On March 24, , Executive Director of for Human Rights in , along with two co-defendants, will face trial in a court for attempting to prevent the demolition of two Palestinian homes. This letter expresses the support of over 400 North American and European rabbis for the work of to uphold the Zionist vision of a just and democratic Israel. Even when our beloved state is under frequent murderous attack by enemies, it is essential to Israel’s physical and moral survival that we live up to the central ethical teachings of our heritage. We invite you to join us in supporting the sacred work of our colleagues in Israel. Dear Prime Minister Sharon, Honorary Advisory Committee Rabbi Brad Artson • Rabbi Elliot Dorff We Rabbis, leaders of our communities, long-time Zionists home is to be naked in the world. More, it can mean that • Rabbi Amy Eilberg • Rabbi Laura Geller • Rabbi Neil Gillman • Rabbi Marc Gopin • Rabbi Arthur Green • Rabbi Paul Menitoff • Rabbi Sid Schwarz • Rabbi and supporters of Israel, are writing to express our concern one is unable to locate oneself in the world, to feel that David Teutsch Current & Former Leaders of National Jewish Organizations Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer • Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg • Rabbi and our support for our colleague, Rabbi Arik Ascherman, one has a place. Without a home, wherever one walks in Janet Marder • Rabbi David Saperstein • Rabbi Dr. Zalman Schachter-Shalomi • Rabbi Amy Joy Small Rabbis Rabbi David Ackerman • Rabbi Daniel Alexander who is on trial in Jerusalem for trying to prevent the the world, a sense of tragedy and pain, of emptiness and • Rabbi David Adelson • Rabbi Ron Aigen • Rabbi Rebecca Alpert • Rabbi Renni demolition of two Palestinian homes. shame accompanies you. S. Altman • Rabbi Camille Angel • Rabbi Charles L. Arian • Rabbi David Ariel-Joel • Rabbi Benjamin Arnold • Rabbi Stephen A. Arnold • Rabbi Melanie Aron • Rabbi Daniel Aronson • Rabbi Raphael W. Asher • Rabbi Craig Axler • Rabbi Larry Bach • Rabbi Andrew N. Bachman • Rabbi Stacie Bahle • Rabbi Terry R. Bard • Rabbi We have two concerns. Our first concern is for our Any society must proceed with absolute caution before it Samuel Barth • Rabbi Eliot J. Baskin • Rabbi David Dunn Bauer • Rabbi Dennis Beck-Berman • Rabbi Leila Gal Berner • Rabbi Leonard I. Beerman • Rabbi Martin colleague who has devoted his life to Israel and to the destroys a home. That is a basic claim of justice. It is why Beifield • Rabbi Marc J. Belgrad • Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak • Rabbi Moshe Ben Asher • Rabbi Philip J. Bentley • Rabbi Donald R. Berlin • Rabbi Donna Berman, Zionist vision of building and sustaining a Jewish State RHR has been so involved with issues of home demolition Ph.D. • Rabbi Howard A. Berman • Rabbi Marjorie Berman • Rabbi Phyllis Berman • Rabbi Joseph R. Black • Rabbi Herman J. Blumberg • Rabbi Rena Blumenthal • that exemplifies the values of compassion and justice. since 1997. It is why Rabbi Ascherman stood with the Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton • Rabbi Neal I. Borovitz • Rabbi Barbara Borts • Rabbi Daniel S. Brenner • Rabbi Charles Briskin • Rabbi Herbert Brockman, PhD • Maswadeh family in Beit Hanina when the bulldozers came, Rabbi Caryn Broitman • Rabbi Deborah R. Bronstein • Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein • Rabbi Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus • Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana • Rabbi Harold Rabbi Ascherman has dedicated his career to protecting leaving Sufian and Sana Maswadeh, their children, Mr. Caminker • Rabbi Ari Cartun • Rabbi Susan Bulba Carvutto • Rabbi Joshua Chasan • Rabbi Carl Choper • Rabbi Debrah Cohen • Rabbi Henry Cohen • the human rights of both Israelis and and his Maswadeh’s sick mother, as well as his brother’s entire Rabbi Howard A. Cohen • Rabbi Michael M. Cohen • Rabbi Steve Cohen • Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener • Rabbi Hillel Cohn • Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels • Rabbi Zionist and Jewish commitments inspire thousands of family homeless, within a matter of minutes. It is why he Julian Cook • Rabbi David J. Cooper • Rabbi Sigma Faye Coran • Rabbi Laurie Coskey • Rabbi Meryl Crean • Rabbi William Cutter • Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan in Israel and abroad. Rabbi Ascherman and his two co- stood with the family of Ahmed Mousa Dari in Issawiyah, • Rabbi Justin David • Rabbi Jerome K. Davidson • Rabbi Mona Decker • Rabbi defendants welcome the opportunity to stand trial in when the bulldozers came to demolish their home. It is Lavey Derby • Rabbi Shoshanah Devorah • Rabbi James S. Diamond • Rabbi Lucy H.F. Dinner • Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb • Rabbi Robert Dobrusin • Rabbi order to prove in a court of law that the policy of home why he is now standing trial. Michael Dolgin • Rabbi Shelton J. Donnell • Rabbi Art Donsky • Rabbi Israel Dresner • Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus • Rabbi Alice Dubinsky • Rabbi Laurence Edwards demolitions is illegal and • Rabbi Colin Eimer • Rabbi Stephen J. Einstein • Rabbi Ed Elkin • Rabbi Lawrence A. Englander • Rabbi Hector (Tate) Epelbaum • Rabbi Daniel Epstein • Rabbi immoral. However, we fear Rachel Esserman • Rabbi Ted Falcon • Rabbi Michael Feinberg • Rabbi Edward Feld • Rabbi Fern Feldman • Rabbi Susan Fendrick • Rabbi Natan Fenner • Rabbi that the decision to prosecute Michael Fessler • Rabbi Zev-Hayyim Feyer • Rabbi Brian Field • Rabbi Hanoch Fields • Rabbi Arnold G. Fink • Rabbi Gary S. Fink • Rabbi Tirzah Firestone • him is an attempt to silence Rabbi Alan Flam • Rabbi Nancy Flam • Rabbi Ellen Flax • Rabbi Randy Fleisher • Rabbi Steven E. Foster • Rabbi Jeff Foust • Rabbi Wayne Franklin • Rabbi Bob his voice. Freedman • Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich • Rabbi Michael Friedland • Rabbi Dayle Friedman • Rabbi Joan S. Friedman • Rabbi John Friedman • Rabbi Stacy Friedman • Rabbi Stephen Fuchs • Rabbi Ruth M. Gais • Rabbi Joyce Galaski • Rabbi Joseph H. Gelberman • Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg • Rabbi Carol Glass • Rabbi Rosalind For us and for many Glazer • Rabbi Steve Glazer • Rabbi Gail Glicksman • Rabbi Robert J. Gluck • Rabbi Shai Gluskin • Rabbi Neal Gold • Rabbi Rosalind A. Gold • Rabbi Michael Jews in our communities, Goldberg • Rabbi Irwin N. Goldenberg • Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg • Rabbi Dan Goldblatt • Rabbi Jerrold Goldstein • Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • Rabbi Maralee the work of Rabbis for Gordon • Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb • Rabbi Roberto Graetz • Rabbi Fred Greene • Human Rights repre- Rabbi Suzanne B. Griffel • Rabbi Susan Grossman • Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer • Rabbi Susan Gulack • Rabbi Fred Guttman • Rabbi Debra R. Hachen • Rabbi sents the Jewish moral Larry J. Halpern • Rabbi Stanley Halpern • Rabbi Vered L. Harris • Rabbi Garson The Maswadeh family at Herzfeld • Rabbi Jay Heyman • Rabbi Erin Hirsh • Rabbi Linda Holtzman • Rabbi conscience. We express Margaret Holub • Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin • Rabbi Shirley Idelson • Rabbi the site of their destroyed home Marc Israel • Rabbi Margery Jacobs • Rabbi Richard Jacobs • Rabbi Steven B. our love and commit- with Rabbi Ascherman Jacobs • Rabbi Jennifer Jaech • Rabbi Dan Judson • Rabbi Julie Greenberg • Rabbi Raachel N. Jurovics • Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn • Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin • ment for Israel by sup- (Reform), RHR Chair Rabbi Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann • Rabbi Peter E. Kasdan • Rabbi Debra Kassoff Tzvi Weinberg (Conservative), • Rabbi Alan J. Katz • Rabbi Joanna Katz • Rabbi James Lee Kaufman • Rabbi porting that work. Stuart Kellman • Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler • Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block • Rabbi Rabbi Isaac Newman Ralph P. Kingsley • Rabbi Paul J. Kipnes • Rabbi Richard Kirschen • Rabbi David To silence it is to push us Klatzker • Rabbi Jason Klein • Rabbi Richard L. Klein • Rabbi Stephen A. Klein (Orthodox), and Rabbi Yehiel • Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum • Rabbi Jonathan Kligler • Rabbi David L. Kline • Rabbi away from the Israel we love. Greniman (Conservative). Marc Kline • Peter S. Knobel • Rabbi Debora Kohn • Rabbi Doug Kohn • Rabbi Neil Kominsky • Rabbi Ira Korinow • Rabbi Emily Faust Korzenik • Rabbi Michael L. Kramer • Rabbi Douglas E. Krantz • Rabbi Matthew Kraus • Rabbi Leonard S. Kravitz • Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff • Rabbi Irwin Kula • Rabbi Susan Laemmle, Our second concern is about Ph.D. • Rabbi Lynne F. Landsberg • Rabbi Gilah Langner • Rabbi Alan LaPayover the home demolition policy • Rabbi Dr. Laurence Milder • Rabbi Barry Leff • Rabbi Michele Lenke • Rabbi Michael Lerner • Rabbi Sarra Lev • Rabbi Robert Levine, D. D. • Rabbi Joshua itself. The homes that were Levine-Grater • Rabbi Joy Levitt • Rabbi Chai Levy • Rabbi Robert D. Levy • “It has been told to you, o human, what is good, what the Lord requires of you: Rabbi Sue E. Levy • Rabbi Yael Levy • Rabbi Sheldon Lewis • Rabbi Michael Lezak demolished were not demol- • Rabbi Phil Lieberman • Rabbi Mordechai Liebling • Rabbi Rebecca Lillian • Rabbi John Linder • Rabbi Serge A. Lippe • Rabbi Ellen Lippmann • Rabbi Jane Rachel ished for any security reason. Litman • Rabbi Lewis C. Littman • Rabbi Richard Litvak • Rabbi Daveen H. Litwin • Rabbi Neal Loevinger • Rabbi Andrea London • Rabbi Alan Lovins • Rabbi Shaul None of the people in these Magid • Rabbi Harry Manhoff • Rabbi Natan Margalit • Rabbi Shana Margolin • only to perform justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) Rabbi Bonnie Margulis • Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro • Rabbi Randall Mark • Rabbi homes engaged in violence or Jeffrey M. Marker • Rabbi Dr. Susan Marks • Rabbi Dow Marmur • Rabbi Eliot P. Marrus • Rabbi Roly Matalon • Rabbi Mecklenburger • Rabbi Margaret J. Meyer harboring terrorists. They • Rabbi Michael Michlin • Rabbi Shira Milgrom • Rabbi Bennett Miller • Rabbi Michelle Missaghieh • Rabbi David Mivasair • Rabbi Jack Moline • Rabbi Adam were demolished because of a violation of zoning regula- The home demolition policy contradicts the kind Morris • Rabbi Tracy Nathan • Rabbi David Nelson • Rabbi Stacy Offner • Rabbi Nomi Oren • Rabbi Sue Oren • Rabbi Shaul Osadchey • Rabbi Sandy Roth Parian tions in a context where it is almost impossible for Palestinian of Israel envisioned by the founders of a Jewish • Rabbi Jack P. Paskoff • Rabbi Barbara Penzner • Rabbi Hara Person • Rabbi Aaron M. Petuchowski • Rabbi Bruce J. Pfeffer • Rabbi Steven Pik-Nathan • Rabbi families in those parts of the West Bank under Israeli civilian state, one that celebrates the prophetic voice which Judith Plaskow • Rabbi James Ponet • Rabbi Charles Popky • Rabbi Jack Nusan Porter • Rabbi Marcia Prager • Rabbi Sally J. Priesand • Rabbi Arnold Rachlis • control or in Jerusalem to legally obtain building permits. has animated our people for centuries, and which has Rabbi Sanford Ragins • Rabbi Victor Reinstein • Rabbi Michael Remson • Rabbi B’tselem, the Israeli human rights organization, reports given such vitality to the Zionist movement. Steven Carr Reuben • Rabbi Yael Ridberg • Rabbi Debra Robbins • Rabbi Alexis Roberts • Rabbi Liz Rolle • Rabbi Norman T. Roman • Rabbi Gaylia R. Rooks • that since 1987, literally thousands of homes have been Rabbi Brant Rosen • Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg • Rabbi James B. Rosenberg • Rabbi David Rosenn • Rabbi Barbara Rosman Penzner • Rabbi John Rosove • Rabbi built for Jews in these same areas, many receiving permits This vision is articulated in the Declaration of Independence Donald Rossoff • Rabbi Jeff Roth • Rabbi Jonathan Rubenstein • Rabbi Douglas B Sagal • Rabbi Murray Saltzman • Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl • Rabbi Neil Sandler • retroactively. Since 1987, 2,500 Palestinian houses on the when it describes the state as one that “will be based on Rabbi Marna Sapsowitz • Rabbi Richard Schachet • Rabbi Chaim Leib Schneider • Rabbi Arthur L. Schwartz • Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz • Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz West Bank and in have been demolished freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of • Rabbi Amy Schwartzman • Rabbi David Seidenberg • Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer • Rabbi Miriam Senturia • Rabbi Gerry Serotta • Rabbi Isaac D. Serotta for administrative reasons leaving more than 16,000 Israel.” In the spirit of this vision, Israel must protect minority • Rabbi Judy Shanks • Rabbi John M. Sherwood • Rabbi David Shneyer • Rabbi Marion Shulevitz • Rabbi Hanna Tiferet Siegel • Rabbi Beth Singer • Rabbi Jonathan Palestinians homeless. rights, and cherish and listen to its critics, to those who stand Singer • Rabbi Scott Slarskey • Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater • Rabbi Joel E. Soffin • Rabbi Ruth H. Sohn • Rabbi Felicia Sol • Rabbi Rav A. Soloff • Rabbi Eric M. with the poor and powerless. Solomon • Rabbi Scott Sperling • Rabbi Reena Spicehandler • Rabbi Aaron Spiegel • Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker • Rabbi Toba Spitzer • Rabbi Jacob J. Staub • Rabbi Home demolitions constitute an especially disturbing Peter Stein • Rabbi David Steinberg • Rabbi Debbie Stiel • Rabbi David Stern • Rabbi George Stern • Rabbi Ben Sternman • Rabbi Debbie Stiel • Rabbi Warren human rights issue. A sense of home is an essential part of We urge the government to exercise wisdom in this matter: G. Stone • Rabbi Ariel Stone-Halpern • Rabbi Michael Strassfeld • Rabbi Andrew Straus • Rabbi Leah Sudran • Rabbi Jeff Sultar • Rabbi Alana Suskin • Rabbi Michael our humanity; homelessness has always been considered a to rescind its policy of home demolitions and exonerate Swarttz • Rabbi Susan Talve • Rabbi Michael Z. P. Tayvah • Rabbi Elliott Tepperman human tragedy. Jews, because of our own history, are Rabbi Ascherman and others who have protested this unjust • Rabbi Carla Theodore • Rabbi Max Ticktin • Rabbi Michael Torop • Rabbi Lawrence Troster • Rabbi Andrew Vogel • Rabbi Moshe Waldoks • Rabbi Brian especially conscious of the issue of home, and Zionism can policy. We believe that the word of the prophets still speaks Walt • Rabbi Gerry Walter • Rabbi Arthur Waskow • Rabbi Pamela Wax • Rabbi Michael A. Weinberg • Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg • Rabbi Daniel A. Weiner • be said to be the movement to find a home for a people to us: ultimately, Zion will only be redeemed through Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow • Rabbi Simkha Weintraub • Rabbi Lew Weiss • Rabbi Shifra Weiss-Penzias • Rabbi Paula Jayne Winnig • Rabbi Avi Winokur • Rabbi so often deprived of our homes. justice and those who return to her through acts of Arnold Jacob Wolf • Rabbi Greg Wolfe • Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan • Rabbi Jonathan S. Woll • Rabbi Bridget Wynne • Rabbi Paul Yedwab • Rabbi Daniel G. righteousness (Isaiah 1:27). Zemel • Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman • Rabbi Michael Zimmerman • Rabbi Misha Zinkow • Rabbi Meryam Zislovich • Rabbi Henry A. Zoob Rabbis in Europe The destruction of a home can only be experienced as & Australia Rabbi Francis Ronald Berry • Rabbi Janet Burden • Rabbi Michael Farbman • Rabbi Mark Goldsmith • Rabbi Dr. Walter Homolka • Rabbi Michael a violation by its inhabitants. Something fundamental to Respectfully, Rabbis for Human Rights Hilton • Rabbi Dr. Margaret Jacobi • Rabbi Deborah Kahn-Harris • Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins • Rabbi David Lilienthal • Rabbi Jeffrey Newman • Rabbi Danny Rich • one’s identity has been removed. To be deprived of one’s North America Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild • Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah • Rabbi Dr. Reuven Silverman • Rabbi Amnon Daniel Smith • Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp • Rabbi Jacqueline Tabick • Rabbi Larry Tabick • Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg

Founded in 1988, Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) is the only Israeli Dear Friends at Rabbis for Human Rights, rabbinic organization composed of more than 100 Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, I want to support and to contribute in the following ways: Reconstructionist, and Renewal rabbis and rabbinical students, including rabbis in national leadership positions, prominent educators, and spiritual leaders of congregations. RHR is the sole Israeli organization whose purpose is to give voice to the Jewish I want to amplify the rabbinic voice for human rights in Israel and spread the message of this letter. religious traditions of human rights and to strive for justice as reflected in sacred Enclosed is my contribution of: texts and Israel’s Declaration of Independence. $5000 $1000 $720 $360 $180 Other______Donors of $180 or more will receive a copy of our video Voices of Rabbis for Human Rights. RHR’s current efforts are focused on: • Social and Economic Justice: As Israel’s social gap increases, RHR champions the rights Please add my name to the list of supporters of the Rabbis’ Letter to Prime Minister Sharon. of the poorest and weakest Israelis by advocacy, education and humanitarian assistance. • Palestinian Human Rights: RHR, while affirming Israel’s right and obligation to protect I would like to bring a speaker from Rabbis for Human Rights to my community. its citizens, seeks to prevent the violation of Palestinian rights by preventing home demolitions, protecting olive groves and harvesters, and assisting the Jahalin Bedouin I would like to make an additional contribution of $______to an emergency humanitarian and the “cave dwellers” of the South Hebron hills. and legal aid fund to fight the policy of home demolition and to aid Palestinian families affected by it. • Education: RHR educates teachers and students in the Israeli school system, is creating a Talmud-like commentary on Israel’s Declaration of Independence, and is Please send your tax-deductible donation to running a Human Rights Yeshiva for Israeli college students. Name Rabbis for Human Rights North America P.O. Box 1539 RHR was honored with the Speaker of the Knesset’s Award for the Quality of Life Address West Tisbury, MA 02575 in recognition of its contribution to Israeli society, and has been endorsed by the You may also make a donation online by North American rabbinic associations of the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist Email visiting our website: www.rhr-na.org movements.