What We Think

We believe in a Judaism Beyond Zionism

We appreciate the important role of the land of Israel in Jewish tradition, liturgy, and identity. At the same time, we reject the fusing of Judaism or any religion with political nationalism. We oppose Jewish supremacy in all its manifestations and the construct of Jews as the chosen people. We reject zionism’s ideology of European (white Ashkenazi) Jewish supremacy that institutionalizes unequal treatment of Palestinians and Jews from South West Asian and North African countries (JSWANA).

We embrace the Jewish teachings that uplift the sacredness of all peoples. We believe in a Judaism of love and transformation, not domination and power over.

We openly acknowledge that the creation of an ethnic Jewish nation state in historic Palestine resulted in an injustice against the Palestinian people – an injustice that continues to this day. We also acknowledge that Palestinian people are indigenous to the land of Palestine/Israel.

We reject any ideology that insists upon exclusive Jewish entitlement to the land. Just as we recognize that Turtle Island (i.e., North America) is the home of indigenous peoples, we simultaneously embrace that the land of Palestine/Israel has historically been considered sacred by many faiths and home to a variety of peoples, ethnicities, and cultures.

In our advocacy and activism we oppose Israel’s ongoing oppression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. We seek a future that includes full civil and human rights for all who live in the land – Jews, Muslims, Christians, Palestinians, Druze, Bedouin, and others.

We have an Israel/Palestine Social Action Committee that is engaged in advocacy and education. To learn more, click here.