Take Action - What You Can Do in One Hour

If I have an hour this week, I can...

• Address torture during the High Holidays or Sukkot. Sukkot often coincides with national “Torture Awareness in the Pulpits” weekend. Ask your Rabbi to address torture and Jewish values, or do so yourself. See our sermon and liturgical suggestions.

• Invite a speaker to your community. There are many speakers who can inform your community about torture, including teachers on torture and Jewish values, torture survivors, human rights activists, lawyers who represent Guantanamo detainees, and trauma counselors who have treated victims of torture. If you are interested in bringing a speaker, please write to Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster.

• Create an information table on torture in your community. You may wish to display the following resources:

  • Honor the Image of God: Stop Torture Now Brochure (pdf). Contact office@rhr-na.org to order enough brochures for all of the members of your community.

  • Read and sign the Jewish Statement Against Torture

  • Download the Rabbinic Resource on Torture and Jewish Values. You may order additional print copies from the RHR-NA office by writing office@rhr-na.org

  • General Fact Sheet, from Human Rights First

  • Fact Sheet on Guantanamo Bay and Military Commissions, (pdf) from Amnesty International.

  • Brief Frequently Asked Questions, from UUSC

  • Extensive Frequently Asked Questions, from PBS

  • Frequently Asked Questions about Extraordinary Renditions, from Amnesty International

• Educate and learn about Jewish values and torture. Ask your Rabbi to teach an adult education class on torture, using RHR-NA resources, or teach it yourself.

Only have five minutes? You can make a difference in just five minutes.