Speaker, Wednesday, Nov 28. Rabbis For Human Rights' Arik Ascherman will be a guest speaker at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life, at Duke University, 1415 Faber Street, corner of Campus Drive and Swift Avenue, on Wed., Nov. 28th at 8pm.
Rabbis for Human Rights is the only organization in Israel today concerned specifically with giving voice to the Jewish tradition of human rights. RHR is involved in ecumenical dialogue and educational activities. In addition to dealing with violations of human rights of West Bank Palestinians and Israeli Arabs. RHR concerns itself with foreign workers, the Israeli health care system, the status of women, Ethiopian Jews, an Israeli bill of rights, to name only a few issues. Current projects include: Participation in the Israeli Coalition for the Prevention of Home Demolitions, including a campaign to find "adopting" families for the over 2,000 Palestinian families who currently have demolition orders on their homes Participation in "Etzba Al HaDofek, a wide coalition attempting to preserve and improve health care for all Israelis. Advocacy for the Jahalin Bedouin who have been negotiating for decent living conditions after their dwellings were bulldozed. Educational activities connected to human rights, including the teaching in schools and on campus and creating a Talmudic style commentary on Israel's Declaration of Independence. Working with "Workers Hotline" to insure that foreign workers who have suffered work related injuries are aware of their rights and receive proper treatment. RHR is widely respected by journalists and other human rights organizations, and is often quoted in international media. RHR is the rabbinic voice of conscience in Israel. RHR was founded in 1988, in response to serious abuses of human rights by the Israeli military authorities in the suppression of the Intifada. The indifference of much of the country's religious leadership and religiously identified citizenry to the suffering of innocent people seen as the enemy was a cause of concern to RHR's organizers. Both the religious and the non-religious sectors of the public need to be reminded that Judaism had another face. Human rights abuses are not compatible with the age-old Jewish tradition of humaneness and moral responsibility or the Biblical concern for "The stranger in your midst."--even in the face of the danger to public order and safety which the uprising represented. Today our membership includes some ninety ordained rabbis, plus a number of rabbinic students. Rabbis for Human Rights has no affiliation with any political party or ideology. Its members are Israeli citizens. RHR has helped numerous individuals, publicized causes, engaged in civil disobedience, lobbied the Knesset and participated in a landmark high court case limiting the scope of the army to abuse human rights under the guise of security. RHR to brings specific human-rights grievances to the attention of the Israeli public and to pressure the appropriate authorities for their redress. ===== Triangle Young Jewish Professionals. Bringing together Jewish people across the Triangle. Past mailings can be found at our website: www.rtpnet.org/tyjp Click on "calendar" to be taken to all archived mail. For more information about TYJP, please write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! GeoCities - quick and easy web site hosting, just $8.95/month. http://geocities.yahoo.com/ps/info1 END
