In our effort to combat slavery and trafficking, we ask that you email your Senators and Representatives asking them to fund a variety of government programs that combat slavery and trafficking in the U.S. and around the world, as well as fund programs to help victims of slavery and trafficking.

Stop Evictions in Sheikh Jarrah!

Executive Director, Steven Gerber, Back from Recent Trip to Israel, Part 2

On International Women's Day, RHR Announces a new pilot program - Sisters for Peace

On International Women's Day, RHR Announces a New Pilot Program - Sisters for Peace

Executive Director Steven Gerber Just Back from Observing Rabbis for Human Rights in Israel

Support the Gottfried-Duane bill to prohibit NY Healthcare professionals from participating in torture!

A sad, but extremely accurate, assessment by Letty Cottin Pogrebin of the impact of the Goldstone Commission report. Instead of discussing the allegations raised in the report (many of them previously made by international human rights organizations), the discussion devolved into personal attacks on Justice Goldstone and claims of anti-Israel bias by anyone who had the temerity to call

Human rights organizations in Israel reissued their call to the Government of Israel to establish, without delay, an independent and impartial investigation mechanism to thoroughly examine the allegations raised regarding violations of international law during Operation Cast Lead. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet, heads of the organizations on Tuesday, January 26, 2010, called on Israel to take advantage of the short time still remaining before the UN deliberated on the Goldstone report's implementation.

The organizations specify in their letter why the military's internal examination, which includes operational debriefings and approximately 30 Military Police investigations, does not satisfy Israel's obligations to investigate. These examinations do not conform to the demands set by the Goldstone fact-finding mission, that Israel and Hamas each investigate suspected violations of international law during Cast Lead. Therefore, they will not be accepted as an appropriate response to the Goldstone report. Furthermore, the organizations warn that Israel's refusal to hold an independent investigation will expose military officers and members of the previous government to investigation and legal proceedings likely to take place outside Israel.

In light of the above, the organizations called on the Prime Minister to establish, without further delay, an impartial investigative body which will conduct an independent and effective investigation of incidents in which allegations have been raised that Israel violated the provisions of international law during Operation Cast Lead. In order that the investigation will be seen as credible, the organizations believe that a foreign expert on international humanitarian law should be a part of this process. The investigation
should examine Israel's conduct during Operation Cast Lead, including an examination of accountability on the political and command level. Likewise, the investigative body should be charged with preparing the
legal groundwork for future military conduct.

This morning the Israeli media reported that the PM is considering appointing a legal team to review the military's investigations and debriefings. The organizations clarify that only an independent and transparent investigation will satisfy Israel's international obligations.

The extent of damage to the civilian population during the operation was unprecedented. The allegations raised regarding the military's conduct are serious and grave. The Israeli public has the right to an explanation of the actions taken in its name in the Gaza Strip. This is an essential issue at the heart of Israeli society.

As you may know, this coming Shabbat, January 30, is Tu B’Shevat, the traditional “New Year” for trees. While for many of us it is the middle of winter, in Israel the almond trees are blooming and nature’s renewal is underway. In the attached article, Rabbi Paula Marcus, one of our Board Members, recalls her experience with the Rabbis for Human Rights delegation to Israel, and planting trees for justice. This is just one example of the way our organization works for positive change.

January 11th marks 8 years since the arrival of the first prisoners from the War on Terror at the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Read ahead for actions you can take to help close the prisoner, including a sample sermon and an email you can send to Members of Congress.

On October 26th, a delegation from RHR-NA met with Galit Baram of the Israeli Embassy to discuss our concerns about regarding allegations of war crimes during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza raised in the Goldstone Commission Report as well as by other independent investigators. We presented her with our letter to President Peres and Prime Minister Netanyahu requesting the State of Israel establish an independent and impartial investigatory body to look into these allegations. Read Rabbi Ellen Lippmann's Op-Ed in the New York Jewish Week about the visit and sign the letter.

Rabbis for Human Rights-North America have written to President Peres and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, urging them to initiate an independent investigation into possible abuses during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. We will be delivering this letter to the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Monday, October 26, and will be gathering signatures and reporting on our delegation, to the J-Street Conference later that day. Read the letter, click here to sign the letter, make a donation to support publication of the letter, and read ahead for a press release from RHR-NA.

RHR-NA issued a press release in response to the Goldstone Commission Report, joining with Israeli human rights groups calling on the Israeli government to study the Report's conclusions.

Rabbis for Human Rights-North America, is a co-sponsor of the J Street conference, Driving Change, Securing Peace, to be held in Washington D.C. from October 25-28. All RHR-NA donors are entitled to a 20% discount on conference registration. We hope that hundreds of our donors and supporters will attend this important conference. To register with the RHR-NA discount, click here. For more information about the conference, click here.