A broad coalition of religious leaders sent a letter to President Obama urging him to make an Executive Order against torture one of his first action on his first day in office. Rabbis for Human Rights-North America partnered with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture to include prominent Jewish leaders in this letter. Read ahead for more information and for the text of the letter.

Rabbi Lenny Gordon went on a Masorti trip to Israel in January, 2009.  This is a link to his blog.

Alanna Sklover, a student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, has written this prayer for those suffering in Gaza.

Two months ago as part of a human rights trip to Israel, I led a group of Americans on a visit to Sderot.  As our bus entered the area within the range of rockets, I explained what participants should do in case of an attack - "find the nearest bomb shelter, follow others, if you don't find a shelter, lie down and cover your head with your hands,  you have 20 seconds to respond."  

The author of this piece, Ali Berlow, was a participant on the RHR-NA Human Rights Mission to Israel and the West Bank last November and wrote this piece, which was inspired by a coffee vendor at the checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, while on the trip.

Here is an update on what RHR has been doing since the initial statement we sent you the day after the war began, as well as an additional piece that Rabbi Arik Ascherman wrote a week ago.

We invite you to join this moderated public discussion, a forum in which supporters of RHR-NA can respectfully discuss the Gaza Crisis.
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Rabbis for Human Rights Executive Director Rabbi Arik Ascherman wrote this essay at the beginning of the current crisis.

The High Court today (January 9, 2009) demanded that the State supply answers by Tuesday (January 13) as to what measures they are taking and what further measures can be taken to allow the timely evacuation of the injured and a proper supply of fuel and electricity to Gaza. RHR is signed on "Gisha's" appeal on fuel/electricity. RHR Executive Director Rabbi Arik Ascherman does not know whether there will be another High Court discussion on Tuesday.

The following article was written by Carol Towarnicky and published in the Philadelphia Daily News on January 7, 2009.  Carol was a participant on the RHR-NA Nurturing Justice:  Human Rights Solidarity Mission to Israel and the West Bank this past November.

This is a copy of letter of support sent by RHR-NA's Board to Rabbi Arik Ascherman, RHR Executive Director, and Rabbi Anita Steiner, Chairperson. 

On Wednesday, January 7, Rabbis for human rights was one of nine human rights organizations petitioning Israel's Supreme Court for Israel to stop the collapse of the water and sewage system, according to the Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, the authors of the petition. 

RHR Board member Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman wrote the following prayer from his home in Jerusalem.

If there has ever been a time for prayer, this is that time.
If there has ever been a place forsaken, Gaza is that place.

Lord who is the creator of all children, hear our prayer this accursed day. God whom we call Blessed, turn your face to these, the children of Gaza, that they may know your blessings, and your shelter, that they may know light and warmth, where there is now only blackness and smoke, and a cold which cuts and clenches the skin.

Rabbis for Human Rights issued a statement on the 8th night of Hanukkah after the beginning of Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip. The statement is titled, Stop killing civilians now. Read RHR's statement.