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Orthodox rabbis urge yes vote on Somerville human rights questions—“an awakening”
Members and supporters of the Somerville Divestment Campaign (SDP) gathered in front of City Hall early on the afternoon of September 12 to formally announce their campaign on behalf of two public policy questions which will be on local ballots in November. They aim to persuade Somerville citizens to affirm solidarity with Palestinians’ right to return to their homes and homeland.
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Two Naturei Karta orthodox rabbis travelled from New York City to be in Somerville for the announcement, which they hoped would be “the beginning of an awakening.”
Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss said, "People really want to do good. Unfortunately, there is tremendous propaganda" that distorts the truth and prevents Americans from understanding what is good and what is evil. “I pray to God that we should be able to convey this truth to you,” he said.
One of the greatest distortions, he said, was that Jews were for centuries being massacred in the Muslim world, that Islam is a “terrible philosophy” that makes its followers intolerant of other religions.
“Jews were not massacred, but lived side by side for hundreds of years with Muslims and Christians in Palestine and in every Muslim country,” giving refuge for those fleeing the Inquisition and the Crusades. But that coexistence began to change around 100 years ago with the introduction of Zionism, which sought "the transformation of Judaism from a religion, serving God… to a political movement,” aimed at acquiring territory.
Rabbi Weiss said that his parents died in Auschwitz, “so I am not a man who does not understand Auschwitz.”
“They died a physical death,” he said of his parents and other holocaust victims, but we must throw off Zionism, or “they will die twice, die a spiritual death,” as well.
Several Somerville residents spoke about taking personal responsibility, as Americans, for Israel's use of weapons and financial assistance from the U.S. to kill and dispossess Palestinians and people in neighboring countries.
Paul Shannon, a teacher for 30 years, said, “Look in the mirror. We are the ones who bombed Lebanon.”
Susan Mortimer, who moved to Somerville 30 years ago, said, “I'm here because I have to be… to sleep at night.”
Last year, SDP was denied a place on the local ballot for its advisory question to dump the City’s investments in Israel.
But SDP vowed not to give up. This year, two public policy questions will appear on the ballot in the 11 precincts of the 27th Middlesex district. One of the questions is again about the divestment issue. The other is about the rights of Palestinian families who lost their homes and land to Israeli settlers.
Somerville Divestment Project: 617 230-2835 www.divestmentproject.org/divestment_campaigns.shtml
Naturei Karta International: www.nkusa.org
Norman Who?
Perhaps you should just stick with out-of-context quotes and ridiculous characterizations of the political positions of Albert Einstein. Looking at the picture that accompanies this article, you're beginning to look like one of the most tattered people's vanguards that's come along in a long, long time.
Jon Haber