Night Eight: Building a Brighter Future
Rabbi Andrea London reflects, "May the glow of tonight’s fully lit chanukiah compel us to work together to increase holiness by illuminating our world with the light of justice."
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J Street organizes pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans to promote US policies that embody our deeply held Jewish and democratic values and that help secure the State of Israel as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people. We believe that only a negotiated resolution agreed to by Israelis and Palestinians can meet the legitimate needs and national aspirations of both peoples.
Working in the American political system, in the Jewish community and with others with whom we share core values, we advocate for diplomacy-first American leadership and policies that advance justice, equality, peace, and democracy in Israel, in the wider region and in the United States as well.
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J Street has assembled a raft of immediate, enduring actions President Biden can take before he leaves office to help end the hostage crisis, get aid into Gaza, push back on right-wing extremists and blunt the impact of the Trump-Netanyahu agenda.
Watch our introductory video to learn more about our values and our pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy work in pursuit of a future of peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians.
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We urge senators to continue to make the safe return of the hostages a high-priority issue in all meetings with the Biden administration and other interlocutors, and to strongly consider the impact that any US policies and actions may have on the safety of hostages.
Rabbi Andrea London reflects, "May the glow of tonight’s fully lit chanukiah compel us to work together to increase holiness by illuminating our world with the light of justice."
“We light again because we won’t stop loving Israel into security and peace, which means lifting the neighboring Palestinians into a peace worth the risk,” writes Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson.
“The Maccabees showed that our perseverance, even in the face of the most daunting obstacles, is always the key to our liberation,” reflects Rabbi Ken Chasen.
“Let us gather around the fifth candle tonight and reflect on the courage it takes to stand up to oppressive forces. To empire. To those who seek to make you small. Or to disappear,” shares Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg.
Palestinian Authority, Seeking Gaza Role, Takes On West Bank Militants, The Washington Post
In Jenin, the authority, which is backed by the West, has launched its largest and most heavily armed operation in its three decades to thwart a growing West Bank insurgency against the Palestinian leadership and Israeli occupation. It’s trying to prove it can manage security in the limited areas of the West Bank it controls as it seeks to also govern a postwar Gaza Strip.
Some Gaps Have Narrowed in Elusive Gaza Ceasefire Deal, Sides Say, Reuters
A Palestinian official familiar with the talks said while some sticking points had been resolved, the identity of some of the Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel in return for hostages had yet to be agreed, along with the precise deployment of Israeli troops in Gaza. His remarks corresponded with comments by the Israeli diaspora minister, Amichai Chikli, who said both issues were still being negotiated. Nonetheless, he said, the sides were far closer to reaching agreement than they have been for months.