We, the undersigned, who care deeply about the security and well-being of the State of Israel, are signing this letter to protest the racism and incitement of long-time settlement movement leader and Netanyahu-appointed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich who is reportedly planning a trip to the United States.
We pledge to not invite Smotrich to speak at our congregations, organizations, and communal institutions during his visit and to speak out against his participation in other fora across our communities. We call on all other Jewish communal organizations to join us in this protest as a demonstration of our commitment to our Jewish and democratic values. Our communities must reject Bezalel Smotrich and his party of hate.
Smotrich has described himself as a “fascist homophobe” and has a long history of promoting dangerous and violent policies. Recently, he crossed another red line when he openly declared that the Palestinian town of Huwara should be “wiped out” by the State of Israel, only days after hundreds of Israeli settlers carried out a violent pogrom that left one Palestinian dead, approximately 100 injured, and dozens of homes and vehicles torched. The fact that Smotrich is a government minister who has just been handed significant responsibility for affairs in the occupied West Bank makes his incitement all the more dangerous.
Smotrich has called gay pride parades “worse than bestiality” and supports laws that would strip rights from LGBTQ communities and from women. He has expressed support for expelling Arab citizens of Israel who are seen as opposing the government, as well as demolishing Palestinian villages in the West Bank and evicting their residents. And he aims to do great harm to Jews around the world, including by changing the Law of Return in ways that would cease to recognize Jews who converted with Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist rabbis.
Smotrich and his allies’ policy proposals are anathema to the tenets of democracy and equality; they directly contradict the letter and spirit of Israel’s own Declaration of Independence.
In 1984, when Meir Kahane was first elected to the Knesset, virtually all American Jewish organizations turned their backs on him and his violent and racist ideology and rhetoric. Now it is time for us to do the same for Bezalel Smotrich. American Jewish organizations must be clear: Smotrich has no place here.
Want to add your organization’s name? Click the button below to sign on and join our call to shun Bezalel Smotrich.
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
Ameinu
Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community
Americans for Peace Now (APN)
Am shalom
American Conference of Cantors
American Friends of the Parents Circle – Families Forum
Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple
ARZA
Association for Reform Jewish Educators
Association of Humanistic Rabbis
A Wider Bridge
BackYard Mishkan
Bet Am Shalom synagogue
Beth Chayim Chadashim
Beth David Reform Congregation
Bethesda Jewish Congregation, Bethesda, MD
Beth Israel Congregation–Ann Arbor
Bnai Keshet
Boston Workers Circle
Brookdale Community College
Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)
Congregation Beth Sholom of San Francisco
Congregation B’nai Israel
Congregation B’nai Yisrael
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah
Congregation Beth Shalom
Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills, CA
Congregation Beth Sholom, San Francisco
Congregation Dorshei Tzedek
Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge
Congregation Kerem Shalom
Congregation Rodef Shalom, Denver
Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco
Detroit Jews for Justice
Emeritus, Har Sinai Oheb Shalom Congregation, Baltimore, MD
Habonim Dror North America
Hashomer Hatzair USA
Hebrew College
HIAS
IKAR
Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation
Israel Policy Forum (IPF)
Jewish Labor Committee
jGirls+ Magazine
J Street
JVP-Detroit
JVP-Sacremento
Kadima Reconstructionist Community
Kane Street Synagogue
Kavana
Kehilla Community Synagogue, Oakland, CA
Keshet
Kol HaNeshamah, Seattle
Kolot Chayeniu
Lab/Shul
L’chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty
Leo Baeck Temple
Machar – The Secular Humanistic Jewish Congregation of Greater Washington
Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue
Mayim Rabim Congregation
Mercaz USA
Middle East Peace Committee of Kehilla Community Synagogue
Mishkan Chicago
Mishkan Ha’am
National Council of Jewish Women
Nefesh LA
New Israel Fund (NIF)
New Lehrhaus: The Bay Area Hub for Adult Jewish Education
New York Jewish Agenda
Oak Park Temple B’nai Abraham Zion
Ohalah: The Association of Rabbis and Cantors for Jewish Renewal
Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
Or Hamidbar
Or Tzafon
Partners for Progressive Israel
Path With Heart
Rabbinical Assembly
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
SAJ-Judaism that Stands for All
Society for Humanistic Judaism
Temple Adath Israel of Lexington, KY
Temple Ahavat Achim
Temple Beth Am
Temple Beth El, Eureka California
Temple Beth Zion, Brookline (TBZ)
Temple Bet Yam
Temple Chai
Temple De Hirsch Sinai
Temple Emmanuel, Kensington, MD
Temple Hillel B’nai Torah
Temple Israel Long Beach
Temple Micah
Temple Ohabei Shalom
Temple Rodef Shalom, Northern Virginia
Temple Shir Tikvah
Temple Sinai (DC) Committee for Israel Engagement and Social Justice
The Kitchen
The New Reform Temple of Kansas City, Missouri
The New Shul
The Shalom Center
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, a CSJO community
T’ruah
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
Union for Reform Judaism Youth Movement
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Women of Reform Judaism