A CALL TO ACTION FOR CLERGY IN PROTEST OF ISRAELI GOVERNMENT EXTREMISTS In 1984 when Meir Kahane was first elected to the Knesset, an outpouring of condemnation came from almost the full breadth of US Jewish organizations. Israel’s most recent election saw the Religious Zionist Party (RZP) and the Kahanist Otzma Yehudit faction together receive a shocking 11 percent of the vote, becoming crucial partners with Likud in the formation of a new Netanyahu-led government. Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, the leaders of the respective parties, have been arrested for incitement, trespassing and intimidation – with Ben Gvir being a former member of the now-defunct Kach group, which was designated as a terrorist organization by both Israel and the United States. Their policy proposals are anathema to the tenets of democracy, contradicting the spirit and intent of Israel’s own Declaration of Independence. Furthermore, their implementation will cause irreparable harm to the Israel-Jewish Diaspora relationship, as they are an affront to the vast majority of American Jews and our values. These proposals include: ● changing the Law of Return–including the refusal to recognize Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist converts and their descendants – a policy that negates the Jewish identity of the majority of Diaspora Jewry; ● eroding LGBTQ rights and the rights of women, causing irreparable harm and disenfranchisement among these communities; ● subjecting Israeli Supreme Court decisions to the whims of the Knesset, a policy clearly intended to erode individual and minority rights; ● annexing the West Bank without giving Palestinians the right to vote, thereby further undermining Israeli democracy; ● and expelling Arab Israeli citizens who are seen as opposing the government, challenging the democratic right to freedom of speech. We, the undersigned, who care deeply about the security and well-being of the democratic State of Israel, are signing this letter of protest, pledging to not invite any members of the RZP bloc–including but not limited to Otzma Yehudit leaders–to speak at our congregations and organizations. We will speak out against their participation in other fora across our communities. We will encourage the boards of our congregations and organizations to join us in this protest as a demonstration of our commitment to our Jewish and democratic values. When those who tout racism and bigotry claim to speak in the name of Israel, but deny our rights, our heritage, and the rights of the most vulnerable among us, we must take action. We must speak out. We must show the world that we are a people whose founding principles require us to see every person as B’tzelem Elohim –in the image of God. Signed, CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR NAME Rabbi Eric L. Abbott , Bethesda, MD Rabbi Claudia Kreiman , Brookline, MA Rabbi Howard Avruhm Addison , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Jacob Best Adler , Montgomery, NJ Rabbi Alex Kress , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Aaron Alexander , Washington, DC Rabbi Suri Krieger , Boston, MA Rabbi Doug Alpert , Kansas City, MO Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff , Westfield, NJ Rabbi Benjamin Altshuler , Wausau, WI Rabbi Karen Landy , Brookline, MA Cantor Dana Anesi , White Plains, NY Rabbi Dr. Armin Langer , Gainesville, FL Rabbi David Ariel-Joel , Louisville, KY Rabbi David Lazar , Palm Springs, CA Rabbi Benjamin Arnold , Evergreen, CO Rabbi James Lebeau , Jerusalem, Israel Rabbi Melanie Aron , Washington, DC Rabbi Esther Lederman , Arlington, VA Rabbi Guy Austrian , New York, NY Chayva Lehrman , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Benjamin Barnett , Portland, OR Rabbi Darby J. Leigh , Concord, MA Rabbi Geoff Basik , Baltimore, MD Rabbi Shoshana Leis , Dobbs Ferry, NY Rabbi Eliot Baskin , Denver, CO Rabbi Michael Lerner , Berkeley, CA Rabbi David Dunn Bauer , Elkins Park, PA Rabbi Joshua Lesser , Atlanta, GA Rabbi Michael Beals , Wilmington, DE Rabbi Mark H. Levin, DHL , Prairie Village, KS Rabbi Lisa Sari Bellows , Glenview, IL Rabbi Robert Levy , Washington, DC Rabbi James Bennett , St. Louis, MO Rabbi Shalom Lewis , Marietta, GA Rabbi Philip J. Bentley , Hendersonville, NC Rabbi Mordechai Liebling , Philadelphia, PA Rabbah Arlene Berger , Rockville, MD Rabbi Janet B. Liss , Bayville, NY Cantor David Berger , Chicago, IL Rabbi Ahuvah Loewenthal , Worcester, MA Rabbi Allan Berkowitz , San Jose, CA Rabbi Andrea London , Evanston, IL Rabbi Marc E. Berkson , Milwaukee, WI Cantor Abbe Lyons , Ithaca, NY Rabbi Donald Berlin , Bethesda, MD Cantor Galina Makaveyev , Lawrence, NY Cantor Julie Berlin , San Antonio, TX Rabbi Nina H. Mandel , Selinsgrove, PA Rabbi Phyllis Berman , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Paula Marcus , Aptos, CA Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Bonnie Margulis , Madison, WI Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, Ph.D. , Frederick, MD Rabbi Jeffrey Marker , Brooklyn, NY Rabbi Allison Berry , Newton, MA Cantor Andrea Rae Markowicz , Evanston, IL Rabbi Jonathan Biatch , Madison, WI Rabbi Rachel Kaplan Marks , Skokie, IL Rabbi Rena Blumenthal , New Paltz, NY Rabbi Nathan Martin , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Steven Bob , Glen Ellyn, IL Rabbi Rim Meirowitz , Peabody, MA Rabbi Shalom Bochner , Modesto, CA Rabbi Lev Meirowitz Nelson , Brooklyn, NY Rabbi Buz Bogage , Boston, MA Rabbi Dr. Rachel S. Mikva , Chicago, IL Rabbi Bradd H. Boxman , Parkland, FL Rabbi Diana Miller , Lambertville, NJ Cantor Amy Brenner Mitz , Sugar Hill, NH Rabbi Jonathan Miller , Bethesda, MD Rabbi Daniel M. Bronstein , PhD, Brooklyn, NY Rabbi Michelle Missaghieh , Los Angeles, CA Cantor Shoshana Brown , Fall River, MA Rabbi Nina J. Mizrahi , Northbrook, IL Rabbi Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus , Providence, RI Rabbi Joel Mosbacher , New York, NY Rabbi Harold F. Caminker , Raleigh, NC Rabbi Danny Moss , Madison, CT Rabbi Debra Cantor , Bloomfield, CT Rabbi Fred Natkin , Boynton Beach, FL Rabbi Ken Chasen , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin , Northfield, IL Rabbi Mari Chernow , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Sarah Newmark , Gig Harbor, WA Rabbi Geoffrey Claussen , Greensboro, NC Rabbi Saul Oresky , Greenbelt, MD Rabbi Aryeh Cohen, Ph.D. , Los Angeles, CA Cantor Barbara Ostfeld , Buffalo, NY Rabbi Eric Cohen , Flemington, NJ Rabbi Hava Lynn Pell , Lemoyne, PA Rabbi Howard A. Cohen , Duxbury, MA Rabbi Barbara Penzner , Boston, MA Rabbi Paul F. Cohen , Northfield, IL Rabbi Julie Pfau , Philadephia, PA Rabbi Hillel Cohn , San Bernardino, CA Rabbi Daniel Plotkin , Baltimore, MD Cantor Jonathan Comisar , New York, NY Rabbi Shalom Podwol , Tustin, CA Rabbi Julian Cook , Denver, CO Rabbi Michael Pollack , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi David J. Cooper , Berkeley, CA Rabbi Jonathan Posner , Chicago, IL Cantor Rabbi Kyle Cotler , Evanston, IL Rabbi Linda Potemken , Penn Valley, PA Rabbi Deena Cowans , Chicago, IL Rabbi Richard M. Prass , Buffalo Grove, IL Rabbi Harry K. Danziger , Memphis, TN Rabbi Charles P. Rabinowitz , Larchmont, NY Rabbi Lavey Derby , Millbrae, CA Rabbi Cantor Sam Radwine , Rogers, AR Rabbi Reni Dickman , Evanston, IL Rabbi Rayzel Raphael , Elkins Park, PA Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb , Bethesda, MD Rabbi Debra Rappaport , Minnapolis, MN Rabbi Elliot Dorff , Ph.D., Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Frederick Reeves , Chicago, IL Cantor Ellen Dreskin , Ardsley, NY Rabbi Victor Hillel Reinstein , Jamaica Plain, MA Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus , Homewood, IL Cantor David Reinwald , Pittsburgh, PA Rabbi Matthew Durbin , Stuart, FL Shirel Richman , Metuchen, NJ Rabbi Marc Dworkin , Long Beach, CA Rabbi Moti Rieber , Overland Park, KS Rabbi Dr. Doris J. Dyen , Pittsburgh, PA Rabbi Stephen Roberts, DD, BCC , Kerhonkson, NY Rabbi Laurence Edwards , Chicago, IL Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom , Elkins Park, PA Rabbi Amy Eilberg , Los Altos, CA Rabbi John L. Rosove , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Jeffrey Eisenstat , Armonk, NY Rabbi Michael Ross , Beachwood, OH Rabbi Marc Ekstrand , New London, CT Rabbi Michael Rothbaum , Atlanta, GA Rabbi Diane Elliot , El Sobrante, CA Rabbi Cantor Judi Rowland , Ramat Gan, Israel Rabbi Dr. Barat Ellman , Brooklyn, NY Rabbi Jonathan Rubenstein , Saratoga Springs, NY Rabbi Greg M. Epstein , Cambridge, MA Rabbi Sandy Rubenstein , Silver Spring, MD Rabbi Rachel Esserman , Endwell, NY Hazzan Dr. Michal Rubin , Columbia, SC Rabbi Susan Falk , Brooklyn, NY Cantor Faryn Rudnick , Wynnewood, PA Cantor Kenneth Feibush , Houston, TX Rabbi Laura Rumpf , Seattle, WA Rabbi Nora Feinstein , Washington, DC Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg , Chicago, IL Rabbi Lori Feldstein-Gardner , Riverdale, NY Rabbi Neil Sandler , Atlanta, GA Rabbi Michael Fessler , Poughkeepsie, NY Rabbi Marna Sapsowitz , Olympia, WA Rabbi Zev-Hayyim Feyer , Stone Mountain, GA Rabbi Jeff Saxe , Falls Church, VA Rabbi David Fine , Seattle, WA Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller , Berkeley, CA Rabbi Steven N. Fineblum , Cinnaminson, NJ Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller , White Plains, NY Rabbi Adam D. Fisher , Port Jefferson Station, NY Cantor Randall Schloss , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Jeff Foust , Newton, MA Rabbi Chaim Schneider , Aptos, CA Cantorial Soloist Shelly Fox , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz , Willimantic, CT Rabbi Dayle Friedman , Philadelphia, PA Cantor Richard Schwartz , Atherton, CA Rabbi John S. Friedman , Durham, NC Rabbi Amy Schwartzman , McLean, VA Rabbi Marsha J. Friedman , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Steve Segar , Shaker Heights, OH Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein , Elgin, IL Rabbi Judith Seid , Pleasanton, CA Cantor Jennifer Frost , Deerfield, IL Rabbi Ahud Sela , Northridge, CA Rabbi Jodie Futornick , Seattle, WA Rabbi Gerald Serotta , Chevy Chase, MD Rabbi Laura Geller , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Isaac Serotta , Highland Park, IL Rabbi Stuart Gershon, D.D. , Charlotte, NC Rabbi Talya Weisbard Shalem , Burlington, MA Rabbi Jamie Gibson , Pittsburgh, PA Rabbinical Student Jenna Shaw , Washington, DC Rabbi Chana Leslie Glazer , Arlington, VA Rabbi David Shneyer , Rockville, MD Rabbi Bob Gluck , Mount Kisco, NY Cantor Michael Shochet , Falls Church, VA Rabbi Neal Gold , Natick, MA Rabbi Alex Shuval-Weiner , Atlanta, GA Rabbi Rosalind Gold , Reston, VA Rabbi Mia Simring , New York, NY Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg , Jackson Heights, NY Rabbi Suzanne Singer , Riverside, CA Rabbi Megan GoldMarche , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Cantor Raina Siroty , Alexandria, LA Rabbi Andrea Goldstein , St. Louis, MO Rabbi Elliot Skiddell , Hewlett, NY Rabbi Debra Goldstein , Natick, MA Rabbi Alanna Sklover , Fort Washington, PA Rabbi David N. Goodman , Elkins Park, PA Rabbi Jonathan Slater , Hastings-on-Hudson, NY Rabbi Sara Goodman , Santa Monica, CA Rabbi Amy Joy Small , Burlington, VT Rabbi Maralee Gordon , Woodstock, IL Rabbi Eleanor Smith, MD , Evanston, IL Rabbi Sam Gordon , Wilmette, IL Rabbi Ruth H. Sohn , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Danny Gottlieb , Henderson, NV Rabbi Eric Solomon , Raleigh, NC Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb , Berkeley, CA Rabbi Marc Soloway , Boulder, CO Cantor Rachel Gottlieb Kalmowitz , Bloomfield Hills, MI Rabbi Kate Speizer , Seattle, WA Rabbi Laurie Green , Baltimore, MD Rabbi Judith Spicehandler , Cincinnati, OH Cantor Orna T. Green , Teaneck, NJ Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker , St. Paul, MN Rabbi Amanda Greene , Chicago, IL Rabbi Hannah Spiro , Washington, DC Rabbi Suzanne Griffel , Chicago, IL Rabbi Toba Spitzer , Newton, MA Rabbi Marc Gruber , Bethesda, MD Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl , San Antonio, TX Rabbi Judy Halevy , Malibu, CA Rabbi Sonya Starr , Wilmington, DE Rabbi Moshe Raphael Halfon , Cheyenne, WY Rabbi Alexandra Stein , Falls Church, VA Rabbi Joshua Hammerman , Stamford, CT Rabbi Talia Stein , Brookline, MA Rabbi Yael Hammerman , New York, NY Rabbi Andrea Steinberger , Madison, WI Cantor Suzanne Hamstra , Washington DC Rabbi George Stern , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Shoshana Hantman , Katonah, NY Rabbi Sharon Stiefel , Minneapolis, MN Rabbi Maurice Harris , Glenside, PA Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman , St. Louis, MO Rabbi Steve Hart , Glenview, IL Rabbi Andrew Straus , Oakland, CA Rabbi Jill Hausman , New York, NY Rabbi David Straus , Wynnewood, PA Cantor Tamar Havilio , Plymouth, MN Rabbi Shira Stutman , Washington, DC Rabbi Sidney M. Helbraun , Northbrook, IL Rabbi Robert Tabak , Elkins Park, PA Rabbi Lauren Henderson , Sandy Springs, GA Rabbi Susan Talve , St. Louis, MO Cantor George Henschel , Lutherville, MD Rabbi David A. Teutsch , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Floyd L. Herman , Baltimore, MD Rabbi Lennard R. Thal , New York, NY Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann , Chicago, IL Rabbi Rachel Timoner , Brooklyn, NY Rabbi Erin Hirsh , Glenside, PA Aaron Torop , Cincinnati, OH Rabbi Mark Hurvitz , New York, NY Rabbi Burt Visotzky, PhD , New York, NY Rabbi Jill Jacobs , New York, NY Rabbi Andrew Vogel , Brookline, MA Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde , Silver Spring, MD Cantor Eliot Vogel , Penn Valley, PA Rabbi Cantor Ellen Jaffe-Gill , Virginia Beach, VA Rabbi Dr. Andrew Vogel Ettin , Pfafftown, NC Rabbi Beth Janus , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman , Barrington, RI Rabbi Raachel Jurovics, Ph.D. , Raleigh, NC Rabbi Jessie Wainer , Lombard, IL Cantor Adam Kahan , Northbrook, IL Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D. , Wyncote, PA Rabbi Yoel Kahn , Berkeley, CA Rabbi Abi Weber , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Ari Kaiman , Atlanta, GA Rabbi Elyse Wechterman , Abington, PA Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky , New York, NY Rabbi Gerald I. Weider , Brooklyn, NY Rabbi Henry Jay Karp , Davenport, IA Rabbi Daniel A. Weiner , Seattle, WA Rabbi Nancy Kasten , Dallas, TX Rabbi Sam Weintraub , Bethesda, MD Rabbi Alan J. Katz , Rochester, NY Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Marc Katz , Bloomfield, NJ Rabbi Lew Weiss , Indianapolis, IN Rabbi Rory Katz , Baltimore, MD Rabbi Max Weiss , Oak Park, IL Cantor Aviva Katzman , Chicago, IL Rabbi Rachel Weiss , Evanston, IL Rabbi Jim Kaufman , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Zari M. Weiss , Seattle, WA Rabbi Stuart Kelman , Berkeley, CA Rabbi David Wirtschafter , Lexington, KY Cantor Evan Kent , Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Joey Wolf , Portland, OR Rabbi Justin Kerber , Indianapolis, IN Rabbi Greg Wolfe , Davis, CA Rabbi Ralph P. Kingsley , Aventura, FL Cantor Josee Wolff , New York, NY Cantor Todd Kipnis , New York, NY Rabbi Michal Woll , Milwaukee WI Rabbi Jason Klein , Minneapolis, MN Rabbi Ariel Root Wolpe , Decatur, GA Rabbi Lori Klein , Capitola, CA Rabbi Eric Woodward , New Haven, CT Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum , New York, NY Rabbi Marina Yergin , San Antonio, TX Cantor Jeff Klepper , Boston, MA Cantor Natalie Young , Irvine, CA Rabbi Kami Knapp Schechter , Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Deborah Zecher , New York, NY Rabbi Michael Rose Knopf , Richmond, VA Rabbi Elana Zelony , Richardson, TX Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox , Newton MA Rabbi Lina Zerbarini , Huntington Station, NY Rabbi Ira Korinow , Westwood, MA Rabbi Rain Zohav , Rockville, MD Rabbi Ilyse S. Kramer , Wilmington, DE Cantor Michael Zoosman , College Park, MD Rabbi Michael L. Kramer , Hockessin, DE Rabbi Dr. David J. Zucker , Aurora, CO Rabbi Douglas E. Krantz , Townsend, DE Rabbi Leonard Zukrow , Munster, IN