non-Zionist Jewish congregations in the DMV?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I believe there is a wide range in what constitutes Zionism. I think most American Jews believe in a Zionism where Israel is both Jewish and a pluralistic democratic state, but it is increasingly doubtful that Israel can be all of those things.

Many American Jews believe in a Zionism where Israel maintains its Jewish identity even at expense of pluralistic, democratic values but many do not and whether those latter people are really Zionists is where the rub is.

There will be a “Peace Bloc” within the pro-Israel march on Tuesday to continue to make the case that people can be pro-Israel, pro-peace and pro-democracy. I think the Reconstructionist movement is part of the Peace Bloc so you could consider looking at those congregations (like Adat Shalom).

What are the goals of the Peace Bloc?

I am not involved in organizing it but I assume it is to express support for Israel and its right to self-defense, to support release of the hostages, to oppose anti-semitism, but also to show support for helping the civilian population of Gaza (recognizing the horror they are going through), respecting international law, and recognizing that Israel cannot achieve just and lasting peace by military force alone.

"Right to self defense" lol what an amazing turn of phrase to describe what Israelis are doing in Gaza atm. Really great PR term.

Do you deny that Hamas is a terrorist organization that tortured and murdered 1,200 Israelis on October 7 and took 240 hostages? Should Israel do sit back and let the rest of its people be murdered?

Why don't you read the recent Wall Street Journal piece by Dr. Qanta A. Ahmed -- a brave Muslim human rights observer -- who visited the aftermath of numerous atrocities in other conflicts and said that this was the worst she'd ever witnessed:

I toured the Sammy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital in Haifa, visiting the neonatal units whose tiny patients had recently been relocated in anticipation of further conflict. I examined bodies and ashes, incinerated teeth and bones. I saw toddlers, teens and adults, young and old, many of them bound, tortured and burned alive.

The Oct. 7 attack was premeditated, organized and targeted, seeking to destroy as many Israelis as possible. Hamas tortured and immolated its victims, including children, pregnant women and the unborn. Its men intentionally captured hostages, around 240 in total, reportedly from more than 40 countries.

and said that Israel has

a duty to prevent further genocide against its people. Saying so doesn’t detract from the suffering of Palestinians who are captives of Hamas.

and concluded

Israel, the West and the Muslim world must respond with necessary moral clarity: Define the Oct. 7 attacks as genocide. Legally designating the horrors as such ought to become a priority, independent of the war against Hamas, because the attacks need to be documented and prosecuted as crimes against humanity.

[Anonymous]

Israel, the West and the Muslim world must respond with necessary moral clarity: Define the Oct. 7 attacks as genocide. Legally designating the horrors as such ought to become a priority, independent of the war against Hamas, because the attacks need to be documented and prosecuted as crimes against humanity.

This is absurd. Not every atrocity is a genocide. The attacks of 10/7 were horrific, but they in no way approach the legal definition of genocide.

This is just nonsense tit-for-tat because Israeli actions in Gaza are walking right up to the legal definition of genocide (destroying an entire people in whole or in part on a specific territory), but even a horrific terror attack is not genocide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I believe there is a wide range in what constitutes Zionism. I think most American Jews believe in a Zionism where Israel is both Jewish and a pluralistic democratic state, but it is increasingly doubtful that Israel can be all of those things.

Many American Jews believe in a Zionism where Israel maintains its Jewish identity even at expense of pluralistic, democratic values but many do not and whether those latter people are really Zionists is where the rub is.

There will be a “Peace Bloc” within the pro-Israel march on Tuesday to continue to make the case that people can be pro-Israel, pro-peace and pro-democracy. I think the Reconstructionist movement is part of the Peace Bloc so you could consider looking at those congregations (like Adat Shalom).

What are the goals of the Peace Bloc?

I am not involved in organizing it but I assume it is to express support for Israel and its right to self-defense, to support release of the hostages, to oppose anti-semitism, but also to show support for helping the civilian population of Gaza (recognizing the horror they are going through), respecting international law, and recognizing that Israel cannot achieve just and lasting peace by military force alone.

"Right to self defense" lol what an amazing turn of phrase to describe what Israelis are doing in Gaza atm. Really great PR term.

Do you deny that Hamas is a terrorist organization that tortured and murdered 1,200 Israelis on October 7 and took 240 hostages? Should Israel do sit back and let the rest of its people be murdered?

Why don't you read the recent Wall Street Journal piece by Dr. Qanta A. Ahmed -- a brave Muslim human rights observer -- who visited the aftermath of numerous atrocities in other conflicts and said that this was the worst she'd ever witnessed:

I toured the Sammy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital in Haifa, visiting the neonatal units whose tiny patients had recently been relocated in anticipation of further conflict. I examined bodies and ashes, incinerated teeth and bones. I saw toddlers, teens and adults, young and old, many of them bound, tortured and burned alive.

The Oct. 7 attack was premeditated, organized and targeted, seeking to destroy as many Israelis as possible. Hamas tortured and immolated its victims, including children, pregnant women and the unborn. Its men intentionally captured hostages, around 240 in total, reportedly from more than 40 countries.

and said that Israel has

a duty to prevent further genocide against its people. Saying so doesn’t detract from the suffering of Palestinians who are captives of Hamas.

and concluded

Israel, the West and the Muslim world must respond with necessary moral clarity: Define the Oct. 7 attacks as genocide. Legally designating the horrors as such ought to become a priority, independent of the war against Hamas, because the attacks need to be documented and prosecuted as crimes against humanity.

Do you deny that over 10,000 palestinians have been killed this year alone? The majority of which are CHILDREN? And that the Israeli government has now seized land that has belonged to Palestinians for thousands of years?

Please. What is happening is totally disgusting and sick, and anyone defending it should be ashamed of themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re a half Jewish family. We tried out going to temple when our kids were little so they could attend Hebrew school. At the time we ruled out the temples with the big banners supporting Israel. I cant imagine going to one of those now. Instead of joining a temple, why not join a multi religious peace group? What are we praying for, if not for peace?

How can you be "half" of something?

Plenty of people are two halves of somethings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Israel, the West and the Muslim world must respond with necessary moral clarity: Define the Oct. 7 attacks as genocide. Legally designating the horrors as such ought to become a priority, independent of the war against Hamas, because the attacks need to be documented and prosecuted as crimes against humanity.

This is absurd. Not every atrocity is a genocide. The attacks of 10/7 were horrific, but they in no way approach the legal definition of genocide.

This is just nonsense tit-for-tat because Israeli actions in Gaza are walking right up to the legal definition of genocide (destroying an entire people in whole or in part on a specific territory), but even a horrific terror attack is not genocide.

Yeah, I think it'll be moot because I doubt any senior Hamas officials will wind up coming before any international tribunals, but there are plenty of other crimes they could be charged with without needing to call Oct. 7 genocide. It clearly had genocidal intent, but that's not the only relevant question. Is Hamas even a state actor for the purposes of international law? I don't think they can be charged with genocide if they're just a bunch of terrorists, no matter how atrocious their actions were.