Reform Jews Call For Cease-Fire, And A Move Away From Zionism

A letter signed by more than 1200 alumni and current members of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), addressed to the organization on Dec. 16, 2023, declares, “We grieve for the 1,200 killed during Hamas’s Oct. 7th attack and the more than 18,000 Palestinians killed by the Israeli military—-almost half of whom have been children—-since then. Israel has cut off water, electricity, fuel, and supplies to Gaza. We are deeply concerned that tax dollars have been so easily provided to support Israel’s military assault on Gaza, while we struggle for the basic needs of our communities.”

The letter was written by Elise Glaser, 27, who has been involved with the URJ since she attended Hebrew School at Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville, Washington. The letter declares that “The URJ teaches practicing Pikuach Nefesh, ‘saving a life,’ and Tikkun Olam, ‘repairing the world.’ An immediate cease-fire is in line with these Jewish values.”

At the same time, a letter was released from descendants of progressive rabbis and leaders to express “our horror at the URJ’s failure to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. We are alarmed that the leadership of our community has not demanded an end to Israel’s devastating violence against Palestinians in addition to the safe and immediate return of the hostages…A decades-long campaign to dehumanize Palestinians has hardened the American Jewish community’s hearts. Atrocities are being committed in our name. We do not consider the killing of thousands of innocent civilians to be a justifiable consequence of ensuring our community’s protection.”

The letter concludes: “The URJ continues to actively alienate alumni with its uncompromising Zionist rhetoric…We will reconsider our and the next generation’s membership and support of the URJ unless there is a public, dramatic shift in the way the movement addresses Israel. It is not too late to listen, to open your heart, and to make your children proud.”

Among the original signatories to this letter are Zippy Janas, a descendant of Rabbi Julius Rappaport, Chana Powell, daughter of a current URJ rabbi, Talia Yudkin Toffany, daughter of Rabbi Marjorie Yudkin, Zachariah Sippy, son of Rabbi David Wirtschaffer, and Hafanyah Perluss, daughter of Rabbi Emily Feigenson.

An organization called Reform Jews For Justice has also been established. It declares that “As Reform Jews we stand together for Justice, in solidarity with Palestine. We unite in our values to call for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel…We have come together to call on our movement to engage in Solidarity with Palestine. We envision a Reform Jewish movement that…rejects a conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism…The URJ’s leaders have unabashedly demonstrated shameful tactics of ethno-nationalism and tribal political priorities over simple ethics and the illegitimate and dangerous conflation of Zionism and Judaism. We have been alienated from the movement that raised us to ask, ‘If I am only for myself, what am I?’—-through binary language suggesting that our affiliation is conditional on Zionism. We will not stand idly by.” *