On the Jewish New Year we are instructed to seek peace

Dusk tonight brings the Jewish New Year – Rosh Hashona and we wish everyone L’shana Tova.  The period from now until the end of the Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur are known as the Days of Awe, an important time for reflection when the Jewish people are required to recommit to the work of tikkun olam, repairing the world. That means striving for peace, including, of course, doing everything in our power to end the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and to build a future of freedom and safety for Palestinians and all people.

Israel, while claiming to be the Jewish State, continues to displace, bomb and starve over two million Palestinians in Gaza to death. We call on all people of conscience, and all governments, to divest from death and speak out in defense of life.

Judaism teaches us that there is nothing more important than saving a life. We call on our fellow Jews and on all Jewish institutions to stop supporting the Israeli military as it commits genocide in Gaza, and to stop supporting Jewish supremacy.  What we have seen instead from the Jewish Establishment institutions that claim to represent all Jews is that they reserve their criticism to those of us opposing the genocide and even express fury at Starmer’s government finally recognising the State of Palestine.

May we instead continue to pursue peace, may we find peace, may we find justice, may we continue to stand always with the oppressed and never the oppressor.

At the end of the Rosh Hashona services in our synagogues, a shofar (ram’s horn) is blown –  Jewish Voice for Peace in the USA say “May the shofar be a wake-up call for all”.  

Later this week, we will publish another piece for reflection during these Days of Awe.

LL