Arik Ascherman Arrested

We, Jews for a Just Peace, Vancouver B.C. Canada (www.jewsforajustpeace.com) wish to strongly express our solidarity and support for Rabbi Arik Ascherman who was arrested by Israeli police for refusing to oblige Israeli authorities' order to stay away from Silwan, where the Palestinian residents are being cleansed from their homes and neighbourhood. Rabbi Ascherman is a brave person, whose exemplary actions we would all do well to follow.

We urge the Israeli government to release the rabbi immediately and to protect the human rights of Palestinians who want only to live in peace in their homes and on property that is rightfully theirs.

Yours sincerely,
Lawrence Boxall
for Jews for a Just Peace
info@jewsforajustpeace.com
http://www.jewsforajustpeace.com

This is the comment that I left on the Ha'aretz talkback following their article on Rabbi Ascherman's arrest.

Rabbi Arik Ascherman is a true mensch and reminds me of those courageous whites, including several rabbis, who traveled to the South of the United States to work with and help blacks who were fighting the racist system of the apartheid South. They endured arrest, water hoses, beatings and even death.
Rabbi Ascherman is in their tradition. May there be more and more who emulate him.
Thank you Rabbi Ascherman for keeping my faith in Judaism alive.

I'm very sorry to hear about this and shall keep our friend in thoughts and prayers.

Shabbat shalom.

Prof. David Mednicoff

This is dispicable! This Rabbi is one of the most compassionate and careing people in the world. But how do you deal with people who want it ALL and don't care how they get it. Where in any bible does it mention that the use of destruction and force is OK to give the people of Israel ANYTHING they want? This is all in the interpretation and we know that most folks don't think this way. SHAME SHAME SHAME ON THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL!!!!!

We wish you well and support your efforts to humanize the situation. You represent many, many voices.

Thank you
Rabbi Elyse Wechterman

I have just returned from a two week study mission to Israel-Palestine.I know that some Palestinians have murdered Jews. That is unconscionable. I also learned how the Israeli government oppresses the Palestinian people. That too is unconscionable.
I applaud all your efforts to bring justice to Israel and its Palestinian neighbors. Our prayers will be with Rabbi Ascherman and all who are working for peace and justice under the oppressive regime. I will make every effort to inform people here about what is really going on in Israel-Palestine.
Joseph Mahon
Young Harris, GA

I picked olives with Rabbi Ascherman last November. On the way there another group was stopped at a check point, we had a flat tire, and his Palestinian contact wouldn't confirm which family we would be helping. Arik navigated through all of this calmly and steadily, never losing sight of the goal and the rightness of the cause. Being arrested is just another step along his, and our, path towards justice. Arik is the tip of our spear, or perhaps the eye of our dove, and I applaud RHR and all of its supporters for supporting him.

Yash HaKoach to Rabbi Ascherman as he goes from Strength to Strength.

Jerome Chroman

I applaud Rabbi Ascherman and his colleague's courageous resistance to the immoral expulsion of the Arab residents of Silwan and protest his arrest for refusing to sign a restraining order that would prvent him from going to Silwan. I believe ghat Rabbi Ascherman's actions
represent the best of our tradition.

Arik,

Thank you for standing up for human rights, even at the expense of your personal freedom.

Shabbat shalom,
Janice Hayden

We stand with you. We are proud of your strength, courage, activism and for your never-ending demands for peace, justice and dignity. Thank you.

Susan Prather

You stand for me, Reb Arik! Thank you for your courage and persistence!

David Grinstein, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener and Judith Tax,LCSW
Our support and prayers are with you, Arik. In the wake of the Israeli actions of the past few weeks we hope that others like you on both sides will assert their commitment to peace and stand with you. You are the embodiment of true menschlichkeit.

I wish Arik well in his pursuit of justice and equity.

Rabbi Carl M. Perkins
Temple Aliyah
Needham, MA, USA
rabbiperkins@templealiyah.com

I am heartsick over what has been unfolding in recent
weeks. It is deeply disheartening to see Israel repeatedly
make decisions that appear to demonstrate unwillingness
to work for peace. While I ache for the trauma for Arik
and his family, I am
so proud to call him my colleague and friend.
with prayers for peace,
amy eilberg

I admire Rabbi Ascherman enormously. He makes me proud to be a Jew. I have heard him speak on two occasions and have been moved and inspired by what he has said and what he does. I wish him well in his court appearance.

I trust Rabbi Ascherman's judgement.
Yasher koah for praying with your feet by putting your own freedom on the line.

Rabbi Shosh Dworsky