We are Jews in Minnesota - Oceti Sakowin land which includes Lakota, Nakota, Dakota, and Anishinaabeg territory. We are horrified by Israel’s ongoing violence against Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah, Gaza, the West Bank, and across the Holy Land. Now is the time for our community to connect the dots: the horrors we’re seeing are the result of the same system. The events of the past week are a continuation of decades of violence, ethnic cleansing, and theft by the state of Israel, and as Jews we cannot be silent.

Palestinians live under Israeli military occupation with no political representation.

Palestinians are being forced from their ancestral homes and land by Israel.

Palestinians face daily brutality from a military equipped and funded by the US.

There is no “both sides” argument for shelling Palestinian apartment buildings, killing Palestinian children, or stealing Palestinian homes. We must work to end Israel's apartheid system and the occupation of Palestine

For too long American tax-dollars, $3.8 Billion each year, have been used by Israeli forces to commit this violence.

For too long, Jewish communities and institutions - our synagogues, community organizations, schools - have justified Israel’s violence, or been silent. This violence is being carried out in the name of Jewish safety, but we know better. The actions of the Israeli government are a direct impediment to Jewish safety. Israeli violence against Palestinians in Gaza gives a facade of security, but comes at the cost of real, lasting Jewish safety and the human cost of violence against Palestinians.

For too long, politicians have used us, American Jews, as an excuse to continue funding war crimes of the State of Israel. And to them we say: not in our name. While Israeli leaders are openly promoting policies of ethnic cleansing and apartheid, too many American leaders are recycling the same talking points about peace and two-states they’ve been using since the 90’s. Enough is enough.

Our tradition commands us to seek justice, to speak the truth, and above all to honor and protect human life. We call for an end to unconditional US military aid to Israel; for the return of Palestinian homes and land; and for an end to the siege and violence on Gaza.

Ethnic cleansing is not our Judaism.
Sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace - Twin Cities; and IfNotNow - Twin Cities

Signed:

Imogen Page
Miriam Kelberg
Arianna Feldman
Naomi Hornstein
Aleesa Kuznetsov
Mira Klein
Anna Kunin
Abby Kastrul
Lucy Marshall
Rachel Lieberman
Jeremy Iggers
Sophia Sahm
Kameron Brodie
Nathaniel Merrill
Yosef Amrami
Track Trachtenberg
Mira McDonald
Montana Hirsch
Michael Chauss
Hanna Anderson
Genna Mastellone
Josh Spitzer-Resnick
Rachel Cruz
Aliza Tresser
ophir Gilad
Eleanor McGrath
Robin Savela
Amanda Brown
Dana Lipper
Lily Eisenthal
Thryn Hare
Hannah L
MJ Gilbert
Nadia Hecker
Noah Exum
Kaj Benson
Julia Falley
Mir Graham
Sam Stein
Heller Landecker
Ori Wasserburg
Sarina Partridge
Sarah Dayley
Joe Norcross
Mikaela Ziegler
Emily Bruell
Sabina Rogers
Shoshana Gurian-Sherman
Kim Christoffel
Nathan Goldman
Khesed Bein-Evans
Sharon Jaffe
Eva Motolinks
Noah Wexler
Emma Nicosia
Tatiana Lyons
Jordan Breslau
Sarah Coleman
Sally Lieberman
Bex Klafter
Wensday Berman
Natalie Jacobson
Emily Kastrul
Rosa Druker
Natalie El-Hai
Ester Kearney
Tzipporah Johnson
Lulavet Arnow
Alissa Mesibov
Elizabeth Tannen
Mordechai MacWilliams
Evann Zuckerman
Kyra Zimmerman
Anni Stewart
Sam Savela
Jayce Koester
Leykn Schmatz
Hannah Coffey
Emily Saltzman
Jessica Rosenberg
Jordyn Witman
Leah Meisel
Katy Hackworthy
Kayla Goldfarb
Maya Siskin-Lavine
Sonia Pollock
Jeremy Levinger
Sam Taitel
Evan Stern
Christine Gordon
Tamara Walsky
Aaron Berc
Max Friedman
Xander Gershberg
Sara Greenhalgh
Lily Alexandroff
Shahar Tsameret
Lucien Turczan-Lipets
Sarah Buchlaw
Sadie Funk
Maggie Vlietstra
Caroline Blair
Sophie Guterl
Leah Soule
Mia Freiberg
Leah Stillman
Alec Jacobson
Susan Erikson
Naomi Silber
Daniel Lentz
Steven Hirsh
Allison Vallant
Abby Goldman-nagel
Maryasha Katz
Jenny Tilsen
Rebecca Taurog
Diana Siegel-Garcia
Winona Honey
Jonas Specktor
Lillie Benowitz
Olivia Levinson
Dani Wallave
Laura Diamond
Celeste Robinson
Eli Stein
Josie Slovut
Jordyn Schreiber
Liv Steen
Sarah Johnson
Olivia Stitely
Ruby Dore
Sophie Freedman
Emma Ruddock
Ivana Sprague
Noah Jefferson
Madeline Machla Lee
Jay Lieberman
Amanda Braun
Katie Levin
Jonah G
Rebecca Kerns
Franny Discus Breen
Rebecca Kerns