A Jewish Quaker Speaks On Pacifism
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- Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
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Filming and Editing by Christopher Cuthrell
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Transcript:
I am a Jewish Quaker. I am a Quaker Jew. I am a Pacifist, a Poet, a Jewish Grandmother, A Bubbe, and this is my message.
And this is my Message!!! I became a member of the Religious Society of Friends in 2006, when the Israeli Hezbollah War began. I couldn’t sit back and watch the carnage of that war and do nothing, my heart was broken… I had witnessed “pacifism” in awe, among Quakers, I saw them walking the talk. I worked among Quakers, and learned first-hand of the work of Conscientious Objectors who put their lives on the line during WWII in threatening ways, but through humanitarian efforts. They were unable to pick up arms and kill, they were pacifists. The Quakers served the oppressed and I was impressed. AFSC received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 for their humanitarian efforts during the war. I wanted to be part of a place that honored pacifism. I did not, do not, have the conscience for war, it is not the answer.
I got involved with the Middle East Working Group out of my Yearly Meeting. We sponsored a YAF Mission to Israel Palestine, where 12 YAF witnessed the Israeli Occupation first hand. We lobbied Friends Fiduciary, to divest from companies profiting from the Occupation. They were the first faith-based organization to do this.
I’ve been involved in this war 24/7, since October 7th. From my shattered place, I have been learning as much as I can, trying to figure out, what’s this all about? Why are more people not outraged witnessing this carnage? Why is America, so complicit? Where are Quakers now? If God, he, she, they, them, if, they are overseeing this, I believe it is through technology. We are witnessing this carnage in vivid color, what will we do, who will we be? Back when America coined Manifest Destiny, there were no cameras or iPhones. The Torah says, Choose Life, what will you choose, life or death? I challenge every Quaker, to ask themselves what does pacifism mean for you, and to come to consensus in one’s meeting, is that possible? It is the foundation of Quakerism!!! There are many already doing this work, among Christians, Jews, and Moslems, but more need to step up, and from this country, confront the complicity of our government, that is really all that we can do!!! And I believe Quakers have an opportunity to be at the forefront of a Pacifist movement, among other Christian faiths.
I am reclaiming Judaism from Zionism, and have found an opening, through a courageous Rabbi, who actually worked for American Friends Service Committee, he started a non- Zionist Synagogue, in Chicago, and I’ve been attending. It is packed with pacifists, who are putting themselves on the line, they are involved with Jewish Voices for Peace, Not in My Name, and this gives me hope, for Judaism, and for the next generation. This movement was not around twenty years ago.
If I could create the perfect Religion, for me, it would be, to bring Pacifism to my Friday night Shabbat Table. I am going to read a poem; it is called Another Mother’s Child; this poem is for everyone.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil - Isaiah 5:20
I heard the vengeance in their hearts
I felt their anguish, their pain
But mostly I felt shame…
Is the child of another mother’s blood not worthy of the same?
They are not the ones to blame
It’s all the same, and I take claim for that blame
Precious and damned, the child of another mother’s blood
Please, please, we all must die, but how is the wonder?
To whom shall we sit tonight, for whom shall we light the candles of death
I sit forlorn, a call for the soul of a people
For whom I hear the bells toll
For whom with obstinance I will grieve, and remember
How hard the bombs fall
Is the blood of another mother’s child not worthy the candles of my plight?
I cry tonight, for the soul of a people
For somewhere it has died, and somehow must rise out of the ashes of antiquity
Let us all mourn, for death is but a burdensome plight that befalls us all
Tonight I cry for the souls of a people
Who live by the shame of those who carry their name?
I cry for the souls of a people tonight
I will not give up this fight, for the shame that I carry
Is in the heart of the vengeance I listen to, but do not hear
I cry for the souls of a people for fear that from the ashes a spark might not ignite
Out of the thunder and wonder of that child in the night
I cry for the soul of my people tonight, out of fright!
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The views expressed in this video are of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Friends Journal or its collaborators.
So powerful. Thanks for sharing your voice.
Thank you for sharing a message about pacifism. The war in Gaza can't be allowed to continue and we need a true pacifist movement to help end it.
True - but how to end the war without allowing Hamas to continue their atrocities against both Gaza Palestinians and Israelis alike? Have we forgotten what Hamas did last October? What is the answer?
I am Quaker and this dear woman’s message speaks to me.
Bless this grandmother for speaking out. And I wish peace to everyone.
Such an awesome perspective! Blessings to all!
Thank you so much for this.
Wonderful to hear a Jewish perspective on Quakers.
I love the Quakers
This a dynamite and dynamic witness to Pacifism and for Quakers and Jews. Thanks very much for your bleeding.
Tha my oh for this story. Beautiful. There are Quakers in nyc too
This was so insightful - pacifism didn’t even cross my mind as part of learning about and activism for Palestine. I will reflect on this perspective too
thank you for sharing this, I'll share it myself as much as I can
Beautiful, thank you. ❤
Thank you for this marvelous message. 🙏
I appreciate my friend who made me aware of this video.
I wish I had seen this two days earlier. My yearly meeting just passed a minute on Gaza and it was contentious
It's telling that this is the first QuakerSpeak interviewee who is anonymous. I can relate to not wanting to speak out since I have so many Jewish family members and even Jewish Quakers in my Meeting who are struggling to see that the US must stop supporting Israel so long as this apartheid, and now genocide continues. Israel squandered opportunities for peace in the past. This current government of Israel cannot be trusted.
@@sandygreen7293 wow. I'm so sorry to hear about that. It's really profound that this issue is so divisive, even among Quakers.
It's a defensive war. Pacifism doesn't work when you are surrounded by neighbors who wanna annihilate you!
Very powerful! The world is just in a tailspin right now.
Choose peace!
we need to find solutions without violence!
I love the message very much, but the pacifist exist because people are willing to give their lives in defense of them. If it were not for the soldier giving his life Hilter and others would cleansed this world of good people. To give your life in defense of another is the highest virtue. To protect others freedom is the highest honor. Many in my family and friends have done so with many folded flags on our mantles. Thank a service member for you even being able to give such a lovely message. I pray for peace and freedom everyday. God Bless you.
War is an industry. When that is acknowledged it might be possible to dismantle the war machine, but I doubt it, too much profit to be made. This is no different than the industrialization of medicine or religion.
Thank you for speaking up. Free Palestine, peace for us all 🕊️
I am a Jewish pacifist. I worry, though: how does a pacifist deal with sociopaths and psychopaths? When an active shooter roams a school building, AR 15 in hand, one cannot exactly invite the fellow in for tea, cookies, and frank talk.