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bringmemyrocks · 4 months

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On the Neturei Karta: Contextualizing criticism of an ultra-religious group

TL;DR: The Neturei Karta is a far-right ultra-orthodox religious Jewish group that is politically and religiously opposed to Zionism and is pro-Palestine. They believe in a strict interpretation of the Torah and are extremely socially conservative. They see Israel as dangerous for both Jews and Palestinians. Like most religious adherents to Abrahamic religions, they believe in end times where a messianic figure will come. Like most people who hold these beliefs, these long-term messianic beliefs are not central to their religion and do not impact their allyship or activism in any meaningful way (think 1000s of years hence, like Jesus returning in Islam, or in Christianity outside of groups who think this is immanent/connected to modern Israel).

Additionally, most orthodox Jews, including ultra-orthodox Jews, are pro-Israel or at least are not pro-Palestine. Most “non-Zionist ultra orthodox Jews” including the Satmar do not support Palestine.

Note: This summary is about anti Zionist ultra Orthodox Jewish groups in the USA. I don't know about all such groups in Jerusalem, but I do know NK has a presence there. I am not arguing that NK are progressive. They are not, but neither are many others across the world who support Palestine. Read this post and make up your own mind.

This post does not go into great detail about all the different types of Judaism or all the different streams of Zionism. Some info will inevitably be left out. I recommend learning more history yourself; the first few chapters of The Hundred Year’s War on Palestine are a great start. Avoid Zionist publications like Jewish Virtual Library.

I highly recommend this interview that Palestinian-ally activist Miko Peled does with NK Rabbi David Feldman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSd_eZ5qcbo&t=32s

Miko is an excellent narrator, and this is one of his best yet.

Brief history of the NK

The Neturei Karta is an ultra-orthodox Jewish group that opposes the state of Israel and actively works against it and supports Palestine. This is different from non-Zionist ultra orthodox Jews who disagree with Israel from a religious perspective, but are still willing to support it politically. The NK believe only the Messiah can establish a Jewish state in Palestine (as an eschatological belief; not a political one), but they do not believe in an enforced Jewish majority at any time.

Their website, NKUSA.org is best accessed through the Wayback Machine, as many of their pages are currently under construction: https://web.archive.org/web/20090228203457/http://www.nkusa.org/aboutus/index.cfm

Instructions for those unfamiliar with the Wayback Machine: https://help.archive.org/help/using-the-wayback-machine/

Summary of NK beliefs re: Zionism

The Neturei Karta believe that no Jewish state should exist in Palestine without the coming of the Messiah. They believe this so strongly that they actively oppose the state’s existence and engage in Palestine solidarity work.

The Neturei Karta also argue that no ultra-orthodox Jew believes in religious Zionism, often citing the lack of Israeli flags in ultra orthodox neighborhoods. This neglects the many ultra-orthodox Jews who support Israeli politically but not religiously.

Such still-politically-Zionist Jews will refer to the state of Israel as “Eretz Yisroel” rather than “Israel” thus acknowledging the land but not the political state’s significance. They will engage in pro-Israel politics, but do not see the Nakba (1948) or Naksa (1967) as religious events. This does not mean that everyone who uses the phrase “eretz yisroel” is secretly a Zionist.

See Yated’s website: this is an ultra-orthodox publication that heavily supports Israel even if they do not believe the state is religiously legitimate. However, politically they are Zionist as in they support Israel.

Glossary

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Jews believe in the divine origin of the Torah, given to Moses at Sinai. They are more strict about dietary laws, laws of family purity, and laws of the sabbath than more liberal or progressive Jews (such as Conservative/Masorti, Reform, Reconstructionist, etc.--all beyond the scope of this post)

Ultra Orthodox/haredi (very broad strokes)

Orthodox Jews who believe in a strict interpretation of the Torah and are more insulated from the larger world, including the Jewish world. They often dress differently and are even stricter about dietary laws, and are more socially conservative than the Modern Orthodox (women often don’t attend synagogue, adhere to very strict rules of modesty, arranged marriages, etc.)

Within the ultra orthodox world, there are hasidic (charismatic, such as Satmar or Chabad, usually following a dynasty, often from Eastern Europe) and non-hasidic groups (everyone else, including haredi sephardim and the Neturei Karta.) The Neturei Karta are not hasidic.

Many ultra-orthodox groups, including the Neturei Karta, would be considered high-demand religious groups (cults). Given how strict they are, I don’t think this is an unfair characterization. I note this because liberal zionists use the NK’s religious stringencies as a means of discrediting their allyship to Palestine. Bad faith, but still worth noting.

Political Zionism:

This is the belief that Jews should establish a Jewish-majority state in Palestine. Popularized by Herzl’s Der Judenstaadt. Plenty of Zionists support Israel without it being a pillar of religious belief for them, but:

Religious Zionism:

This is the belief that the modern nation state of Israel is part of the fulfillment of religious prophecy (you find both Jews and Christians believing this). There are plenty of ultra-orthodox religious Zionists, although ultra-orthodox non-zionists/anti-zionists will claim that these groups should not call themselves “ultra-orthodox.”

Non-Zionist: 2 definitions in the Orthodox world

Ultra-orthodox Jews may describe themselves as not Zionist to other religious Jews to differentiate themselves from religious Zionists. They may still support Israel, just not as a part of their religious faith, or they may oppose it but not be pro-Palestine (see the Satmar Hasidim.) You will probably not run into this on Tumblr or in progressive/pro-Palestine spaces--please don’t use this as an excuse to make anti-Zionist Jews “prove themselves”--you won’t run into these people on Tumblr or at pro-Palestine actions. “Non-zionist” may mean “anti-zionist in all but name” in non-orthodox Jewish spaces.

When I speak about ultra-orthodox religious Jews describing themselves as not Zionist in religious Jewish spaces, this refers only to their interactions with other Jews. If you are not Jewish and someone describes themselves as anti-Zionist to you, you should assume it means they are pro-Palestine unless they make it clear they believe otherwise.

The Satmar (religiously but not politically anti zionist ultra-orthodox hasidic Jews) formally denounced the NK in 1967 (note: the NK were never Satmar, nor were they hasidic at all–this is simply a religiously antizionist sect distancing themselves from those who are both religiously and politically antizionist.)

https://x.com/HQSatmar/status/1744693660787040553

Some orthodox Jews are genuinely politically anti-Zionist. Examples include Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, the Neturei Karta, and plenty of individuals although not many institutions.

More info on ultra-orthodox Jews and zionism at this Pew Research page (I don’t think Pew is great at surveying American Jews, but this particular page on haredim in Israel is interesting): https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/03/08/views-of-the-jewish-state-and-the-diaspora/

This article: https://forward.com/opinion/411615/think-all-orthodox-jews-are-zionists-think-again/

To any Jew, especially someone who knows the orthodox world, there are many over-simplifications here. The purpose of this post is to talk about the Neturei Karta, so I’m glossing over a lot of the intricacies. You’re welcome to fight about “Is Chabad Ultra-Orthodox” in the comments.

Issues of social conservatism (homophobia, misogyny, etc.)

Neturei Karta’s social conservatism

As with virtually all ultra-orthodox Jews, the Neturei Karta are extremely socially conservative. They believe that men and women have distinct roles (thus you never see any women with the NK at protests) and that homosexuality is evil. Women are required to raise children, cannot become rabbis, and have to dress extremely modestly. If you’ve ever seen the documentary “Trembling Before God,” a documentary on LGBT orthodox Jews, the rabbis at the beginning protesting against homosexuality are the Neturei Karta. Again, no women present.

I should note that the Neturei Karta are no more conservative than other ultra-orthodox Jews (and the Modern Orthodox Jewish world has been moving rightward for decades). But many liberal Jews will defend orthodox Judaism, even when it comes to denying children basic education and healthcare. You see this on Tumblr constantly. Orthodox Jews do terrible things and are defended by other Jews because “they’re more visible” and (some) Jews are convinced that any public criticism of orthodoxy will harm Judaism as a whole by making very damaging parts of it look bad.

But these liberal Zionist Jews will never defend the Neturei Karta. Their criticisms of homophobia and misogyny in this particular orthodox group are done in bad faith when they insist (for example) that women and LGBT people are perfectly fine within orthodox spaces. This is false.

TL;DR: Social conservatism is huge in orthodox Judaism. The Neturei Karta are not unique in this.

US Muslim social conservatism

I should note here that most US Muslims and Muslim institutions are socially conservative. (In a similar way to Jewish anti-zionism, there are some smaller openly pro-LGBT Muslim communities, but they are not supported by the larger US Muslim establishment.) Before the Bush era, most American Muslims and Arab Americans were staunch Republicans, supporting free markets and opposing LGBT rights, including LGBT-inclusive curricula in schools: https://newrepublic.com/article/168180/growing-religious-alliance-ban-lgbtq-books

To any liberals reading this in shock, here’s a post detailing how Palestinian American Imam Omar Suleiman is homophobic: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1f7Do7gZei/

Many US and Canadian Muslim leaders can be found alongside conservative Christians protesting against LGBT education in schools, drag queen storytimes, and trans healthcare. Most recently, many Muslim leaders signed a homophobic/transphobic statement “Islam and the LGBT Question: Reframing the Narrative” earlier in 2023: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs9lFR0AcG_/?igsh=bnJubGVodDAxczJz

This is similar to the Nashville Statement against homosexuality from many Christian leaders, or the Torah Declaration on Homosexuality in favor of conversion therapy from Jewish leaders. Muslims are not uniquely homophobic, but it’s important that progressives are aware of anti-LGBT prejudice in Jewish and Muslim communities in order to be good allies to queer Jews and Muslims. Omar Suleiman and the NK are not uniquely homophobic–they are emblematic of institutional prejudice within their respective religious communities. Homophobia/transphobia are not an excuse for genocide.

TL;DR for this section: Supporting Palestine does not make someone socially progressive.

Why aren't there more liberal Jewish anti Zionist rabbis speaking at pro Palestine rallies? Why give the microphone to the NK?

Many rallies do have anti Zionist progressive Jews speak. But they are usually lay people who do not represent Jewish religious groups. They may be independent, or from JVP or other similar groups (IJV Canada, etc), which will show up to pro Palestine actions even if they don't have a speaking slot. More notes on JVP here: https://bringmemyrocks.tumblr.com/post/736264435582238720/i-will-gladly-say-free-palestine-from-the-river-to

It's basically impossible to become a progressive Jewish rabbi as an anti-Zionist. All non-orthodox rabbinical schools that follow the traditional ordination process (5 years of education culminating with ordination, rather than an in-service further education program for those already serving as rabbis) require the candidate to be at least politically pro-Israel if not religious Zionist. All such programs require students to spend a year studying in Israel (generally in Jerusalem, although plenty of Orthodox institutions include a year of study in illegal settlements like Gush Etzion, Bat Ayin, etc.) If an anti-Zionist wants to become a rabbi outside of the NK or other ultra-orthodox institutions, they need to be willing to spend that year in Israel and hold their tongue re: Zionism until they are ordained. That's why so many liberal anti-Zionist rabbis have stories of leaving Zionism–they couldn't have been ordained if they'd left Zionism beforehand.

There are several synagogues in the USA that are friendly to anti-Zionist progressive Jews. However, these synagogues are not usually openly anti Zionist (with a few exceptions) and thus can/do still rely on mainstream Jewish sources of funding, whether individuals or their local JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council). Synagogue councils can also threaten rabbis who speak out and can easily get them fired. Synagogue boards/councils/membership have the authority to fire the rabbi–the rabbi does not own the synagogue. I know several anti Zionist Jewish rabbis with largely anti-Zionist congregations who would still lose everything if they spoke at a pro Palestine rally. Rabbis in this position tend to speak at candlelight vigils rather than at rallies where people are chanting “intifada” (although their congregants often do!) A lot of it comes down to keeping the community in existence *or* letting the world know how anti Zionist they are.

Tzedek Chicago is the exception because of the amount of money they were able to raise–they still don't have their own building, and need to pay for spaces they use. Outside of a tiny pop-up minyan that can fit in someone’s house, saying of a community “this community should be willing to lose everything” isn't reasonable–they would have to shutter completely if they were 100% anti Zionist, not to mention the attacks the rabbis and congregants would get--Tzedek Chicago keeps its online services very secure to keep congregants safe.

Notes on Jewish eschatology and bad faith arguments:

With the exception of religious zionism (see people trying to build the third temple right now), Judaism as a religion is not overly concerned with eschatology (the end of the world). Jews may pray for the coming of the Messiah, but the religion itself is not overly concerned with the Messiah and the end times.

The Neturei Karta, as with many orthodox groups that don’t adhere to religious zionism, believe that when the Messiah comes, he will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Some believe this to be on the same site as Al-Aqsa; some do not. The Neturei Karta believe that the land of Israel (biblically, eretz yisroel) will at some point become governed by Judaism with a third temple built, although they emphasize that Palestinians will stay in the land and everyone will live together peacefully. Again, this is eschatology. It’s not unusual for it to be vague, especially in the Jewish tradition, and nobody is preparing for it immediately.

I was actually inspired to make this post because someone posted this Vashti Magazine article "Neturei Karta are not your Allies" as a gotcha, even though the interview itself clearly shows that the Neturei Karta support Palestine even into their end-times prophecies…I’m not surprised most of the interview wasn’t published. If you look at what the rabbi said versus what the writer claims he said, it’s not even a bad interview. The writer herself notes that these prophecies are vague--I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt that she doesn’t know that much about religious Judaism. A lot of secular Jews are unfamiliar with those who believe in the Torah’s divine origins. This includes activists who support Palestine.

I regard this as a bad faith accusation because this has no bearing on current events. It is no different from Christians or Muslims who believe someday the entire world will be Christian/Muslim. I’m usually the last person to cry Christian-normativity, but plenty of religious people have end-times beliefs that have very little impact on their theology or their politics. This is not analogous to John Hagee the Christian Zionist with his end-times beliefs.

The Palestinian activists and allies I’ve spoken to about this agree with this. One was asked during a Q and A that I attended “what do you think about the Neturei Karta’s belief that in the end times the third temple will be rebuilt?” He responded “we’ll deal with that when the Jewish Messiah comes.” Because it’s an end-times prophecy that they believe they have no control over, not a political position that impacts their allyship. And anyone who isn’t a religious Jew doesn’t believe it will ever happen anyway.

It also bears mentioning that most people who bring up this particular point are themselves liberal Zionists trying to paint anti-Zionist orthodox Jews as actually worse allies to Palestinians than liberal Zionists because of vague beliefs they hold that will never crystalize (unless you are an orthodox Jew yourself). Vashti Magazine’s use of the phrase “Israel-Palestine” leads me to believe this is their motive as well. Thus my accusation of bad faith, particularly when the NK has shown up for Palestine protests for decades.

Accusations of Holocaust denial

The Neturei Karta has met with some less than Jew-friendly individuals throughout their history in the hopes that this will help curb worldwide antisemitism. This gets thrown around a lot by liberal zionists intent on making themselves look better. In 2006, some members of the Neturei Karta met with Iranian president Ahmedenijad. This meeting is often used to accuse them of Holocaust denial, even though the rabbi in question, Dovid Weiss, specifically named the Holocaust re: reasons he doesn’t support Israel.

"The Zionists use the Holocaust issue to their benefit. We, Jews who perished in the Holocaust, do not use it to advance our interests. We stress that there are hundreds of thousands Jews around the world who identify with our opposition to the Zionist ideology and who feel that Zionism is not Jewish, but a political agenda."

The same is true for their attendance at the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust; they strongly believe the Holocaust happened and made sure all attendees were aware. There were Holocaust deniers in attendance, but this conference was not a “Holocaust denial conference” although I’m not going to defend it. One could argue that these particular Neturei Karta members should not have attended such a conference, but they never engaged in Holocaust denial and actively fought against it. Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20070328235234/https://www.nkusa.org/activities/speeches/2006iran-weissspeech.cfm

If you’ve ever heard the Neturei Karta speak, you’d know they don’t deny the Holocaust. They bring it up constantly.

If you don’t like all of the Neturei Karta’s positions, that’s fine. This post is not supposed to make you like them, but rather to explain and contextualize things you may have heard about them.

#neturei karta #anti zionism #judaism #antizionism #nk #history #long post #i

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unbidden-yidden · 9 months

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I'm a Muslim and I feel so disheartened by the amount of people from both Judaism and Islam arguing about whether or not Jewish-Muslim solidarity should be a thing. I always thought we had each other's backs, y'know? It hurts to see people hate each other like this when we could instead be uniting against islamophobia and antisemitism together. We're stronger united than divided (not that I'm upset with you specifically, I know you're chill. I'm just ranting here since I feel safe)

Hi there,

I'm a little afraid to ask where this is happening, although I fully believe you and agree with you. Especially in countries like the US where we are both tiny minorities, we must have each other's backs, 100%. We have so much more that unites us than divides us, and yes, it hurts so much more to see hatred and rejection from those who we *should* be treating like family.

For what it's worth, I view Muslims as our cousins and fellow descendants of Abraham. Islamophobia is not something I tolerate in my personal life or here. Whenever I see Muslims standing up for Jews, it makes me feel so much safer and so loved and I hope that we can return that love and feeling of safety to you as well more often than not. I am glad that this blog feels like a safe space to vent, although I am sorry that it is necessary.

If there are ways that I can help or do better, please let me know. Otherwise, know that I am happy to be a listening ear, hold space, or speak up as necessary.

#jumblr #jewish-muslim solidarity forever #islamophobia is not welcome here

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vague-humanoid · 3 months

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Israeli director receives death threats after officials call Berlin film festival ‘antisemitic’

Yuval Abraham criticises German officials, saying statement devalues term ‘antisemitism’ and puts Jewish lives in danger

Philip Oltermann European culture editor

@philipoltermannTue 27 Feb 2024 13.04 ESTFirst published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 12.45 EST

An Israeli film-maker who won one of the top prizes at the Berlin film festival has said German officials’ description of the awards ceremony as “antisemitic” has led to death threats and the physical intimidation of family members, causing him to hold off plans to return to Israel.

Yuval Abraham, 29, was on Saturday awarded the Berlinale’s best documentary award for No Other Land, which charts the eradication of Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta in the West Bank.

Abraham’s acceptance speech, in which he decried a “situation of apartheid” and called for a ceasefire in Gaza, was one of several moments during the closing ceremony in which film-makers expressed solidarity with Palestine. It sparked an outcry in German media the following day, with several politicians alleging the speeches had been “antisemitic”.

“To stand on German soil as the son of Holocaust survivors and call for a ceasefire – and to then be labelled as antisemitic is not only outrageous, it is also literally putting Jewish lives in danger,” Abraham told the Guardian.

“I don’t know what Germany is trying to do with us,” he added. “If this is Germany’s way of dealing with its guilt over the Holocaust, they are emptying it of all meaning.”

Abraham said he had planned to return to Israel the day after the closing ceremony, but that he changed his plans during a stop-off in Greece, when he learned that Israeli media outlets were describing his speech as antisemitic, with some citing German officials.

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grits-galraisedinthesouth · 8 months

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An Update from anonymous in Israel and a personal note from me:

*Hamas threatens execution of the hostages.

*1000 Israelis murdered on Israeli soil. The numbers keep rising. There are a few hundreds struggle for their lives in hospitals.

*At the strongholds of Hamas in Gaza whole neighborhoods were wiped out.

*Deputy commander of a Brigade killed in a confrontation with terrorists from Lebanon. Must be Hezbollah. Israeli doctrine is the commanders physically lead which can have a high price.

*The White House was lightened with blue and white Israeli colors. Solidarity. Will take it even if don’t like the occupants right now. We miss Trump.

*The Head of the Joint Staff of the US had a talk with the IDF Chief of Staff about making American Military support in the region stronger. My Interpretation: American fleet is on the way to deter Iran and Hezbollah from joining the war. We in Israel don’t like it. Israel should not rely on anyone else. Specially not Biden. Again , we miss Trump. On second thought it does feel good to know we are not alone even if the move is symbolic.

*Netanyahu -“What we will do to Hamas will eco for generations.” “We will treat them like ISIS” (like treating ISIS.)

*Biden – “11 Americans were killed in the attack”.

*My ____told me that the largest hospital in the North (Rambam Hospital) is converting the parking structure to a hospital space. It’s the north. Could mean preparation for a war in the north with Hezbollah.

*IDF- “Tens of terrorists were eliminated in the past day.”

*IDF – “So far we attacked 1707 targets.” Air Force.

*The leaders of the US, Germany, Italy, UK, France in a joint statement condemning the attack, warning others from joining the war and saying they support Israel. The Globalists are supporting Israel. I wonder why and for how long?

*The popular Telegram channel in Gaza is pleading not to publish names of terrorists because “the IDF is bombing their homes”. Some terrorists will be homeless and familyless. There is a black list of all the involved. Israel is known to have a long memory. All the involved directly or indirectly are going to die. I am sure.

*American Israeli in Miami – a wealthy guy- is organizing an operation room with volunteers. Arranged and arranging flight tickets for Israelis who are reservists abroad who want to come to fight. The numbers are confidential but I am sure that there are thousands who are coming back to fight. But the airport is closed. But airlines are getting prepared to help with this effort as soon as they can.

*Speaker of the National Security of the US (or whatever it is called) John Kirby is choking on live TV when asked about the images of the kidnapped. He is saying they have no direct intelligence of Iran’s involvement in this attack. (Israel will know the whole chain to the top shortly. From prisoners and other means).

Love, Shalom & God Bless you all my friends.

From me, GRITS on Tumblr:

I'm sharing the updates to encourage prayer. God loves EVERY human being, no matter your family of origin. Even those who deny his existence or seek to destroy Him are loved by Him. Why? Because He is Elohim who created everyone. He made a covenant with Abraham and God will NOT break His promises. If the entire world turns against Israel (and according to prophecy Ezekiel 38 & 39), that day will come), God alone will fight for them. This does not mean their government is good or righteous. Their government is corrupt just like the American government. It does mean that God keeps His promises in spite of politics and in spite of governments.

If you would like to pray for our world, I recommend reading aloud & meditating on the Psalms. We all have our favorites but in light of current events, start at Psalms 120 and just keep going. There are many translations. The ESV The NCV The CEV are more modern but less flowery/romantic.

If you are a Christian, you are commanded to "Pray for peace in Jerusalem" (psalm 122:6)

We don't need to understand the politics. Our job is to pray for peace.

For my friends here who are not Believers, I offer you the psalms. There is something very special about these words. We believe they were inspired by God Himself and preserved for thousands of years by a small group of Hebrew people. It was out of these tribes that God gave us our Lord Jesus who we believe is the prophesied Messiah, the Christ.

The Jewish leaders were expecting a political messiah to rescue them from a corrupt government---a political KING. God sent them a lowly, adopted son of a carpenter who waited until age 30 to begin a 3 year ministry. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Unfortunately they didn't realize their greatest need was not political, but soul salvation.

Jesus, God's only son came to be the bridge between us and the Father.

Allegedly (Steve) founder of Apple Computers said, "God sent His son on a suicide mission but we forgive Him because He gave us trees."

I can see how people feel that way, but it was more than a suicide mission---It was a redemption mission: Him for us. One day we will all stand before our Creator and none of my "good works" will be enough to overcome my sinful heart. I was born a sinner but Jesus stands in the gap for me. I deserve death as the penalty for my sinful heart but Jesus defeated death. Now I will live forever with Him. You can too.

Maranatha!

#israel #pray for the peace of jerusalem

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mariacallous · 8 months

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(JTA) — When I was 18 years old, like many American Jews, I spent a gap year in Israel. At a right-wing army-prep program called Mechinat Yeud, located in the illegal settlement of Efrat, I learned Torah, went on hikes and practiced krav maga. I fondly look back at this year as a positive experience and a time when I matured as a young adult.

I also saw the daily mechanisms of the occupation, though I didn’t have the vocabulary to articulate this.

Over that year, I saw Palestinians whose cars bore different license plates than those driven by Jews. I saw a checkpoint between Israel and the West Bank that was a formality to Jews like my friends and me but very real to the Palestinians living right next to us. Though I finished my year in Yeud with a strong desire to live in Israel, I also knew that I couldn’t be complicit in Palestinian oppression.

I eventually moved to Israel and threw myself into anti-occupation activism, spending weeks and months at a time in Palestinian communities in the West Bank. In addition to the bureaucratic oppression that Palestinians face on a daily basis, I saw — and sometimes was a victim of — the settler violence that plagues the West Bank.

During the American civil rights movement, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel famously referred to his protesting as “praying with his feet.” This past Yom Kippur, when the rabbis of the Talmud tell us to fully prostrate ourselves during prayer, I asked for forgiveness with my whole body by spending the Day of Atonement in Ein Rashash, a Palestinian Bedouin shepherding community located 22 miles northeast of Ramallah. Its residents had requested a 24/7 presence from solidarity activists due to threats from the nearby Israeli outpost of Malachi Hashalom.

According to a United Nations report released on Sept. 21, 1,105 Palestinians fled their homes and villages in 2022 and 2023. The report stated that settler violence is at a record high since the U.N. began documenting the trend in 2006.

This report includes the villages of Ein-Samia, Al-Qabun, al-Baqa and Ras al-Tin. All of these villages were located near Ein Rashash, and like Ein Rashash, the communities all relied on shepherding for their livelihood. Settler attacks in the Palestinian towns of Huwara and Turmus Aya, frequently described as pogroms, have received attention within Israel and internationally.

Ein Rashash has faced similar settler violence and harassment. Shortly upon entering the village, one can see where settlers shattered the windows of homes and destroyed an outhouse in an attack in June. The community is considering leaving their land just like the community of Ein-Samia and many others have done.

In response to this violence, a group of activists, most notably Rabbi Arik Ascherman, is spending long periods of time in Ein Rashash — located north of the ruins of Ein-Samia — to use our privilege as a de-escalating presence. When non-Palestinian activists are around, settler violence is less likely. Ein Rashash and the nearby villages are all located in Area C, the portion of the West Bank under full Israeli control as per the Oslo Accords. The Palestinian residents do not have Israeli citizenship, and they are subject to military law as opposed to the civil courts through which Israeli settlers are tried. “Protective Presence” activism is utilized in other communities in Area C that face regular threats of settler violence and home evictions, such as Masafer Yatta. I have done several shifts already, and I volunteered for the Yom Kippur shift.

I was accompanied by five other activists. The first thing we did was assign roles in case settlers came. Who would call the police or other activists? Who would film? Who would stand in front of a settler’s car if he tried to enter the village or drive through a flock of sheep? These are normal conversations in this line of work.

There is no break during Protective Presence activism. Either there’s an immediate incident, or you’re waiting for the next one. Every unfamiliar car or person in the distance can be a settler coming to attack or harass or bringing soldiers to force Palestinians off their land. A drone from the nearby outpost hovered overhead for around 30 seconds, and I was on edge for the next hour. You sleep with one eye open. Jewish holidays often bring with them right-wing violence in Israel and the West Bank. Hate crimes were carried out in Bat Yam this year and last year, and in 2021 there was a settler pogrom in the Palestinian village of Mufagara.

This is exhausting and emotionally draining. Unlike many other Protective Presence shifts I have participated in, Yom Kippur ended without incident.

After 25 hours, I had the privilege of going home to Jerusalem. Palestinians do not have this option. This is their life.

According to Torah, on Yom Kippur the Israelites are told to “afflict themselves.” The rabbis concluded that self-affliction must refer to fasting, reasoning that “affliction” refers to something that, when taken to a certain extent, can lead to death.

Life under occupation can, and does, lead to death. One look at the statistics makes that all too clear. Since 2000, 10,667 Palestinians in the occupied territories have been killed by Israeli soldiers or civilians.

Protective Presence is my self-affliction. And yet, in homage to Yom Kippur’s imagery of being sealed in the Book of Life, life goes on. Activists laughed with and got to know each other and our Palestinian hosts. We read and we ate delicious homemade food. We didn’t embrace misery as a form of repentance. We embraced the full spectrum of life.

I believe fasting is mentally, physically and spiritually unhealthy. The only self-affliction I find meaningful is in sharing the pain — and the joy — of my fellow human beings, particularly in a way that lightens their pain and suffering. The people of Ein Rashash have told us that our presence is making their lives easier and helping them stay on their land. The children are laughing and playing in a way that they were not when we first started these shifts. This has been the most meaningful Yom Kippur I’ve ever had.

In Mishnah Yoma 8:9, we learn that repentance on Yom Kippur only allows us to atone for the sins between ourselves and God. For a sin against another person, one must “satisfy their fellow.” We don’t need to ask God for forgiveness. We must stand with the Palestinians suffering under Israeli rule, until they’re satisfied.

I know that it’s not a matter of if the settlers will be back, but when. For as long as that’s the case, I will continue to pray with my body and sometimes “self-afflict” in the name of justice and equality. The Talmud states self-affliction does not absolve one from their sins towards other people, only those towards God. And yet, our sins towards other people are the ones for which we direly need to repent.

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arcadialedger · 10 months

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“"If God had not meant for such diversity, he would have made us all alike"

— Shannon Chakraborty, ‘The Adventures of Amina Al- Sarafi’

Not to be dramatic but this book is so good and changing my life.

Not only is it an entertaining adventure, I am learning so much about Islam and as a Christian feeling to much Abrahamic solidarity as a person of faith. We truly have so much more in common than we do different.

Anyways I signed up for a fun pirate romp and instead am getting theological education and having a spiritual experience.

#the adventures of amina al sirafi #shannon chakraborty #amina al sirafi #books #fantasy #pirate #pirates #pirate story #muslim #islam #religion #faith #abrahamic faiths #the arcadia ledger

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documentationofcorruption · 6 months

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How To Support Palestinian Liberation In a Jewish-Friendly Way: Solidarity And Things To Remember

1.) Make a distinction between the Israeli government/IDF and Jews. Don't say "Jews are committing war crimes against Gaza." Say "the IDF is committing war crimes against Gaza." The Israeli government uses the same trick against Palestinians.

2.) Remember there are Jewish people who face discrimination in Israel such as the Ethiopian Jewish population and Arab Jewish diaspora population.

3.) Don't let non-Jewish Zionists steal Jewish trauma for their own gain. Warmongerers like Biden and the GOP want Palestine gone so they can build military bases and harvest the abundance of gasoline in the Gaza Strip.

4.) There are grifters who are taking advantage of the human rights abuses against Gazans in order to spread anti-Semitism. Always keep an eye out for anti-Semitic dogwhistles like "((()))" along with stereotypes like Jewish people controlling everything.

5.) Please keep the Nazi/Holocaust comparisons at a minimum. The Nazis aren't the only ones in history who have committed genocide. If you are going to make them PLEASE just have sensitivity regarding Jewish generational trauma.

6.) Fight out of love for Palestinians and condemn those who fight out of hatred for Jews.

7.) Remember there are Jewish-run advocacy groups inside and outside of the Israeli state. In the Israeli state especially any sort of effort to fight for Palestinian Rights is highly dangerous. Back the people fighting Netanyahu's regime.

8.) Right now condemning anti-Jewish hate crimes is crucial because just like with anti-Palestinian hate crimes, they have been on the rise. Synagogues are being vandalized and there has been a shocking increase of Nazi ideology online. Condemning bigotry against Jewish people makes Jewish people feel safer and also benefits Palestinian liberation. By making Palestinian advocacy circles a safe place for Jewish people it becomes harder for governments to use anti-Semitism accusations.

9.) Plenty of Jewish people are pro-ceasefire and want to end the violence in Palestine so harassing random Jewish people online and spamming their comments is counterintuitive. Also, the Star of David predates the state of Israel by a couple centuries.

10.) Be there for your Jewish friends and show that Palestinian liberation can and must coexist with fighting anti-Semitism. The cycle of trauma can only end by bridging it and calling out those who exploit and perpetuate it.

Anyways.

I hope that one day the dreams of the first Palestinian socialists, a secular land where all people of Abrahamic descent are protected from discrimination, will be born; a place where Jewish people never have to fear another Holocaust and where Palestinians never have to fear another Nakba.

Never again for anyone.

(disclaimer: I am not Jewish, but want to be an ally to my Jewish friends and make sure to gatekeep Nazis and alt-right bullshit from Palestinian advocacy. I want to help keep the Palestinian liberation movement a safe place from fascist ideology. Jewish friends feel free to add to this or share your thoughts. My account is meant to be a safe place.)

#palestine #gaza strip #free gaza #gaza #free palestine #israel palestine conflict #current events #israeli apartheid #apartheid #gaza genocide #fight anti-semitism #support jews and palestinians #palestinian liberation #cycle of violence #ceasefire now #never again #never again for anyone

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biggerbetterbat · 27 days

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WITH YOU II | [10] THEN

Daryl Dixon x oc!Charlie

Summary: Charlie’s having doubts about Alexandria and it’s worthy. A big news change her perspective and plans.

Warnings: none?

Words: 2.597

A/N: I really like this chapter, even though it’s short.

"Take care of my daughter," Rick said as he touched the cheek of his daughter.

"I will."

"Listen," "Alexandria isn't like everywhere else we've been. It's a place where we can build something better, something worth fighting for."

Charlie turned her eyes away from him.

"They're good people, Charlie," Rick tried again. "Lost...but good."

With a sigh, she met Rick's gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of doubt and hope. "I want to believe you," she admitted quietly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But it's not that easy."

"I know," he nodded. "Just...give it a try, while we're gone. You can't go through life not trusting anyone."

"I trusted you."

"Exactly," he smiled. "So do it one more time."

earlier…

As Charlie made her way to the infirmary, her steps slow, she couldn't shake the weight of guilt that hung heavy on her shoulders. The memory of her violent outburst against Gabriel weighed heavily above her.

She pushed open the door still looking at her covered in blood arm.

"Is there someone who could treat this?" Charlie asked.

Once she entered the room, she was greeted by a bunch of people who shouldn't be there. Glenn covered in dirt and blood, Nickolas who looked as bad as her best friend. Worried Rosita. However, there was no sight of Peter or Denise. There was even woken up and conscious Tara.

"Oh, God," she gasped. Charlie's heart skipped a beat as she watched her friend's eyelids flutter open, the faintest glimmer of consciousness returning to her gaze. "I was so worried about you."

Tara returned the embrace with a weak but heartfelt squeeze, her gratitude shining through despite the pain that still lingered in her eyes. "I'm okay."

"Eugene," Tara said, while looking behind her, signing that the man entered the room. "Nothing happened to your hair...Okay. You're freaking me out," she said as the man smiled and Charlie had to admit that it was a scary picture. "Somebody want to send Noah in here to protect me?"

Her smile faltered, replaced by a solemn expression as she struggled to contain her emotions.

"What?" Tara asked with a visible tension in her voice.

Trying to push aside her sadness, Charlie cleared her throat and changed the subject, her voice barely above a whisper. "Could someone take care of it?" she asked, gesturing towards her bruised arm.

Once Charlie left the building, after long moments with Tara, the cool night air embraced her like a familiar friend, offering a moment of respite from the chaos that still lingered within the walls of Alexandria. As she glanced around, her eyes landed on Sasha, standing alone in the darkness, her silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of moonlight. Sasha had always been a solitary figure, her grief and pain a silent burden she carried with her wherever she went.

"Sash!" Charlie called.

The girl turned to face her.

"Tara is awake."

"That's good to hear," Sasha replied, her tone subdued but genuine. "Oh, God...that's so good to hear."

"You should visit her."

"Isn't she asleep?"

"Oh, I think she's had enough sleeping," Charlie smiled.

Sasha chuckled and nodded her head, before she made her way towards the infirmary, Charlie fell into step beside her. On their way, on the stairs to one of the buildings, Abraham's rugged frame lay there motionless. As Sasha and Charlie approached, he met their gaze with a small, knowing smile, his eyes filled with a sense of quiet resolve. Without a word, Abraham raised his hand, two fingers forming a peace sign as he held their gaze.

"Go," Charlie said. "I'll take care of him."

With a sense of camaraderie and trust that transcended words, she settled beside him, their shoulders brushing against each other in silent solidarity. Beside her, Abraham sat in silent contemplation, his expression unreadable but filled with a quiet determination that echoed her own.

"It was a hard night."

"Damn sure it was," Abraham nodded. "What happened tonight... it triggered something in me. Something I've been trying to forget for a long time."

Charlie just sat there, she knew all too well the scars that a person could suffer, the memories that haunted them long after the fighting had ended.

"Reg and Peter...He was right next to me, you know?" Abraham said. "His face blowing up like Pompei...I think I have his brains in my ear..." he chuckled.

Feeling the weight of Abraham's pain pressing upon her, Charlie leaned closer, her presence a silent anchor in the storm raging within him. With a gentle touch, she rested her hand on his back, offering a wordless gesture of comfort and solidarity.

As another day dawned over Alexandria, Charlie found herself standing alongside Daryl, their silhouettes framed by the soft morning light filtering through the windows of Deanna's workroom. Leaning against the wall, they awaited the start of a community meeting - after Heath, a man from supply group, came back.

Memories of a similar gathering back on the farm flooded her mind. The one, when they were deciding whether to kill Randall or let him live. She couldn't help but think of Dale, who had once guided them through the trials and tribulations of their early days together. Quickly, she shook hear head, before she could bring back the picture of his death.

"My team, we saw it early on," Heath said. "Back when we were on one of those first scouts, finding out what was around here. There was a camp at the bottom. The people, they must have blocked the exit with one of those trucks back when everything started to go bad," he tried to recall the picture. "They didn't make it. They were all roamers. Maybe a dozen of them."

"No one's been back since?" Maggie furrowed her eyebrows.

"D.C." Heath shrugged. "Every town worth scavenging, they're all in the other direction. And I never really felt like having a picnic next to the camp that ate itself."

"So, all the while, the walkers have been drawn by the sound, and they're making more sound, and they're drawing more in." Michonne concluded.

"And here we are," Rick spread his arms. "Now, what I'm proposing, I know it sounds risky, but walkers are already slipping through the exits. One of the trucks keeping the walkers in could go off the edge any day now," he said. "Maybe after one more hard rain. That exit sends them east. All of them. Right at us. This isn't about if it gives, it's when."

"This is terrifying," Carol said. "But it doesn't sounds like there's any other way."

"Couldn't we build up the weak spots?" asked man whose name she couldn't even bother to learn. "I can draw, I worked with Reg."

"It's about the sound," Charlie rolled her eyes. "Building up the exits won't change that."

"We're gonna do what Rick says," Deanna said, ignoring the doubts of her people. "The plan is laid out."

"We're gonna have Daryl leading them away."

She furrowed her eyebrows, her mind swirling with doubts and fears about giving Daryl such dangerous task. While she admired his strength and resilience, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that this task was gambling with fate. Before she could protest, another voice broke the silence.

"Me, too," Sasha said. "I'll take a car, ride next to him."

"I'll go with her," Abraham said. "It's a long way to white-knuckle it solo."

"All right. We'll have two teams," Rick announced. "One on each side of the forest helping manage this thing. We're gonna have a few people on watch from now on. Rosita, Spencer, Holly. They're out. So, who's in?"

"Me," Michonne said.

"I'm in," Glenn nodded.

"I'd like to help as well," Gabe proposed.

"No," Rick cut it short. "Who else?"

Rick's gaze fell upon Charlie, a silent plea for help reflected in his eyes. "We can't control that many," she said finally.

"I said it before," Rick answered. "Walkers herd up. They'll follow a path if something's drawing them."

"I know how it works, Rick," she said annoyed that he was explaining something like this to her.

"Great, then you should know it's the only way."

"I'm out," Charlie said.

"What?"

"You heard me," she said. "I don't care about any of those people or this place. We should leave them to deal with their shit."

"Enough!" Deanna stopped any further bickering.

With a heavy sigh and a furrowed brow, Charlie's frustration with Rick reached its boiling point. She had tried to reason with him, to make him see the potential dangers of their plan, but he had remained stubbornly set in his ways. Unable to contain her annoyance any longer, Charlie made a snap decision. Without a word, she turned on her heel and walked out of the house, her footsteps echoing loudly in the silence of the room.

Alone with her thoughts, Charlie allowed herself a moment of quiet reflection. With a heavy sigh, she leaned back against the railing, her gaze drifting upwards towards the clear sky. She knew that she couldn't continue to stand by and watch as her friends put themselves in danger, but she also understood the importance of finding a way to work together towards a solution. She had been frustrated with Rick's decisions, so she couldn't deny the sense of relief that washed over her at the sight of Daryl's familiar face instead of his.

Without a word, he settled onto the stairs beside her.

For a long moment, they sat in silence, the weight of their shared worries hanging heavy in the air between them.

“I won’t change my mind,” Charlie announced.

“I know,” he nodded and bit his lip.

“I’m surprised you agreed to it,” she said. “Rick's plan is too risky. We need to find another way."

Daryl nodded in understanding, his expression somber. "I get where you're comin' from, Charlie," he replied quietly. "But we gotta trust Rick.”

“I trust Rick,” Charlie snapped. “More than anyone. I was the first person who trusted him and blindly followed him, when everyone was blaming him, remember?” Charlie looked at Daryl, but his glance was still away. “But those people? I couldn’t care less,” she stopped to point at Deanna’s house. “They lived for two years in a comfort. They should have taken care of that camp when the camp was a small group not a whole herd. They brought it on themselves, because they’re stupid and now, they want is to take care of this and risk our lives!”

“So? This place can be our fina stop, Charlie,” he said. “You want to run through life? Not looking around? Without looking for something worth fighting for?”

"I think we should leave this place," she stated firmly, her eyes pleading with him to understand. “I hate it here. It brought us nothing but problems.”

"I hear ya, but we gotta stick together," he said, his tone pleading. "We can't afford to be divided right now."

Charlie's jaw clenched as she weighed Daryl's words. "You can't be serious," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration. “You wanted to leave!”

“I’m trying to protect what’s left of us,” Daryl said.

“You hate this place,” she protested.

"I'm tryin' to do what's right for our group, whether you like it or not."

"Fine," she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain. "You stay here and play hero if you want. But I'm not sticking around to watch this place fall apart."

“Charlie, wait!”

“No!” she stopped and looked at him. “You will recall my words one day.”

The air was charged with tension and anticipation, each member of the group steeling themselves for the challenges that lay ahead. With a heavy sigh, she watched as her friends gathered their supplies and prepared to depart. Charlie felt a hand gently rest on her shoulder, and she turned to find Glenn standing beside her, his expression a mix of concern and understanding.

“So you stay behind?” Glenn asked.

She shrugged.

“I don’t judge you,” he said. “Actually…I’m happy. You and Maggie away from the danger.”

“Yeah,” she whispered.

“Listen, I know you will be taking care of Carl and Judith, but…” he said and Charlie looked at him. “Could you have a look at someone else?”

“Who?”

“Maggie.”

As Glenn's request lingered in her mind, Charlie couldn't help but feel a surge of confusion washing over her. Why would Glenn want her to look after Maggie while he was gone? Wasn't she more than capable of taking care of herself?

“Maggie?”

“She’s…We’re having a baby,” he said while running fingers through his hair.

As Glenn's words hung in the air, Charlie felt the world around her shift on its axis. Pregnant? The word echoed in her mind, sending shockwaves of disbelief coursing through her veins. She struggled to process the magnitude of what Glenn had just revealed, her thoughts swirling in a whirlwind of confusion and concern.

"Are you serious?" she finally managed to stammer, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Are you angry?” he asked. He couldn’t read her expression and the thought gnawed at him, filling him with a sense of unease as he struggled to understand her reaction.

“Are you crazy?!” she called. With that, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, her embrace filled with warmth and reassurance. “I’m so happy for you. Congratulations. You're going to be an amazing dad."

They held each other close. In the comfort of their embrace, the worries and uncertainties of the world outside faded into the background, replaced by a quiet sense of peace. Charlie closed her eye, trying to remember the feeling of his embrace. And he did the same, pulled her closer to feel her closer to his body. As they finally pulled away from each other, a sense of gratitude filled the air between them. In Charlie's embrace, Glenn had found solace, a reminder that no matter what challenges they faced, they would always have each other to lean on.

“Thanks,” he said. “I’m just glad I can finally tell you.”

“Does anyone know?”

“We didn't want to worry anyone until we knew for sure."

Charlie's eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, "I'm going to be an auntie!" Her voice filled with joy and anticipation, her heart brimming with happiness.

"I know," he replied, his voice filled with emotion. "I can't wait to meet him or her. It's going to change everything."

Her gaze lingered on him, taking in the familiar contours of his face, the warmth of his smile, and the unwavering determination that shone in his eyes. With a soft smile and a heart full of gratitude, Charlie reached out to take Glenn's hand in hers, a silent gesture of solidarity and support.

As Charlie's gaze drifted from Glenn, she noticed Maggie standing a short distance away, her eyes filled with warmth and affection as they met Charlie's. A smile tugged at the corners of Maggie's lips as she knew that Glenn shared the news, and Charlie couldn't help but return the gesture.

“Now you have to promise to be back,” Charlie said. “Or you want your baby to be raised by me.”

“Oh, God. Please no,” he groaned, but smiled at her and intertwined their fingers. His thumb caressed her delicate skin. “Thank you, Charlie.”

“Don’t mention,” she waved it off and wanted to move away.

“No,” he strengthened his grip. “Thank you…for being with me. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

In that moment, as she looked at her friend, she understood that leaving Alexandria was out of question ,now, that Glenn was having a baby. She couldn't turn her back on the people who had become her family, nor could she ignore the responsibility she felt towards the new life that was about to enter their world.

In Glenn's eyes, she saw reflected the same sense of duty and determination. He was ready to so everything in his power to create a world for his baby. He didn’t care for those people, he cared for his family. She may have wrestled with doubts and fears, but in the end, her loyalty to her friends and her community outweighed all else.

#daryl dixon #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon series #daryl dixon twd #daryl dixon x reader #daryl fanfiction #daryl the walking dead #daryl twd #daryl x reader

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a-queer-seminarian · 11 months

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A Queer Look at Hagar's Story

A short reflection on this Sunday's lectionary text, Genesis 21:8-21

Name changes occur throughout scripture, but there is only one instance in which a human being directly names God!

That person is Hagar — the woman enslaved and then cast off by God’s own chosen people, yet who recognizes God's solidarity with her in a way that resonates with many marginalized folk, including queer & trans people of faith.

Back in Genesis 16, Hagar is forced to conceive a child with Abraham — her bodily autonomy denied — and then suffers abuse at Sarah's hand so painful that she prefers almost-certain death in the wilderness. While waiting to die, God comes to her, nourishes her, encourages her with the promise of a better future. For a time, Hagar must return to her oppressors.

This is a hard message, but It may resonate with queer and trans people who make the hard choice to find what safety they can while in the closet, or who choose to remain in relationship with family or faith communities that have caused them harm.

It also isn't the end of Hagar’s story: when the time is right, God leads her out — as told in this week’s text in Genesis 21.

Sarah continues to abuse Hagar, with Abraham as a passive bystander and enabler. In a society where only one of Abraham's sons can inherit his wealth and blessing, Sarah sees Hagar's son Ishmael as a threat to her son Isaac, simply by existing! In our own day and age, this myth of scarcity persists, causing us to hoard resources and compete needlessly.

Sarah cannot stand to see Hagar's child playing with her own son — as if they were equals! As if a slave boy should be having a moment of fun! She reads something sinister into the play — not unlike how some people today read sinister things into queer play, into drag queens and gender expansive youth.

Having convinced herself that Hagar and her son are a threat, Sarah gets Abraham to cast them out.

But again, God is with the outcast; God comes again to Hagar, who in Genesis 16 had given God the name El Roi — "God sees me.” This God is the god of her oppressors, yet Hagar recognizes that this god is her God as well! This god is a God who sees the suffering of the lowest of society, and responds.

God sees queer and trans people, too. God is our God, too — those who hate us do not have a monopoly on the Divine!

And God walks with us through every struggle, fueling us to fight the good fight and promising blessings to come.

___

Questions for reflection:

When have you witnessed God coming to the Hagars in our midst?

When has your community behaved like Abraham & Sarah, hoarding God's love as if there were not blessing enough to go around?

Can you imagine a world in which Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar meet again? What would Hagar need to feel safe to meet with her former abusers? What would Sarah & Abraham need to do to make things right?

___