Social Movements
Rabbis for Ceasefire, Jewish organizations, lead week of peaceful protest, non-violent civil disobedience across USA
By Matt De Vlieger · November 16, 2023
In short
- Jewish led coalitions orchestrated a week-long series of peaceful protests and non-violent civil disobedience actions across the United States.
- Rabbi Alissa Wise, an organizer with Rabbis for Ceasefire, played a prominent role in leading the efforts, emphasizing the connection between Jewish principles and anti-Zionist activism.
- The events included a significant gathering in Washington, D.C., where hundreds of participants, including rabbis and supporters, held a morning prayer and Torah reading in front of the U.S. Capitol, urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
- The protests aimed to challenge accusations of antisemitism and called for accountability for Israeli actions, emphasizing the commitment to human rights and the condemnation of genocidal violence.
In an organized display of solidarity and opposition to the ongoing violence in Gaza, Rabbi Alissa Wise, an organizer with Rabbis for Ceasefire and the founding co-chair of Jewish Voice for Peace’s Rabbinical Council, led a significant march and prayer service in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
The event garnered widespread attention, especially in the face of accusations of antisemitism from certain quarters.
Hundreds of participants, including rabbis, spiritual leaders, and supporters, gathered in front of the U.S. Capitol for a morning prayer and a reading of the Torah. The event, organized as part of the Jews for a Ceasefire Week of Action, aimed to call for an immediate end to the violence in Gaza.
This week marks the initiation of the Week of Action for Ceasefire by organizations such as IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace. In Chicago, on Monday, a substantial gathering of Jewish individuals and their allies staged a blockade at the entrance of the Israeli Consulate.
Rabbi Wise told Democracy Now!’s Amy Goodman about the connection between Jewish religious principles and anti-Zionist activism. She vehemently rejected the claim that criticizing Israeli policies is inherently antisemitic, describing it as a cynical strategy to shield Israel from accountability.
We are Rabbis for Ceasefire. We are, as rabbis, responsible to serve the Jewish people’s spiritual, cultural, communal health. And as part of that, our obligation as rabbis is to ensure that Jewish people are part of the most profound and sacred obligation in Jewish tradition, which is saving lives. And that is the root of our call for ceasefire.
The march continued to congressional offices, where rabbis and supporters engaged with elected officials, including Congressmember Cori Bush. The representatives echoed the call for an immediate ceasefire and emphasized the urgency of prioritizing love, peace, justice, and humanity.
Rabbi Wise also addressed the much larger “March for Israel” demonstration held in D.C., criticizing their co-organizing with antisemitic Christian Zionists, including the likes of Pastor John Hagee, who once said that God “sent Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land.” Maybe not the best person for Rabbis to be organizing with against anti-semitism.
She expressed deep concern over allowing individuals who espouse harmful beliefs about Jews to headline events and called for a rejection of such divisive narratives.
As the issue remains in high focus across the country, Rabbi Wise urged a shift in perspective, emphasizing that Israel, as a state, cannot be exempt from political and humanitarian critique.
The ceasefire rally underscored the diverse voices within the Jewish community advocating for an end to the violence and a commitment to human rights.
Thus far, the Biden administration moved from unconditional support for Israel’s military actions, to a call for humanitarian pauses, and a close eye on attacks on hospitals over the past weeks. The Administration still will not call for a ceasefire.
Disclaimer: The author of this piece is Jewish and denounces anti-semitism in all forms.