The Shalom Center - Iraq-US War

VOTING OUR VALUES: Nonpartisan Guide to Election Issues

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:28:22 -0500

VOTING OUR VALUES
Judaism & American Life
“To be is to stand for.”
—Abraham Joshua Heschel
RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION:
A JEWISH CALL FOR JUSTICE

Judaism & American Life
Elections offer us the opportunity to reflect upon, and
to recommit ourselves to, our core values. This Jewish
non-partisan election guide is intended as catalyst for
thought and action during the 2008 election season.

The guide includes seven topics that the Righteous
Indignation staff has identified as key election issues
based on our research and in consultation with religious
and political leaders across the country. In addition, the

NOV 23: Jews Uniting to End the War & Heal America: Organizing for Action

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:14:12 -0500

On Sunday, November 23, at Central Synagogue in New York City, The Shalom Center, Jewish Currents, and Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring invite YOU to take part in a one-day action gathering: Jews Uniting to End the War & Heal America: Organizing for Action.

Please go to -

https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/602/t/7445/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=3732

to register for November 23 and/ or contribute to its success, even if you are too far away to come.

And please send this invitation to your friends.

Speakers and workshop leaders will include Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious Action Center in Washington, Rabbi Peter Knobel, president of the Reform rabbinical association, former Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman, Sammie Moshenberg of the National Council of Jewish Women, Leslie Cagan of United for Peace and Justice, Jeremy Ben-Ami of J Street --- - and many other luminaries of the newest and oldest generations of activist Jews. (See the day's schedule, below.)

From Passover into the Next Step: PHARAOH OR FREEDOM IN AMERICA?

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 18:33:19 -0400

by Rabbi Arthur Waskow *

Passover invites us to remember the past and reflect upon the present. After Passsover, how do we start walking our way into the future?

Four traditional questions are recited at the Passover Seder. But the real first question is this:

"Is Pharaoh our god, or is the Breath of Life?"

From Rabbi Jesus leading a march of palm-bearing Jews against the Roman Empire, where and when people had gathered to recall and celebrate the overthrow of an ancient despot ("Palm Sunday," in the Empire's provincial capital, Jerusalem, just before Passover time) ---

Forward to Fannie Lou Hamer of Mississippi chanting Black American freedom songs like "Go Down, Moses" --

WHEN BETTER THAN PASSOVER TO BEGIN EXODUS FROM IRAQ? -- END THE WAR BY 9/11!

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 08:14:37 -0400

Though 77% of American Jews oppose the Iraq war, "official" Jewish organizations are silent. Our Jewish call to end the war is now a full-page ad in The Forward & The Nation.

Help us spread this message! -- PLEASE CLICK ON THE BLUE "DONATE" BUTTON ON THE RIGHT-HAND MARGIN OF THIS PAGE, RIGHT HERE: ===>===>==> ==>==> ==>==>==>==>
THE "DONATE" PAGE EXPLAINS HOW TO SIGN THIS YOURSELF & SPREAD THE WORD FURTHER. Contributions are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.

PLEASE ALSO FAX YOUR VIEWS DIRECTLY TO CONGRESS, BY CLICKING TO --
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/tsc/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6467

THE AD TEXT IS HERE: (Signers & more information are below. Click on "Read More.")

WHAT BETTER TIME THAN PASSOVER
TO BEGIN THE EXODUS FROM IRAQ?

An American Jewish Committee survey reveals that two-thirds of American Jews now believe the Iraq War was a mistake. It is time to act.

We ask you to join in calling on our government to bring safely home --- as many members of Congress have urged, on a six-month schedule --- all American troops now in Iraq. This Exodus should begin by Passover and be completed by 9/11.

For just as Passover celebrates freedom from ancient slavery and the Pharaoh's military mindset, so today we seek freedom for both Americans and Iraqis from the death and destruction imposed by stubborn attachment to a destructive occupation.

Our grief on 9/11 calls us to move beyond violence, not to escalate it. And upon the heels of 9/11 comes the wisdom of Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan, also calling us to Turn Toward Peace in our world as well as in our hearts.

Our representatives in Congress must:

1. Use their constitutional power of the purse to end this armed occupation and bring all American troops safely home from Iraq. "The king shall not amass an armed cavalry nor multiply gold and silver. Thus he will not act haughtily toward his fellow-citizens." (Deut. 17: 16-20).

2. Ask the UN, regional bodies, and non-governmental organizations to offer their services to help Iraqis peacefully resolve their future. "Justice, justice, shall you pursue." (Deut 16: 20. Tradition adds: Why "justice" twice? To achieve just ends, we must use just means.)

3. Commit fifty billion dollars -- a mere one-tenth of what the war has already cost the US -- to be spent for reconstruction, under international supervision and by Iraqi decisions. "Do not harden your heart and shut your hand against the needy. Give to them readily and have no regrets when you do so." (Deut. 15: 8-10).

4. End the American addiction to oil that was one of the main causes for this war and threats of others, for corrupt bargains with some oil-rich governments, and for global scorching, Use conservation, renewable and sustainable energy sources, emission caps, a carbon tax, and other carbon-control measures to ensure that our children can achieve the Hanukkah standard: requiring only one day's oil to meet eight days' needs.

Tradition teaches: "Seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:15) means we must pursue peace even if it is running away from us. We expect no less of our government.

H.R. 3797, The New Diplomatic Offensive for Iraq Act

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:14:42 -0400

Supported by the Friends Committee on National legislation, the Unitarian Universalist Assn, and other religious organizations

H.R. 3797 would require the President to seek to institute a regional diplomatic plan for the Middle East.

Detailed Summary

New Diplomatic Offensive for Iraq Act - Directs the President to implement a regional diplomatic plan in conjunction with the U.N. Security Council to: (1) curtail the ongoing civil war in Iraq; (2) prevent the spread of violence from Iraq into neighboring countries; (3) prevent the establishment of safe havens for al-Qa'ida and other terrorist organizations; (4) prevent regional conflict; (5) prevent genocide, ethnic cleansing, and other crimes against humanity; and (6) promote a national process of reconciliation within Iraq.

Interfaith Witness for Peace in Iraq, March 7 in Washington DC

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:50:20 -0400

Sponsors: Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership

Communities and individuals of all faith traditions and spiritualities who are committed to ending the war in Iraq are holding an interfaith witness in Washington D.C. on Friday, March 7, 2008 to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the sacredness of human life. The world cries out for a common voice for peace from across religious traditions and paths.

TO GET DETAILED INFORMATION AND SIGN UP FOR EVENTS, PLEASE GO TO --
http://www.olivebranchinterfaith.org

THERE WILL BE FOUR MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE MARCH 7 EVENTS:

Communal Fast in a Time of Calamity: A Multireligious Call

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:05:02 -0400

Dear friends,

How do we announce a major religious event, such as the October 8 Fast to move America from conquest to community, from violence to reverence?

When the steering committee of the Fast began discussing this, our first response was the conventional one in American society –- a press conference.

But then we recalled that there are ancient traditions for making the announcement of such a religious act itself a religious act. In the Talmud, for example, there is described a way of Calling a Communal Fast in Time of Calamity. (The calamity might be a drought, a famine, a war.)

INTERFAITH FAST TO MAKE PEACE IN IRAQ: October 8. FROM CONQUEST TO COMMUNITY, FROM VIOLENCE TO REVERENCE

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 05:54:05 -0400

Dear friends of all faiths and communities,

If you want to sign on to the Call for the Interfaith Fast, please write to Office@shalomctr.org and explain what religious congregation, organization, or community you are working with. PLEASE ALSO SIGN UP AND DESCRIBE THE EVENT YOU ARE PLANNING, BY CLICKING TO --

Http://www.INTERFAITHFAST.ORG

Shalom, salaam, peace –
Rabbi Arthur Waskow

FROM CONQUEST TO COMMUNITY,
FROM VIOLENCE TO REVERENCE:
AN INTERFAITH FAST on OCTOBER 8
TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ

We call on all Americans to join in fasting from dawn to dusk on Monday, October 8, to call for an end to the Iraq War. On this day, people of faith in local communities across our nation will act as catalysts to move America from conquest to community and from violence to reverence.

MEMORIAL DAY: SO THAT THESE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 18:37:17 -0400

MEMORIAL DAY: GRIEVING, KILLING, OR PRAYERFUL ORGANIZING?

Dear Friends,

Memorial Day was created to mourn the dead of American wars: "That these dead shall not have died in vain; that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

The people of the United States have spoken clearly. This war is indeed "of" us – it is our young who are dying, losing eyes and legs and genitals and minds and souls. It is our schools, our firefighters, our levees, our health care, that are robbed and starved to pay its monstrous costs.

But this war is not by us, and not for us. Our soldiers are dying bravely to veil the cowardice of those who govern us. Our peoples – American and Iraqi – are suffering so those who govern us can celebrate their arrogance, their stupidity, their greed. Their idols.

Iraq & Beyond: Unmaking the Idol of Violence

Tue, 15 May 2007 13:55:31 -0400

Dear Friends,

Early in April (2007), I took part in the "Consultation on Conscience," a gathering the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism calls together in Washington each year for American Jews to address issues of social justice.

I was there partly because the RAC's director, Rabbi David Saperstein, asked me to speak to "What next?" after the Reform Jewish movement adopted a antiwar resolution calling on Congress to set a time table to end the Iraq War.

So let me urge “what next” action you can take RIGHT NOW, or can take after reading the rest of this report. To urge Congress to pass the new Feingold-Reid bill to redirect all Iraq-military funds to bring the troops home no later than next March 31, you can snip and paste your way to ---

Feingold-Reid Bill to End Iraq war (SB 1077)

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 18:38:11 -0400

Feingold-Reid bill S.1077 on withdrawal from Iraq

By Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself, Mr. REID, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. DODD, Mr. KERRY, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. HARKIN, and Mr. SANDERS):

S. 1077. A bill to safely redeploy United States troops from Iraq; to the Committee on Foreign Relations (introduced April 10, 2007)

The language of the legislation reads:

(a) Transition of Mission - The President shall promptly transition the mission of United States forces in Iraq to the limited purposes set forth in subsection (d).

(b) Commencement of Safe, Phased Redeployment from Iraq - The President shall commence the safe, phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq that are not essential to the purposes set forth in subsection (d). Such redeployment shall begin not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

THE SILENT DEBATE: AMERICAN JEWS & THE IRAQ WAR

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:13:14 -0400

By Rabbi Arthur Waskow *

[This essay was circulated in early March 2007 by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency as an Op/Ed piece for its member newspapers of the Jewish press.]

What to do about the Iraq war has made for the sharpest and most important disconnect between the political behavior of large Jewish organizations and the opinions of the flesh-and-blood Jews who actually make up the American Jewish community.

Surveys by the American Jewish Committee in the fall of 2005 and 2006 showed about two-thirds of American Jews thought the war a mistake. The Gallup Poll reports that over a three-year span, more than three-fourths of American Jews – the most in any religious group – thought the war a mistake. The nearest there is to a grass-roots gathering of the largest organization, the biennial convention of the Union for Reform Judaism, in September 2005 overwhelmingly adopted a resolution vigorously critical of the war.

Dozens Arrested in Antiwar Demonstrations Held Near Capitol

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 10:46:59 -0400

Police Stop Protest at Senate Building
Dozens Arrested in Several Antiwar Demonstrations Held Near Capitol

By Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 27, 2006; Page A14

The quiet, sunny atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building was transformed into a chaotic scene yesterday when dozens of war protesters filed into the lobby, formed a prayer circle, shouted Scripture and eventually were arrested as Senate staffers hung over railings and crammed glass-walled offices to watch.

Employees in the building and longtime area activists said they had never seen police allow such a demonstration in a government office building, with activists one and two stories up reading the names of the Iraq war dead, civilian and military. The names rang loudly through improvised megaphones into the building's open center. Dozens of police streamed into the atrium and arrested about 35 people, including Rick Ufford-Chase, who until recently was a top official of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Most Iraqis Want U.S.Out Now, State Dept Poll Says

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 08:45:15 -0400

Most Iraqis Favor Immediate U.S. Pullout,
Polls Show Leaders' Views Out of Step With Public

Washington Post
September 27, 2006

By Amit R. Paley Washington Post Staff Writer

BAGHDAD, Sept. 26 -- A strong majority of Iraqis want
U.S.-led military forces to immediately withdraw from
the country, saying their swift departure would make
Iraq more secure and decrease sectarian violence,
according to new polls by the State Department and
independent researchers.

In Baghdad, for example, nearly three-quarters of
residents polled said they would feel safer if U.S. and
other foreign forces left Iraq, with 65 percent of

Declaring Peace: Nonviolent Actions this Fall to End the Iraq War

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:41:36 -0400

The Declaration of Peace National Working Group

has set a Framework for Nonviolent Action for the Week of September 21-28 in Washington, D.C., and around the country. We are encouraging all local organizers to coordinate participation in any or all of these action days.

You can contact the national DOP Campaign at info@declarationofpeace.org or 773-777-7858.

If a comprehensive plan for an end to the US war in Iraq is established and activated by Thursday, September 21, we will celebrate and take steps to monitor progress. If, as is more likely to be the case, a plan has not been initiated, we will publicly state or dissent for the current policy and support a comprehensive end to the war by “declaring peace” and taking action within following framework: