This week, the Jewish members of QAIA wrote a note to our community -- just a resource list, really, and some encouragement to get out from under the
. The occasion was the Israeli Consul's talk at Congregation Beth Simchat Torah.
QAIA members handed the letter to folks on their way into the service. The only person who shoved it back at us came back later for a clean copy. Rabbi Kleinbaum came out to make sure we knew we were welcome inside. After Aharoni's glib talk about how to recruit Israel supporters, it was clear that many congregants were not buying it. So, another nice Friday evening in Manhattan.
May 25, 2012
Dear LGBTQ Jews…
Shabbat shalom! Here’s a resource list for those of us who
object to Israel’s human rights violations, and who refuse to bear that burden
on our souls.
As LGBTQ Jews of conscience, we stand for the human rights
of all people, everywhere. As Jews, we accept our particular responsibility to
challenge Israel – to refuse to let Israel speak for us when it builds
Jews-only neighborhoods, roads and schools. To refuse the demonization of
Palestinians who resist the violent domination of their lives by Israeli
settlers and soldiers. To refuse to be told that, as Jews, we should be loyal
to the Israeli government, rather than human beings and principles.
We don’t just stand for those things – we stand up. When the Israeli government uses “the Jewish people”
as cover for its crimes, there’s no room to be neutral. Jews of conscience have
to act. When Israel uses gay
rights to pinkwash its gross failure to be a democracy, LGBTQ Jews especially
must undo that damage.
We (like queers of conscience in Israel and worldwide) are
especially compelled by Palestinian LGBTQ groups’ call, which points out that
queer liberation can’t be built under apartheid laws that deny all Palestinians human and civil rights. To begin
Palestinian queer liberation, they say, help us end the occupation. And for our
liberation, too.
With love,
Leslie Cagan & Emmaia Gelman
on behalf of the Jewish members of Queers Against Israeli
Apartheid NYC
Resources for LGBTQ Jews of conscience:
Queers Against Israeli Apartheid - NYC
queersagainstisraeliapartheid.blogspot.com
Jews Say No
Young, Jewish & Proud
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jews Against Islamophobia
jewsagainstislamophobia.org
Palestinian LGBTQ websites:
Al Qaws for Sexual & Gender
Diversity in Palestinian Society - alqaws.org
Aswat – Palestinian Gay Women -
aswatgroup.org
Palestinian Queers for BDS -
pqbds.org
