*IF NOT NOW WHEN?

HOW MUCH CAN WE BEAR WITHOUT GOING INSANE, WITHOUT LOSING OUR SENSE OF MORALITY?

HOW CAN OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL STARVE THEIR NEIGHBORS?

WHERE IS THEIR HUMANITY?

I force myself to read the accounts of the famine in Gaza. It hurts. I cry. My people in Israel, you have forsaken us, the people of the diaspora who have supported the state of Israel since 1948. There are no more excuses--revenge for October 7, Hamas, safety and security for Israel. Stop the fighting. Do you not see how your actions resemble the worst enemies of the people? You are behaving like--dare I say-- Nazi officers administering the ghettos of Poland, the soldiers of the Pol Pot regime, the communists during the worst famines in Stalin's Soviet Union and Mao's China.

Do not say the world does not understand. The time for that is over. I can no longer deny the reports from international groups, which provide relief to those who are hungry. No longer does it matter if the situation in Gaza 2025 is different from other tragedies. The result is the same, unnecessary cruelty. Authorities have demonstrated the double standard for Israel which is not fair. Experts have revealed antisemitism in the extreme statements related to Israel's existence.

My mother nearly starved and survived during the Japanese occupation of China; my grandmother (her mother) had chronic stomach issues from eating bacteria infested food in Shanghai. My greatgrandmother starved in Frankfurt, waiting to be deported to her death. I am the daughter of these people who were treated harshly. How can you--the descendents of those who suffered in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East--repeat the horror? What is wrong with you? You have become the enemy, the Amalek.

Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind....

Deuteronomy 25-17-19

Do not lose what remains of your soul, Israel. The great thinkers, Eli Weisel, Primo Levi, Victor Frankl, and Hannah Arendt resisted revenge. Israel was the rare country with liberal, democratic values in the Middle East which has sustained the support of rational people around the world. Israel, you are rapidly losing your champions.

Dear Readers, Please consider signing the petition from J St. (lst link) and/or contact your congresspeople with your thoughts. The second link below is an example of a letter by the reform movement which can be shared with reform rabbis. There are numerous letters from rabbinical groups online.

https://act.jstreet.org/sign/jewish-leaders-speak-out-socials/

https://urj.org/press-room/reform-movement-statement-starvation-gaza

*This quote has been attributed to Hillel, and is found in the Mishnah. It is a call to action.

https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/a-betrayal-of-the-victims-of-the?r=hlnip&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

© Karen Levi 2025