Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace

The following is an article from the Jewish Review (Oregon), from July 1st, 2002

Oregon Women Join Peace Group
by Paul Haist, Jewish Review Editor

Sandy Polishuk of Portland was one of about 150 people who attended a four-day conference recently near Washington, D.C., marking the formation of a national Jewish group that describes itself as "pro-Israel" and "anti-occupation."

She is one of two Oregon women active in the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace (Brit Tzedek v'Shalom).

The other Oregonian is Clare Kinberg, editor of the Eugene-based Jewish feminist journal Bridges. Kinberg is a board member of the group. The JAJP or Brit Tzedek, as its members call it, calls for an end to the Israeli "occupation" of Palestinian lands, evacuation of Israeli settlements in occupied territories, the establishment of a viable Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel based on the 1967 borders, and a just resolution of the Palestinian refuge problem that takes into account the needs and aspirations of both peoples. These are four of the group's seven founding principles.

The organization's mission is to provide a voice within the American Jewish community for those who support these and related positions and to lobby Congress and the White House.

Kinberg was instrumental in creating Brit Tzedek. She said that the initial response to organizational efforts was "surprisingly large." She said planners heard largely from those "who felt there was a void of people who could speak out of their love for Israel - not just (be) critical of Israel."

Kinberg expressed grave sadness over continuing Palestinian terror attacks. "We deplore these acts of cruel violence for the immeasurable pain they perpetuate on Israeli civilians as well as on the collective psyche of Jews everywhere," she said. "We implore Palestinian and Muslim leaders everywhere to exercise all influence to stop these terrible attacks."

She added, "The Sharon government's harsh military response to attacks on Israeli civilians has only increased the numbers of such attacks." Polishuk also addressed the violence by Palestinian terrorists. She said, "It's obvious we can't stop them with armies. What will stop them is justice."

For Polishuk and others in the new group, justice requires recognizing and responding to the pain and hardship experienced on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

"It's only logical that when people feel attacked, and especially weak people, that they want to strike back," said Polishuk. "I truly believe most Palestinians want to live lives like most people and would have no motivation to violence in their own state." Polishuk cautioned against fully buying into popular scenarios or narratives of the Middle East situation.

"For us as Jews to be wedded to the belief that our narrative is the only truth is a mistake," she said.

Speaking of the Palestinians, she added, "Their pain is one of the things we as Jews need to understand."

The groups 24-member board and 70-member advisory committee includes many well-known Jewish activists, among them former Israeli Education Minister Shulamit Aloni, Chana Bloch, Rabbi David Cooper, Nan Fink Gefen, Grace Paley, Gloria Steinem, and Rabbi Arthur Waskow. Polishuk expressed interest in bringing together people here who share the Brit Tzedek values.

"We'd need to decide together what a local program would be," she said, pointing to options such as lobbying, bringing in speakers, and self-education projects.

Persons who may want to work with Polishuk in support of Brit Tzedek goals may contact her by email at brittzedek@aol.com or by regular mail at PO Box 12471, Portland OR 97212.

More information About Brit Tzedek, including membership information and fees is available at the group's Web site: www.btvshalom.org.