Published: 11 June 2019
Last updated: 4 March 2024
A CONGREGATION OF 180 people that meets in a church basement, Tzedek Chicago’s “Core Values” declare that it’s non-Zionist. In practice, though, that means an explicit emphasis on advocating for Palestinian rights and criticising Israel’s conduct.
Those themes were woven throughout its service last Yom Kippur — from the rabbi’s sermon to the Torah service to the liturgy itself.
Discussing the biblical story of Jacob and Esau, a speaker said that Esau, the scorned older brother, experienced a “personal Nakba,” the name Palestinians use for the catastrophe they commemorate on the anniversary of Israel’s independence.
The sermon was about a recent trip to Gaza. For the martyrology, a section of the service that traditionally commemorates Jews who died for their faith, the synagogue instead memorialised Gazans who died in clashes with Israel on the border.
And in addition to atoning for personal misdeeds, the congregants collectively beat their chests to repent for Israel’s actions.
“For the sin we have committed before you for blockading 1.8 million Gazans inside an open-air prison,” the congregation recited. “For the sin we have committed before you for wedding sacred Jewish spiritual tradition to political nationalism and militarism.”
Tzedek Chicago was born of a desire to escape all of that. But the synagogue doesn’t disengage from Israeli-Palestinian discourse. It goes in the opposite direction. There are no flags at the front of the sanctuary, and instead of celebrating Israeli Independence Day, they commemorate Nakba Day.
FULL STORY This Chicago synagogue is a home for non-Zionist Jews (JTA)
Photo: Rabbi Brant Rosen of Tzedek Chicago once was a liberal Zionist before advocating a boycott of Israel (Ben Sales)
