Notices by Rabbi Jill Zimmerman (rabbijill@sfba.social)

Reproductive freedom is a Jewish value, FULL STOP. That’s why we are partnering with NCJW this #ReproShabbat on February 21 to celebrate reproductive freedom & continue advocating for it

We will study Jewish texts that explore Judaism’s values on #choice

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/b-dBnrJASuKFmewqv7nFxg

It’s a mitzvah to vote. Shabbat shalom. #election2024

Are you looking for a way to refocus before the High Holy Days begin? The Journey Home: Soul Work for the High Holy Days in This Turbulent Year is a 3-session course that will help you experience the season as a spiritual journey from brokenness to wholeness with other spiritual seekers. It is taught from a Jewish spiritual perspective, but you don't have to be Jewishly knowledgeable. These sessions are created to be supportive and community-building. Join us! #jewish #HighHolyDays #elul

https://ravjill.com/hh2024-course

@tchambers @kamalaharrisforpresidentnews in a night of incredible inspiring speeches, this is my favorite moment.

“That’s my dad “. All the reason you need to elect this ticket. Humanity. Humility. Decency. Good parenting. #dnc #Walz

From: @tchambers
https://indieweb.social/@tchambers/113003721185391223

PS. what is trump doing instead of press conferences? MEETING WITH ORBAN.

The NYT & Wash Post are laser focused on spreading doubt about Biden and wayyyyyy down at the bottom they have a FEW articles about the dangers of the Supreme Court rulings and trumps criminality. I don’t see them urging the great liar to step down do you?

Why why why why would the Supreme Court allow bump stocks? It was one small step to control guns used to kill so many in mass shootings. So disappointed & disgusted

Perhaps it’s important to say, for those of you not in the same loop I’m in, that my friends & colleagues in Israel are in the streets demonstrating against the war and the corrupt Netanyahu government every day. The families of the hostages are also out in the streets demanding new elections. Every death - Palestinian and Israeli - is heartbreaking.

And for anyone thinking that trump is going to be a great friend to Israel, he’s not. Netanyahu and trump are bit from the same cloth. Both are dangerous.

This is how I’m observing Yom HaZikaron - with a joint ceremony of Israelis and Palestinians seeking peace. You can watch ceremony on the Facebook pg @combatantsforpeace .
Michal lost her son, Najlaa buried her brother. Together, they seek a different future https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-05-12/ty-article-magazine/.premium/michal-lost-her-son-najalaah-buried-her-brother-together-they-seek-a-different-future/0000018f-6c9b-de93-a1af-7c9b51dd0000?gift=f1d9beda07014717b94dcd7d8dad0a10

Friends for life. #dogsofmastodon

Say what? Looks like that’s the end of subscribing to any Substack newsletters for me. What a sad excuse for why they support actual Nazis on their platform. So much for “moral clarity “

From: @thomasfuchs
https://hachyderm.io/@thomasfuchs/111620213852735624

I woke up thinking about all the people ripping down hostage posters all over the world. And the underlying hate that drives this cruel behavior. This is #antisemitism that is also anti-Israel & it is so painful. I pray those hostages will so be returned whole & safe.

3/ do you realize that jewish children in elementary schools - college are AFRAID to go to school? Are being harassed daily? Posters of hostages being torn down? Jewish stores vandalized? IN THIS COUNTRY. where is the outrage? Jews, stalwart supporters of liberation movements & democracy for years feel abandoned in our hour of need.

2/ no - I don’t agree with the Israeli government or the settlers. I don’t agree with withholding aid. AND - The anti jewish hatred I have experienced since Oct 7 has been the worst of my entire life & I’m struggling to understand how quickly the world turned from a few days of sympathy to condemnation of Israel. LEARN the history & complexity of the entire region & you will see that there is enough blame to go around. Stop being armchair experts & participating with others who would like our people to be thrown into the sea.

@gwit Israel is an illegitimate settler state? What does that even mean? For Jews this is our indigenous ancestral land. If you don’t know that, there’s nothing more to talk about.

@gwit there were nearly a million Jews kicked out of the Arab countries they lived in & Israel was the only place they could go. My opinion: the land needs to be shared. How I wish the Palestinians had accepted a state when it was on the table - but their leadership said no. And here we are. Again - the history is complex. Not black and white. The Palestinians need their own land. The Israelis do too. I’m going to keep believing it is somehow possible.

@gwit the only path forward - which most Israelis agree with! - is that the land needs to be shared in some way. I pray it is possible. What I DIDN’T expect was to feel so unsafe & scared as an American Jew here in the US. it’s shaken me to my core.

Is it too much to ask for jewish lives - children to grandparents - to be valued? Where are the calls for Hamas to stop bombing Israel? And to release the civilian hostages? Why is the ceasefire asked of Israel alone? Why in 2023 do Jews have to fight to be seen & valued? I believe all human lives are sacred & I cry for each life taken. There is a dearth of balance here that I am calling out. I’m heartbroken that many of my fellow progressives have abandoned us.

Empathy is not a zero sum game. Our hearts are big enough to encompass the suffering of the captives, the families in mourning & the innocents in Israel & Gaza. It’s not either-or. #israel #Gaza