Rabbis For Human Rights

We, members of Israeli Rabbis For Human Rights, affirm in our daily prayers and blessings that:

G-d AND HUMAN BEINGS

G-d is sovereign over the universe. All humankind is created in G-d's image and is an active partner with G-d in perfecting the world. (Shabbat 10a, 119b).

ABRAHAM

When G-d chose our father Abraham, G-d promised,

"All the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you" (Gen. 12:2)

and that he would instruct his children and posterity to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is just and right" (Genesis 18:19). As descendants of Abraham, we must fulfill his legacy of

"compassion, generosity and sensitivity" (Yevamot 79b)

In accordance with our Torah tradition, the world will declare in admiration,

"what great nation has laws and rules as just as all this Teaching that I set before you this day?" (Deut. 4:8).

TORAH

The essence of Torah, as summarized by Hillel:

"What is hateful to you, do not do to others,"

reflects the historic experience and ethical consciousness of the Jewish people. Both this historic experience and ethical consciousness must sensitize us to defend the right of all who dwell among us.

"When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens: you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your G-d" (Lev. 19:33-34).

KIDDUSH HASHEM

Exemplary conduct of Israel is a sanctification of G-d's name (Kiddush HaShem): shameful conduct is a defamation of G-d's name (Chilul HaShem).

PRESERVING LIFE

G-d's name is sanctified through the respect we show for the human worth and dignity of all G-d's creatures.

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

Our Mishnah teaches:

"Therefore was Adam created single, to teach you that the destruction of any person's life is tantamount to destroying a whole world and the preservation of a single life is tantamount to preserving a whole world" (Sanhedrin 4:5).

And again in the words of Rabbi Akiva:

"Beloved is Man who was created in (G-d's) image" (Pirkei Avot 3:18).

Our ideal state being when

"We shall beat our swords into plowshares..." (Isaiah 2)

and with our concern for human dignity and the preservation of life, be they Jews or Arabs, we are deeply disturbed by and seek to remove excesses and abuses such as:

• Expropriation of land.
• Uprooting of trees.
• Demolition of homes.
• Torture through the use of "moderate physical or psychological pressure."
• Coercion and torture to extract confession or to incriminate others.
• Bullying and humiliating, which is demoralizing both to perpetrator and victim: and we wish to save our children from the temptation to these vices.
• The exercise of double standards by, or the granting of relative immunity to those who wield political or military power and authority, in the pursuit of criminal proceedings in general, through delay, evasion, and protection.
• Shooting to kill when life is not in immediate danger
• Collective punishment of "children for the sins of their parents" and "parents for the sins of their children."
• Imprisonment without trial in administrative detention.
• Removing the rights of residence through confiscation of identity cards.
• Sale of weapons to aggressive regimes.
• Undercover killings.

As Rabbis of Human Rights in Israel, we are committed to the principles state in Israel's Declaration of Independence

"to foster the development of the country for the benefit of all the inhabitants, based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel: to ensure complete quality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race, and sex: to guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; to guard the holy places of all religions: and to be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the UN."

We pray to bring nearer the day for the fulfillment of the prophecies

"The remnant of Israel will not act iniquitously, nor speak falsely; neither shall there by found in their mouths the tongue of deceit" Zephaniah (3:13)

"When nation will not lift up sword against nation, and no longer train for war." (Isaiah 2)

"Who is mighty? One who transforms one's enemy into one's friend". (Avot D'Rabbi Natan 23)