[Peace-discuss] Jewish Voice for Peace: Thank the Presbyterians for doing the right thing

Mon Jun 23 14:44:04 EDT 2014

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rabbi Alissa Wise, Jewish Voice for Peace <
info at jewishvoiceforpeace.org>
Date: Mon, Jun 23, 2014 at 2:39 PM
Subject: Thank you for signing, Robert
To: naiman.uiuc at gmail.com

 Dear Robert,

I'm so happy that our thank you card to the Presbyterian Church will have
your name on it! It's just one more example of what our partnership with
members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has always been about: people
supporting each other to put our values into action.

*The backlash to this historic decision is incredibly intense already. *And
it's because the Presbyterians have violated an unspoken rule for too many
mainstream Jewish organizations: you can talk about the Occupation, but you
can't do anything about it. But we all know that decades of talk have only
let the occupation grow. The time is long-past year for prinicpled,
nonviolent, effective action.

If we want to see more concrete action, we have to have the Presbyterians'
back now. Can you forward this email to 5 people in your life who care
about human rights, equality, and justice? *Especially people you know "get
it" but haven't taken action on this issue before - now is really the time
for people to speak up.*

Every voice really counts.

With thanks,

 Rabbi Alissa Wise
Director of Organizing

<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>

*Action Alert*

  ------------------------------
     The Presbyterian Church is coming under an extreme attack for
divesting from the illegal Israeli occupation. It's up to us to have their
back.

<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>

*Two members - Lutheran and Jewish - of our interfaith team*

 Help us say "Thank You" to our courageous allies.

[image: Take Action!]
<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>
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Dear Robert,

I'm still breathless from last Friday's historic vote.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to divest from Hewlett-Packard,
Motorola Solutions, and Caterpillar - all companies with well-documented
ties to the Israeli occupation. This is the biggest move yet by any
institution in the US to take concrete, nonviolent action to end Israel’s
occupation.

 *And now, a backlash unlike anything I have ever seen has begun. *I can’t
emphasize enough how important it is that the Presbyterian Church hear from
all of us now.

*Please show you stand with these brave advocates for true peace and
justice by signing our thank you letter.*
<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>*
<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>*

*We want to triple the 7,000 signatures on this card before our July 3rd
deadline.*

Click here to say Thank You: *jvp.org/thankyou*
<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>

My jaw dropped when I heard Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu condemn the
divestment vote on *Meet the Press* yesterday with the harshest words
possible. Groups like the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Council of
Public Affairs came out with similar statements.

At Jewish Voice for Peace we have been inundated with hate messages, *but these
attacks are certainly coming down even harder on Presbyterians.*

*Every member of the Presbyterian Church deserves our thanks for their
thoughtful, open-hearted, principled process.*

Please join more than 7,000 JVP supporters and add your name to our thank
you card today. We will deliver it to the Church leadership in honor of an
inclusive interfaith partnership dedicated to building peace for
Palestinians and Israelis.

Click here: *jvp.org/thankyou*
<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>

And with such an uproar over this decision, here are five things you need
to know about what really happened:

*1. Presbyterian Church activists invited JVP to partner with them almost a
decade ago *when they began to search for a way to reconcile their values
with their investments. Through extensive study, corporate engagement, and
broad interfaith outreach, they crafted a unique resolution that is
grounded in their own values and worldview - a stirring model for how other
communities can take action.

*2. You helped make this happen.* Whatever part of JVP’s work that you
participate in  – whether for decades or days - you made this victory
possible. Now the opposition’s desperate talking point is that we are small
and anti-Israel– but you know that neither is remotely true. Our
membership, our donor base, our campus chapters continue to grow because we
all believe a true peace based on equality and democracy for both Israelis
and Palestinians is worth fighting for.

*3. This process is an especially important model for Jewish communities
and institutions.* A recent study by the Jewish Council on Public Affairs
(a harsh critic of divestment itself) shows that 25% of American rabbis are
afraid to speak their real views on Israel. The Presbyterians' process
stands in stark contrast to the status of open debate within Jewish
communities, where critical conversation about Israel has been
systematically censored.

*4. This decision exposed an unspoken rule in the Jewish Community: it’s OK
to oppose the Occupation, but forbidden to pressure Israel to end it.* Rabbi
Rick Jacobs, Chief Rabbi of the Reform Movement reiterated that cynical
dictate last week, promising the Church a meeting with Israeli Prime
Minister Netanyahu. (Nevermind that the US Secretary of State just spent a
full year meeting with Netanyahu, only to see settlement expansion
escalate). The question to always ask is: *what concrete action to end the
occupation are divestment opponents proposing?*

*5. Interfaith relationships don’t only happen between Christians and Jews,
and don't only matter in the US.* Presbyterians invited not just American
Jews, but Palestinians – both Christian and Muslim – into their
deliberations. For all their talk about the impact of this decision on
interfaith relationships, Jewish institutional leaders who criticize the
vote aren't mentioning the impact on relationships with Palestinians of any
faith - a silence that speaks volumes.

And this is just the beginning. In the days and weeks to come, I'm certain
this resolution is going to lead to as-yet unimagined opportunities, and
incredibly difficult challenges, for all of us motivated not simply to
talk, but to act, for real justice.

But first things first:

*Please, join me in saying thank you to our Presbyterian allies.
<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>*

Their work is an inspiration to us all.

In hope,

<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>
<http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15918>

Rebecca Vilkomerson
Executive Director

[image: Donate Now!]
<https://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=11197>
Contact Info:

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info at jewishvoiceforpeace.org
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