Youth violence: Newsletter for parashat “Ki Teze” ›

Victims of molotov attack by settlers, Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, West Jerusalem, 18.8.2012 | cc: flickr, Activestills.org

This week we learnt additional details about the violent incidents that occurred at Bat Ayin and at Zion Square in Jerusalem.  Those involved in the incidents are youth (in Zion Square) and 12-year-old children (who are suspected of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the vehicle of a Palestinian family). At this time the school year has started and many parents are taking their children to 1^st grade. We need to raise the issue of the public, social and Jewish moral responsibility of the parents, of the government and of us as citizens in our children’s education. But such a change in values must come with a change in budget within the social budget of the government of Israel. Shabbat Shalom.

Weekly parasha

Several years’ ago, I heard a little about Darfur and I tried to examine how to speak about the issue of Darfur from a Jewish perspective.  It is worth mentioning that in Israel the voice of Darfur was very little disseminated, whereas among the Jewish community in America it was a significant issue several years earlier when charitable Jewish international organizations intervened and sent assistance to the inhabitants of South Sudan.  Different kinds of assistance were given, including solar cooking surfaces in order to reduce the danger of  encounters with the Jinjawid militias (when the women go to collect firewood).  The activities of these organizations derive from the religious duty to save every human being. In Israel the subject came to public notice in particular when South Sudanese refugees found an escape route from South Sudan to Israel. This placed Israel in a new dilemma.  To some extent,Israel’s actions were post factum and did not come from a wish to help those whose lives were in danger. Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch challenges the limits of the policy of deportation and the status of the refugees in Israel.

This week

• Thursday, 30.8.12 at 07:00 – The struggle at the absorption center in Mevaseret is continuing and spreading to the whole country.  From the morning until 19:00 there will be a national anger and protest strike of the Ethiopian community in the center of Mevaseret and other centers all over the country. Demonstrations in front of the Jewish Agency’s offices are planned.

• Friday 31.8.12 at 09:00 – Visit to South Hebron Hills - We will visit the fire zone and some of the villages that are in danger of being destroyed. Come to hear and see, get explanations and ask questions. Transportation at 09:00 from Tel Aviv and at 10:00 from Jerusalem. For details and signing up please call: Tel Aviv –Alma054-2292474, Jerusalem– Lee 054-3043483.

• Friday 31.8.12 – The weekly demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem.

• Saturday, 1.9.2012, 19:30 – The Haifa Front: Demonstration next Saturday evening!! March from Gan Yitzhak (Gliker) at 19:30, assembly at the Horev Centre at 20:30.

• Sunday, 2.9.12 – A demonstration for the Negev Arabs’ rights at Lehavim junction.

The week that was

Tuesday for the public housing – As you probably heard, the threat to evacuate the Al Aju family was averted. This happened also because of the many letters  you sent. Thank you.

Tuesday 28.8.12 at 08:00 the security forces demolished structures in Palestinian Susya, but we still can prevent the total destruction of the village. Join the new page of the campaign against the villages in the South Hebron Hills: 1800 Palestinian are facing eviction because of the 918 fire zone in the South Hebron Hills.

Natanya Ginzborg went to Hadassah to visit the young man who had been attacked in Kikar Zion in the middle of Jerusalem and the Palestinian family who had been attacked. Read her experience.

Palestinian rights in the occupied territories 

Testimony from South Hebron Hills - On Monday (27.8) in the evening was Haj Ismail (in the picture) was attacked by 4 masked people with a knife. He was injured in his face, his ear, neck and hand. At the time of the attack Haj Ismail was attacked he was herding his sheep and goats on Bir El Id lands (South Hebron Hills). His little daughter noticed the attack. The masked people returned to Mitzpe Yair outpost and Ismail was on his way to the hospital in a military ambulance.

Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann condemns Jewish fundamentalism and calls for an end to the distinction between Jewish and Palestinian terrorism. He asserts that responsibility for neutralizing the extremism falls on the prime minister and on the government ministers.

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 “Kolot Yehudiim” – Beit Midrash for Human Rights.

Needed students for Everett program - This year we have the possibility to receive students who for working with us 8 hours a week participating in 4 Friday meetings will receive from Shatil a yearly scholarship of 9,000 NIS.

RHR on the Media

Rabbi Yehiel Grineman published a column in Walla News.

Shabbat Shalom

If you found this story important/shocking/touching, and you want to help us to change the situation, please donate here and strengthen the Jewish voices that see in every human being the image of God.