[1]Our Israel Logo

Friends,

This past weekend, as we in the US commemorated Memorial Day, Israelis
were closing out their own month of important holidays, both joyous and
somber. In May, Israelis commemorated the Holocaust on Yom Hashoah,
mourned those lost in wars and acts of terror on Yom HaZikaron and
celebrated Israel’s 74th anniversary on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day.

This past Sunday, some Israelis celebrated another holiday, Jerusalem Day,
which marks the “reunification” of Jerusalem after Israeli forces gained
control of the Old City and East Jerusalem during 1967’s Six-Day War. For
the Israeli far-right, the day has sadly become an annual opportunity to
direct appalling violence, bigotry and intimidation at the city’s
Palestinian residents. We saw this on Sunday, as far too many hate-filled
right-wing marchers threw stones, harassed innocent people and chanted
“death to Arabs” without police intervention.

J Street is proud to condemn and reject the shameful behavior of the far
right and their violent, exclusionary vision for Israel’s future.

At the same time, it's ever more vital to double down on what we are proud
of: The many Israelis who champion and fight for the democratic values
enshrined in Israel’s Declaration of Independence -- justice, equality,
tolerance and the pursuit of peace.

We’re so grateful for the many brave and passionate Israeli activists,
from a diverse range of communities and backgrounds, who work every day to
help their country live up to those values. This is the Israel we love.
It’s the Israel from which we draw inspiration.

In an ongoing series of profiles we call “Our Israel”, J Street staff
interview inspiring leaders and activists to explore what motivates them,
the movements they are building, and the challenges they’re struggling
against. Below, you can read a number of the compelling, heart-warming,
and sometimes heartrending profiles that we’ve published in recent months.

At times, our critiques of the extremist settlement movement and Israeli
government policy, or our dedication to peace and the rights of all, lead
some to charge that we don’t truly love or care about Israel and its
future.

Nothing could be further from the truth. We do what we do because we care
about Israel and its relationship with the Jewish people around the world.

As we do when it comes to the US, we refuse to look away or stay silent
when the Israeli government falls short of the nation's values or the
vision of its founders. Just the opposite: we’re committed to the hard
work of pursuing and achieving that vision.

By celebrating the incredible work of both Israelis and Palestinians who
are struggling for peace, coexistence, social and economic justice,
women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, and so much more, we’re making clear that we
are their partners in defending liberal democracy and building a better
future for all.

I hope you find their stories as inspiring and motivating as I do. Thank
you,

Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street

Rabbis for Human Rights

[ [link removed] ]A Palestinian family pluck olives from trees harvesting them whereupon
he will extract from them olive oil during the annual harvest season, in
Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on October 04, 2020.

Rabbis raise their voices

Rabbis for Human Rights is an Israeli organization that works throughout
Israel and the Occupied Territory to monitor human rights violations,
support social and economic justice, and promote education and interfaith
dialogue. The organization was founded over 30 years ago in response to
the violation of Palestinian human rights taking place in the Occupied
Territories and has since expanded to include a number of different
initiatives throughout Israel and the Palestinian Territory to advance
human rights for all.

“As a rabbi, I have to raise my voice. It has meaning to speak up. I
represent more than just myself,” says Rabbi Ruti Baidatz. [ [link removed]" ]Read the
full profile >>

 This is not an Ulpan

[ [link removed] ]Photo two people, one holding a post-it note that says Salam Aleykum.

An alternative language school

This Is Not An Ulpan, which works in both Israel and the Palestinian
territory, was founded in the wake of the 2011 Israeli social justice
protests which saw thousands rallying against social and economic
inequality. Language courses run by the group have titles you won’t see in
traditional Ulpans. Upcoming courses next semester include “Queer your
Hebrew” and “the Televised Revolution.”

“We are using language to free people from this ideology that you have to
learn in a certain way,” explains Sophie Shannir, the organization’s
Community Manager. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Road to Recovery

[ [link removed] ]A father and daughter in the back of a car looking at one another.

Connections across divisions

Every year, the volunteers at Road to Recovery make thousands of trips,
bringing Palestinians in the West Bank -- mostly children -- to vital
medical appointments in Israel. Since Israeli authorities often only grant
entry permits to children in need of care and not their caregivers or
their vehicles, volunteers end up offering both practical transport and
emotional support and reassurance.

“Driving people from the other side, there’s something magical about it,”
says CEO Naama Goraly. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Palestinian Internship Program

[ [link removed] ]Two men shaking hands on stage at a google startup event.

Creating the Palestinian startup nation

The Palestinian Internship Program works to connect West Bank Palestinians
working in the technology sector to companies in Israel and beyond seeking
talent. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. By placing participants
in roles where they will contribute to the Israeli tech sector, they can
ultimately take what they learned back into the Palestinian ecosystem --
creating their own “startup nation.”

“Our alumni are pushing the cycle forward. They are providing more jobs
and opportunities directly in the Palestinian ecosystem and passing down
the skills they gained through their internships to their employees,” says
Executive Director Anna Gol. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Tzedek Centers

[ [link removed] ]Members of the Tzedek Centers hold signs and march

A vision for a shared society

Tzedek Centers are community centers throughout cities in Israel that
train and build networks of community organizers. From the single center
Carmon first created six years ago, there are now seven centers across
Israel. The group’s goal is to open one in every city across the country.

“It’s not just the activists or politically engaged -- it’s just regular
people who want their community to be a better place,” says Executive
Director Lev Littman. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Bokra

[ [link removed] ]Stack of Arabic newspapers on a shelf

Using media to ignite change

Bokra is an Israeli Arabic news site that draws around 850,000 visitors a
day. While it is an Arabic news site, unlike many others of its kind, it
is not connected to a political party or a print weekly. And unlike a
range of smaller sites, Bokra aims to cover Israeli-Arab affairs
nationally. "Bokra," which means "tomorrow" in Arabic, is more than just a
news organization. Founder Ghada Zoabi views the website as a home for
social initiatives, furthering her mission of affecting change in society.

"We know that we live in a complicated reality. But through our social
initiatives, content, and work, we are working every day to get results,”
says Bokra Founder Ghada Zoabi. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>


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J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans who want
Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the Jewish people.
Working in American politics and the Jewish community, we advocate policies that
advance shared US and Israeli interests as well as Jewish and democratic values,
leading to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



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