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
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