Emily Stands Up for Dignity for All
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As the grandchild of Holocaust survivors and American communists and the child of a sworn atheist, I grew up with a deeply conflicted relationship with Judaism. Weaned on the tales of Jews fighting for their own humanity and the liberation of others, I saw a vastly different Jewish reality growing up -- when my favorite teacher at my Jewish Day School made comments about "the Arabs" putting bombs under her car, or when a classmate was sent out of the room for asking what happened to Palestinians in 1948.
I learned to distance myself from Judaism early, determined to cast away any notion of myself as different, ethnic, or as the "oppressor." I straightened my hair, wished away the bump in my nose, laughed alongside my friends when they called me the token Jew and threw pennies at me, and gave into a creeping sense of indifference to Jews, amd Jewish ritual and practice. Although I spent a year in Israel at 18, I dropped quickly the notion that Jews, or Israel, could mean much to me. Running away from Jews, running away from myself, I embraced labor organizing and fights for economic and racial justice.
That all changed in September 2014, after the latest bombardment of Gaza and the beginning of a small scrappy group of young Jews calling themselves IfNotNow. At IfNotNow I met people who not only impressed me with their strategic saavy and smarts, but challenged me with their deep commitment to Jewish peoplehood and Palestinian rights. Young people who not only had a vision of a better Jewish community, but had a plan of how to get there. I came to IfNotNow intending to learn more about organizing and jet; two and a half years later I am still here, committed to the liberation of Palestinians and Jews and convinced that the two are inextricably intertwined. I am so proud of what we have done, and I also know there is so much road ahead.
As I have grown into this work, I have yearned to see the reality of occupation firsthand, which is nearing its 50th anniversary, and to build with Israelis and Palestinians doing this work on the ground. In the year I lived in Israel, I never set foot in the West Bank, a testament to the geographic and intellectual isolation Jews must overcome to struggle alongside Palestinians against the horrors of occupation.
In this 50th year of occupation, I along with 150 other Diaspora Jews will head to the West Bank to do solidarity actions with Palestinians. I do this not out of spite for Jews, but because of my ancestors and friends who kept the spark of a flourishing and just Judaism alive for me. I do this because of the enormous sacrifice of Palestinian activists who have struggled, been imprisoned, and died for their right to simply exist in the land of their people. I do this because I believe in the power of sharp strategy and of Jews putting their bodies on the line for freedom. I do this because I believe we as a people are at an impasse in which we must decide: Will we continue to search for security in the oppression of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, or will we join hands towards a mutual liberation?
Please support me and IfNotNow's work as I take this important step, towards witness, struggle, and action.
What am I looking to raise?
The cost of the trip is $1200. I received a scholarship of $700 because of how little I make, so the cost for me is $500 + $1000 for airfare = total of $1500.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS TRIP !
What: Jewish activists from around the world will convene in the West Bank for 9 days of solidarity activism with Palestinians who are being evicted from their homes and pushed off their land in the name of ongoing settlement expansion and occupation. Likely projects include: infrastructure development, agricultural projects, sit-ins, and direct action.
Why: We believe that international Jewish support for Palestinian and Israeli nonviolent activists working to end the unjust occupation of the Palestinian Territories is crucial. As Jews, we say to our own communities, to the Israeli government, and to the world that the occupation must not continue.
Where: Activists will stay together in Bethlehem and engage in a variety of campaigns and activities in Hebron and South Hebron Hills.
Who: The Center for Jewish Nonviolence is comprised of Jews from the entire spectrum of the anti-occupation left. We come from groups and organizations like All That’s Left: Anti Occupation Collective, Jewish Voice for Peace, J Street, Open Hillel, If Not Now, Students for Justice in Palestine, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, T’ruah, Hashomer Hatzair, and many others. We expect participants to come with various understandings of the causes of and solutions to the occupation. This diversity is welcome.
Learning: Learning, reflecting, and skill-sharing is a vital component to building vibrant communities. As part of our time together, we will devote one full day workshops on themes, histories, strategies, and tactics related to our work.
When: Sunday May 14 to Monday May 22, 2017. Though the 1967 War occurred in June, our Palestinian partners have requested that we join them on the ground earlier since Ramadan falls in June 2017. Furthermore, being on the ground early will allow us to set the tone of the news cycle in the lead-up to 50 years and enable us to launch follow-up activism around the world in June.
I learned to distance myself from Judaism early, determined to cast away any notion of myself as different, ethnic, or as the "oppressor." I straightened my hair, wished away the bump in my nose, laughed alongside my friends when they called me the token Jew and threw pennies at me, and gave into a creeping sense of indifference to Jews, amd Jewish ritual and practice. Although I spent a year in Israel at 18, I dropped quickly the notion that Jews, or Israel, could mean much to me. Running away from Jews, running away from myself, I embraced labor organizing and fights for economic and racial justice.
That all changed in September 2014, after the latest bombardment of Gaza and the beginning of a small scrappy group of young Jews calling themselves IfNotNow. At IfNotNow I met people who not only impressed me with their strategic saavy and smarts, but challenged me with their deep commitment to Jewish peoplehood and Palestinian rights. Young people who not only had a vision of a better Jewish community, but had a plan of how to get there. I came to IfNotNow intending to learn more about organizing and jet; two and a half years later I am still here, committed to the liberation of Palestinians and Jews and convinced that the two are inextricably intertwined. I am so proud of what we have done, and I also know there is so much road ahead.
As I have grown into this work, I have yearned to see the reality of occupation firsthand, which is nearing its 50th anniversary, and to build with Israelis and Palestinians doing this work on the ground. In the year I lived in Israel, I never set foot in the West Bank, a testament to the geographic and intellectual isolation Jews must overcome to struggle alongside Palestinians against the horrors of occupation.
In this 50th year of occupation, I along with 150 other Diaspora Jews will head to the West Bank to do solidarity actions with Palestinians. I do this not out of spite for Jews, but because of my ancestors and friends who kept the spark of a flourishing and just Judaism alive for me. I do this because of the enormous sacrifice of Palestinian activists who have struggled, been imprisoned, and died for their right to simply exist in the land of their people. I do this because I believe in the power of sharp strategy and of Jews putting their bodies on the line for freedom. I do this because I believe we as a people are at an impasse in which we must decide: Will we continue to search for security in the oppression of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, or will we join hands towards a mutual liberation?
Please support me and IfNotNow's work as I take this important step, towards witness, struggle, and action.
What am I looking to raise?
The cost of the trip is $1200. I received a scholarship of $700 because of how little I make, so the cost for me is $500 + $1000 for airfare = total of $1500.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS TRIP !
What: Jewish activists from around the world will convene in the West Bank for 9 days of solidarity activism with Palestinians who are being evicted from their homes and pushed off their land in the name of ongoing settlement expansion and occupation. Likely projects include: infrastructure development, agricultural projects, sit-ins, and direct action.
Why: We believe that international Jewish support for Palestinian and Israeli nonviolent activists working to end the unjust occupation of the Palestinian Territories is crucial. As Jews, we say to our own communities, to the Israeli government, and to the world that the occupation must not continue.
Where: Activists will stay together in Bethlehem and engage in a variety of campaigns and activities in Hebron and South Hebron Hills.
Who: The Center for Jewish Nonviolence is comprised of Jews from the entire spectrum of the anti-occupation left. We come from groups and organizations like All That’s Left: Anti Occupation Collective, Jewish Voice for Peace, J Street, Open Hillel, If Not Now, Students for Justice in Palestine, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, T’ruah, Hashomer Hatzair, and many others. We expect participants to come with various understandings of the causes of and solutions to the occupation. This diversity is welcome.
Learning: Learning, reflecting, and skill-sharing is a vital component to building vibrant communities. As part of our time together, we will devote one full day workshops on themes, histories, strategies, and tactics related to our work.
When: Sunday May 14 to Monday May 22, 2017. Though the 1967 War occurred in June, our Palestinian partners have requested that we join them on the ground earlier since Ramadan falls in June 2017. Furthermore, being on the ground early will allow us to set the tone of the news cycle in the lead-up to 50 years and enable us to launch follow-up activism around the world in June.
Organiser
Emily Mayer
Organiser
Brooklyn, NY
