rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/event/toronto-jews-say-stop-the-violence-in-gaza?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-event-area-toronto-jews-say-stop-the-violence-in-gaza' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> IfNotNow Toronto https://actionnetwork.org/groups/ifnotnow-toronto https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/share_options/facebook_images/000/104/417/original/hi.jpg On the first night of Passover,  while some of us and our community sat at seder tables across the country, 18 unarmed Palestinian protesters were shot and killed by Israeli forces. And within the coming months, thousands of African refugees who have made their home in Israel will face deportation. This is not what freedom looks like. On Monday, April 9th at 5:30pm, we will gather as Jews in rage and sorrow outside the Consulate General of Israel to mourn the deaths of the 18 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by reciting the Mourner’s Kaddish, a Jewish prayer to honour those no longer with us. Please join us in this Jewish ritual of mourning. No knowledge of Hebrew or experience with this ritual is necessary. We are gathering outside the Consulate because violence against protesters and deportations of refugees contradict our Jewish values. To remain silent in the face of these injustices is to disregard the story of struggle and freedom we tell each year at Passover. In Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) declared the border a "closed military zone," using the same tactics it uses in the West Bank to arbitrarily restrict Palestinian freedom of movement. A new report from Human Rights Watch just declared Israel's actions as unlawful and calculated, saying the high number of deaths and injuries was the foreseeable consequence of granting soldiers leeway to use lethal force outside of life-threatening situations in violation of international norms." This is part of the daily nightmare of occupation and anti-Palestinian policies. Yet from many Jewish institutions, there has been only silence — or, even, worse, full support for Israel's actions. As Jews who believe in freedom and dignity for all, we must resist and reject this. To remain silent in the face of these injustices is to disregard the story of struggle and freedom we tell each year at Passover. Together, we will ask our community: Why is Palestinian freedom different than all other struggles for freedom? We will gather together to mourn the lives lost in Gaza and demand action and accountability from our community's institutions. The event will take place outside on the sidewalk --rain or shine. The nearest TTC station is St. George (Bedford entrance,) which has elevators and escalators. We will be standing outside for about an hour for the duration of the ritual: please dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. Handouts with English and Hebrew will be provided. Please email ifnotnowtoronto@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or accessibility needs. https://actionnetwork.org/events/toronto-jews-say-stop-the-violence-in-gaza