| As we enter this new year and welcome in new board members, we at TischPDX add our organizational voice to the urgent and growing call for an immediate ceasefire, release of all hostages, and restoration of aid and services to Gaza. We believe that an immediate and permanent ceasefire is imperative to stanch the spilling of civilian blood, to pause the unprecedented harm and human suffering in Gaza, to bring home the remaining hostages abducted on 10/7, and to give Israelis and Palestinians a diplomatic path to greater safety that we know this unrelenting violence will never achieve. We know that the US government has the power to end the bloodshed. Both as taxpayers and as Jews, we feel angry and powerless as our government continues to enable the Israeli assault rather than compelling Israel to pursue diplomatic opportunities. Israel’s recent attacks on Southern Lebanon have further increased the already appalling civilian death toll and further entrenched the violent conflict. At the same time, we caution against being distracted from the urgent need to alleviate the suffering in Gaza and to effectuate the return of the hostages. We are motivated by our love and concern for all people in Israel/Palestine, and believe that all people in the region are entitled to basic safety, dignity, health, life, self-determination and self-governance, and freedom from systemic persecution. The mission of TischPDX is to lift up the next generation of voices of Jewish leadership in our region, especially those marginalized by mainstream institutions. We encourage them all to deepen their Jewish knowledge and hone their organizational skills so that each individual voice is strengthened in its own way. It is our honor to contribute to the richness of the American Jewish conversation about the future of the Jewish people in this way. We will continue to demonstrate our values through our work. We know that many of our alumni are doing important organizing to promote Palestinian liberation and support Israeli peace movements. We are pleased to support their leadership. As we enter this new year, with critical elections soon, we encourage each of you in our community to use your voice, your vote and your actions to help bring the peace and justice our world desperately needs right now. Hazak, Hazak Ve-Nit’Hazek (Be strong and may we be strengthened) Sincerely, TischPDX Board and Executive Leadership Note: Some of our language was inspired by work and words of Kehilla Community Synagogue in Oakland, CA. |
