British Friends of Rabbis for Human Rights (BFRHR) supports the work of Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) both ideologically and financially. BFRHR – like RHR in Israel – draws members from both Progressive (Liberal and Reform) as well as Masorti and Orthodox rabbis.
BFRHR welcomes anyone – not only rabbis – from the Jewish community who wants to help to support the work of RHR both financially and also by publicising its activities throughout the British Jewish community. Furthermore BFRHR welcomes non-Jewish members who support it and have been attracted by its universal principles on human rights as a means of resolving the intractable problems of Israel and the neighbouring territories and maintaining and promoting human dignity, civil and human rights, social and economic justice, religious freedom and equality for all citizens living there.
RHR works in three main areas:-
- Social Justice and Economic Rights/Fight against Poverty and Food Insecurity – working with people living in poverty to access their rights and to advocate for proper policy.
- Protecting the rights of Palestinian farmers and access to their land in the West Bank and advocacy for Israel’s Bedouin community.
- Human Rights Education & Interreligious activities working with Israeli young adults in pre-army education programmes and the general public in inter faith issues.
The COVID-19 crisis has brought economic and social rights to the forefront, while arguably shielding Israeli violations in other areas.
BFRHR has organised visits to Israel and the Occupied Territories to see the work of RHR. BFRHR also arrange visits to Britain for RHR executives; including a 2019 visit of Avi Dabush, Executive Director of RHR, and Rabbi Michael Marmur, Chair of the Board of RHR, who spoke in synagogues in London and Birmingham, as well as meeting the rabbinical students at Leo Baeck College.
To learn more about Rabbis for Human Rights in Israel and the West Bank click here or visit the RHR website.