(More than 900) World rabbis denounce edict forbidding Jews from renting homes to Arabs

[Turborama]

Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 15 December 2010 14.20 GMT

More than 900 rabbis from around the world have signed a letter expressing "great shock and pain" at a ruling backed by scores of Israeli rabbis forbidding Jews from renting or selling property to non-Jews.

The letter describes the ruling as a "painful distortion of our tradition" and a "desecration of God's name" and appeals to Israeli rabbis to "take a public stand and oppose those who misrepresent our tradition".

=snip=

Most of the signatories are from the US, but they include rabbis from many countries, among them the UK. The global signatories, who describe themselves as Rabbis Against Religious Discrimination, address their letter to "our rabbinic colleagues in Israel" to whom they are turning "at a time of crisis".

It says: "http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/rabbisagainstracism/">The attempt to root discriminatory policies based on religion or ethnicity in Torah is a painful distortion of our tradition. Am Yisrael (the people of Israel) know the sting of discrimination, and we still bear the scars of hatred."

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/15/rabbis-denounce-arab-rental-ban

[shira]

1. Good. That was a racist, evil decree. n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

2. It's great to see such a strong global stand against such blatant intolerance and discrimination...

I don't know enough about how religious rulings work to know what effect such strong opposition has on the ruling itself, but unfortunately as with all religious hatemongers and bigots, those who made the ruling in the first place probably aren't intelligent enough to read and grasp what the letter is saying to them...

:hi:

[aranthus]

6. It's moral-suasion.

Judaism isn't a very hierarchical religion, and the pronouncements of one rabbi aren't controlling on those of another denomination. However, every little bit helps. And even if it doesn't, it's important for Jews everywhere, rabbi or not, to speak out against don't sell to Arabs statement.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Glad to hear that

All decent people should denounce this sort of racism and bigotry.

[azurnoir]

4. Thanks that is good to hear n/t

[oberliner]

5. New Israel Fund is behind this

Looks like they are moving in the right direction:

The New Israel Fund Leaves the BDS Swamp

Dec 15 2010, 2:03 PM ET

The New Israel Fund, the group that funds civil liberties organizations and other progressive causes in Israel, is taking a clearer stand against the so-called Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. Daniel Sokatch, who runs the Fund, e-mailed Goldblog the new policy:

The NIF opposes the global BDS movement, views the use of these tactics as ineffective and counterproductive and is concerned that segments of this movement seek to undermine the existence of the state of Israel.

NIF will not fund global BDS activities against Israel nor support organizations that have global BDS programs.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/12/the-new-israel-fund-leaves-the-bds-swamp/68081/