lie'wish Witnesses For Peace

T

he following is a transcript of
leaflets distributed outside the
U-M Hillel open house by Jewish
Witnesses for Peace:
As Jews and friends of Jews who
respect Judaism and its values, we
feel a need to open discussion about
the risks to Jews involved in the
community's current support of the
state of Israel and its actions. We
contend that the actions of the
Israeli government are antithetical to
the precepts of Judaism and to the
memory of those who perished in
one of the worst of the 20th centu-
ry's genocides.
"Is the remembrance of our rela-
tives enhanced by supporting the
continuous confinement of
Palestinians into smaller and smaller
ghettos? Where in the Torah does it
say that the demolition of another 's
home, built on their own property, is
allowed?
"Does Judaism allow for requiring
Palestinian women to deliver their
babies at checkpoints because they
are not allowed to travel to their
doctor? Does it comfort you to know
that now by courtesy of the Israeli
army, some Palestinian men have
serial numbers marked on their arms
just like our own relatives?
"Is there somewhere in the Talmud

worked tirelessly for a just peace which
will insure Israel's security and achieve
peace and self-determination for the
Palestinian people. We hope the New
Year will bring a year of peace and jus-
tice for all.
"I think there are a lot of issues and
clearly many have issues with the sub-
stance of what they're saying, as I do.
Clearly many feel that it being outside
the synagogue is an insinuation that
nobody inside or nobody associated
with the synagogue is working toward
peace or is concerned for peace in the
Middle East, which is not true."

Reaction At Hillel

At the Sept. 3 open house, Hillel
attendee Brad Sugar, a 21-year-old
from Evanston, Ill., said that while he
felt the group was free to express itself
and its political opinions, in front of
Hillel was not the right place to do it.
This is where we go for everything,
for religious services, for social func-
tions, for some of our meals and just

SUPPORTS
ISRAECS
RED CROSS.

that justifies the killing of a family
walking across their own field? Is the
uprooting of a farmer's olive trees on
his land, and destroying his liveli-
hood justified somewhere in the
Torah or Talmud?
"Certainly Isaiah had something to
say about that subject. The situations
[above] happened because of actions
by the Israeli government and have
been reported in mainstream Israeli
media.
"Some have happened with great
regularity.
"These questions must be dis-
cussed seriously in the Jewish com-
munity along with some more: will
there be any moral authority left in
Judaism after the support for the
actions of the state of Israel? Will we
be able to read "thou shall not kin"
or "thou shall not steal" from the
Torah without wincing? Can
Judaism as a religion and the Jewish
people survive its support of the
policies of the state of Israel?
"If you wish to begin the discus-
sion with us you may talk to us here
or contact us at your convenience.
We are: Henry Herskovitz, Sol Metz,
Marcia Federbush, Blaine Coleman
and other Jewish Witnesses for
Peace. [e-mail:]
vigilannarl3or@hotrnalcom

getting together," he said as he and his
wife, Shaina, paused their debate with
a Jewish Witnesses for Peace member.
"I think that the protestors should
have been a bit more respectful and
understand the sanctity of the institu-
tion in front of which they stand."
Joseph Zanger-Nadis, 19, of New
Haven, Conn., who also went to talk
to the protestors outside, felt the
protests did not exactly correspond to
the Hillel event being held, which he
saw more as social than political.
"I just feel like I'm here as a young
Jewish guy looking to meet other
young Jewish people and eat some
kosher food, and I think it's a pity that
people who want to initiate a dialogue
about Jewish-related issues such as the
situation in Israel feel they have to
stand out in the street with signs
instead of going inside and talking to
all of us, who'd be happy to hear what
they have to say," he said.
Inside Hillel, students were collect-
ing information from the more than
CONTROVERSIAL VIGIL on page 24

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