Linda Sarsour speaks at Seder in the Streets JFREJ rally in NYC, photos by Kyle O'Leary (57)
Justice

Jewish leaders defend Linda Sarsour, raise funds for her security

Over 130 leaders of Jewish organizations signed a public letter today in solidarity with Muslim American leader Linda Sarsour — and have raised over $11,000 in a day towards her security from threats of violence.
Since February, Sarsour has been in the spotlight for being a lead organizer of the Women’s March in DC and for raising $160,000 from Muslim Americans to repair vandalized Jewish cemeteries in St. Louis and Philadelphia. Liberal Jewish leaders, while not endorsing all of her views, have steadfastly pushed back against attempts by right-wing pro-Israel voices to portray her as anti-Semitic.
Among the signers are the CEOs and heads of HIAS, Bend the Arc, J Street, the New Israel Fund, T’ruah: Rabbis for Human Rights, the National Council of Jewish Women, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, IKAR, Detroit Jews for Justice, Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps, Just Vision, and the American Federation of Teachers, as well as leaders from Open Hillel, If Not Now, and dozens of synagogues.
The letter reads,

We may not agree with Sarsour on all matters. We do not offer our stamp of approval to every tweet or message she has ever posted. But in this time, when so many marginalized communities in our country are targeted on the streets and from the highest offices of government, we are committed to bridging communal boundaries and standing in solidarity with one another. With Sarsour and others, we work as allies on issues of shared concern and respectfully disagree when our views diverge.

Over the past weeks, Sarsour has been threatened with violence for accepting an invitation to speak at the graduation ceremony of the City University of New York’s public health school. In addition to the 130 signers to the petition in her defense, Jewish social justice group Bend the Arc invited their supporters to donate towards her security expenses — raising $11,000 in just under a day.
Read below for the full letter and list of signers.

Jewish Leaders Statement Against Attacks on Linda Sarsour

We are members of the Jewish community from a range of backgrounds, experiences, and political perspectives who are committed to a country and world rooted in justice and dignity for all. It is in the service of this commitment that we condemn the recent attacks on and threats to Linda Sarsour.

These attacks are dangerous, disingenuous and counterproductive, undermining core Jewish values of compassion, humility and human dignity.

We may not agree with Sarsour on all matters. We do not offer our stamp of approval to every tweet or message she has ever posted. But in this time, when so many marginalized communities in our country are targeted on the streets and from the highest offices of government, we are committed to bridging communal boundaries and standing in solidarity with one another. With Sarsour and others, we work as allies on issues of shared concern and respectfully disagree when our views diverge.

We will not stand by as Sarsour is falsely maligned, harassed and smeared, as she, her organization and her family suffer vicious public threats and intimidation. We unequivocally oppose these assaults against her, and publicly state our commitment to working alongside her for a more just and equal society.


Signatories (affiliations listed for identification purposes only):

Rav Leora Abelson, Congregation Agudas Achim, Attleboro, MA

Cantor Nancy Abramson

Rabbi Alana Alpert, Detroit Jews for Justice

Anita Altman

Rabbi Julia Andelman

Stuart Appelbaum, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)

Rabbi Guy Austrian, Fort Tryon Jewish Center

Ronit Avni, Founder, Just Vision

Rabbi Chava Bahle, Or Tzafon

Sarah Barasch-Hagans, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Ian Bassin, United to Protect Democracy

Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street

Heather Booth

Sarah Brammer-Shlay, IfNotNow

Marcelo Bronstein, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun

Shifra Bronznick, Social Change Strategist

Deborah Brous, Netiya

Rabbi Sharon Brous, IKAR

Dan Cantor, Working Families Party

Tonda Case, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice

Rabbi Ken Chasen, Leo Baeck Temple

Rabbi Ayelet S. Cohen, New Israel Fund

Rabbi Aryeh Cohen PhD, American Jewish University/Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice

Rabbi Tamara Cohen, Moving Traditions

Cheryl Cook, Avodah

Rabbi David J. Cooper, Kehilla Community Synagogue

Stosh Cotler, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice

Sheila Decter, JALSA — Jewish Alliance for Law & Social Action

Barbara Dobkin

Joe Dinkin, Working Families Party

Rabbi Amy Eilberg

Rabbi Barat Ellman, Fordham University and Bard Prison Initiative

Eve Ensler

Rabbi Michael E Feinberg, Micah Interfaith Table

Jacob Feinspan, Jews United for Justice

Leo Ferguson, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

Marjorie Fine

Rabbi Brian Fink, JCC Manhattan

Tamara Fish, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice

Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari, Kol Tzedek Synagogue

Koach Frazier

Rabbi Jonah Geffen, Congregation Shaare Zedek

Rabbi Bob Gluck, University at Albany

Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg, Malkhut

Rabbi Shelley Goldman, Congregation Beth-El Zedeck. Indianapolis, IN.

Rabbi Andrea Goldstein, Congregation Shaare Emeth

Rabbi Lisa Goldstein, Institute for Jewish Spirituality

David Goodman, President, Andrew Goodman Foundation

Molly Schultz Hafid, New School

Arlene Goldbard, Shalom Center

Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann

Rabbi Lisa D. Grant, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Cynthia Greenberg, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

Rabbi David Greenstein, Congregation Shomrei Emunah

Rabbi Maurice Harris, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College / Jewish Reconstructionist Communities

Mark Hetfield, HIAS

Rabbi Jo Hirschmann

Alison Hirsh, Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ

Rabbi David A Ingber, Romemu

Eddie Iny, OUR Walmart

Rabbi Jill Jacobs, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Rabbi Marisa James

Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Eli Kasargod-Staub, Bend the Arc

Erika Katske

Marilyn Katz, Mk Communications

Nancy Kaufman, National Council of Jewish Women

Dove Kent

Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, Bend the Arc Jewish Action

Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman, United Hospital

Idit Klein, Keshet

Naomi Klein, Journalist and Author

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah

Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein

Jonathan Kopp

Sarah Kovner

Victor Kovner, J Street

Lisa Kron

Rabbi Elliot Kukla

Tony Kushner, Playwright

Council Member Brad Lander, New York City Council

Rabbi Michael Adam Latz, Shir Tikvah

Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, Lab/Shul

Rachel Lerner, J Street

Stephen Lerner, Georgetown University

Council Member Stephen Levin, New York City Council

Libby Lenkinski, New Israel Fund

Donna Lieberman, New York Civil Liberties Union

Yonah Lieberman, IfNotNow

Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, Kolot Chayeinu: Voices of our Lives

Bill Lipton, Working Families Party

Rabbi Sara Luria, Immerse NYC

Rabbi Marc Margolius

Rabbi Richard Marker

Rabbi Dr. Susan Marks, New College of Florida

Yotam Marom, IfNotNow

Bob Master, Communications Workers of America, District 1

Rabbi José Rolando Matalon, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun

Emily Mayer, IfNotNow

Aliza Mazor

Shahanna McKinney Baldon

Rabbi Lev Meirowitz Nelson, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Rabbi Sydney Mintz, Temple Emanu-El

Rabbi David Mivasair, Ahavat Olam Synagogue

Mik Moore

Dani Moscovitch, IfNotNow

Carin Mrotz, Jewish Community Action

Lindsey Newman, Be’Chol Lashon

Salem Pearce, Hebrew College Rabbinical School

Kathleen Peratis, Partner, Outen & Golden LLP

Yasmeen Perez

Rabbi Joshua Rabin, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Sara Rakita, New York Immigration Coalition

Rabbi Jason Rodich, Congregation Emanu-El San Francisco

Lex Rofes, Judaism Unbound

Rabbi-Cantor Elana Rosen-Brown, Congregation Rodef Sholom, San Rafael

Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, HIAS

Rabbi Benjamin Ross, Leo Baeck Temple

Krissy Roth

Justin Ruben, MoveOn Civic Action

Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay

Deborah Sagner, Action Center on Race and the Economy Trustee

Rachel Sandalow-Asch, Open Hillel

Audrey Sasson, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

Cassie Schwerner, Schott Foundation

Steve Schwerner

Rabbi David Seidenberg, neohasid.org

Danielle Sered

Rabbi Drorah Setel, Temple Emanu-El

Pamela Shifman

Rabbi David Shneyer, Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community

Rafael Shimunov, JewsforLinda.org

Joel Silberman, Media Talent 2.0 Inc

Rabbi Becky Silverstein

Rabbi Suzanne Singer, Temple Beth El

Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu, CLAL

Marilyn Sneiderman, Rutgers University

Daniel Sokatch, New Israel Fund

Rabbi Felicia Sol, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun

Rabbi Robin S. Sparr

Rabbi Toba Spitzer, Congregation Dorshei Tzedek

Gloria Steinem

Ilana Sumka, Center for Jewish Nonviolence

Jeremy Swack, Open Hillel

Jonathan Tasini

Phyllis Teicher Goldman, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice

Rabbi Rachel Timoner, Congregation Beth Elohim

Rachel Tiven

Ann Toback, The Workmen’s Circle

Rabbi Shifrah Tobacman, Kehilla Synagogue

Rabbi Jan Uhrbach, Conservative Synagogue of the Hamptons

Alan van Cappelle, Pride Agenda

Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Ph.D., The Shalom Center

Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., Reconstructionist Rabbinical College/Jewish Reconstructionist Communities

Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers

Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, LCSW

Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Rabbi Joseph Wolf, Havurah Shalom

Barbara Zack, Nation Council of Jewish Women

Rabbi Reuben Zellman

Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman, Congregation Shaarei Shamayim

Simone Zimmerman, IfNotNow

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