The 2021 Olive Harvest is fast approaching

The 2021 Olive Harvest with RHR and Palestinian Olive Farmers is fast approaching. We look forward to our 19th year leading volunteers into the West Bank to help Palestinian farmers harvest olives and to stand with them in solidarity against settler violence, against interference by the military and against the indifference that allows for their rights to be trampled year after year. Continue reading →

Our Imperative: Clinging to life, to Values of Sustainability

Some people believe that the challenges, dilemmas and hopes that engage humanity are permanent and eternal, that “what was, will be” and that “there is nothing new under the sun”. This perspective is especially prevalent in the traditional world. The search for spiritual intentionality through the regular reading of the weekly portion, even through the lens of creative commentaries, can contribute to the sense of continuity and meaning but it might also paper over the burning issues that are present, the ones that are found outside of the traditional text. Continue reading →

Bringing the Torah of Human Rights to the Field

RHR Begins Its Palestinian Shepard Accompaniment Project in the Jordan Valley with a Fact Finding Tour, led by RHR’s Human Rights in the OPT Department Director, Rabbi Elhanan Miller.

In a new project for RHR we will now regularly bring teams of rabbis to the northern Jordan Valley to work with Palestinian shepherds regularly under threat of harassment and violence by settlers and the security forces as they eke out their traditional livelihood of tending to theirflocks.

In order to engage with our growing membership and to learn more about the increasingly untenable situation for Palestinians in the Jordan Valley we conducted this fact finding tour and look forward to contributing to the protection of Palestinian human rights in Area C via activism in the field and through advocacy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to donate to BFRHR, you can find more information on the Donations page

 

 

Shavuot of Violence and Fear: Is there still hope like that between Naomi the Hebrew and Ruth the Moabite?

“Turn back, my daughters, for I am too old to be married. Even if I thought there was hope for me… Oh no, my daughters! My lot is far more bitter than yours, for the hand of the LORD has struck out against me.” But Ruth replied, “Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” Ruth 1:12-16

Preparing for Shavuot this year is very difficult. We are mired in long and hard days of darkness. Thousands are hurt daily by the violence inside of Israel and from the war between Israel and Hamas. Continue reading →

Letter to the Israeli Government calling on them to expedite the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

One hundred Israeli rabbis have already signed a letter calling on Israel: “to expedite the  distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout Israel, and in parallel – with as much importance and urgency – in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. “

This is our responsibility and it is what Jewish ethics demand of us, as rabbis, as Jew and as human beings.

We invite you to join with us and the other rabbis who have already signed and to add your signature today.

Sign the letter – here Continue reading →