The abyss opened its jaws: Newsletter for parashat “Shoftim” ›

The Palestinian baby who was wounded together with his family, by the throwing of a Molotov cocktail (by settlers) at a Palestinian taxi, near the settlement of Bat-Ayin

For a long time we have been warning about the increasing settler violence near Bat Ayin. The harassment came to a head with the throwing of a Molotov cocktail at a Palestinian taxi which resulted in injuries ranging from moderate to severe of five members of a Palestinian family. Within Israel, too, we warned about growing violence and our wish for a reduction in tension and for reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis. However, the lynch that took place in Kikar Zion showed that Israeli society has reached depths which have not been seen before. The prime minister has a duty to take Jewish, human and moral responsibility,  and call for an end to violence and to restore order with the help of the security forces.  In parallel, the Minister of Education must instill in our society values common to Jews and Arabs and not cause the abyss to open its jaws.

Who will anoint a king: Dvar Torah – Parashat Shoftim 

The discussion about establishing a regime raises the important question of the need for a king, a monarchical system, as against a system of judges and officers of the law. Rabbi Sigal Asher examines the exercise of justice in the monarchical system as part of her dvar Torah on parashat Shoftim.

Next Week

The battle for the house of the al-Ajo family continues – stop the eviction!

Registration for students has opened for the Everett programme | We operate a Centre for Human Rights in Hadera as part of our work as “Rabbis for Human Rights.”  This centre helps vulnerable members of the community (among them Moshe Silman whom we helped in his fight with the establishment). This year we are able to take on a student who, in return for volunteering 8 hours a week with us and attending four Friday meetings, will receive from Shatil a year’s grant of 9,000 NIS. The programme will begin on 21.10.12 and end on 14.6.13.

At Tag Meir they need volunteers to carry out the mitzvah of visiting the sick and visit the family that was injured at Bat Ayin, that is hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Karem.

Last Week

On 16.8, Thursday, the village of al-Arakib was destroyed for the 41^st time.  Several weeks ago, an apartment was found in Jerusalem for refugees from Eritrea.  We are trying to raise money to help them.

Six Palestinians, among them five members of one family, were injured moderately to seriously on 16.8 when their car was burnt between Bat Ayin and Givaot (it seems from a molotov cocktail being thrown).  They were taken to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem.  The Forum of TagMeir Organizations (of which we are a member) condemned the criminal attack and sent get well greetings to the injured and “Eid Said” greetings to all Muslims inIsrael and abroad.  Tag Meir organized the next day a delegation that went to the village of Nahalin.

The demonstration is under the heading “Government of wealth and racism – responsible for violence!” was held on Saturday  night by “Hamaabara“.  Following the lynching that Jewish youngsters committed in an Arab young boy, the demonstrators walked to Kikar Zion

Palestinian rights in occupied territories

Now is the time – send a letter and demand: cancel the destruction of the village of Susya in the South Hebron Hills and the eviction of its inhabitants, let them return to their lands that they were driven from in the past and stop expropriating land.

Education Department

Register today for the programme of Kolot Yehudiim – Beit Midrash for Human Rights

The Media

This week we were mentioned on Channel 2 as one of the organizations active in the South Hebron Hills.  New research shows that women waiting for public housing suffer from three times as many mental problems and phobias as other women. Rabbi Idit Lev was a guest on the programme “Seder Yom” on Reshet Bet in a discussion about this. Watch the social action television film against the destruction of the village of Susya in the South Hebron Hills.

Shabbat shalom

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