Rabbis for Ceasefire

May this moment of relief be the inspiration to recommit to the holy work of ensuring justice and freedom for all who live between the river and the sea.

We await the world that the Talmudic blessing refers to: The world to come, when all people will enjoy a world with no war, no starvation, no illness; when swords are beaten into ploughshares, and the nations of the world will study war no more. It is on us to work for and realize that world.

As Israeli and Palestinian captives are released, we witness reunions that feel like resurrection. Every life returned is a blessing. And we remember those who will not return.

The Talmud teaches: “One who sees their friend after twelve months says, Blessed are You… Who revives the dead.”

Update: we blew this fundraising goal out of the water! $218,000 and counting!!!

Over 1,000 Rabbis and Jewish Peace Activists in Brooklyn Demand Gaza Ceasefire Here in New York, more than 1,000 rabbis and Jewish peace activists led a protest Thursday demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. arms transfers to Israel. They gathered at Brookly...

www.democracynow.org/2025/10/3/he...

✡️ Rabbis and Jewish clergy were arrested 👮 earlier this evening as thousands from the Jewish community united on a holy day calling for an end to the war 🛑 culminating in civil disobedience that blocked the Brooklyn Bridge.
@rabbis4ceasefire.bsky.social 👏
Source:
www.instagram.com/reel/DPUt37x...

The JewsforFoodAidforPeopleInGaza campaing is so so so close to reaching the $180,000 goal for our High Holiday Tzedakah campaign before Yom Kippur begins. If you haven't yet please give now! givebutter.com/FoodAidTzeda...

Let the past year and its curses end, let the new year and it's blessings begin. May 5786 see the end of the genocide in Gaza and the beginning of liberation.

We are here to support everyone who wants one, to have a meaningful High Holidays experience. Our Open Communities directory lists dozens of life-affirming Jewish communities eager to warmly welcome you exactly as you are: in your despair, grief, fear, rage, and love. www.opencommunities.info

Two people stand together smiling, one holding a sign saying "Save a Life, Save a Whole World."

A person stands facing backward with a shirt that says "Fascism, Now that's not Kosher! Equality and justice for all. If not now, when?"

Two people stand holding signs saying "Let all you are hungry come and eat" and "Not in our name - No to starvation, yes to solidarity!"

A person sits holding a sign saying "Jews Support Food for Gaza"

500 Jews and people of conscience are taking a stand in the pouring rain for life and freedom. Our tradition denounces these horrors and demands we cry out against them. Every human being is created B’tselem Elohim, in the divine image. If there is a hungry person, one must feed them. #NotInOurName

Two speakers, both Rabbis, stand in front of a sign saying "Trump: Jews Say No More"

Rabbi Rebecca Zimmerman Hornstein and Rabbi Aron Wander declare “We will make the choice every day to not close our hearts to the enormity of the horror.” “We are not here today because we all agree on everything…But we do agree that our tradition teaches the infinite value of sacred life.”

HAPPENING NOW: Hundreds of Jews and allies have gathered outside the Israeli Consulate in Boston to decry the ongoing starvation of Gaza. Our Jewish values compel us to demand a ceasefire. To demand aid be allowed into Gaza. To demand our government stop supporting genocide.
#JewsSayNoMore

Jews Say: No More Statler Park, Boston Thursday, August 14th 5:30 PM ET Stop Starvation, Stop Ethnic Cleansing

Join us this Thursday, 8/14 at 5:30pm in downtown Boston for a mass mobilization. No flags. Details at innmvmt.org/boston-jews-say-no-more

Whoever can protest our people’s actions, and doesn’t, is responsible for them. (Shabbat 54B)

During this period of communal grief our most pressing spiritual work is to end Israel’s siege of Gaza and affirm the dignity and beauty of Palestinian life.

In the words of Hillel, if not NOW, when?

If you are a member of a synagogue or JCC or other local or national Jewish organization, NOW is the time to ensure that they are speaking out in ways big and small in their newsletters, events, or services.

If you have been hesitant or fearful to speak out against the Israeli genocide – the time to speak is NOW.

If you have been acting non-stop for 20 months the time to use your lessons learned and relationships you have built to grow our movement is NOW

Trump and Netanyahu intend to erase Palestinians from Gaza – whether by sniper or drone or bomb or starvation or forced displacement. We must summon our strength and creativity to meet this moment.

In Jewish tradition, we find our way out of narrow places through conjuring a future of liberation and redemption. We have not earned the luxury of despair. Now is the time for rugged optimism.

In a latest display of grotesque denial of Palestinian suffering, Netanyahu conjured the famed apathetic cruelty of Marie Antoinette when he reportedly said “let them eat Ben & Jerry’s for all I care.”

This is a cruel and calculated form of collective punishment that betrays the profound degree to which the Israeli government denies Palestinian humanity.

This is 654 days into the Israeli government denying Palestinians in Gaza access to adequate food and clean water that has led to profound malnutrition, suffering, and death of Palestinians.

We do not use this word lightly. Palestinians forced into the camp won’t be allowed to leave and will likely be forcibly transferred out of Gaza at some point. This is ethnic cleansing, not ceasefire.

In addition to this cruelty, reports indicate Israel intends to use a temporary, 60-day ceasefire to build a concentration camp in Rafah.

Over 900 Palestinians in the past six weeks have been killed while attempting to retrieve food for their families at GHF distribution sites or waiting for supplements at barely functioning clinics.

At this time we continue to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Instead, as starving people go to find food for their families, they are being shot dead by Israeli soldiers.

In Jewish time, we are bein hametzarim, between the narrow places. A three week period of communal mourning, a time of reflection and grief during which we reflect on hardship and we yearn for joy and redemption.