Open the Gates: A Rabbinical Response to the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Tragedy

Below is open letter from Jews Fast for Gaza
Posted 05/31/2010 - 15:59 by Rabbi Brant Rosen

Dear Friends,

In the wake of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla tragedy, we once again feel the need to raise our voices as rabbis in the Jewish community.

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ACRI Admonishes Flotilla Takeover and Outcome, Calls for Investigation

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel is appalled by today's military takeover of the Flotilla on its way to Gaza, and calls for an independent investigation of the event. It is unfathomable that a Flotilla whose purpose was to protest the siege imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip, ended with nine dead and many more injured.

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Wrote with Gus Dur at The Wall Street Journal

The Obstacles to Israeli-Palestinian Peace

By ABDURRAHMAN WAHID and ABD A'LA

The Wall Street Journal, May 10, 2008; Page A11

The prolonged Israeli-Palestinian conflict has a far-reaching impact not only upon the lives of those who dwell in the Holy Land, but upon virtually every nation and community on earth. On a daily basis, self-interested parties are callously manipulating the most basic values of humanity and religion in order to advance their personal or political interests. Sectarianism, violence, arrogance and deception are constantly subverting the fundamental values of life, and turning religious principles upon their heads.

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World for Peace

From Jewish Voice for Peace

Jewish Voice for Peace: Has President Obama heard about Mohammad Othman?
October 2, 2009

Jewish Voice for Peace has launched an online campaign to pressure President Obama to pressure Israel to free Mohammad. Here is the text of the email:

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Our prayer

Ya Allah, how weak is our hearts. Show us the truth as truth and then we could follow it . Ya Allah, show us falsehood as falsehood and then we could stay away.

Photo Gallery

THE WISDOM OF INDONESIAN ISLAM

This image criticizes the legislative candidates who nowadays are busy campaigning generally just only for their narrow and pragmatic interests. The image is so good since it has done the critique wisely, subtly, but still very sharp. It represents Indonesian Islam, picturing wise pesantren Islam, but critical one. Indonesian Islam is contextual Islam where noble values of Islam contextualized to the real history. In the photo, such wisdom looks strongly. For example, kopiah, genuine Indonesian cap lies peacefully with the mobile originated from the West.

The photo is from M. Faizi email in which he allowed it to be published

Photo Gallery

COMMON PREJUDICE

It is very common for some little groups of Muslims to accuse simply people who cooperate with Westerners especially the American though for promoting humanitarianism, peace, intellectualism, and such, as a zionist or the US agent. On the contrary, they often assume someone laden with symbols of Islam as a pious and good Muslim; despite amount of his/her deeds are amoral.

Note
The 1-st picture is personal collection and the other is downloaded from indonesian daily Jawa Pos , on April 1, 2009

Letters

Here another letter from a Jewish Student. I think the letter very important for us to know the Israelis holistically



Dear Abd A'la,

I am Sahar Vardi. I am 18 years old, a senior in high school in Israel. As you probably know, all Israelis must serve in the Israeli Defense Forces, starting right after our last year of high school. I and dozens of other students, on examining our values, International Law, and what we believe is best for Israel, refused to serve in the Occupied Territories and be a part of a mechanism that suppresses millions of Palestinians.

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