -- killing one father of four, wounding many, and reaching as far as the city of Ashkelon -- and the Israeli military engaged in its largest operation in Gaza in two years, leaving over 100 Palestinians killed, including many civilians and children. To prevent the violence from escalating even further, the U.S. must diplomatically intervene and call for a Hamas-Israel ceasefire now. [Take Action] Brit Tzedek Launches 10-City Tour with Gershon Baskin & Hanna Siniora Brit Tzedek v'Shalom is pleased to announce that our 10-city speaking tour with Gershon Baskin and Hanna Sinioria, co-directors of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Development (IPCRI), will launch March 1 in Atlanta, Georgia. The tour will then proceed across the country: Boston, Western Massachusetts, Ann Arbor, Detroit, San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, and finally Providence [Read more] • Tour Schedule Brit Tzedek Welcomes Breaking the Silence/Shovrim Shtika to the U.S. Brit Tzedek v'Shalom is co-sponsoring an exhibit and organizing chapter events with members of the Israeli group Breaking the Silence/Shovrim Shtika (BTS) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cambridge, MA. The exhibit includes over 100 photographs and video testimonies by current and former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers documenting their experiences in the occupied territories. [Read more] Plotting the Middle Path to Israeli-Palestinian Peace The Role of American Jews In the groundbreaking new book, Righteous Indignation: A Jewish Call for Justice, leading rabbis, intellectuals, and activists explore the relationship between Judaism and social justice. Significantly, the book contains an entire section dedicated to exploring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including a chapter (excerpted below) by Brit Tzedek's Interim Executive Director and former National Advocacy Chair, Diane Balser. [Read more] The Crisis in Gaza and Southern Israel: What Happened and What's Next? Akiva Eldar, chief political columnist and editorial writer for the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz, will give us his on-the-ground perspective of the recent events in Gaza and southern Israel, including the Gaza blockade and breach of the Gaza-Egyptian border, the recent suicide bombing in Dimona, and the fallout from the Winograd report in a town hall conference call this Sunday, February 10. [Read more] Action Alert! Tell Bush: Support Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, End Gaza Blockade Now! This week, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flooded out of Gaza through the recently breached border crossing with Egypt in order to purchase food, medicine, cement, mattresses, and household supplies. Last week, over two hundred Qassam rockets were launched by Palestinian militants into Sderot and elsewhere in Israel's northern Negev.This escalation of violence and punishment must end, and for that to happen, the U.S. must intervene. [Take Action] Tu B'Shevat: Truth and Justice, Trees and Land The holiday of Tu B’Shevat begins Monday at sundown. This "New Year for Trees" is one of the ways that we Jews have made a strong connection to the trees and land of Israel throughout the millennia of exile. [Read More] On the Ground: A Daily Report from Israel and the West Bank Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, in a pilot partnership with Meretz USA, is co-sponsoring a symposium in Israel and the West Bank this week. The delegation is meeting with Israeli and Palestinian political and grassroots leaders of the peace movement, as well as seeing first hand the effects of the occupation to gain an understanding of the realities affecting Israeli and Palestinian lives on a daily basis. [Read more] • Read the Journal Jewish Peace Group Seconds President's Declaration: "The Time is Now" Diane Balser, interim executive director of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, the country’s largest and most vibrant grassroots Jewish peace movement, issued the following statement today in response to President Bush’s first visit as president to Israel and the West Bank this week, during which he met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [Read more] Action Alert! Tell Bush: Action is Needed More Than Words For the first time in his presidency, President Bush will travel to Israel and the West Bank this coming week (January 8 and 9) in a clear effort to accelerate negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Please urge President Bush use his visit to bring Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations back on track and ensure that all sides live up to their commitments to peace! [Read more] Israel is moving away from the right; So must American Jews It's never been easy to talk within the American Jewish community about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly during those difficult years in which the Israeli government itself was obstructing or actively opposing substantive peace talks, and the U.S. government failed to engage on almost any level. [Read More] Jewish Clergy Organize for Peace and Justice Among the most extraordinary aspects of Brit Tzedek's work has been the deep involvement of rabbis and cantors. We have put considerable effort into organizing Jewish spiritual leaders across the nation and they have become one of our key constituencies. [Read More] Let Us Not Remain The Jews Of Silence The American Jewish community has been one of Israel’s most stalwart supporters since its foundation. We rightly see the Jewish State as our spiritual home, and in times of trouble, never fail to stand by Israel’s side. [Read More] Action Alert! New Senate Letter Calls for Proactive U.S. Engagement and Israeli Settlement Freeze; Urge YOUR Senators To Sign Today! Senator Chris Dodd (CT) is circulating a powerful sign-on letter to Secretary Rice that applauds her work at the Annapolis peace conference and calls on her to press both Israelis and Palestinians to honor their commitments to reach a final status agreement, including a freeze on all settlement construction. Please call YOUR Senators today and urge them to sign the Dodd letter to Secretary Rice! Do not wait! [Read more] Brit Tzedek Welcomes First Post-Annapolis Peace Talks Brit Tzedek Calls on U.S. to Move Peace Process Forward, Oppose Actions that Undermine Peace, and Support an Israel-Hamas Ceasefire. “The events of the past weeks, which have so clearly created obstacles to relaunching peace talks, underscore the critical need for sustained and active U.S. engagement to ensure that both sides abide by their commitments under the Roadmap and avoid taking actions that undermine the peace process,” said Brit Tzedek president Steve Masters. [Read More] Eight Chanukah Lights of Peace As we prepare for Chanukah, American Jews have greater hope for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than we have had in years. When the holiday is over, the bilateral negotiations arranged at Annapolis are to begin. It is, indeed, as if a candle has been lit in the darkness. [Read More] • Donate to Support Brit Tzedek Annapolis: What We Think, Where We’re Going, What We Did... The much anticipated Annapolis peace conference is over. Final status peace negotiations will soon begin with the goal of creating a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. Over the past weeks, Brit Tzedek has led the charge to rally American Jewish and Congressional support for the peace conference, and we will continue until we reach our goal. There is no turning back. [Read More] What happens AFTER Annapolis? Analysis by Daniel Levy Daniel Levy, Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Policy Initiative at the New America Foundation and the lead Israeli drafter of the Geneva Initiative, provides an in-depth analysis of the Annapolis peace conference in Brit Tzedek’s Town Hall Conference Call. • Listen Online • Download the Podcast 528 Sign Brit Tzedek Rabbinic Call on Annapolis and the Next President Brit Tzedek's Rabbinic Cabinet has raised a resolute call to American Jews, Kindle the Lights of Peace, urging their support for efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks at the Annapolis peace conference and encouraging all of the presidential candidates to support Israeli-Palestinian peace. View the Call • See List of Signers • See Call in the Forward • FAQ • View the Press Release • Annapolis Conference Resources Israeli and Palestinian Perspectives on Annapolis Brit Tzedek asked two of our allies, Naomi Chazan, professor of Political Science and former Member of Knesset with the Meretz party in Israel, and Rafi Dajani, the Executive Director of the American Task Force on Palestine, to answer several questions about the upcoming Annapolis peace conference, tentatively scheduled for November 27. [Read More] No Turning Back If we support Annapolis rather than succumb to our skepticism, if we demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt to the White House, to Members of Congress, and to the presidential candidates that American Jews stand behind genuine peace efforts - we can change history. [Read More] 135 Reps Sign Ackerman-Boustany; Thank YOUR Rep Today! Thanks to your advocacy, 135 Members of Congress signed on to the Ackerman-Boustany letter to Secretary Rice in support of the Annapolis peace conference. That is more signers on a constructive pro-peace, pro-Israel letter than we have seen in years! [Read more] 5 Years Of Keeping Our Eyes On The Prize One my favorite Civil Rights Era anthems has the refrain: “keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.” As we look back on our impressive accomplishments from our first five years, it is abundantly clear that we've held on and kept our eyes on the prize. [Read More] Thank you Stepping down from her role as founding president, Marcia Freedman offers her reflections on the past five years and says "thank you" to Brit Tzedek v'Shalom. [Read More] Beyond the Rhetoric: Understanding Hamas The specter of Hamas - what they will and will not do - haunts nearly every discussion about a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...In order to answer our questions, we researched and developed this "backgrounder" on Hamas. We hope it provides an overall understanding of their origins and what the future may hold in store for them and for those of us who advocate a negotiated settlement in the Middle East. [Read More] [Executive Summary PDF, DOC] [Download the Backgrounder PDF, DOC] Brit Tzedek Welcomes Rice’s Call for Clarification on E-1 Plans Brit Tzedek v'Shalom welcomed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's call for the Israeli government to clarify its plans to expropriate a significant swath of Palestinian land in the West Bank, known as the E-1 region. [Read More] Let's Talk...to the Presidential Candidates Brit Tzedek v'Shalom is launching a new campaign,"Let's Talk to the Candidates," to move beyond general platitudes about supporting Israel into discussing the specifics of what we believe is a truly pro-Israel position—bringing lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. [Read More] Action Alert! Feinstein/Lugar Pro-Peace Bill Reintroduced; Contact YOUR Senators Today! Senators Feinstein and Lugar reintroduced their important Senate resolution calling for active U.S. engagement to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and now is the time to give it a new momentum! [Read more] Simchat Torah: The Possibility of Joy and Hope Simchat Torah marks the end, and the beginning, of the endless cycle of Torah reading in our communities. It's easy to see such delight, such light-hearted pleasure, as a momentary respite from the serious work of tikkun olam, repairing the world, to which we are called. [Read more] Action Alert! Tell Bush: Prevent Violent Escalation in Gaza; Support Ceasefire Talks Now! Another deadly round of fighting seems imminent in Gaza, as Israel threatens a major military invasion and Hamas threatens a massive response. Urge President Bush to prevent this escalation of violence before it starts and to support an Israel-Hamas ceasefire now! [Read more] Gaza Offensive Will Enflame Tensions, Hinder Peace Prospects Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, calls on the White House to urge Israel to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, whether through backchannel talks, a neutral third-party or other indirect forms of diplomacy. [Read more] Sukkot: Restoring A Sense of Movement and Freedom With Yom Kippur just behind us, our thoughts turn now to the festival of Sukkot (sometimes known as the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles). [Read more] Brit Tzedek Online News September 2007 Read the latest news about Brit Tzedek v'Shalom's work on the local, national and international level. [Read more]Happy New Year 5768: Let us be Harbingers of Everlasting Joy Just before the shofar is sounded in the third movement of the Shofar Service on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish people plead "Lead us with song to Zion Your city, with everlasting joy to Jerusalem, the place of Your sanctuary..." [Read more] A Palestinian Legislator Speaks Out: An Interview with Jihad Abu Zneid Brit Tzedek's Deputy Director Aliza Becker spoke with Palestinian Legislative Council member Jihad Abu Zneid about her assessment of the present situation. Abu Zneid is a Fatah council member from East Jerusalem and the founder and director of the Women's Center of the Shuafat Refugee Camp in East Jerusalem. We discussed the critical issues facing the Palestinians including the political separation of Gaza from the West Bank and the economy in addition to the role of women. [Read more] A Recipe for Successful Peacemaking Surprisingly, the violent military takeover of Gaza by Hamas in early June and the formation of a national emergency government in the West Bank, led by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, has led many in Israel and the US to see a new "window of opportunity" for peace amidst the upheaval. [Read more] Letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Due to the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza as well as the welcome increase in US engagement in Middle East diplomacy, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom sent the following letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday, August 10, 2007.[Read more] Feinstein/Lugar: Next Steps The Senate did not vote on the Feinstein/Lugar Resolution before it adjourned for its August recess. When the Senate comes back from recess after Labor Day, Brit Tzedek will be prepared to renew our strong advocacy for passage of the resolution, building on the momentum of having 36 cosponsors. [Read more] The Power of the Pro-Israel,
Pro-Peace Grassroots The Feinstein/Lugar resolution is significant for its constructive, pro-engagement content in a Congress that regularly introduces legislation that demonizes Palestinians, places sanctions on desperately needed aid, and otherwise undermines U.S. efforts to promote peace negotiations. [Read more] Brit Tzedek Activists Organize, Advocate, and Make an Impact in the Nation’s Capital From June 16th to 19th, 120 Brit Tzedek activists from across the country converged in Washington, D.C. to take part in four intense days of organizing, training, networking, and advocating in support of our pro-Israel, pro-peace message. Check out the links below for more info on the Grassroots Leadership Training Institute and National Advocacy Days 2007. • Report from DC • Photos from DC • Congressional Reception Transcript and Audio • Testimonials from Participants • Media Coverage • Agenda and Workshops • Rabbinic Guide to 40 Years of Occupation Brit Tzedek developed the “Rabbinic Guide to 40 Years of Occupation” as a way of engaging congregations in considering the unintended political consequences of Israel’s occupation and to frame the discussions rabbis will be leading across the country in the coming weeks. Download the Rabbinic Guide (PDF) • Read the Press Release • Order a Printed Copy of the Rabbinic Guide • Review the Table of Contents "Let's Talk": A campaign from Brit Tzedek v'Shalom "Let’s Talk" urges the Bush Administration, in its final two years, to urgently promote and facilitate talks between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon. It is also a campaign to encourage dialogue among American Jews about the path to peace for Israel. [read more] From Tel Aviv to Hebron: A Report on 40-Year Anti-Occupation Events
It is already hot in Hebron at 11 a.m. as 300 of us disembark from the comfortable bullet-proof buses which started out in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be'er Sheva, buses which passed through the checkpoints outside Kiryat Arba and inside Hebron itself, and -- accompanied by IDF and police vehicles -- down one of the main thoroughfares of the city, past Palestinians gathered outside their small stores and auto repair shops, past young boys carrying containers of soup given out on Tuesdays, past Christian tourists in red baseball caps. [Read more and see pictures] Steve Masters, President-Elect On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to congratulate Steven David Masters on his becoming President-Elect of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom. As Brit Tzedek's first President-Elect, Steve will serve as a member of the Executive Committee, will continue to be a leader of Brit Tzedek's advocacy efforts, and will play a leading role in our fundraising efforts. He will become our second President in November of 2007. [Read more] On the Ground with Israelis and Palestinians and Viewing the Occupation Up Close These two installments of a tour report covering our travels in Israel and the occupied territories this past March and April. In the first installment, you?ll find highlights of conversations with leaders and activists involved in a variety of initiatives aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and addressing the damage the conflict has done. In the second installment we try to convey in pictures and in words some of what we experienced.[Read part one] [Read part two] Wrestling with the Conversation About Israel I would argue, though, that without active dialogue and struggle over what is the best course for American policy vis-a-vis Israel, we will not be able to find the true path towards a genuine peace, an end to the conflict, and the acceptance of Israel in the Arab world. [Read more] Action Alert! Urge your Rep. to Cosponsor Mideast Peace Envoy Resolution Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) introduced a powerful resolution calling on President Bush to appoint a special envoy for Middle East peace, H.Res.143. A high-level, permanent U.S. envoy to the Middle East could help break the current impasse between Israelis and Palestinians by providing vigorous and persistent engagement to return both sides to the negotiating table. Please tell your Representative to cosponsor H.Res.143 today! [Read more] Talking about Peace: A Tour Report Brit Tzedek was pleased and proud to host a 22-city speaking tour with the Israeli-Palestinian group Combatants for Peace in Jewish communities across the United States. The tour, from January 8 to February 9, 2007, was a resounding success, bringing the voices of Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation to the heart of our community. [Read more] International Women's Commission for a Just and Sustainable Israeli-Palestinian Peace Brit Tzedek v'Shalom since its founding has consistently given recognition to the leading role that the Israeli and Palestinian women's peace movements have played in advancing the cause of a non-violent and just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The establishment a year ago of The International Women's Commission for a Just and Sustainable Israeli-Palestinian Peace (IWC) composed of of 20 Palestinian, 20 Israeli and 20 internationally prominent women, is a new and important development in this trajectory. [Read more] A very special thank you to Naomi Chazan & Romy Shapira for helping us with this piece. |
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