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Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace
Chapter Activities
Houston, Texas
Brit Tzedek's national tour, "Selective Refusal: Towards a More Secure and Democratic Israel", March 31, 2003:
Text of Joanne Witt's Introduction to Ishai Menuchin on March 31, 2003
Good evening, my name is Joanne Witt from Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace; along with the Tikkun Community of Houston, I am proud to welcome Ishai Menuchin. Houston is Ishai's first stop on a multi-city tour that includes Boston, Chicago, and Madison, Wisconsin. Last night, Ishai received the prestigious "Oscar Romero Award for Commitment to Truth and Freedom" from the Rothko Chapel. This human rights award is presented periodically to persons who distinguish themselves by their courage and integrity in defense of human rights.
Who is Ishai Menuchin?
- He is:
- A major in the Israeli Defense Forces reserves
- A founder and chairman of Yesh Gvul ("There's a limit"), the soldier's movement for selective refusal
- A lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- A Ph. D. candidate working on his thesis called " Moral Obligations, Justifications, and Civil Disobedience in a Democratic Society."
- A married man and father of three
- A brother
- And I could go on and on but
- Most importantly, Ishai Menuchin is a man, who has a strong sense of his values and is willing to stand up and let it be heard when he disagrees with actions that are against his conscience
When Ishai was in his mid- twenties, he witnessed an incident in the Occupied territories that shook his very moral core, that is the interrogation of a Palestinian man accused of setting off a grenade, it later turned out to be the wrong man - Ishai can relate this story far better then I.
What I find moving about this story and Ishai, is that in our teens and twenties, it is so easy to follow our passions, but as we get older and see more of the world around us, we often bend to the opinion of those who speak the loudest. It is sometimes safer, easier, to listen to those voices, and repeat what is said, -- but don't be fooled because when our morals and values become a little bit flexible it becomes a slippery slope. When do we stop comprising? It is a constant challenge to stay on the path, the path of what we believe is the right and moral behavior.
What I admire most about Ishai is that he still holds fast to what he values. So let us give a warm welcome to Ishai Menuchin who will lead us in a discussion on: "Selective Refusal: Towards a More Secure and Democratic Israel".
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