The Long Tradition of American Jewish Critiques of Israel & Their Suppression

The Long Tradition of American Jewish Critiques of Israel & Their Suppression

American Jews were interested and involved in Palestinian rights all the way back to 1948. There's this idea that it came about just now or in the 1970s, but actually as long as there's been a Nakba. As long as there's been Palestinian refugees, there’s been American Jews concerned with that, too. I would say that a lot of times these American Jews were very well informed and spent time in the region, and they came to these conclusions often not in the United States, but over there where they were talking to the Israeli left and meeting Palestinians and seeing a situation that they don't feel is ethical or sustainable.

REBECCA VILKOMERSON · RABBI ALISSA WISE

REBECCA VILKOMERSON · RABBI ALISSA WISE

Authors of Solidarity Is the Political Version of Love

If you want to organize for the long haul, then you need to create a space where people can feel at home and feel like they can bring their full selves, their political selves, their spiritual selves, and their communal selves. There were times when this was very challenging and contradictory, but nevertheless, I think Jewish Voice for Peace has had so much longevity and has continued to grow because it centers the idea of building a home for people.