End the Occupation! Jewish Feminists in the U.S

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3-31-1990

Resist Newsletter, Mar. 1990

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Recommended Citation Resist, "Resist Newsletter, Mar. 1990" (1990). Resist Newsletters. 222. https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/resistnewsletter/222 Newsletter #224 A Call to Resist Illegitimate Authority March, 1990 End the Occupation! Jewish Feminists in the U.S. Working for Peace in the Middle East

TATIANA SCHREIBER

There's a Jewish expression, "You are not expected to complete the work in your lifetime. Neither must you refuse to do your part." For a long time I have wanted to do my part in speaking out against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Yet, as one murder of a Palestinian teenager at the beginning of the Intifada became one murder every day, as homes were demolished, as Palestinian schools were arbitrarily closed, as Palestinians were summarily expelled from Jerusalem, I remained very quiet. I don't know exactly why I have found it so difficult to know what my work should be, but I suspect it is Demonstrators link arms around the old city of Jerusalem in 1990 Time for Peace Actions. Photo: Eleanor Roffman largely due to some buried fear that in speaking out I could be cast out from to speak out? How did their friends - the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. my home, such as it is, in the Jewish Jewish and non-Jewish - react? Were What follows is a sampling from the community. But, in the last few years, their families supportive or critical? many conversations I had with Jewish as editor of the Resist newsletter, and as Had they grown up in a Zionist tradi women determined not to "give up, a member of the Resist board, I've had tion? Did their feelings about the work shut up, or put up" with the Israeli gov the opportunity to learn about the kind change as the Intifada continued into ernment's version of reality. That of work other Jewish feminists were do two, now three years? Did they feel a phrase comes from Israeli feminist ing around the Middle East. I realised I particular responsibility toward this Rachel Ostrowitz in her article ''Dan was in a perfect position to answer some work because they were Jewish? For the gerous Women: The Israeli Women's of my own questions. What had pushed many lesbians that are active on these Peace Movement'' which appeared in the women to begin this work? What issues, I wondered how their lesbian the June/July issue of New Outlook. were their fears when they first wanted identities shaped their thinking about continued on page two Women continued from page one Again and again, the American women Jewish cultural identity, others were Jewish Organizations in New York, in I spoke with said it was largely contact reclaiming that identity. A few called April, 1988: ''What I did not expect was with Israeli feminists that convinced themselves Zionist, most were non the intensity with which my doubts kept them to act. Having heard the passion Zionist, and others were strongly anti surfacing . . . despite my convictions of Jewish women in both countries, and Zionist. Despite these differences, I that the evil had to be stopped, I found their sense of the urgency of this work, I often found myself nodding in agree that standing in front of a Jewish too feel ready to do my part. There are ment with the way each woman attri organization and publicly questioning groups across the U.S. organized to buted her need to speak out to the influ its integrity, was not easy. A number of provide Jewish women a context for ence of her Jewish family. There seems Jews came by and asked, 'Aren't you their opposition to the occupation, and to be a common understanding as Jews ashamed?' '' a place to agitate for change in U.S. that to be silent when we recognize evil But despite doubts, she's been part of policy toward Israel.* is to collaborate with that evil. How the women's vigil almost every Monday I should note that although some of ever, as Irena Klepfisz remarked in a evening since then, handing out leaflets the women I talked with are members of speech marking the 45th anniversary of protesting Israeli policies in the occu groups that have received Resist fund the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, in order to pied territories, and calling for a nego ing, others are not, and their inclusion know how to act we need inspiration tiated solution to the conflict and a here does not reflect any involvement and models. To many of us, Irena has Palestinian state. The remarks from with Resist. I want to thank all the been such a model. other Jews passing by included state women I spoke with, and apologize to ments wishing another Holocaust on those whose voices couldn't be in Irena Klepfisz (New York) the protestors, pr saying the action cluded. This article does not address all When we talked, Irena had just would lead all Jews "back to the the kinds of Jewish feminist activism returned from a trip to Jerusalem to ovens." Irena, herself a Holocaust sur taking place in the U.S. today, nor does join in a week of demonstrations and vivor, says the deeply entrenched fears it try to decide which political ideology events focused on the theme "Women of many Jews are understandable, but is the best, or most effective. But it does Go For Peace." Between 5,000 and that Jews also need to deal with other reveal a common terrain on which Jew 6,000 people joined a women's march fears, fears of Israel becoming com ish feminists are engaged in a concerted to East Jerusalem on December 29. She pletely militaristic, non-democratic, effort to end the occupation. has also been speaking out and writing and perpetually oppressive to others.* about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict In her speech before some 500 to 600 My Parents Made Me This Way and her own secular Jewish identity in people, many survivors or children of The women I talked to included some her poetry and many articles. She co survivors, she said that one of the worst who have worked on Middle East issues edited The Tribe of Dina: A Jewish continued on pa1?e five for ten years or more, and those who Women's Anthology, and contributed have only recently taken action. Some to Nice Jewish Girls: A Lesbian An *From an interview with Irena Klepfisz by Debbie grew up in religious homes, others had thology. She is also a founder of the Lubarr in Sojourner, (July, 1989). parents who were adamently opposed New York City based group, Jewish to all religion. Some had a strong Women's Committee to End the Occu pation (JWCEO). • An effective way to learn more is to read Jewish In a piece she wrote in Genesis II last Women's Peace Bulletin, (suggested donation spring, "Yorn Hashoah, Yorn Yeru $10/year) available from the Jewish Women's shaleyim," Irena describes standing Committee to End the Occupation, P .0. Box 1178, 163 Joralemon St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. with ten other Jewish women outside Phone: (718) 855-2905. the Conference of Presidents of Major

OAM CHOMSKY'Srichly But to make a film about Chomsky is to confront documented analysis of mass media the limits of "acceptable" discourse in mainstream is the subject of a new film entitled broadcasting. It is to be subjected to an all too NMANUFACTURING CONSENT: prevalent form of censorship. Access to airwaves ILLEGIIIMATI AUTIIOIHT~ NOAM CHOMSKY ON MASS MEDIA.. Now in and funding is restricted or denied. That is ,_,..,, f,o6'&/ ~ "'1Cc "61 production, release will bemid-1990. why we have turned to you for support. The Resist Newsletter is published ten For over a year, our cameras travelled with Here'showyoucanhelp.Ifyoufeelthisfilm times a year by Resist, Inc., One Summer Chomsky, building a portrait of a tire deserves a wide audience, take a minute less activist on a non-stop circuit oflec and put it in writing. We need one-page Street, Somerville, MA 02143. (617) tures, workshops, classes and media letters of support to make our case to 623-51 10. The views expressed in articles, encounters in Canada,Japan, England, broadcasters and institutional funding other than editorials, are those of the Holland and across the U.S.A. sources. Tell us how this film will be authors and do not necessarily represent valuable to you or your group. These the opinions of the Resist staff or board. Cutting to the core of Chomsky's letters really do make a difference. So analysis, the film will offer a do financial contributions of any size. clear deconstruction of media and Resist Staff: Nancy Wechsler propaganda, encouraging audiences to question Please clip and send this ad. Be sure to include your Nancy Moniz the underlying mechanisms of mass media. return address. Duplicating this appeal also helps. Tatiana Schreiber

0 TELL ME MORE ABOlIT YOUR FILM Mall to: THE MEDIA PROJECT Typesetting: Wayne Curtis 0 MY LEITER OF SUPPORT IS ENCLOSED MANUFACTURING CONSENT Gay Community News 0 I CAi'l HELP FINANCIALLY. HERE'S MY A1TN: MARK ACHBAR/PETER WlNTONICK TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CHEQUE TO YOUR P.O. BOX 2008. PORTLAND, OR, 97208 Printing: Red Sun Press •G "' CHARITABLE SPONSOR. "THE MEDIA PROJECT TEL: (514) 286-9824 FAX: (514) 283-5487 0 Prinlt>d nn Rt>ry<'lt>d Pnf)t'r

Page Two Resist Newsletter March, 1990 Grassroots Report tinian artists and will also be connected to a network of progressive Israeli art ists. We will spend two months in the Breaking the Silence: area. We have been formally invited ... [and our hosts] are very excited about the project. Collectively we have both Jewish Women Muralists in Palestine the artistic and political experience to create a beautiful work of art as well as build some important ongoing ties be tween our peoples. ''We believe the aspect of the project that occurs here in this country is very important. We want to inspire and mobilize U.S. citizens, in particular American Jews, to take an active stand around these issues. We want to provide access to information and discussion ... [and this will be accomplished] by house meetings, public events, articles, radio interviews, participation in coali tions, and national report-backs on our trip. We also want to help build, on our return, an organization of cultural workers to create ongoing artistic soli darity projects. "We are asking Resist for help because, although there is a growing opening for new solutions, and some headway is being made in ending the ignorance and confusion around the Palestinian struggle, there are still few Break the Silence Mural Project. Photo: Miranda Bergman funding agencies that would even con sider such a project. We desperately group of friends and supporters applied need some money .... '' "Throughout my childhood, I had for a Resist grant in order to do an ini Fortunately, a few small grants, 1500 been haunted by images of my mother, tial fundraising mailing for their pro letters asking for donations, and a climbing the rocky hills of the new state ject. They wrote: "As the occupation public event featuring Margaret Ran ofIsrael . ... It had been her dream, this grows daily more brutal, and the resist dall and Al Awda (a Palestinian cultural state, based from the beginning on the ance to it deepens, as Jewish women we ensemble) brought in enough money to tragic fallacy that Palestine was a land feel a need and a responsibility to stand make the project a reality. In July of devoid of people, or worse, that the up for what we believe and to ally our last year, Dina, along with Miranda Palestinians dzd not matter; after all, selves with others to help to end the Bergman, Marlene Tobias, and Susan they were not Europeans. I remember occupation and change public con Greene left for the West Bank. Miranda Jewish children sending a dollar to sciousness. As artists we believe in the and Susan were experienced muralists, plant a tree in Israel, 'to make the desert power of artistic expression and cul but Dina and Marlene were new to the bloom.' I later came to know that a ter tural interchange. Through our many process, having worked in graphic rible crime was taking place on that years in progressive movements in the design and illustration. What they 'desert, ' a crime committed in my United States we know what an impor shared was the conviction that Palestin name." tant tool cultural work is in a general ians have a right to make their own -Dina Redman political strategy. We also believe that choices, and should have the freedom to the American people, when they are live in peace in their own sovereign mobilized, wield considerable power to state. Dina Redman is one of four North change the policies of our government. On their return from the trip, Miran American Jewish women who formed For these reasons we decided to do a da wrote to Resist, ''Our trip was more the Break the Silence Mural Project in cultural project around the issue of the productive and educational and heart order to replace those images with new right of the Palestinian people to a healing than we could have imagined. ones - images of Palestinian resistance homeland, and the need to work We feel our work is just beginning .... " to the Israeli occupation of the West together to achieve that. She sent us newspaper articles and later Bank and Gaza Strip, and images of "The project that evolved has two talked with us on the phone about the Palestinian and Jewish artists collabor facets, one taking place in East Jeru project and the ongoing work. The rest ating in a project that would build salem, and one here in the United of this report is based on our phone con friendship in the midst of fear and States. The centerpiece of the work is a versation with Miranda and one of hatred. large mural to be painted in East Jeru Dina's articles. In 1989 the four artists and a diverse salem. We will be painting with Pales- continued on page four

#224 Resist Newsletter Page Three Jewish Continued from page three Within a day of their arrival in the women heard stories of imprisonment West Bank village of El Bireh, the art and torture, the loss of family members ists were sipping thick coffee from tiny and the loss of land. They also heard cups and examining the staircase that stories of love and of hope for the would be the canvas for their first future. mural. The staircase connected the Dina described the scene that un Friends of the Community Charitable folded at the beginning of the staircase Society, and the Center for Popular mural: "On entering the building you Arts. The Friends of the Community see the land, traditional stone archways distributes food to the poor, offers framing the rolling hills and distant vil classes in literacy, health and nutrition, lages. A large cactus stands as a symbol and traditional sewing and embroidery for patience and for the Palestinian and runs a medical clinic. The Popular villages that were destroyed. Under an Arts Center preserves and promotes olive tree made of linked hands, a boy folk culture, using traditional elements learns to read and dreams of being a in innovative ways. doctor .... On the opposite wall stands To help the North Americans under a tall woman in the traditional embroi stand the environment they would be dered dress, the first woman martyr in painting, the Palestinian hosts organ the Palestinian struggle. She rises ized a series of excursions. "For two proudly from the roots and rocks, hold weeks we drank in the new images,'' ing in her hand a baby with an olive Dina wrote. "The land itself, more branch in one small hand and a stone in the other.'' beautiful than I had imagined, the A boy learns to read and dreams of being a muted green of the olive trees, the doctor . .. Break the Silence Mural Project. The artists were soon inundated with multitude of stones with their dramatic Photo: Miranda Bergman requests to do other murals, and several and improbable shapes, the Palestinian were created. One, with a group of pro houses blending into the hillsides, merg Miranda said it was difficult, as fessional Palestinian artists, was done ing gently with the landscape, while the Jewish women, to go to a place where on a rocky wall behind a theatre and Jewish settlements loomed ominously the oppressive force is Jewish, but, she cultural center in East Jerusalem. Each above them, looking stark and out of added, "our welcome was completely artist designed his or her own section place. whole-hearted. Once the Palestinians and then all participated in the final "And we saw the rubble of houses knew we were there in friendship, and painting. "The high level of artistic col- where families once lived, the over we were able to share our cultural con turned gardens, the uprooted groves of nections, our cooking ... we were told olive trees, roots drying in the sun. We all the time that we were family, and we CONTEST saw soldiers on the rooftops, eternal were treated as such. There's the belief voyeurs spying through binoculars, on the part of many Jews that the Pales Standing Up for shooting abruptly into crowded streets, tinians hate us. There's a systematic shooting at children. The soldiers campaign both here and in Israel to Peace seemed to be everywhere, their radios make us feel that way. It's a lie. There's Why have buzzing like wasps. We saw flags the a coordinated educational effort within some children had thrown, hanging precari the Intifada to distinguish between the people ously from electrical wires, anchored Israeli government and individual risked by stones or bottles, symbols of Jews." their jobs, resistance.'' But including all they were experienc their homes, The Women's Committees escorted ing in a mural was complicated by their families and the women to schools, cooperatives, working under occupation. Dina wrote, even prison to take a stand for hospitals, and families of the dead and ''We would have to use symbols, avoid peace? This is your chance to find imprisoned. "Sometimes we felt we ing images that would provoke the out. The Standing Up for Peace Contest invites you to talk face to were in a woman's world, there are so authorities into closing the center or face with someone who has refused many men in jail," Miranda said. "In destroying the mural. No children to fight in war, pay taxes for war, or the last few years doors have burst open throwing stones or holding their fingers build weapons for war, and then to in terms of women's liberation, because in the victory sign; no flags. Even com express what you think and feel now women are doing everything. The bining the colors of the flag in another about what you heard through writ day we arrived our hostess was at a form could be seen as inflammatory.'' ing, art or music. meeting, but her living room was full of The artists could not work at night, The contest is open to young peer women, some in traditional dress, some when the lights might draw attention pie ages 15-23. The deadline for en in jeans and sneakers. The house was from soldiers. tries is May 1, 1990. like this all the time, like a community As the women began their work, all To enter, send for the Standing Up for Peace Contest booklet, Fellow kinds of people, many who came to the center. The women are determined that ship of Reconciliation, Box 271, Ny the new Palestine will be different for center to use its services, joined in the ac~ NY 10960 (914) 358-4601. women. 'This isn't Algeria!' they say, painting. Some were accomplished ar where after the revolution it was back to tists, others new to the whole idea. $500 PRIZES $100 the veil.'' Others came by just to talk, and the

Page Four Resist Newsletter March, 1990 Women

continued from page two legacies of the Holocaust was that it denied so many (those who died as well as those who survived) the opportunity to live an ordinary life. ''One way to pay tribute to those we loved who struggled, resisted and died is to hold on to their vision and their fierce outrage at the destruction of the ordi nary life of their people. It is this out rage we need to keep alive in our own daily life and apply to all situations whether they involve Jews or non Jews." Irena told me she has three kinds of passions in her life: a passion for Yid dish language and culture and her iden tity as a secular Jew; her lesbian and feminist politics and culture; and now her work against the occupation. But lately she says she needs to find a bal ance. More and more her work has. been among Jews, and primarily in the straight world. "The more I've worlced Break the Silence Mural Project. Photo: Miranda Bergman with heterosexuals, the harder it's laboration allowed us to do a tremen- organized American Jews." become. I'm tired of the sexism and dous amount of work,'' said Miranda. Miranda felt it was important for the homophobia within the Jewish left." "That's a high point in any artist's group to be visible as American Jews For instance, one woman who joined life." with a different perspective, and she the September "Days of Awe" actions Other murals were done with chil- said the personal bonds of friendship in New York (in support of Women in dren, and with black Palestinians at the that developed on the trip were deeply Black), wrote a flier with the words, "as African Club. The group also taught an moving. Dina asked Suhail, one of the mothers, sisters, and wives." When art class for children and a graphic Palestinian hosts, what he thought Irena asked about changing it to include design class for adults. Because the about the project, now that it was fin- lesbians, the woman felt put upon, and Israeli government has ordered many ished. He answered: "Your way of at first said lesbianism ''wasn't a rela schools closed during the last two years, working with the people was very beau- tionship." "It's painful to work with education has been forced under- tiful .... Regular people come in and people who have such compassion for ground. Many teachers have been say, 'Oh, these people are Jewish Palestinians, and though it's not a com jailed, and the muralists were happy to women from the United States, paint- parable situation, it's still difficult that fill in. The children's paintings were ing all this in support of our Palestinian they have no sensitivity at all around especially haunting, according to Dina. struggle.' It emphasizes that the prob- gay issues. You have to fight the battles "Children lying dead in the street or be- lem is not a religious problem. We can- all over again." ing carried off in caskets, volcanoes of not only be friends; we can be working In Israel, Irena said, it was wonderful blood exploding from their bodies; sol- with each other toward a specific thing, to work with the many Israeli activists diers shooting people; tires buring; chil- regardless of religion. . . . I always who ar~ lesbians. Some are out and dren throwing stones." believe the struggle is not a Palestinian many are not, because the repercussions The trip lasted nine weeks before the struggle only but is part of an interna- would be so great.* Irena says she's not four women returned to California. tional struggle for peace." sure how often in her Middle East work Reflecting on doing this work as a Jew, Miranda said the group wants to con- she is perceived as a lesbian. However, Miranda said, "It was tremendously tinue to work with women and Amer- she can't imagine any kind of long-term healing to be totally myself. I grew up in ican Jews, and also with the wider dialog taking place in which she didn't a Black and Latino neighborhood in movement in the U.S. against the occu- come out. "I can't talk about Jewish San Francisco, and my step-mother is pation. This spring the group plans to activism without talking about what has Black. I never hid that I was Jewish, and bring Palestinian artists to the Bay Area happened to me as a lesbian in the I wasn't ashamed of it, but it really to do street murals, along with street Jewish community. I need to be fully wasn't part of my life. I thought of music and education calling for a who I am. I couldn't tell someone I was myselfas a human being and an interna- U .N .-sponsored peace conference and a refugee and not also tell them I was a tionalist. This project was the first time an independent Palestinian state. They lesbian." that I really came out and identified as also plan a nationwide speaking tour, Jewish. It made me question why I slide presentations and production of a continued on page six hadn't identified that way before. It video. To contact the group about any •There's now an Israeli lesbian organization, was partially internalized anti- of these projects, write: Break the CLAF, with 250 women on its mailing list. They Semitism, and partially wanting to dis- Silence Mural Project, 1442A Walnut can be contacted at P.O. Box 22997, Tel Aviv, tance myself from the political stance of St., #252, Berkeley, CA 94709. Israel O1228.

#224 Resist Newsletter Page Five Women continued from page five Irena says there are two things that need to be done by those who want to Women in Black in Israel contribute to solutions in the Middle East. One is to raise funds for Israeli Women in Black began in Jerusalem in December, 1987, near the start of the Inti and Palestinian peace groups, and the fada. Ten Israeli women gathered opposite Yitzhak Shamir's house. The women dressed in black, in mourning for Palestinian deaths and the disruption of Palestinian other is to educate the community here. lives. The women were silent, carrying signs reading "End the Occupation" and "Talk "It's very slow, involving housemeet to the PLO." They did not argue with anyone, nor did they answer insults, though ings, cultural events . . . and it has to they endured many. This action, which soon became a weekly Friday afternoon vigil, begin where people are, which is often has provoked extraordinary hostility in Israel. "People curse, spit, throw eggs and not where you want them to be. There tomatoes, threaten us, and constantly remind us that we are only women, that our are no short-cuts." place is in the kitchen, that we are traitors," writes Rachel Ostrowitz in New Outlook (June/July, 1989). Sarah Jacobus (Los Angeles) However, the women also receive enormous support from other women, who cheer Sarah Jacobus, a videographer and them on. The vigil is mixed Jewish and non-Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian. Sister vigils radio documentarian, recently returned sprang up in Haifa and Tel Aviv, and today there are over 25 groups of women holding vigils in different places in Israel. They continue to encounter severe harassment and from six weeks in Israel and the occu counter-demonstrations, which sometime escalate to verbal abuse (often sexual in pied territories where she worked on her nature), threats and violence. The police have been slow to respond in some cases, and upcoming video about the effects of the at other times have used tear gas against the counter-demonstrators, which has also Intifada on Israeli and Palestinian soci affected the women. eties. She's been working on Middle The Haifa and Jerusalem Women in Black have expanded their activities to include East issues for some eleven years, but it letter-writing campaigns and sending telegrams to Israeli officials protesting the treat was a 1983 trip to the Middle East to in ment of Palestinian women. Internationally, women in solidarity with Women in terview Israeli and Palestinian women Black have organized similar vigils in England, France, Italy, Canada, and in the U.S. interested in dialog that sparked more (There have been U.S. vigils in New York, Boston, Ann Arbor, Ithaca, Seattle, St. intense involvement. Louis, Montpelier, Washington, D.C. and perhaps other cities by the time this article goes to press!) The Jerusalem Women in Black this month issued a call to "All Women Sarah said growing up she absorbed in the World" for an hour of international solidarity with Women in Black on Interna messages from her family and commu tional Women's Day. To support Women in Black or learn more, contact: Women in nity that included negative stereotypes Black, P.O. Box 61128, Jerusalem, Israel, 91610, or call Madalena Hefetz in Israel, of Arabs and the idea that the survival 0097-22-699444. In Boston, call Margaret, 492-7960. of Israel was necessary for the survival -Tatiana Schreiber of the Jews; that the country needed protection and support. "You know I have my trees in Israel!'' she said, refer Judaism are called into question, in repressing the Intifada. Parents do not ring to the way most American Jews terms of the way the Israeli government want their children to grow up to be who went to temple were encouraged to operates. "It's not functioning accord policemen who break little children's raise money for Israel where ''they were ing to the Jewish values and beliefs I hands in the occupied territories. making the desert bloom." grew up with, yet as a Jewish state it is a There's a lot of soul searching going on. Sarah has done a lot of speaking on reflection of Jewish 'peoplehood.' I ''In the Arab/Jewish dialog group we the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and think Jews have a right to a homeland, started in 1986, we wanted to create a helped form a Jewish/ Arab women's and I want to see Israel continue to exist framework where real exchange would dialog group in Los Angeles. Recently as a homeland for Jewish people, but be possible. There was a level of com her father described himself as "non I'm concerned about the health and fort and safety and trust that could exist Zionist," which she'd never heard well-being of Israeli society. More and because we were all women and we lis before. In the past, she said, they'd had more Israel is a very militarist place. tened well to each other. We began to do bitter fights about Israel, particularly The Ramboesque image of Israeli teen speak-outs and vigils against the occu around the issue of negotiating with the agers, who have only known the occu pation and we've been a very visible PLO. But just prior to the start of the pation, is very ugly. part of the coalition work that has gone Intifada, she brought her parents to one "The flipside of that is that people on in LA. of her speaking engagements. In the live with a tremendous amount of fear. "It's been important to me, in our course of the weekend, her father said It's our collective and communal ·expe group and generally, to feel good and he had been thinking about all the rience of oppression as Jews that brings proud about being a Jew, though hav things she'd been saying over the years, this fear. It doesn't appear rational, but ing a great deal of rage towards the and now he believes if there is to be a it comes from our experience as a peo policies of the Israeli government. We just peace, it will mean talking to the ple. We have to break through that fear aren't a Palestinian solidarity group; we PLO. Now in his Dallas community because that's where the intransigence are a group of Jewish and Palestinian he's made all the contacts to establish of the Israeli government comes from. women committed to learning about Arab-Jewish dialog groups there. "It's It's an illusion that military strength and understanding each other. I need been very gratifying to me," said Sarah. brings security. There could never be the Palestinian women to understand '' At times when I get discouraged and enough security to address the fear my experience growing up as a Jew and think people aren't changing, I think of people feel inside. But my sense is that experiencing anti-Semitism, and I need my parents and it's energizing." more and more people understand this them to be willing to interrupt anti Sarah feels its essential to do the work and are becoming publicly involved in semitism. It's difficult because today "as a Jew" because as the occupation peace activism. People have been there is a power imbalance between the continues, fundamental issues about shaken by the ways the government is continued on page seven

Page Six Resist Newsletter March, 1990 Women continued from page six occupiers and the occupied. Still, we Americans, Jews and other North the true nature of the Israeli govern need an equality of understanding Americans. "It was challenging ment? I think it has something to do within the group. because the group had developed an with taking what has been a private '' I am studying Arabic, and this has anti-Zionist posture, and some women matter among Jews (coping with anti made a wonderful difference in my rela in M'tai felt uncomfortable making Semitism and differing views about the tionships with Palestinians. It's usually that public statement. They felt so meaning of Zionism) and making it a received as a gesture of respect. Espe isolated and alienated as it was, they public matter. There's a sense of shame cially in Gaza, where few people speak were afraid of further isolation from because Jews are supposed to be English, it's been very rewarding. Peo feminists." smarter and more moral than other peo ple are surprised and pleased. Having But this organization soon became ple and here they are fucking up. It's a the chance to meet people in their the focus of Eleanor's work. "I feel it is shame, a shanda, like being caught in homes has really fleshed out what had very important to oppose Zionism. public with your pants down. only been an intellectual willingness to Zionism is about religion and national "There was one crystalizing experi understand Palestinian history and cul ism. Why can't leftists step over the line ence for me. When a Palestinian and an ture. I feel an affinity for that culture that prevents them from confronting Israeli came here to talk, everyone was ... something in my bones is stirred by continued on page eight the cultures of this region. '' Last year it seemed that Palestinian A New Chapter for Palestinian Women women were focusing on the immediate transformation of women's social Since the beginning of the Intifada in the occupied territories, a new chapter is roles. This year they seem to be grap beingwritten in the history of the women of Palestine. pling much more with what will happen • Economy: With the death and imprisonment of so many men, women are building in the long term, creating an infrastruc what has come to be known as the "home economy." They are cultivating previously ture around women's issues for when barren land into ''victory gardens,'' raising small animals for food, and preserving the state is created. I'm struck by the ap food to carry to communities during periods of siege and curfew. Women's coopera parent unity and fearlessness and pride tives have been established in a number of small towns, including dairy coops in in the Palestinian community. The Ramallah and Jerusalem, and a successfully operating factory in Gaza. Markets have sense of ''no turning back'' is very been established to sell a range of products women have raised, including vegetables, spices and olive oil, at prices economically battered families can afford. Young women exciting. have joined Volunteer Work Committees, helping farmers harvest and market their crops, reducing labor costs and making local products more competitive in the local Eleanor Roffman (Boston) market. Since the beginning of the uprising, women have been at the forefront of the Eleanor was also just back from the drive to boycott Israeli products, a campaign that has intensified in the last twelve Middle East when we spoke. She has months. been working on Middle East issues • Education: During the Intifada, women have expanded their traditionally active role since 1978 when she hosted a meeting of in education. They have set up schools and day care centers throughout the occupied people returning from a delegation. The territories, filling the gap left by school closings. In Ramallah and El Bireh, popular meeting turned into a very heated dis education has been conducted in 35 neighborhoods, benefiting almost 2,000 students. cussion about Zionism. Her parents, • Health: A particularly brutal Israeli practice has been to drag wounded people from their hospital beds and toss them into jail. So, medical committees have been estab immigrants from Russia, were cultur lished to provide a system of mobile medical care. Women have also provided much of ally Jewish-identified but weren't reli their own families' medical care, rather than further burdening the local system. gious. She grew up "with a passive • Prisoners: In addition to caring for prisoners' families and arranging prisoners' acceptance of Zionism as it was taught defense, women are increasingly being taken prisoner themselves. Israeli authorities in Hebrew school." are detaining women as hostages without any judicial proceedings, in order to bring Eleanor joined "Jews for Justice" in pressure on husbands, fathers or male relatives who are wanted. Women who inter Boston around the time of the invasion vene on behalf of family members to prevent their being taken into custody are also ar of Lebanon. "The invasion wasn't rested. Furthermore, Israeli authorities are now restricting women's movement by is blurry, it was a direct invasion and I suing town and house arrest orders, and banning other women from traveling abroad. could go to the Israeli consolate and de Inside Israeli prisons, Palestinian women are subject to severe mistreatment. Rula Abu Dahou gives this statement about her imprisonment: "I refused to talk and I said that mand that this stop." The men and all their accusations· were lies. Then they took me to a cold place outside the room and women in the group tried to educate tied my hands and put me in a chair with something sharp in the back which prevented themselves about Zionism and Judaism me from leaning at all, and there was water constantly dripping on my head. I felt I was and their Yiddish roots, strengthening going to die, that this was the end of my life.'' Rula was not allowed to go to the bath their identies as Jews. After two years, room for two days, and was kept in the same chair or lying on the floor with her hands the women separately organized M'tai, tied behind her back for four days without food or water, under constant interroga to try to find ways to express their tion. She was threatened with rape and sexually harassed. Her interrogation was con Judaism in a feminist context. Though ducted without a woman guard present, against regulations. Rula said she was threat the women felt safe and supported ened with being sent to a mental hospital, then was brought to Tel Monde Prison. • On the Front Lines: While working to build the infrastructure for the new Palestin there, it was still hard for the diverse ian society, women have also organized and participated in countless sit-ins and political ideologies in the group to demonstrations, distributed fliers, established road brigades and directly confronted emerge. occupying forces. Women make up 14% of the total number of Palestinians killed In 1983, Eleanor, as a representative since the start of the Intifada. of M'tai, became involved with the June 6th Coaltion, a mixed gender Information provided by the Union of Palestinian Women's Associations in America. group that included Arabs, Arab-

#224 Resist Newsletter Page Seven Women continued from page seven discussing their fears, and many were she was as intently involved in her liber betraying not only the family but the children of Holocaust survivors. The ation on the day I met her as the day larger Jewish family. Israeli asked the group, 'Why is one before she went to prison. When I met "But confronting the ideology of person's pain more important than her she was limping because she had Zionism is embedded in Jewish culture another's?' I remember that moment. It been trying to help a kid who was being and history. I'm following in the foot became clear to me that to take care of beaten by the military and they started steps of the Jewish opponents to Zion yourself at someone else's expense isn't beating her on the backs of her knees. ism in Europe prior to World War II. taking care of yourself. It's a path to Her clarity and courage were an inspira I'm following in the footsteps of a destruction and that's what we're seeing tion to me. Jewish tradition which is to stand up for right now. "It became clearer to me on this trip what you believe in. I'm not betraying my Jewish roots, I'm honoring them."

Lois Levine Barrett (St. Louis) '' When I came back from my recent trip, ! felt like I'd Lois currently serves as national co just spent six days infascism . ... I witnessed violent chair for the Middle East Task Force of attacks by the military on youth. They were visibly New Jewish Agenda (NJA). She says since she began working with the Task provoking violence and beating on people. . . . They Force in 1984, "It's led me down a path were shooting at everyone with water that was dyed I'm still walking, confronting and ex green so they would know you were there.'' ploring my identity as a Jew .... I feel a responsibility not to dissociate myself from the state of Israel, but I've had to confront the current situation of Jews "When I came back from my recent that if American Jews can hear Israelis being oppressors. It's been an extremely trip, I felt like I'd just spent six days in who are critical of their own govern difficult process. I'm sometimes very fascism. I went to the week of events ment, it gives Americans permission to scared and conflicted because the work focused on the theme, ''Time for Peace, join in that criticism, and our job on the we do is public work, and the feeling of 1990." At the 'Hands Around Jeru Left is to forge greater bonds with the wondering how the Jewish community salem' event, I witnessed violent attacks Israeli Left so they can feel our support will view this is ever-present. But, doing by the military on youth. They were and we can hear their words more the work with other Jews who share my visibly provoking violence and beating clearly. goals makes it possible to move for on people. We were scared. It was clear "My struggle as a feminist and as a ward. where the power was. They had these enormous guns with tear gas equipment attached. They looked to be in their '' There could never be enough security to address early twenties, and they were beating on other kids. Women tried to stop the the fear people have inside . ... My sense is that more attacks, so the military beat on the and more people understand this and are becoming women, and then on everyone. They publicly involved in peace activism . ... Parents do were shooting at everyone with water that was dyed green so they would know not want their children to grow up to be policemen who you were there. break little children's hands in the occupied territories. '' "In East Jerusalem they sprayed these water cannons at the hotel where many participants in the events were lesbian is a resource for understanding "Our work involves short-term staying. The glass on the doors was this issue. It teaches me, and it's given responses to urgent needs and a longer shattered and one woman lost her eye. me a whole lot of patience. It's enabled term strategy involving housemeetings On our trip to the West Bank we were me to stand up and take an unpopular and dialog. We have to form coalitions continually stopped at road blocks and position in this country, challenging with Arab-Americans and others to lob prevented from traveling. There is arbi Zionism. It's a lot to take on. Zionism by Congress to bring all parties to nego trary blanket control over people's meets the needs of American imper tiations. There's a burning, intense feel everyday lives and livelihoods. There ialism and we've been conditioned ing about this issue that we share with are curfews restricting travel and every to accept it. My family is very angry Palestinian and Arab-American organ kind of activity. with me. We have two taboos in my izations. There's a high level of self "I am involved with a women's pro family: sex and Israel. They feel I'm interest for all of us. As Jews, many of ject in support of women political pri us relate to the Jewish state. I have many friends in Israel. So we have, soners.* I got to meet a Palestinian *The "Women's Organization for Women Polit woman for whom we had collected sig ical Prisoners" can be contacted at P.O. Box oddly enough, a natural linkage. natures, petitioning for her release. She 8537, Jerusalem, Israel 91083. WOFWPP has There's an understanding that can be had been taken from her two young issued a 32-page brochure which provides a his built, though it's not easy. There are tory of the group, an outline of the legal status of strains, frustrations, and Arab children in the middle of the day; her detainees, and testimonies of 10 detainees. The crime was that she was politically ac brochure is available for $3 from JWCEO, P.O. Americans are increasingly frustrated tive. She had been abused in prison. Yet Box 1178, 163 Joralemon St., Brooklyn, NY and angry that nothing is happening in 11201 . continued on page nine

Page Eight Resist Newsletter March, 1990 Women continued from page eight the peace process. The costs are so high. "I think we've had difficulty with the continued from page ten notion of Jews as oppressors and under coalitions, some organizers didn't to "Students and Faculty to Re-Open standing it in some way that does not want to pass out fliers with the word Palestinian Universities," and framing make us not proud of being Jews. I've lesbian on them, but Samowitz said the discussion in these terms. visited Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. persistence has paid off and now the Members of the group traveled to It gave me strength to meet Israelies group is generally accepted on its own the Middle East in December to parti working twenty-four hours a day, in terms. The group has joined protests cipate in the 1990 Time for Peace censed by the conflict. We need to get against racist hate groups in the area, activities, and met with faculty and this out to other Jews. and is a member of the No Aid for the students from Bir Zeit. They made ''When we participate in coalition Israeli Occupation Coalition. Several plans for these educators to parti events, it's clear that non-Jews come at group members have organized a cipate in programs on the California it from a different emotional point of Women in Black monthly vigil at the campus this year, and to speak at view. There's a strong Catholic Left Federal Building, and they are work other U.S. campuses. here and they've wanted to work in coa ing on establishing a sister-city rela lition .. . [but] they don't understand tionship with a West Bank or Gaza Jewish fears; they are confused about town. Nadja: Women Concerned About the Jewish history and don't understand Middle East, 1400 Shattuck Ave., why Israel came into being. They think Students and Faculty to End Israeli Suite 2, Berkeley, CA 94709. of Israel as "the holy land," an impor Occupation, c/o Sharon Gluck, 19988 Nadja was founded in Berkeley in tant place for Christians, and they have Observation Drive, Topanga, CA 1960. Its first project assisted Algerian an ambivalence to it as a Jewish state. 90290. refugees during their war of independ Many Christians are afraid to speak This group of Jewish, Palestinian, ence. Later Nadja's Scholarship Pro about their feelings for fear of being and non-Semitic faculty and students gram gave grants to young Palestinian called anti-Semitic. We need to have at California State University (Long women students in the occupied terri dialog with them in a safe place where Beach) came together to organize tories. Over the years the group has they will not feel attacked. activities against the Israeli occupation held monthly public forums, and "We must impress on the U.S. gov and to work for Palestinian self produced The Arab World: A Hand ernment that Jews do not speak in one determination. Initial vigils in com book for Teachers. Nadja continues to voice. Growing numbers of us insist memoration of the 1982 massacre at provide material support to Pales that uncritical support of Israel has to Sabra and Shatilla soon led io weekly tinian women's projects - agricul stop. I've been inspired by the Palestin vigils, leafleting and to educational tural cooperatives and kindergarten ian women I've talked with. I'll never programs. programs. The group is particularly forget one experience I had in a Gaza The group then began a campaign interested in producing pre-collegiate hospital. When I got there, ten people to make their campus a sister univer educational materials and partici had been wounded in a clash with Israeli sity with Bir Zeit University on the pating in school programs and teacher soldiers. A 12-year-old boy had been West Bank. The relationship would training workshops. shot in the stomach and was probably foster exchange programs, speaker Nadja came to Resist for assistance dying. As a woman, I was overwhelmed forums, and the development of in producing its premiere issue of with what that boy's mother was going Middle East studies curriculum. Resist Middle East Resources, a quarterly through, and what it meant for her life. supported the campaign, which newsletter designed for Social Studies Young life is being smashed. Seeing included outreach outside the univer teachers. The newsletter includes children's lives sucked out of them .. . I sity. After two semesters of organiz primary source documents (such as the thought, 'they're leading such abnor ing, the group reports that they have Israeli, U.S. and Palestinian declara mal lives ... when will they be able to successfully shepherded through the tions of independence), resource lead a normal life?'" academic senate a resolution recom materials (articles and books about ''The Palestinians said to me, 'You mending the sister-city relationship be Islamic women were featured in a have to deal with your government; it's established. Part of the campaign recent issue) and suggestions for your government that has the power to included changing the group's name classroom activities. bring about peace. Your work is at home.'" "The work is very slow. Things are Get the big pi,cture. slowly changing, but do we have that kind of time? We need more people to be involved. We need more of a move ~.an international fem ment.*" • inist quarterly, presents REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: THE GLOBAL FIGHT. News, history, and analysis of the Tatiana Schreiber is a radio journalist worldwide struggle of women to gain control over and editor of the Resist newsletter. their bodies and their lives. Includes stories from Rumania, Ireland, South Africa, India, and many •New Jewish Agenda, which has 50 state chap more. Only $5.00 (U.S. funds only; includes postage). ters, can be contacted at 64 Fulton St. #J JOO, NYC 10038 . Lois Levine and the NJA Middle Available from: coNNEx10Ns/ PTS East Task Force can be contacted at P.O. Box 4228 Telegraph Ave. 3068, St. Louis, MO 63130. Oakland, CA 94609

#224 Resist Newsletter Page Nine This month we feature a longer than The group soon decided the panels Americans for a Safe Israel, com usual report on one group doing work would be an excellent educational tool plained that the library site was offen on Middle East issues, along with very for use in high schools, community sive because "a library ... is sup brief reports about two other projects. colleges and libraries, accompanied by posed to be the sacred center of All the information here is provided speakers and printed handouts. A knowledge and truth, not a forum for by the groups themselves. For more Resist grant was used to rainproof the international politics." Black also felt information, contact the groups at the panels for outdoor use. The group the display didn't provide a balanced addresses provided. aims to promote discussion, activism view on the uprising. and understanding about the nature of The display was removed on the day Palestine Panel Project/Lesbian Work the conflict, and about anti-Jewish of Black's complaint, and was never Group, P.O. Box 22061, Seattle, WA and anti-Arab racism. seen by other Jewish groups which 98122. The panel concerning daily life might have commented. However, the The Palestine Panel Project/ under the occupation includes infor Palestine Panel Project quickly Lesbian Work Group evolved from an mation about the arrest and imprison arranged to display the panels at earlier group of Jewish and Arab ment of suspected activists without another site in the school, near the women, Semitic Women Take Action. charge or trial, a policy which has lunch room, and agreed to have some According to Ilene Samowitz, a meant the detention of thousands of one present to answer questions. member of the original group, several Palestinians, mostly teenagers, 12-17 Samowitz said the display attracted of the Jewish lesbians in the group years old. The panel also addresses the attention of many students, most wanted to take on an action-oriented deportations, town arrests (in which a of whom responded positively. They project in support of the Intifada, in person is restricted to their town or were particularly interested in the con which they could be visible as lesbians. home), military law, house seatings troversy within Israel over the Intifada They hoped to participate in coalitions and demolitions, the closure of institu and about Israel's military ties to with other ·groups doing Middle East tions (schools, universities, unions, other countries. work, without losing that visibility. and newspapers have been closed and Samowitz said the group usually They joined with other lesbians, their staffs imprisoned) and the sends both a Jew and a non-Jew to Jewish and non-Jewish, to make a destruction of trees and crops. speaking engagements. She said they series of panels depicting Palestinian So far the panels have been do not always say they are lesbians, life in the occupied territories. The displayed at the market, a local though they try to take a strong stand five panels focus on daily life under bookstore, the state of Washington's against anti-gay as well as anti-Jewish occupation; the organization of the centennial celebration, at various and anti-Arab sentiment when it PLO; women's and children's lives; demos and events, at a regional comes up. The group is particularly economic relationships between Israel lesbian-feminist conference, and at a interested in encouraging lesbians who and the occupied territories; and local community college. Shortly after are active in international solidarity Israeli resistance groups. A planned the group applied to Resist for fund work to become involved with Middle sixth panel will address the effects of ing, we learned that the display at the East work. They try to counteract the occupation on the Israeli economy community college had been forced to people's fears of being seen as anti and on political life. Four of the close because of one man's com Jewish by being outspoken them panels were initially set up in Seattle's plaints. According to an article in selves, as Jews critical of the Israeli public market, creating some lively Seattle's Jewish Transcript, Lawrence government. discussion. Black, a member of a group called The group demonstrated with street theater at a celebration for the 40th r------7 anniversary of Israel. Samowitz said Join the Resist Pledge Program 1 some people were hostile, even We'd like you to consider becoming a D Yes! l would like to become a Resist: screaming at them. "I was told I should be inside praying instead of Resist Pledge. Pledges account for over Pledge. I'd like to pledge$__ ~_ / 1 25% of our income. By becoming a ______(monthly, bi-I outside protesting,'' said Samowitz. pledge, you help guarantee Resist a monthly, quarterly, 2x a year, yearly). : Though the group is at odds with the fixed and dependable source of income • Enclosed is my pledge contribution mainstream Jewish community in the on which we can build our grant making of$_____ I1 area because of its strong positions program. In return, we will send you a 1 (such as its call for Israeli withdrawal monthly pledge letter and reminder, • I can't join the pledge program just I from all occupied territories including along with your newsletter. We will now, but here's a contribution to sup-I the Golan Heights and Arab Jeru keep you up-to-date on the groups we port your work. $_ _ __ : salem), it has had good relations with have funded, and the other work being Name ______I most of the local groups doing Middle done at Resist. So take the plunge and I East work. become a Resist Pledge! We count on Address ______I The Project is open to all women you, and the groups we fund count on City /State/Zip ______: who are willing to work in a group us. I with lesbian in its title. In the past, Resist I when the group has participated in _ ·-----___One Summer Street, Somerville, MA02143 • (617)623-5110 ______I continued on page nine

Page Ten Resist Newsletter March, 1990