During this time of Teshuva, of repentance, Jewish people are called to reflect on the harm that we have done to others and to recommit to the work of tikkun olam — repairing the world. This is a time for us to recommit to ending the genocide in Gaza and to call for the U.S. to stop arming Israel and its military full of war criminals. The International Court of Justice, United Nations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, BT’Selem, and Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J-Street, have all called Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide. Here in Northampton, we can divest the money that helps fund this genocide — our tax dollars support companies like Raytheon, the world’s second largest weapons manufacturer that makes bombs used to kill Palestinians. Everyday I drive past L3 Harris, a branch of a company that makes similar technologies of death — weapons that kill three buses of Gazan children everyday.

Northampton has more than $70,000 of taxpayer dollars invested in companies that manufacture and fund the weapons, machinery, and technologies that the Israeli military uses to surveil and kill Palestinians, destroy their homes, and enforce Israel’s apartheid system. Stopping Israeli apartheid is a local issue. In a historic and monumental event, the Northampton City Council just voted on Sept. 18 to divest from these companies with the overwhelming support from community members. Our taxpayer dollars can go towards education, childcare, healthcare — not slaughtering Palestinians. 

This is the most Jewish sacred time of year, but I cannot celebrate. Israel is starving two million Palestinians. Everyday I see photos of emaciated children, with all bones and no flesh. Israel is currently annihilating all of Gaza City, where already displaced families have nowhere to go. One hundred to 150 Palestinians are killed every single day. Judaism teaches us pikuah nefesh, there is nothing more important than saving a life. It has never been a more urgent time, or a more clear moment to stand up for Palestine with our Jewish principles as our moral compass leading the way.  

Mare Berger

Northampton