As an area Jewish chaplain, I’ve been heartbroken by the brutal Oct. 7 assault 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 disillusioned by the ethical failure of many Jewish establishments and neighborhood leaders to name for a cease-fire, even because the humanitarian disaster worsens in Gaza.
Not too long ago, Seattle handed a decision that made us the most important U.S. metropolis to help a long-term cease-fire in Israel and Gaza. It additionally included calls to return the hostages, ship humanitarian assist to Gaza and fight antisemitism and Islamophobia. But The Seattle Instances editorial board criticized the decision [“Before weighing in on war, local officials must hear all voices,” Nov. 27, Opinion] after chatting with JCRC Director Max Patashnik.
Patashnik mentioned the JCRC opposed the amended decision — and launched a communitywide marketing campaign towards it — as a result of the group was not included within the course of, saying it was “about us with out us.” However that’s not a good characterization. After Councilmember Kshama Sawant launched her revised decision on Nov. 16, the JCRC was notified of an modification on Nov. 17, and was despatched a replica for enter the following enterprise day. This occurred regardless of the group’s unequivocal help for Israeli motion and alignment with a coalition that views a cease-fire as capitulating to Hamas and denying Israel’s proper to self-defense.
Regardless, this decision additionally doesn’t simply interact American Jewish considerations but in addition the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians immediately in hurt’s method. So the JCRC not being included sufficient within the preliminary drafting course of shouldn’t deter anybody’s help for the morally pressing decision, even the JCRC, which claims no objection in substance and whose priorities of hostage launch and combating antisemitism had been included. It simply didn’t conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, as maybe they’d need — and as is going on with a controversial invoice earlier than Congress proper now.
The JCRC doesn’t totally characterize the variety of our native Jewish neighborhood. Jews have been displaying up for weeks by the a whole lot — together with some members of the organizations comprising the JCRC — to take part on-line, within the streets, and in places of work of elected leaders saying “not in our identify.” Whereas frequently dismissed as fringe by institutional energy, these within the minority typically bend the ethical arc of the universe towards justice, as described by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., earlier than institutional help emerges.
I’m proud our Metropolis Council listened. Not solely is it the essential and ethical factor to do, it is usually in the very best pursuits of all. A cease-fire would shield the hostages whose lives are endangered by continued bombardment and permit for levelheaded negotiations to safe their pressing launch. It will shield the remaining Palestinian civilians who don’t have any protected harbor as their hospitals, faculties, refugee camps, and neighborhoods are destroyed indiscriminately by what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as “mighty vengeance.” It will shield long-term security for all by shifting from army to political options that not search to commerce Palestinian lives for Israel’s safety. And it upholds worldwide human rights legislation, below which collective punishment is illegitimate, even in response to a battle crime just like the Oct. 7 assault.
We should always every add our voice to the pressing and rising requires a cease-fire, echoing Israeli voices together with many relations of the hostages. This may be completed by contacting your members of Congress and signing onto the Washington Solidarity Assertion that guided the asks of Seattle’s amended decision.
On this time of profound ache, allow us to bear in mind our liberation is tied collectively: Our tears circulate collectively, our hearts are certain collectively, and we should increase our voices collectively to look after the humanity of all — and applaud our leaders once they achieve this.
