As a neighborhood Jewish pastor, I’ve been devastated by the brutal assault on October 7 and Israel’s devastating retaliation since then. As a former member of the Jewish Neighborhood Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Better Seattle, I’ve additionally been upset by the ethical failure of many Jewish establishments and neighborhood leaders to name for a ceasefire even because the humanitarian disaster worsens in Gaza.
Just lately, Seattle handed a decision that made us the biggest American metropolis to assist a long-term ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. It additionally included calls to return the hostages, ship humanitarian support to Gaza and fight anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Nonetheless, the Seattle Instances editorial board criticized the choice [“Before weighing in on war, local officials must hear all voices,” Nov. 27, Opinion] after talking with JCRC Director Max Patashnik.
Patashnik mentioned the JCRC opposed the amended decision — and launched a community-wide marketing campaign in opposition to it — as a result of the group was not included within the course of, saying it was “about us with out us.” However that isn’t a good characterization. After Council Member Kshama Sawant launched her revised decision on November 16, the JCRC was notified of a change on November 17 and was despatched a duplicate for enter the following enterprise day. This got here regardless of the group’s unequivocal assist for Israeli motion and alignment with a coalition that views a ceasefire as capitulating to Hamas and denying Israel its proper to self-defense.
Regardless, this decision additionally engages not solely American Jewish issues, but additionally the tens of millions of Palestinians who’re immediately in danger. So JCRC will not be included sufficient within the preliminary drafting course of mustn’t deter anybody’s assist for the morally pressing decision, not even the JCRC, which doesn’t object to the substance and whose priorities comparable to hostage launch and combating anti-Semitism had been included. It simply did not conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism, as they may want — and as is going on with a controversial invoice earlier than Congress proper now.
The JCRC doesn’t absolutely characterize the variety of our native Jewish neighborhood. Jews have been displaying up for a whole bunch of weeks — together with some members of the organizations that make up the JCRC — to take part on-line, within the streets and within the places of work of elected leaders, saying “not in our title.” Whereas frequently dismissed because the fringes of institutional energy, these within the minority usually bend the ethical arc of the universe towards justice, as described by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. earlier than institutional assist emerges.
I’m proud that our metropolis council listened. Not solely is it the essential and ethical factor to do, it is also in everybody’s finest curiosity. A ceasefire would defend the hostages, whose lives are threatened by continued bombardment, and permit for balanced negotiations to safe their speedy launch. It could defend the remaining Palestinian civilians, who don’t have any secure haven as their hospitals, faculties, refugee camps and neighborhoods are indiscriminately destroyed by what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as “mighty revenge.” It could defend long-term safety for all by shifting from navy to political options that not search to commerce Palestinian lives for Israel’s safety. And it upholds worldwide human rights legislation, in keeping with which collective punishment is illegitimate, even in response to a conflict crime just like the October 7 assault.
We must always every add our voice to the pressing and rising requires a ceasefire that echo Israeli voices, together with many relations of the hostages. This may be achieved by contacting your members of Congress and signing the Washington Declaration of Solidarity that guided the requests in Seattle’s amended decision.
On this time of deep ache, allow us to do not forget that our liberation is certain collectively: Our tears circulation collectively, our hearts are certain collectively, and we should elevate our voices collectively to take care of the humanity of all—and to applaud our leaders once they do it.