From:
To: City Council
Subject: Ceasefire resolution
Date: Friday, February 16, 2024 11:38:06 PM
Esteemed Sebastopol City Council,
As a Jewish community member, I would like to express my support for your fair-minded ceasefire resolution proposal. I think it is neutral without being too watered down. I appreciate the effort by both local community members and the Council alike to work together to craft this resolution.
I am also aware that you will probably be harangued by a small minority of the community, especially those organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council, which is an outside organization sowing fear and bitterness in our community.
I know far more members of my Jewish community than not, who are in support of a ceasefire resolution- in fact, many of whom would support one that articulated stronger terms in regards to calling for the end of Israeli apartheid and recognize that what is happening right now is textbook genocide. We are appalled this is being carried out in our name and saddened by our fellow Jewish brothers and sisters who are so inundated by their own fear and myopic views that they argue against such neutral resolutions like this one.
I also know that the “division” and “hate speech” that many people of the opposition blindly claim will be the result of resolutions of this type are being organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council. The JCRC has been persistently trying to engage our community in fear-mongering, telling our Jewish community that we should be terrified and this, mobilize because of how these resolutions will foster an unsafe environment for us if we don’t.
I have encountered a few folks with this mindset but the reality is: I have never felt so connected and unified with my community. The relationships I have developed since the beginning of these atrocities unfolding are the one silver lining I have from this nightmare. I have met beautiful, inspiring Palestinians, Arabs, peace loving Jews, young people, elders, queer folks, people across different class levels, etc that I have worked with and exchanged stories with that have truly re-invigorated my sense of humanity and hope in this very dark time. We have worked together and learned from one another and I cherish the lessons I have learned and relationships I have developed, above all, with my Palestinian brothers and sisters.
I’m truly sorry that some of my Jewish community are so inundated by their sense of fear and the deep-rooted trauma they have but at the same time, with grace and love, we *cannot* allow more people to continue to be killed, just to protect a fantasy of safety for us.
Safety will come with peace, which comes with liberation and equality.
Not with bombs.
This is obviously not an easy thing for us to all be confronting but it is times like this in history that require us to meet the moment with our full humanity.
Thank you for your courage and integrity,
Jordan Byrd