We are Rabbis and Rabbinical students and at this moment of great moral reckoning, we are speaking out with one voice. 

Those of us grieving both Israeli and Palestinian loved ones this week know there is no military solution to our horror. 

We know that many Jews in our communities are feeling confused, afraid, and despairing over the events that began on October 7th.

Together with Jews in Israel, we are in deep grief over the 1200 Israelis who were brutally killed by Hamas. 

We are terrified for the over 100 Israeli hostages – adults, children and infants – who remain in captivity.

However, the U.S. and Israeli governments are using our grief to justify massive violence directed against the people of Gaza.

As we speak, over 45,192 Palestinians have been killed, including 17,492 children

According to Defense for Children International, the Israeli military is killing one child in Gaza every 15 minutes.

Scores of people are still buried in the rubble with no one able to rescue them.

Israel has cut off all access to electricity, water and medicine – and now Gaza is on the verge of running out of fuel. Threatening the lives of 2.2 million people. 

In the face of this terrifying, violence, we say no! 

We uplift the Torah value of v’chai bahem– live by Torah. Torah should be a source of life, not death. 

As Jews, as Rabbis, as human beings we are pleading with our communities to rise through our despair and our grief to save lives.

As Americans, we call upon our leaders to stop supporting and enabling this nightmare 

We call upon all Americans to call their representatives and demand that they act immediately 

Our tradition is an Eytz Hayim – a tree of life.  Life, not death, are its fruits. 

We ask you to join our calls  for a complete ceasefire now. 

Ceasefire means no more bombing

Ceasefire means no ground war

Ceasefire means all Israeli hostages must be released now.

Ceasefire means immediate engagement by the international community toward a just and lasting peace in Israel-Palestine. 

Ceasefire is the only way to prevent more death and destruction. 

All human beings are made b’tzelem Elohim – in the image of the Divine.  All human life is sacred and precious.

Too many precious lives are being killed. 

The voice of the Jewish people, now more than ever, must be clear and united: 

Never Again is Now. 

Never again for anyone. 

Not in our names. 

Ceasefire now!

Numbers of those killed updated last on 12/19/24. Source: Al Jazeera

Statement was released October 20, 2023 with 80 signatories. We are welcoming new signatories ongoingly.

Signatories (376)

Rinat Abastado, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Leora Abelson

Kohenet Rae Abileah

Hadar Ahuvia, Rabbinical Student 

Abigail Allen, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Katy Allen

Rabbi Alana Alpert

Rabbi Doug Alpert

Rabbi Rebecca Alpert

Rabbi Steven Altarescu

Rabbi Joseph Angel-Field

Rabbi Arik Ascherman*

Rabbi Tsurah August

Rabbi Susan Averbach

Rabbi Dubi Avigur*

Rabbi Caryn Aviv

Rabbi Esther Azar

Rabbi Chava Bahle

Rabbi Benjamin Barnett

Rabbi Aya Baron

Noa Baron, Rabbinical Student

Anita Josefa Barzman, MD, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi David Basior

Rabbi David Dunn Bauer

Rabbi Jess Belasco

Aaron Berc, Rabbinical Student

Claire Bergen, Rabbinical Student

Kohenet Cece Berkovic

Rabbi Allan Berkowitz

Rabbi Donna Berman

Rabbi Marjorie Berman

Rabbi Phyllis Berman

Rabbi Yosef Berman

Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein

Kohenet Molly Block

Rabbi Noah Rubin Blose

Rabbi Liz Bolton

Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav

Rabbi Faryn Borella

Rabbi Lexie Botzum

Rabbi Sarah Brammer-Shlay

Rabbi Stephanie Breitsman

Rabbi Hannah Brody

Rabbi Caryn Broitman

Caitlin Bromberg, Rabbinical Student

Lucy Brown, Rabbinical Student

Kohenet Shoshana A Brown

Rabbi Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus

Rabbi Josh Buchin

Kohenet Michèle Burger

Rabbi Meredith Cahn

Kohenet Sarit Cantor

Rabbi Seth Castleman

Rabbi Donna Sisselman Cephas

Rabbi Arié Chark

Rabbi Joshua Chasan

Kohenet Hilary Chedvah

Nora Chernov, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Ian Chesir-Teran*

Rabbi Geoffrey Claussen

Rabbi Abby Cohen

Rabbi Aryeh Cohen

Rabbi Debrah Anne Cohen

Eva Cohen, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Tamara Cohen

Rachmiel Cohen-Wallach, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Hillel Cohn

Rabbi Shahar Colt

Rabbi David Cooper

Anna Coufal, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Meryl Crean

Kohenet Zoh Lev Cunningham

Rabbi Rachel Davidson

Rabbi Dr. John Davidson

Willemina Davidson, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Rachel Davidson

Rabbi Dr. John Davidson

Max Davis, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Michael Davis

Rabbi Xava De Cordova

Rabbi Nikki DeBlosi, PhD

Rabbi Nate DeGroot

Daniel Delgado, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Eli Dewitt

Alex Dillon, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Matt Dreffin

Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan

Rabbi Douglas E. Krantz

Jake Ehrlich, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Amy Eilberg

Rabbi Jeffrey Eisenstat

Sarina Elenbogen-Siegel, Rabbinical Student

David Elitzer, Rabbinical Student

Cantor Laura Elkeslassy

Rabbi Juliet Elkind-Cruz

Rabbi Diane Elliot

Rabbi Dr. Barat Ellman

Rabbi Sue Levy Elwell

Kohenet Rebekah Erev

Lievnath Faber, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Michael Feinberg

Rabbi Fern Feldman

Rebecca M Feldman, Rabbinical Student

Josie Felt, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Zev-Hayyim Feyer

Rabbi Brian Field

Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife

Rabbi Tirzah Firestone

Emma Fischer, Rabbinical Student

Julie Fishbach, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Nicole Fix

Kohenet Hannah S Forman

Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari

Rabbi Koach Frazier

Rabbi Zach Fredman

Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman

Rabbi Ruth Gais

Rabbi Miriam Geronimus

Rabbi Sarah Bracha Gershuny

MJ Gilbert, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Grace Gleason

Rabbi Joey Glick

Rabbi Bob Gluck

Kohenet Ella Gluckman

Rabbi Shai Gluskin

Rabbi Elisa Goldberg

Rabbi Aviva Goldberg

Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg

Rabbi Eva Goldfinger

Rabbi Lizz Goldstein

Rabbi Mónica Gomery

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb

Kohenet Rayna Grace

Art Grand, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Robert Green

Rabbi Julie Greenberg

Rabbi Michelle Greenfield 

Rabbi Genevieve Greinetz

Rabbi Suzanne Griffel

Rabbi Miriam Grossman

Rabbi Chaya Gusfield

Simcha Halpert-Hanson, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Denise Handlarski

Kohenet Or Har-Gil

Rabbi Rhoda J Harrison

Rabbi Patti Haskell

Rabbi Lindsey Healey-Pollack

Becca Heisler, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Eli Herb

Rabbi Cecilia Herzfeld-Stern

Rabbi Jay Heyman

Rabbi Moshe Heyn

Melissa Hoffman, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Linda Holtzman

Rabbi Margaret Holub

Rabbi Rebecca Hornstein

Rabbi Esther Hugenholtz

Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson

Elizheva Hurvich, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin

Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde

Rabbi Josh Jacobs-Velde

Rabbi Devorah Jacobson

Kohenet Sharon Jaffe

Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill

Rabbi Amita Jarmon

Kohenet Elana June

Kohenet D’vorah K’lilah

Rabbi Andy Kahn

Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster

Rabbi Ariana Katz

Rabbi Joanna Katz

Kohenet Orev Katz

Rabbi Eliana Kayelle

Rabbi Irwin Keller

Kohenet Jo Kent Katz

Adam Kersch, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Rachel Kipnes

Rabbi Lori Klein

Rabbi Darren Kleinberg

Rabbi Lonnie Kleinman

Jayce Koester, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Debra Kolodny

Arielle Korman, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Douglas E. Krantz

Cohen Kraus, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Matthew Kraus

Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer

Rabbi Jeremy Kridel

Alana Krivo-Kaufman, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Elliot Kukla

Noa Kattler Kupetz, Rabbinical Student

Kohenet Nomy Lamm

Kohenet Yedida Landis

Rabbi Armin Langer

Rabbi Rachmiel Langer

Rabbi Alan LaPayover

Rabbi Arielle Lekach-Rosenberg

Kohenet Cantor Rebecca Lemus

Rabbi Alexandre Leone

Rabbi Noam Lerman

Rabbi Michael Lerner, z”l

Kohenet Rabbi Ketzirah Lesser

Jeffrey Levy, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Yael Levy

Ana Levy-Lyons, Rabbinical Student

Kohenet Luna Liebling

Rabbi Mordechai Liebling

Hannah Limov, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Paige Lincenberg

Noah Dor Lind, Rabbinical Student

Savannah Lipner, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Ellen Lippmann

Marni Loffman, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi SAM Luckey

Shosh Madick, Rabbinical Student

Emma Mair, Rabbinical Student

David Magazine Malamud, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Nina Mandel

Rabbi Chel Mandell

Rabbi Bryan Mann

Rabbi Anna Maranta, haKohenet

Kohenet Traci Marx

Kohenet Annie Matan

Cantor Caitlin McLaughlin

Rabbi Margot Meitner

Cantor Harold Messinger

Rabbi Sarah Messinger

Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer

Rabbi Rachel Grant Meyer

Kohenet Dori Midnight

Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva

Rabbi Jeremy Milgrom*

Elisheva Miller, Rabbinical Student

Léah Miller, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi David Mivasair

Rabbi Malka Packer Monroe

Kohenet Sara Moon**

Rabbi Lee Moore

Rabbi Adam Morris

Kohenet Sarah Tziporah Moser, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Lizzie Horne Mozes

Rabbi Bronwen Mullen

Rabbi Gray Myrseth

Rabbi Steve Nathan

Rabbi Josh Nelson

Eli Newell, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Dev Noily

Rabbi Leah Novick

Rabbi Leah Nussbaum

Grace Oedel, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Hannah Orden

Molly Paul, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Alexis Pearce

Rabbi Salem Pearce

Lesley Pearl, Rabbinical Student

Sasha Perry, Rabbinical Student

Altari Sunra Peterson, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Steven Philp

Sivan Piatigorsky-Roth, Rabbinical Student

Elya Piazza, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Lucía Pizarro

Rabbi Robin Podolsky

Rabbi Ariel Pollak*

Gabe Pont, Rabbinical Student

Anne Prusky, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Michael Ramberg

Rabbi Sandra Razieli

Caroline Reiter, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Max Reynolds

Rabbi Bec Richman

Rabbi Moti Rieber

Rabbi Lex Rofeberg

Jen Roitman, Rabbinical Student

Adira Rosen, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Brant Rosen

Raechel Rosen, Cantorial Student

Rabbi Marcey Rosenbaum

Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg

Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg 

Rabbi Ken Rosenstein

Aaron Rotenberg, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Jeff Roth

Rabbi Michael Rothbaum

Sarah Rovin, Rabbinical Student

Kohenet Yepeth Perla Rubin

Rabbi Gila Ruskin

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg

Rabbi Jan Salzman

Rabbi Regina Sandler-Phillips

Micah Sandman, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Lynna Schaefer

Rabbi Brian Yosef Schachter-Brooks

Kohenet Lev Shir Schlosberg

Molly Schulmann, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Aliza Schwartz

Rabbi Amanda Schwartz

Rabbi Aliza Schwartz

Lena Sclove, Rabbinical Student

Cantor Lisa B. Segal

Anna Sekulich, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Drorah Setel

Rabbi Micah Shapiro

Kohenet Riv Shapiro

Kohenet Avra Shapiro

Rabbi Rhonda Shapiro-Rieser

Rabbi Jenna Shaw

Yoav Shemer-Kunz, Rabbinical Student**

Rabbi Jeremy Sher

Rabbi David Shneyer

Rabbi Misha Shulman

Kohenet Pleasance Shamirah Silicki

Tzvi Silver, Rabbinical Student

Rakhel Silverman-Gitin, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Becky Silverstein

Rabbi Mia Simring

Rabbi Dr. Nachshon Siritsky, MSSW, BCC

Yoni Slater, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Asher Sofman

Rabbi Lily Solochek

Rabbi Louisa Rachel Solomon

Rabbi Jon Sommer

Rabbi C.B. Souther

Chaim Spaulding, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Toba Spitzer

Rabbi Jacob Staub

Rabbi Abby Stein

Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman

Rabbi Jamie Stolper

Rabbi Ariel Stone

Ilana Sumka, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Daniel Swartz

Sue Swartz, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Laurie Hahn Tapper

Rabbi Barbara Thiede

Rivka Nechemya Thrope, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Shifrah Tobacman

Rabbi Ariel Tovlev

Kohenet Ri J. Turner

Jaz Twersky, Rabbinical Student

Kohenet Ariel Vegosen

Tyler Vile, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Jericho Vincent

Erin Viola, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Burt Visotzky

Rabbi Brian Walt

Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev

Rabbi Arthur Waskow

Mark Weber, Rabbinical Student

Jesse Weil, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg

Leah Weinstein, Rabbinical Student

Ami Weintraub, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Zari Weiss

Kohenet Ari Wharton

Rabbi Kelly Whitehead

Rabbi David Wirtschafter

Rabbi Alissa Wise

Rabbi Joseph Wolf

Miryam Wolfson, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi Michal Woll

Rabbi Nora Woods

Rabbi Bridget Wynne

Lori Ayela Wynters, Rabbinical Student

Rabbi May Ye

Rabbi Moshe Yehudai*

Rabbi Lara Haft Yom-Tov**

Rabbi Naomi Zaslow

Rabbi Cat Zavis

Kohenet Deborah Zavos

Rabbi Pesach-Lev Zeitz

Rabbi Reuben Zellman

Rabbi Simcha Zevit

Rabbi Shawn Zevit

Rabbi Jill Zimmerman

Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman

Rabbi Rebecca Shua Zlochower

Rabbi Sara Zober

Rabbi Rain Zohav

Cantor Chaplain Michael J Zoosman