The Israel I Cherish A discussion of the connection between Israel, Human Rights and Judaism with Rabbi Arik Ascherman, President, Rabbis for Human Rights

Monday, December 9, 7:30 pm Congregation Beth El, Berkeley, California Admission free

Rabbi Arik Ascherman, President and Senior Rabbi of Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR), will speak at Congregation Beth El of Berkeley on Monday, December 9 at 7:30 pm about “The Israel I Cherish” and discuss the links between historical Jewish teaching, human rights and modern Israel. An outspoken activist and organizer for justice, Rabbi Ascherman has several times stood trial for acts of civil disobedience. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his human rights work, as has Rabbis for Human Rights.

Rabbis for Human Rights is the only rabbinic voice of conscience in Israel, defending human rights of marginalized communities within Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The organization was founded in 1988, and today has over 100 members ‐ all Israelis and all ordained Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Renewal rabbis as well as some rabbinical students.

The work of Rabbis for Human Rights expresses the view that, as Jews, we are obligated to protest against every injustice enacted against any other person, a view based on the belief that man and woman were created in God’s image. RHR believes that it is its obligation to inform the Israeli public about human rights violations, and that it is the organization’s role to pressure the State institutions to fix these injustices.

Rabbis for Human Rights derives its authority from two main sources ‐ from the humanistic Jewish tradition and from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In parallel to its efforts to prevent violations of human rights, Rabbis for Human Rights brings a humanistic understanding of Jewish sources to the Israeli public discourse. In a time in which a nationalist and isolationist understanding of Jewish tradition is heard frequently and loudly, Rabbis for Human Rights gives expression to the traditional Jewish responsibility for the safety and welfare of the stranger, the different and the weak, the convert, the widow and the orphan.

If you would like to attend a pre‐talk Reception and Supper with Rabbi Ascherman in support of the work of RHR please contact The Trees of Hope Committee at [email protected].

Cosponsored by the Israel Committee of Congregation Beth El, Congregation Netivot Shalom, Kehillah Community Synagogue, Temple Isaiah and Temple Sinai.