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By Ray Kirstein
On The State of Belief, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss her organization’s mission and her personal journey in advocating for justice. T’ruah mobilizes over 2,300 rabbis and cantors across North America, focusing on human rights issues like democracy, worker justice, immigration, incarceration, and conflict resolution in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Rabbi Jill emphasizes the importance of religious voices in promoting dignity, opposing extremist narratives, and reclaiming religion from divisive politics.
She highlights T’ruah’s efforts to address antisemitism, providing educational resources to discern when criticism of Israel crosses into hate. Antisemitism, she explains, is a persistent hatred that thrives in times of upheaval, often serving as a warning of broader threats to democracy. Rabbi Jill stresses that combating antisemitism benefits all of society, not just Jewish communities.
The conversation shifts to the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza, where Rabbi Jill reflects on the devastating toll of violence, including the October 7th attack by Hamas and the resulting war. She underscores the moral imperative to condemn atrocities, support victims, and seek a peaceful resolution. She also highlights the work of individuals like Vivian Silver and Avi Dabush, who have dedicated their lives to peace and human rights despite immense personal loss.
Despite the challenges, Rabbi Jill finds hope in grassroots efforts. She commends the Israelis and Palestinians who courageously advocate for justice, nonviolence, and peace amid conflict, and calls for brave leadership to prioritize diplomacy over violence, drawing inspiration from historical peace accords.
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Ray Kirstein is the Producer of the State of Belief podcast.