Rabbinic Letter Against Israel’s Travel Ban

“A controversy for the sake of Heaven will have lasting value, but a controversy not for the sake of Heaven will not endure” (Pirkei Avot 5:17).

We, the undersigned rabbis, stand with our colleague, Rabbi Alissa Shira Wise, who was denied entry to Israel because of her support for the Palestinian civil society call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel. She had been travelling with two other Jews, a Christian, and a Muslim who were all members of an interfaith delegation to meet with Israeli and Palestinian nonviolent peace activists.

We hold diverse opinions on BDS. Even though many of us have substantive differences with Rabbi Wise and other rabbinic colleagues who support the BDS movement in some or all of its forms, we believe that the decision to bar Rabbi Wise from visiting Israel is anti-democratic and desecrates our vision of a diverse Jewish community that holds multiple perspectives.

Boycotts are a legitimate nonviolent tactic that have been used both in our own country and around the world in order to create justice for marginalized and oppressed communities. Whether we support boycott is a controversy for the sake of heaven. It endures because we struggle together and debate how we can create peace, justice, and equality for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

The land of Israel is steeped with religious meaning for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. As rabbis we are particularly conscious that Jews have been making pilgrimages to Eretz Yisrael for centuries; we understand the deep meaning that this holds, and we are outraged that the Israeli government would prohibit Rabbi Wise from entering. We are also painfully aware that many Palestinians have long been banned from entering the country to visit their own families.

Out of deep loyalty to members of our communities, congregations, and rabbinical associations who may also be barred from entering Israel in the future, we cannot remain silent.

Travelling to Israel in order to meet with Israelis and Palestinians provides all who care about the conflict an opportunity to learn from and share ideas with people across borders, to see all people as created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, and to explore how we can support all who are working to ensure justice and peace for all.

Add your name to the list of signers

List of Signers — Congregations and organizations listed for identification purposes only:

1. Rabbi Leora Abelson, Congregation Agudas Achim, Attleboro MA
2. Rabbi Susan Abramson, Temple Shalom Emeth, Burlington MA
3. Rabbi Renni Altman, HUC-JIR, Great Neck NY
4. Rabbi Alana Alpert, Congregation T’chiyah, Detroit MI
5. Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, Temple University, Philadelphia PA
6. Rabbi Benjamin Arnold, Beth Evergreen, Granby CO
7. Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Jerusalem ISRAEL
8. Dr. Caryn Aviv, Rabbinical Student, ALEPH, Denver CO
9. Rabbi Larry Bach, Judea Reform Congregation, Durham NC
10. Rabbi Lev Baesh, Kol HaLev, Austin TX
11. Rabbi Chava Bahle, Or Tzafon, Suttons Bay MI
12. Sarah Barasch-Hagans, Rabbinical Student, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
13. Benjamin Barer, Rabbinical Student, Hebrew College, Boston MA
14. Rabbi David Basior, Kadima Reconstructionist Community, Seattle WA
15. Rabbi David Dunn Bauer, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, New York NY
16. Rabbi Renee Bauer, Madison, WI
17. Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit-Halachmi, Hebrew Union College — Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati OH
18. Rabbi Philip J Bentley, Agudas Israel Congregation, Hendersonville NC
19. Rabbi Marjorie Berman, Clarks Summit PA
20. Rabbi Phyllis Berman, Spiritual Director, Philadelphia PA
21. Rabbi Kevin Bernstein, Philadelphia PA
22. Rabbi Haim Beliak, Los Angeles CA
23. Rabbi Joseph Berman, Silver Spring MD
24. Rabbi Rena Blumenthal, New Paltz NY
25. Rabbi Daniel Bogard Adath Israel, Cincinnati OH
26. Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton, Ottawa ON
27. Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav, Denver CO
28. Sarah Brammer-Shlay, Rabbinical Student, If Not Now, Philadelphia PA
29. Cantor Vera Broekhuysen, Temple Emanue-El of Haverhill, Haverhill MA
30. Rabbi Caryn Broitman, Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, Vineyard Haven MA
31. Rabbi Sharon Brous, IKAR, Los Angeles CA
32. Rabbi Shoshana Brown, Temple Beth El, Fall River MA
33. Rabbi Brumberg-Kraus, Wheaton College, Norton MA
34. Rabbi David Brusin, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Whitefish Bay WI
35. Rabbi Simcha Daniel Burstyn, Kibbutz Lotan ISRAEL
36. Rabbi Carol Caine, Albany CA
37. Rabbi Ian Chesir-Teran, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, Hannaton ISRAEL
38. Rabbi Howard A. Cohen, Congregation Shirat Hayam, Bennington VT
39. Rabbi Michael M. Cohen, Israel Congregation, Manchester Center VT
40. Rabbi Sandra Cohen, Denver CO
41. Rabbi Shahar Colt, Watertown MA
42. Rabbi Kathryn Cook, Chaplain Heart Hospital, Austin TX
43. Rabbi David J. Cooper, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Piedmont CA
44. Rabbi Meryl Crean, Glenside PA
45. Rachel Davidson, Rabbinical Student, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
46. Rabbi Michael Davis, Makom Shalom, Chicago IL
47. Rabbi Nate DeGroot, IKAR, Los Angeles CA
48. Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Bethesda MD
49. Rabbi Doris Dyen, Makom HaLev, Pittsburgh PA
50. David Eber, Rabbinical Student, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
51. Rabbi Judith Edelstein, D. Min, New York NY
52. Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Los Altos CA
53. Rabbi Bruce Elder, Congregation Hakafa, Glencoe IL
54. Dr. Rabbi Barat Ellman, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, New York NY
55. Rabbi Diane Elliot, Wholly Present, El Sobrante CA
56. Rabbi Andrew Vogel Ettin, Temple Israel, Salisbury NC
57. Rabbi Michael Edward Feinberg, Greater New York Labor Religion Coalition, New York NY
58. Rabbi Charles Feinberg, Interfaith Action for Human Rights, Washington DC
59. Rabbi Zev Hayyim-Feyer, Pomona CA
60. Rabbi Mark Hurvitz, Davka, New York NY
61. Rabbi Brian Field, Judaism Your Way, Denver CO
62. Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Congregation Nevei Kodesh, Boulder CO
63. Rabbi Nancy Flam, Northampton MA
64. Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari, Kol Tzedek Synagogue, Philadelphia PA
65. Laurie Franklin, Rabbinic Intern and Spiritual Leader, Har Shalom, Missoula MT
66. Rabbi Eli Freedman, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Philadelphia PA
67. Rabbi Dayle Friedman, Growing Older, Philadelphia PA
68. Rabbi John Friedman, Judea Reform Congregation, Durham NC
69. Rabbi Marsha Friedman, String of Pearls Congregation, Princeton NJ
70. Rabbi Shoshana Friedman, Temple Sinai, Brookline MA
71. Rabbi Joyce Galaski, Florence MA
72. Rabbi Jonah Geffen, Congregation Shaare Zedek, New York NY
73. Rabbi Ruth Gelfarb, Har HaShem, Boulder CO
74. Rabbi Everett Gendler, Emeritus, Phillips Academy, Andover MA
75. Rabbi Jeremy Gerber, Congregation Ohev Shalom, Wallingford PA
76. Rabbi Sherril Gilbert, Montreal QC
77. Rabbi Rosalind Glazer, Jerusalem ISRAEL
78. Rabbi Bob Gluck, University at Albany, Albany NY
79. Rabbi Shai Gluskin, Philadelphia PA
80. Rabbi Elisa Goldberg, Philadelphia PA
81. Rabbi Dan Goldblatt, Beth Chaim Congregation, Danville CA
82. Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg, Malkhut, Forest Hills NY
83. Rabbi Shelley Goldman, Indianapolis IN
84. Rabbi Monica Gomery, Chicago IL
85. Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman, BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy, Denver CO
86. Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Shomeret Shalom Global Congregation, Berkeley CA
87. Rabbi Lisa Grant, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, Brooklyn NY
88. Rabbi Laurie Green, Baltimore MD
89. Rabbi Hillel Greene, Newton MA
90. Rabbi David Greenstein, Congregation Shomrei Emunah, Montclair NJ
91. Rabbi Suzanne Griffel, Chicago IL
92. Miriam Grossman, Rabbinical Student, Brooklyn NY
93. Rabbi Salomon Gruenwald, Congregation HEA, Denver CO
94. Rabbi Maurice Harris, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College/Jewish Reconstructionist Communities, Philadelphia PA
95. Alicia Harris, Rabbinical Student, Cincinnati OH
96. Lindsey Healey-Pollack, Rabbinical Student, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York NY
97. Rabbi Reinhard Heydrich, Berlin GERMANY
98. Rabbi Linda Holtzman, Tikkun Olam Chavurah, Philadelphia PA
99. Rebecca Hornstein, Rabbinical Student, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
100. Rabbi Margaret Holub, Mendocino CA
101. Rabbi Geoff Huntting, Temple Sinai, Sarasota FL
102. Rabbi Jill Jacobs, T’ruah, New York NY
103. Rabbi Joshua Jacobs-Velde, Silver Spring MD
104. Rabbi Burt Jacobson, Kehilla Community Synagogue, El Sobrante CA
105. Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill, Tidewater Chavurah, Virginia Beach VA
106. Rabbi Marisa James, New York NY
107. Rabbi Beth Janus, Philadelphia PA
108. Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, New York NY
109. Rabbi Gary Karlin, Bloomfield CT
110. Ariana Katz, Rabbinical Student, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
111. Rabbi Joanna Katz, Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, New Paltz NY
112. Rabbi Hillel Katzir, Fort Collins CO
113. Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman, St. Paul MN
114. Rabbi Edward J. Klein, Humanist Jewish Congregation of Queens, Queens NY
115. Rabbi Jason Klein, New York NY
116. Lonnie Kleinman, Rabbinical Student, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
117. Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
118. Rabbi Elliot Kukla, Oakland CA
119. Rabbi Alan LaPayover, Philadelphia PA
120. Rabbi Michael Adam Latz, Shir Tikvah Congregation, Minneapolis MN
121. Joseph Laur, Rabbinical Student, Aleph Alliance, Wendell MA
122. Rabbi Adam Lavitt, Providence RI
123. Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein, Congregation Shir Shalom, Amherst NY
124. Rabbi Esther Lederman, Union for Reform Judaism, Washington DC
125. Rabbi Barry Leff, Jerusalem ISRAEL
126. Rabbi Michael Lerner, Berkeley CA
127. Rabbi Joshua Lesser, Congregation Bet Haverim, Atlanta GA
128. Rabbi Sarra Lev, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
129. Rabbi Sue E. Levy, Houston TX
130. Rabbi Yael Levy, Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia PA
131. Richard Levy, Rabbinical Student, Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles CA
132. Rabbi Annie Lewis, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
133. Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
134. Rabbi Jonathan Lipnick, New York NY
135. Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives, Brooklyn NY
136. Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley CA
137. Rabbi Jonathan Malino, Guilford College, Ottawa ON
138. Rabbi Shana Margolin, Monpelier VT
139. Rabbi Jeffrey Marker, Brooklyn NY
140. Rabbi Susan Marks, New College of Florida, Sarasota FL
141. Rabbi Noa Mazor, Jerusalem ISRAEL
142. Mimi Micner, Rabbinical Student, Boston MA
143. Rabbi Rim Meirowitz, Emeritus, Temple Shir Tikvah, Wayland MA
144. Rabbi Abby Michaleski, Temple Beth El, Hammonton NJ
145. Rabbi Tamara Miller, Temple Micah, Washington DC
146. Rabbi Diana Miller, Kehillat HaNahar, New Hope PA
147. Rabbi Kelilah Miller, Congregation Ohev Shalom, Philadelphia PA
148. Rabbi David Mivasair, Ahavat Olam Synagogue, Vancouver BC
149. Rabbi Linda Motzkin, Temple Sinai, Saratoga Springs, NY
150. Rabbi Gray Myrseth, Kehilla Community Synagogue, San Francisco CA
151. Rabbi Haviva Ner-David, Shmaya: A Mikveh for Mind, Body, and Soul, Hannaton ISRAEL
152. Rabbi Dev Noily, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Oakland CA
153. Rabbi David Paskin, Boca Raton FL
154. Salem Pearce, Rabbinical Student, Hebrew College, New York NY
155. Rabbi Barbara Penzner, Temple Hillel B’nai Torah, Boston MA
156. Rabbi Robin Podolsky, Cal State Long Beach, Los Angeles CA
157. Rabbi Marcia Prager, P’nai Or Jewish Renewal Congregation, Philadelphia PA
158. Rabbi Arnold Rachlis, University Synagogue, Irvine CA
159. Rabbi Tzipi Radonsky, The Society of the Vav, Beaufort SC
160. Rabbi Jonah Rank, Shaar Shalom, Halifax, NS
161. Rabbi Michael Ramberg, Philadelphia PA
162. Rabbi Victor Reinstein, Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue, Jamaica Plain MA
163. Mackenzie Reynolds, Rabbinical Student, Jew for Racial and Economic Justice, Brooklyn NY
164. Rabbi Moti Rieber, Kansas Interfaith Action, Overland Park KS
165. Lex Rofes, Rabbinical Student, Providence RI
166. Rabbi Brant Rosen, Tzedek Chicago, Chicago IL
167. Rabbi Derek Rosenbaum, CESJDS, Washington DC
168. Rabbi Arielle Rosenberg, Shir Tikvah, Minneapolis MN
169. Jessica Rosenberg, Rabbinical Student, Philadelphia PA
170. Ken Rosenstein, Rabbinical Student, Boston MA
171. Urit Rozenblit, Rabbinical Student, Poteach Shearim, Metula ISRAEL
172. Rabbi Jeff Roth, Awakened Heart Project, New Paltz NY
173. Rabbi Michael Rothbaum, Congregation Beth Elohim, Concord MA
174. Rabbi Ruhi Sophia Rubenstein, Temple Beth Israel, Eugene OR
175. Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben, Kehillat Israel, Pacific Palisades CA
176. Rabbi Jonathan Rubenstein, Temple Sinai, Saratoga Springs NY
177. Rabbi Michal Rubin, HaKerem of South Carolina, Columbia SC
178. Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Avodah, Evanston IL
179. Rabbi Gila Ruskin, Temple Adas Shalom, Havre de Grace MD
180. Rabbi Sonia Saltzman, Temple Ohabei Shalom, Brookline MA
181. Rabbi Regina Sandler-Phillips, Brooklyn NY
182. Rabbi Tamara Schagas, Jerusaelm ISRAEL
183. Rabbi Susan Shamash, Vancouver BC
184. Rabbi Jeffrey Schein, Minneapolis MN
185. Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz, Temple Bnai Israel, Willimantic CT
186. Rabbi Gerald Serotta, Chevy Chase MD
187. Rabbi Drorah Setel, Temple Emanu-el, Rochester NY
188. Rabbi Micah Shapiro, Philadelphia PA
189. Rabbi Jeremy D. Sher, Ha-Emek: Honest, Inclusive, Progressive Judaism, Silicon Valley CA
190. Jessica Shimberg, Rabbinical Student, The Little Minyan Kehilla, Columbus OH
191. Rabbi David Shneyer, Am Kolel, Rockville MD
192. Rabbi Hannah Tiferet Siegel, Hornby Island BC
193. Rabbi Susan Silverman, Second Nurture, Jerusalem ISRAEL
194. Rabbi Becky Silverstein, Pasadena CA
195. Rabbi Suzanne Singer, Riverside Temple Beth El, Riverside CA
196. Rabbi Ruth Sohn, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles CA
197. Rabbi Marc Soloway, Bonai Shalom, Boulder CO
198. Rabbi Robin Sparr, Temple Emanuel, Lowell MA
199. Rabbi Brent Spodek, Beacon Hebrew Alliance, Beacon NY
200. Rabbi Toba Spitzer, Newton MA
201. Rabbi Jacob Staub, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
202. Rabbi David Stein, Premium Judaica Editorial Services, Culver City CA
203. Rabbi Keith Stern, Temple Beth Avodah, Newton MA
204. Rabbi Steve Stroiman, Philadelphiha PA
205. Rabbi Shira Stutman, Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, Washington DC
206. Rabbi Louis Sutker, Victoria BC
207. Rabbi Elliott Tepperman, Bnai Keshet, Montclair NJ
208. Rabbi Lennard Thal, New York NY
209. Rabbi Barbara Thiede, Temple Or Olam, Concord NC
210. Dena Trugman, Rabbinical Student, Hebrew College, Boston MA
211. Rabbi David Vaisberg, Temple Emanu-El, Edison NJ
212. Rabbi Andrew Vogel, Temple Sinai, Brookline MA
213. Rabbi Brian Walt, West Tisbury MA
214. Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center, Philadelphia PA
215. Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
216. Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Philadelphia PA
217. Rabbi Lucia Pizarro Wehlen, Jewish Liberation Theology Institute, Hamilton ON
218. Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg, Philadelphia PA
219. Rabbi Simkha Weintraub, Brooklyn NY
220. Rabbi Michal Woll, Congregation Shir Hadash, Milwaukee WI
221. Rabbi Ora Weiss, Boston MA
222. Rabbi Rachel Weiss, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston IL
223. Rabbi Raysh Weiss, Shaar Shalom Synagogue, Halifax NS
224. Rabbi Zari Weiss, Kol NaNeshama, Seattle WA
225. Rabbi Ariann Weitzman, Bnai Keshet Reconstructionist Synagogue, Montclair NJ
226. Rabbi Nancy Wiener, New York NY
227. Rabbi Joseph Wolf, Havurah Shalom, Portland OR
228. Nora Woods, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia PA
229. May Ye, Rabbinical Student, Kol Tzedek, Philadelphia PA
230. Rabbi Barbara Zacky, Santa Monica CA
231. Rabbi David Zaslow, Havurah Shir Hadash, Ashland OR
232. Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia PA
233. Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman, Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, Madison WI
234. Rabbi Michael Zimmerman, Congregation Kehillat Israel, Lansing MI