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“And you shall judge justly between any person and a fellow Israelite or stranger.” (Deuteronomy 1:16)

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We Are T'ruah

 

 

Meet some of the rabbinic and lay supporters of T'ruah.  Hear why they support the work of the organization, what human rights issues are important to them and how human rights relate to their Jewish values.

 

• Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak
• Cantor Freyda Black
• Rabbi David J. Cooper
• Rabbi Israel "Si" Dresner
• Rabbi Amy Eilberg
• Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell
• Rabbi Charles Feinberg
• Rabbi Michael Feinberg
• Rabbi Tirzah Firestone
• Rabbi John Friedman
• Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg
• Rabbi Marc Gopin
• Rabbi Floyd Herman
• Rabbinical Student Marisa James
• Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein
• Rabbi Barry Leff
• Rabbi Michael Lerner
• Rabbi Jeffrey Marker
• Rabbi Emma Kippley Ogman 
• Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg
• Rabbi Michael Ross
• Rabbi Gerald Serotta
• Rabbi David Shneyer
• Rabbi Sid Schwarz
• Rabbi George Stern
• Rabbi Alana Suskin
• Rabbi Brian Walt
• Rabbi Ezra Weinberg
• Rabbi Simkha Weintraub
• Rabbi Lewis Weiss
• Rabbi Shawn Zevit

 

Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He is very proud of how the organization has grown and the work it has taken on concerning Israelis of all backgrounds (Jewish and Arab) and the occupation.

 

Rabbi David J. Cooper from Berkley, California tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He supports T'ruah because he is a human being and believes that all people should be treated with intrinsic dignity because we are all created in the divine image. Rabbi Cooper stands by Hillel's belief, asking if we are not for everyone, who will be for us?

 

Cantor Freyda Black tells us why she supports "Rabbis for Human Rights." She sees that Judaism was built upon a system of ethics, the most important being how to treat other human beings. Cantor Black believes that Judaism tells us that every person on the planet deserves every human rights we enjoy in the United States. 

 

Rabbi Israel "Si" Dresner tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He is a supporter of human rights basically because he is Jewish! Jewish teachings and Jewish history have made him a life-long supporter of human rights.  

 

Rabbi Amy Eilberg tells us why she is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." She believes that this organization exemplifies the best of Jewish ideals and ethics. Rabbi Eilberg hopes for the day when T'ruah represents the majority of American and Israeli Jewry. 

 

 Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell tells us why she is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." She believes that the essence of Judaism is caring for the "other." Rabbi Levi Elwell thinks that we need to see that all individuals are created in the image of God. 

 

Rabbi Charles Feinberg, T'ruah Board Member, tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." The value of being created in the image of God is essential to his understanding of Judaism. Rabbi Feinberg believes that we have to honor everyone's God-given dignity. 

 

Rabbi Michael Feinberg, Executive Director of the Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition, tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He feels that T'ruah holds up the best in Jewish tradition and in universal, rational tradition. Rabbi Feinberg believes that this type of organization is the way forward for the Jewish community.  

 

Rabbi Tirzah Firestone from Boulder, Colorado tells us why she is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." She believes that T'ruah is one of the only organizations that truly speaks the conscious of Judaism. Rabbi Firestone notes that there is a disconnect between central Jewish principles - such as to love our neighbor as ourself - and what is seen in the world today.

 

Rabbi John Friedman, Co-Chair of J Street Rabbinic Cabinet, tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." Stressing the fact that all people are created in the image of God, he thanks Rabbis for Human Rights for working on the ground in Israel to defend the rights of everyone.

 

 Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg, Co-Chair of T'ruah, tells us why she is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." She feels that RHR-Israel is one of the organizations that is saving the soul of Israel. Rabbi Goldenberg believes that it would be hard for her to connect with Israel if it wasn't for Rabbis for Human Rights working on the ground to make Israel the place we want it to be.

 

Rabbi Marc Gopin, honorary Advisory Board member for T'ruah, tells us why he is a “Rabbi for Human Rights.” He says that human rights are a fundamental part of the torah. Rabbi Gopin is proud to join other “Rabbis for Human Rights” in the struggle for human rights, justice, and equality.

 

 Rabbi Floyd Herman tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He says that Jewish teachings value the worth of every human being. Rabbi Herman believes that we live in a world where too much human life is not valued and he is happy to work to give everyone the opportunity to live how they want to live. 

 

Rabbinical student Marisa James from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College tells us why she is a soon-to-be “Rabbi for Human Rights.” While living in Jerusalem, Marisa had friends who were Jewish, Christian, and Muslim. She believes that everyone should have the right to travel and learn and that no one should have to worry about what kind of world their children will grow up in.

 

 Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein tells us why she is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." She believes that there is nothing more important that we do as Jews and rabbis than support human rights. The Torah explicitly commands us to welcome the stranger in our midst. Rabbi Klein says that we have to find a way to work with the "other."

 

Rabbi Barry Leff, Chair of Rabbis for Human Rights in Israel, tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." Taking values learned from Jewish tradition and the Torah, especially the fact that we are all created in image of God, he believes that it is a religious commandment to be concerned with all human beings. Rabbi Leff thinks that we need to constantly strive towards creating the perfect world. 

 

Rabbi Michael Lerner tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." Judaism, he notes, starts with the conviction that all people are created in the image of God, which immediately requries from us resepct for every human being. Rabbi Lerner believes that to be a rabbi demands one to insist on and fight for the development of human rights worldwide. 

 

Rabbi Jeffrey Marker tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He says that he simply couldn't be anything else. Rabbi Marker says that it is clear to him that being a religious Jew and being concerned with human rights and social justice go hand-in-hand.  

 

Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman tells us why she is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." She believes that at the core of the Jewish tradition is the obligation to bring about liberation for all peoples on the planet. 

 

Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." A rabbi since 1974, he simply can't imagine a rabbi not being for human rights. 

 

Rabbi Michael Ross from Philadelphia tells us why he is a “Rabbi for Human Rights.” He says that Rabbis for Human Rights is the primary group that deals with moral and ethical considerations of those living in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Rabbi Ross thinks that supporting human rights is a simple choice. 

 

Rabbi Gerald Serotta tells us why he is a “Rabbi for Human Rights.” He believes that Jewish tradition demands of all Jews that we support the human rights of the entirety of creation. Jewish history makes it clear that we have to stand up for human rights for everyone, which Rabbi Serotta says is especially true for American Jews. 

 

Rabbi David Shneyer of the Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community of Greater Washington tells us why he is a “Rabbi for Human Rights.” He asks how one could be a rabbi and not support human rights. Rabbi Shneyer believes that we need an organization that stands for justice and human rights for all people, especially within the Occupied Territories. He believes it is wrong for us, given our history and background, to oppress other peoples. 

 

Rabbi Sid Schwarz tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He is happy to observe a new generation of Jews who increasingly have a sense of global ethics and values that speak to the rights of all human beings throughout the world. 

 

Rabbi George Stern from Philadelphia tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He says that the reason that he is a Jewish leader is because he wants to bring the ethics of Judaism to Jews and non-Jews. Rabbi Stern believes that without human rights for everyone, there cannot be human rights for anyone. 

 

Rabbi Alana Suskin tells us why she is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." She says that we are commanded to have one law for all - citizens and strangers. Rabbi Suskin believes that it is our duty to carry out justice. 

 

Rabbi Brian Walt tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He says that human rights is the core of Judaism. Rabbi Walt believes that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the secular statement of the highest vision of Judaism and all religious traditions. 

 

Rabbi Ezra Weinberg tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He notes that RHR-Israel was one of the few organizations of its kind to continue working through the Second Intifada, which makes him very proud to have been involved at that time. Rabbi Weinberg believes that T'ruah embodies the work that enables him to be proud of Israel. 

 

Rabbi Simkha Weintraub, a Board Member for T'ruah, tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He says that it is a no-brainer from Jewish tradition to fight abuses of human rights world-wide and especially in North America and Israel. 

 

Rabbi Lewis Weiss from Indianapolis, Indiana tells us why he is a “Rabbi for Human Rights.” A self-identified strong Zionist, Rabbi Weiss is nonetheless disturbed by many recent Israeli policies in the settlements and territories. He wants to continue working towards peace, justice and mutual understanding. 

 

Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Director of Congregational Services and Social Justice for the Reconstructionist Movement, tells us why he is a "Rabbi for Human Rights." He believes that each aspect of creation is inherently a reflection of divinity. Rabbi Zevit thinks that we need to act as one to bring about change and extend human rights to every person.

 

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