beyondzerosum
Middle East. Common Sense.
Posts Tagged 'JACPAC'
Thoughtful modern day "Plagues" to contemplate this Passover – presented by JACPAC – but there is something missing
April 14, 2014 BeyondZS	2 comments
JACPAC (the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs) a wonderful group of politically active women (and a few men) whose issues center around Israel, women's rights a nd now, gun control, have come out with a list of ten modern day plagues to think about this Pesach [Their list follows at the bottom of this post – unfortunately, I couldn't get the very cool green frog background to copy over]. Their hope is that:
As you gather with your families around the seder table and retell the story of Passover, remember that oppression, hunger, discrimination and violence still plague us all.
However, I thought that given their goal, they left out two of the most important things that we Jews should be thinking about. So, I wrote them the following:
To Marcia, Dana, Janna and JACPAC:
With respect, I believe that you have left out two extremely important plagues:
– The Occupation and the treatment of the Palestinians
– Failure to reach a two state solution
The occupation is one of the most important plagues because of the threat it presents to Israel remaining both a Jewish and Democratic state. It also tends to corrupt a society. I have witnessed this personally when visiting the West Bank and I assume that you have as well. The attitude towards the Palestinians is simply shameful. And it is clearly appears to be an overall policy of the government and military. If this were happening in the US, I am sure that JACPAC would be the first to speak out against it.
For myself, one of the most important aspects of the Seder is the fact that the Haggadah emphasizes the fact that "you" – the Seder participant him/herself – were a slave in the land of Egypt. I think that this is profound. The Haggadah is asking each of us to put ourselves in the shoes of someone that is enslaved and oppressed. It wants us to feel what it is like to be the one who is powerless – as we Jews have been for 2000 years until quite recently.
Now however, the miracle of the success of the State of Israel has put us in an unfamiliar position. The Jewish State (we shouldn't need the Palestinians to have to bless this description) is now in control of the West Bank and controls access to Gaza. Whether you want to call it" occupation" or not (a la Sheldon Adelson), Israel is controlling the lives of 2.5 million people in the West Bank. How we as Jews handle this situation is a test of Jewish values. The lesson I take from the Haggadah is to remember what it is like to be powerless and oppressed – and if the tables are turned so that Jews are in power, to use that power wisely.
And, I believe that "Treatment of the Palestinians" should come ahead of "BDS" – because there is a connection. BDS scares many of us precisely because we have seen the effectiveness of this tactic before particularly with South Africa. As a matter of fact, many of us Jews were in the forefront of the BDS movement against South Africa. While some of those who promote BDS have the goal of destroying the state of Israel, there are many others who are simply protesting the very real abuses of power and justice that do occur.
The question I would like to contemplate for this Pesach is this: If we keep the land, but lose our ethics, where are we?
I think the Haggadah is telling us that that puts us back wandering in a moral desert.
So, yasher koach, on the list of plagues. It provides much for all of us to consider at the Seder table. I simply wish that you would challenge your membership even further. There are very real facts on the ground in Israel that are hard to look at. But, hiding our heads in the sand, doesn't change the reality on the ground.
Best wishes to you and your families for a chag kasher v'sameach — a meaningful and sweet Pesach.
JACPAC's Email:
You thought the plagues ended with Pharaoh?
Today's Plagues
1. Iran and Nuclear Weapons
Israel's security hangs in the balance as Iran races to build up their nuclear stockpile.
2. Boycott. Divestment. Sanctions (BDS)
Israel will be economically, culturally and educationally strangled from a global BDS movement.
3. Global Warming
Climate change will lead to rising global temperatures, severe natural disasters, and dangerous levels of pollution.
4. Gun Violence
In America, an adult is killed by a firearm every 17 minutes and a child every 3.25 hours.
5. Limited Access to Reproductive Rights
Increased restrictions: forcing abortion clinics to close at a record pace, mandatory ultrasounds, loss of contraception insurance coverage, 6-week abortion bans
6. Theology vs. Science
State lawmakers across the country are pushing for creationism to be taught in schools instead of the science of evolution. A Senate candidate from North Carolina has even said that the big bang theory are "lies from the pit of hell."
7. Erosion of Separation of Church and State
Lawmakers in SC, VA and TN are debating bills that will put prayer back in schools.
8. Voting Rights Suppression
Over 30 states across the country have considered discriminatory laws to make it harder for minorities, seniors and students to exercise their right to vote.
9. Hunger
Today 49 million people in the U.S. struggle to put food on the table. This year the Senate voted to cut $8.6 billion from the federal food assistance program (SNAP) over the next several years.
10. Human Trafficking
This is a form of modern day slavery. In the U.S., between 100,000-300,000 children are used for the purpose of sexual exploitation yearly.
This Passover, let's recommit ourselves to making our world better for all and fulfill the promises of our own Jewish heritage and traditions.
sources: CDC, JCPA, Brady Campaign, Feeding America, ACLU, Children's Defense Fund
Paid for by Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs. Contributions or gifts are not tax deductible. Contributions may total up to $5200 per individual ($2600 for the primary election, and $2600 for the general election). Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Corporate contributions and contributions from non-US citizens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence are prohibited. All contributions by individuals must be made from personal funds and may not be reimbursed or paid by another person.
Support JAC today.www.jacpac.org
Categories: Israel, Palestinians, Two-State Solution Tags: JACPAC, Jews, Pesach, Two State Solution
SUBSCRIBE HERE - Get BeyondZeroSum by Email!
Tweets from Beyondzs…
What You Can Do Now To Help Save This Country
Today's J Street Chicago Luncheon
Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan speaks his mind to 25,000 at Tel Aviv rally
Will #Bibi mention this in Congress? Khamenei agrees with Congress: No deal better than a bad deal http://t.co/P8yzZNXIAd via @AlMonitor
Meetings Last Week with Members of the Knesset About the Current Situation in Israel and Operation Protective Edge
Blog Zahav
Bumpspot [Jeff Pozmantier]
Shalom Rav
BeyondZeroSum RSS
#AIPAC2011 #AIPAC2012 #Jerusalembombing #ThirdIntifada Ahmadinejad AIPAC American Israel Public Affairs Committee American Jews Analysis Arab Peace Initiative Ashkelon Barack Obama Benjamin Netanyahu Chicago Council on Global Affairs Danny Ayalon David Ben-Gurion Debt Crisis Drew University Egypt endgame Fatah Gaza Gaza Strip Geneva Accord Haaretz Hamas Hosni Mubarak Iran Ismail Haniyeh Israel Israel Defense Forces Israeli Declaration of Independence Israeli Peace Initiative Israeli–Palestinian conflict j14 Jeremy Ben-Ami Jerusalem Post Jewish people Jews J Street Khaled Mashal Mahmoud Abbas Middle East Middle East Peace Muslim Brotherhood NIAC Nuclear program of Iran Operation Protective Edge Palestine Palestinian National Authority Palestinian people Peace Pesach Peter Beinart Policies Politics of Iran Precepts President of the Palestinian National Authority Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Rosh Hashanah Saad Eddin Ibrahim Salam Fayyad Sderot Settlements Settlers Shimon Peres State of Palestine Strategy Trita Parsi Two State Solution United States War West Bank White House Zionism