July 10, 2009
Global News Service of the Jewish People

Rabbis start fast for Gaza

http://jta.org/news/article/2009/07/10/1006443/rabbis-start-fast-for-gaza


WASHINGTON (JTA) -- An ad hoc group of rabbis is organizing a monthly
communal fast to protest Israel's actions in Gaza.


Called Ta'anit Tzedek -- Jewish Fast for Gaza http://fastforgaza.net/,
the water-only fast will take place on the third Thursday of every
month from sunrise to sunset, with the first fast scheduled for July
16. Participants also are being asked sign onto a statement at the
group's Web site and donate money they save on food to the Milk for
Preschoolers Campaign sponsored by American Near Eastern Refugee Aid,
a campaign fighting malnutrition among Gazan preschool children
http://www.anera.org/ourWork/healthRelief/motherChild.php


The 13 rabbis behind the fast -- led by Rabbis Brian Walt, former
executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights-North America and Brant
Rosen of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston, Ill.
-- said that the project is based in Jewish tradition, in which "a
communal fast is held in times of crisis both as an expression of
mourning and a call to repentance."


Organizers said the fast has four goals: calling for a lifting of the
Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since Hamas'
electoral victory in early 2006; providing humanitarian and
development aid to the people of Gaza; calling on Israel, the United
States and the international community to negotiate with Hamas to end
the blockade; and urging the U.S. government to "vigorously engage
both Israelis and Palestinans toward a just and peaceful settlement of
the conflict."