On Gaza.Calling for Humanitarian Relief in Gaza, a Path to Peace, and a New Kind of Conversation in the Jewish Community.
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Our Position
Introduction
We, Jews who love and support Israel, believe it's imperative for us to end the silence out of fear of being targeted by other Jews as disloyal or anti-Israel. We must change the narrative that criticism of this current Israeli government is somehow anti-Israel and see it as the only way forward through honest, open, painful and complicated conversation. The current devastation in Gaza serves the Hamas goal of isolating Israel but does not serve the security interests of Israel. The current Israeli government is playing into this hand rather than providing a vision for a new way forward. Therefore, the Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable offers this statement and respectful request.
We, Jews who love and support Israel, believe it's imperative for us to end the silence out of fear of being targeted by other Jews as disloyal or anti-Israel. We must change the narrative that criticism of this current Israeli government is somehow anti-Israel and see it as the only way forward through honest, open, painful and complicated conversation. The current devastation in Gaza serves the Hamas goal of isolating Israel but does not serve the security interests of Israel. The current Israeli government is playing into this hand rather than providing a vision for a new way forward. Therefore, the Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable offers this statement and respectful request.
What does it mean to support Israel at this moment?
Many of our Israeli friends and family have been asking this question for a long time. Now, more than ever, we join them in asking what matters most, and how our Jewish values can guide us through this difficult time.
As Jews who love Israel and believe in its founding promise as a free and democratic homeland for the Jewish people, we were heartbroken by the brutal Hamas attacks on October 7, and now by the devastating toll this war has taken on innocent civilians in Gaza. We are anguished, and we are searching for a path forward that reflects our deepest commitments to life, justice, and peace.
Rooted in our Jewish values, we believe these five critical steps are essential now:
These steps will not be easy to achieve, and we do not pretend that the path forward is simple or certain. But we believe that continued silence and inaction will only deepen the suffering and prolong the conflict. We owe it to ourselves, and to future generations, to do what we can, however imperfectly, to work toward a more just and peaceful future for all.
We ask you to join us, for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, and for all who long for peace.
We ask for those here in our local Jewish community to specifically request our local Jewish leaders to create space and opportunity for this new conversation. This dialogue will allow us to come together to ask the tough questions, think strategically, and examine the realities faced in Israel and in Gaza—all within the deeply shared values of our Judaism. Committing to the five steps outlined above and the courageous conversations requested, we can move toward a safe, secure, and peaceful Israel and region.
Respectfully,
The following members of the Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable Steering Committee:
Fabian Bedne
Kitty Calhoon
Teena Cohen
Erin Coleman
Ron Galbraith
Cindee Gold
Danny Goldberg
Debby Gould
Pat Halper
Lynn Heady
Sally Levine
Robb McCluskey
Deborah Oleshansky
Susan Pankowsky
Judy Saks
Mary Shelton
Arik Shur
Martin Sir
Irwin Venick
Steven Venick
Many of our Israeli friends and family have been asking this question for a long time. Now, more than ever, we join them in asking what matters most, and how our Jewish values can guide us through this difficult time.
As Jews who love Israel and believe in its founding promise as a free and democratic homeland for the Jewish people, we were heartbroken by the brutal Hamas attacks on October 7, and now by the devastating toll this war has taken on innocent civilians in Gaza. We are anguished, and we are searching for a path forward that reflects our deepest commitments to life, justice, and peace.
Rooted in our Jewish values, we believe these five critical steps are essential now:
- The return of all hostages, all at once.
- Immediate surge in humanitarian relief to alleviate the immense human suffering in Gaza, including acute hunger and lack of medical care, especially for children and other civilians.
- A ceasefire and an end to the war, to stop further loss of innocent life and to open the door to diplomacy and long-term security.
- The creation of a new international effort – a kind of Marshall Plan for Gaza – to support rebuilding, recovery, and a future Palestinian state committed to living in peace alongside Israel.
- A new kind of conversation in the Jewish community: one that makes space for grief, disagreement, and hope, and helps us reconnect across generations in pursuit of a shared and just future.
These steps will not be easy to achieve, and we do not pretend that the path forward is simple or certain. But we believe that continued silence and inaction will only deepen the suffering and prolong the conflict. We owe it to ourselves, and to future generations, to do what we can, however imperfectly, to work toward a more just and peaceful future for all.
We ask you to join us, for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, and for all who long for peace.
We ask for those here in our local Jewish community to specifically request our local Jewish leaders to create space and opportunity for this new conversation. This dialogue will allow us to come together to ask the tough questions, think strategically, and examine the realities faced in Israel and in Gaza—all within the deeply shared values of our Judaism. Committing to the five steps outlined above and the courageous conversations requested, we can move toward a safe, secure, and peaceful Israel and region.
Respectfully,
The following members of the Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable Steering Committee:
Fabian Bedne
Kitty Calhoon
Teena Cohen
Erin Coleman
Ron Galbraith
Cindee Gold
Danny Goldberg
Debby Gould
Pat Halper
Lynn Heady
Sally Levine
Robb McCluskey
Deborah Oleshansky
Susan Pankowsky
Judy Saks
Mary Shelton
Arik Shur
Martin Sir
Irwin Venick
Steven Venick