October 2016’s Approximately Monthly Missive

[I am uploading to this blog earlier e-mail blasts I sent out that I am collecting together now under the guise of  “Jim’s Approximately Monthly Missives.” In the future I will be posting them here first and then sharing links to them in the hopes that comments will come here in a more publicly engaging way than when I send them out via the bcc feature in my email. I hope you find them stimulating and thought-provoking. This one was originally sent out on 18 October 2016 with the Subject line reading, ‘Israel/Palestine in Nor. Cal.: Issa Amro speaks (this week) and 2 more “Occupation is Not Our Judaism” reports-back (Nov).’ -Jim]

[Here are a few events and pieces of news to keep up on, IMHO. Thanks for checking them out, and if you are in the Bay Area, I especially hope to see you at one of Issa Amro’s events later this week and one of my reports-back about the profound delegation I was on in July during which I was privileged to work a little with Issa!  -Jim]

Come see/hear/meet Issa Amro of Hebron’s Youth Against Settlements (YAS)

Issa Amro is an internationally recognized, human rights defender in Hebron/Palestine and founder of many pro-active, nonviolent organizations including Youth Against Settlements (YAS). The flagship YAS campaign is “Open Shuhada Street.” Issa enlisted the Center for Jewish Nonviolence’s “Occupation is Not Our Judaism” delegation I was on in July to commence a new campaign: Cinema Hebron, for which we began cleaning up the future movie theater’s site in Tel Rumeida  YAS also educates young Palestinians in nonviolent resistance.

Facebook event for Friday, Oct. 21, Oakland

Weebly calendar with other Nor. Cal. (and Rutgers, NJ) dates:

Oct. 19, Sacramento

Oct. 20, Santa Rosa

Oct. 21, Oakland

Oct. 22 and 23, Santa Cruz

Oct. 24, San Francisco

Oct. 25, Rutgers, NJ

Two more reports-back about July’s
“Occupation is not our Judaism” delegation

The July delegation to Hebron, Bethlehem and the south Hebron Hills of 45 people was organized by the Center for Jewish Nonviolence. I have two reports-back coming up in November:

Nov. 6, 4 to 6 pm
Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave. Piedmont
The Center for Jewish Nonviolence is partnering with Kehilla to create a west coast hub for CJNV organizing. This event is a fundraiser with a presentation by three of the four local members of this summer’s delegation plus Kehilla member Nikki Sachs who was on CJNV’s first trip.

This is a fundraiser for CJNV, so come prepared to donate as generously as possible, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Nov. 13, 2 to 4 pm
East Bay Peace Action Annual Gathering
St. Paul’s Towers, 2nd Floor, Fred Weaver Residence Center
100 Bay Place (near 27th and Harrison), Oakland
East Bay Peace Action contributed to my travel fund for the July trip, and I was honored and pleased to be asked to give a report on the delegation in order to receive their support.

IN THE MEANTIME, a few other events and items worth noting:

GLOBAL SUKKOT AGAINST DEMOLITIONS
ongoing now through October 23
The Center for Jewish Nonviolence has compiled an educational packet which includes background information about the campaign and the villages, special Sukkot rituals that speak out against demolition, and materials you can print out and put up in your sukkah. Host an event with your community to teach and learn about the policies of displacement that threaten these communities and the inspiring campaigns of resistance that they are engaged in.

Keep updated about Global Sukkot Against Demolitions activities by following #GlobalSukkotAgainstDemolition on Facebook and Twitter, and by following the Four Villages Campaign, All That’s Left, Center for Jewish Nonviolence and Haqel pages.

WOMEN’S BOAT TO GAZA COMMANDEERED ILLEGALLY BY ISRAELI NAVY IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS:
Please continue to follow their work in Facebook and websites:

• https://www.facebook.com/Womens-Boat-to-Gaza-US-Section-996595507080925/
• https://wbg.freedomflotilla.org/

An extensive description of the Women’s Boat to Gaza can be found in Ann Wright’s article “Women’s Boat to Gaza Participants See the Israeli-Imposed Perpetual Darkness on Gaza”

TONIGHT IN OAKLAND (NOT BERKELEY AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED)
ALI ABUNIMAH, EDITOR AND FOUNDER OF ELECTRONIC INTIFADA
October 18, 7:00 pm
First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland
This is a benefit for Middle East Children’s Alliance. More info is on their website.

PROFILES IN ABOLITION: STRONG COMMUNITIES BEYOND POLICING…a Critical Resistance event featuring Art//Performance//Books//Conversation
Friday, November 4, Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland 94612
5:30 Happy Hour and Food; 7:00 Event
$10 to $20 suggested donation/no one turned away for lack of funds

—

“Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French…And now a word to the Jews in Palestine. I have no doubt that they are going about it the wrong way. They can settle in Palestine only by the goodwill of the Arabs…As it is, they are co-sharers with the British in despoiling a people who have done no wrong to them…According to the accepted canons of right and wrong, nothing can be said against the Arab resistance in the face of overwhelming odds.”
-Mahatma Gandhi, 1938