This July, I will be joining the Center for Jewish Nonviolence with Jews from around the world for 10 days of solidarity activism with Palestinians in the West Bank. We will work with Palestinians who are being evicted from their homes and pushed off their land in the name of ongoing settlement expansion and occupation. Likely projects include: infrastructure development, agricultural projects, sit-ins, and marches.
This delegation is called "Occupation is Not Our Judaism." I have always struggled with the idea that we can participate in a Judaism that celebrates liberation and instills values of social justice, while actively or passively supporting the occupation. By spending time in the West Bank this summer, I'm hoping to gain my own understanding of how the incredibly complicated dynamics of Israeli/Palestinian relations affect people in their day to day lives.
I believe that it is important for American Jews to see first hand what is happening in the West Bank and Israel because the American Jewish establishment blindly supports the occupation and continues to silence Jews who believe in the liberation of all people. Because of this I've joined IfNotNow, a new young-adult-led organization, that seeks to end the American Jewish support of the occupation. This trip is an opportunity to inform me and to help me become a more confident leader by deepening my understanding of the occupation through personal experience and shared stories.
I am raising $2500 to cover the cost of my participation in the delegation and airfare. Any donation, big or small, will help me reach this goal. I hope you'll be willing to support me in this journey in any way you can. Please follow my blog here at http://aharrisridker.blogspot.com/, donate to support my trip if that's possible at https://igg.me/at/SZFMdJhQUsE, and most important I look forward to sharing my stories with you when I return.
