By Sandra Zylberman
As someone who marched against the Vietnam War, peace has always been uppermost in my particular idea of tikkun olam. Without peace, how can healing truly happen?
Israel, then and now, has been a nation in search of peace. And even those, like me, who are an ocean away can feel helpless and overwhelmed by the task of bringing peace to a region so constrained by its historical struggles.
I found J Street over 10 years ago in a small meeting at a synagogue on Park Heights Avenue. The organization introduced itself as created to advocate within the Jewish American community for peace and the pursuit of a peaceful two-state solution. This was to be achieved by stressing the importance of diplomacy as we lobbied the U.S. government. That mission has not changed.
My own path to J Street was circuitous and not one of a Zionist in search of a place to park my love of Israel. I did not grow up in a Zionist household, and my first trip to Israel came as a result of a friend’s invitation to travel with her after college. We spent over two months there and stayed with my cousins and hers. My many cousins have been there for decades before the founding of the Israel and helped found the national bus company and other institutions.
What I discovered was a marvelous country where I was not in the minority, where my cousins and their Arab neighbors lived next door to each other in peace and mutual respect. I felt like I was home.
Years later, I found another home with J Street. Earlier this year, I became the chapter chair of J Street Baltimore, and I am proud to say it is an important part of our nation’s biggest and most influential pro-Israel, pro-peace advocacy group. There are many voices that speak for the American Jewish community on the well-being of Israel, and I believe that lively and informed discussions are an essential part of a healthy, robust dialogue.
We prioritize human rights, democracy and peace, as stated in Israel’s Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, there are some in our community who have chosen to paint J Street as anti-Israel and pro-Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions. This could not be further from the truth.
We do not endorse the BDS movement, and we have a great love of Israel. Our love is the love of a family member concerned for the wellbeing of a close and troubled relative. Encouraging Israel to live up to its democratic ideals regarding human rights should not be controversial. Advocating for decent living conditions, such as clean water and electricity, for the residents of Gaza should not be controversial. Treating Palestinians humanely and allowing them to live in their homes without fear of eviction should not be controversial.
Sadly, we recently saw again the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas that resulted in the deaths of too many innocent lives on both sides of the conflict. This cycle of killing and retaliation has created a sense of despair that plays into the narrative that the situation is hopeless, beyond repair.
We must not forget that peace was achieved decades ago when another hopeless, deadly cycle between Egypt and Israel seemed insurmountable. The peace between Egypt and Israel has saved countless lives and helped to create stability in the region and security for the state of Israel.
J Street firmly believes that the Palestinian conflict is the biggest security risk Israel is currently facing. It can only be solved by Israelis and Palestinians living separately, without occupation or oppression, in their own nations free to pursue democracy, self-determination and a secure future.
In other words, two states for two peoples. It has become abundantly clear, no matter what those on the right in Israel and the United States are saying, that the status quo in Israel is not keeping Israelis safe. The evictions of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank, the restrictions on their movements and the violence brought by the encroaching right-wing settlers is not keeping Israelis safe.
Under these conditions, a peaceful, Jewish Israeli state cannot hold. We at J Street are working to see Israel return to its belief in the sacredness of all human life and the values instilled in us as Jews.
And there is another concern that has been identified and addressed by J Street, our belief in encouraging students and younger members of our Jewish community to lend their voices to the discussion of Israel’s actions. Through our J Street U organization, we have brought the future generation to the table as a commitment to maintaining a moral high ground in our pursuit of peace. It is imperative that we never lose sight of the importance of keeping the American Jewish community’s commitment to the safety and security of Israel alive through our children.
Thankfully, J Street, through its many years of hard work, is now in a great position to encourage the Biden administration to make achieving a two-state solution a top priority. Clearly, the time to act is now and I welcome you to join us in our pursuit of democracy, human rights and peace in our beloved Israel!
An Owings Mills resident, Sandra Zylberman is chair of J Street Baltimore.
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