hali-freakin-luya

Article: Reform youth: Condemn civilian killings
From: JTA (www.jta.org

Close to 50 Reform youth leaders urged the movement to address the deaths of civilians on both sides in the Israel-Hezbollah war.
“We applaud the Union for condemning Hezbollah’s and Hamas’ violent and terrifying rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, who have been put in grave danger by the ongoing conflict,” said the letter delivered Tuesday to leaders of the Union for Reform Judaism. But it adds: “We urge the Union to likewise condemn the Israeli Defense Force’s killing of unarmed Lebanese and Palestinian civilians, as well as its premeditated targeting of civilian infrastructure, which has put additional lives at risk and hampered relief efforts.”

The 48 student leaders, who represent the movement’s college-age and high-school-age programs, think their concerns have been shunted aside.

“As is appropriate for our Reform tradition, we embrace a diversity of viewpoints,” they write. “Unfortunately, we feel that our voice has been excluded from Union statements and materials, and we ask for inclusion.”


I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to see this - finally at least some of the Reform movements leaders are taking and alternative stance other than staunch and unconditional support for all of Israel's actions - and it is getting press attention. I am not saying they are right or wrong (im not so interested in the political talk these days but if you wanna get into it shoot me an email and maybe i will discuss)...but it is certainly refreshing to see people shaking it up a little.

Question for the day: Is it hard to be republican and or conservative and be active in the social action branch of the Reform movement (www.rac.org)? The Reform movement period?

Hebrew amazingness of the day: sovel = suffering
sovlanut = tolerance

same root? curious, no? is this a "thin line" example here?