No Ceasefire Yet
A Statement from RabbisUNITED
We, American rabbis and cantors across denominations, declare our continued support for the State of Israel – and its people – as it enters this important phase of its five-month campaign to rescue the hostages and eradicate Hamas. We recognize that Israel continues to fight a just war, a war that it did not want, and did not initiate.
We believe that calls for a “bilateral ceasefire” are tantamount to an Israeli surrender. Hamas is a terrorist group with ties to the Islamic Republic of Iran and Qatar, so one must ask: with whom would Israel sign a “bilateral” ceasefire? And who will enforce it? We recall that Israel did have a ceasefire with Hamas on October 6, the day before they invaded Israel.
RabbisUNITED affirms that:
- Conditioning U.S. military aid to Israel is mistaken and immoral.
- The suffering of Palestinians in Gaza is tragic and fully the fault of Hamas.
- Israel does everything within its power to protect innocent civilians, including allowing in aid, despite knowing that much of it is stolen from Gazans by Hamas.
- Israel must end Hamas's reign over Gaza in order to protect human life.
- Every single one of the remaining Israeli hostages, including six American citizens, must be returned.
- The death of even one innocent civilian in Gaza is tragic, but the Gaza Health Ministry is not a reliable source for civilian death counts. Notably, Israel estimates that 13,000 Hamas operatives have been killed since its incursion began at the end of October.
- Klal Yisrael and ahavat Yisrael are our paramount values. The use of Torah within the rabbinic community should only be used to defend and protect – never to endanger – Jewish and Israeli lives.
With the approach of Purim, we recall the heroic efforts of Esther and Mordecai, who risked their lives to prevent our people’s annihilation at the hand of Haman in ancient Persia more than 2300 years ago. In this respect, ancient Persia is one and the same as modern day Iran. Today, Israel will similarly protect its citizens from future attacks – including the threat of another October 7th attack, which Hamas promises to perpetrate if given the chance. By eliminating Hamas' control of Gaza, Israel will also protect its citizens against the danger of constant rocket attacks, like the thousands that have been launched into Israeli communities since 2007.
As in the Purim story in which the Jews prevailed against the evil Haman, Israel and the Jewish people today will prevail over the evil of Hamas.
AM YISRAEL CHAI.
Bring Them Home NOW!
About RabbisUnited: RabbisUNITED is a non-denominational Rabbinic division of StandWithUs, with hundreds of members dedicated to fighting antisemitism and supporting a safe and secure State of Israel, the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people.
We are Rabbis from across the denominations. While we have different ways of expressing our Judaism, we come together to support the State of Israel, the ancestral home of the Jewish people, and to stand as a barrier against hatred, never forgetting the lessons of our past. Our purpose is not to debate or alter each other's beliefs or practices but rather to unite as clergy to ensure that the Jewish people and the State of Israel survive and thrive. Drawing from the shared legacy of our ancestors, we put our hearts and minds into providing mutual support, sharing ideas and resources, and collectively focusing on shaping a vibrant future for our communities both locally, in Israel, and around the world.
Join Us!As we approach the High Holidays, we visit the words of Unetaneh Tokef and discover the resilience that has allowed the Jewish people to navigate uncertain times throughout history. Here is a message from Rabbis United:
Since Hostages Were Kidnapped to Gaza from Israel
WAR IN ISRAEL
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RabbisUNITED is a non-denominational and non-political division of StandWithUs, dedicated to supporting the educational activities of Rabbis who care about Israel and want to help fight antisemitism with their peers, as well as in their synagogues and communities. Through RabbisUNITED, our members can unite around their love for Israel and share their activism as they stand firmly against rising anti-Jewish bigotry. We offer educational conferences and resources, as well as information about campaigns and other relevant opportunities throughout the year that can be brought to synagogues and communities around the US and Canada. Please become a member by filling out this short form. We welcome your involvement!
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We Are Proud of Our Heritage
As a non-partisan, Zionist organization, we work across denominations and are inclusive of Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist Rabbis – among others.
In light of this affirmation, at RabbisUNITED, we believe that:
- The Jewish People are a diverse ethnic and religious group that is inextricably connected to the Land of Israel, the birthplace of our identity and native language: Hebrew.
- Zionism:
- is foundational to our Jewish Identity
- represents the Jewish people's unbreakable historic bond and desire to be free in our ancestral homeland
- Anti-Zionism is antisemitism
- Support for Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State living in peace and security with its neighbors is a core Jewish value.
- Uniting and fighting back against all forms of antisemitism, regardless of where it manifests, is an imperative.
- Dialogue and debate can help our community learn and grow. Our goal is to provide facts, context, and nuance, while correcting lies and misinformation.
Sign up here for access to the StandWithUs resources that empower you to lead on supporting Israel and standing up to antisemitism.
- Subscribe to the RabbisUNITED newsletter for Divrei Torah insights, updates on campaigns, and tailored programming for your community.
- Gain access to a dedicated team that provides assistance navigating our resources. These include fact sheets and booklets that address anti-Israel bias, providing present and historical context.
- Receive expedited contact to our Saidoff Legal Department, which offers support to congregants and students facing antisemitism and harassment from anti-Israel individuals and institutions.
- Connect with speakers and events to enrich your community offerings.
- Join our Rabbinical conferences to engage with like-minded leaders.
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