Ariga: Human Rights and Peace Groups: Rabbis for Human Rights

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Rabbis for Human Rights
42 Azza St.
Jerusalem 92384
Tel: 02-5637731
Fax: 02-5662815
E-mail: info@rhr.israel.net
Web: http://www.rhr.israel.net
Director: Rabbi Arik Ascherman
Assistant Director: Yaacov Rosenberg
Chairperson: Rabbi David Forman

Rabbis for Human Rights, an Israeli organization advocating on behalf of human rights from a religious perspective, was founded in 1988. Deeply troubled by increasing reports of human rights abuses during the intifada, a group of 15 rabbis - Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform - joined together to raise a voice of concern. Today RHR has a membership of 80 ordained rabbis, plus a number of rabbinical students. RHR is the only organization in Israel which brings together rabbis of various Jewish denominations and one of the few religious organizations in the peace camp.

The organization focuses on: advocating human rights; working for interfaith understanding; supporting the peace process. The primary human rights focus has been Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line. Other human rights issues on which RHR occasionally focuses are agunot, Ethiopian Jewry and recently, foreign workers.

Specific issues RHR deals with include: Palestinian access to medical care; the plight of the Jahalin Bedouin; the right of Palestinian farmer Musalam Shreitakh to farm his land bordering Susya (RHR recently succeeded in getting the army to intervene and allow Shreitakh to plough his land); the association between Judaism and intolerant attitudes among both Orthodox and secular Israelis.

RHR's activities include: serving as a shofar for the reading of Jewish tradition on human rights issues, often by focusing media attention on an issue; direct advocacy and intervention on human rights issues; interfaith dialogue; educational work in schools and other forums.

Today's Situation

"The army that will defeat terrorism doesn't wear uniforms, or drive Humvees, or calls in air-strikes. It doesn't have a high command, or high security, or a high budget. The army that can defeat terrorism does battle quietly, clearing minefields and vaccinating children. It undermines military dictatorships and military lobbyists. It subverts sweatshops and special interests.Where people feel powerless, it helps them organize for change, and where people are powerful, it reminds them of their responsibility." ~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~

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