Core Principles
We are guided by these principles, and seek to embed them in all the work we do
Core Principle 1
We believe in relational organizing, not transactional coalition building
We believe in relational organizing, not transactional coalition building. Relationships are two-way streets and are imperfect. Relationships allow space for failure so long as there is genuine accountability and commitment to growth.
Core Principle 2
We believe engagement requires listening and understanding
We believe productive engagement across communal lines requires hearing each other's voices and understanding each other's concerns, as they exist today, in order to build and/or restore trust.
Core Principle 3
We seek to create understanding within and about our community
We seek to ensure our community understands the concerns of others and communicates our concerns in ways that can be better understood by those who don't know our full history.
Core Principle 4
We believe in fighting antisemitism wherever it occurs
While the immediate threat antisemitism poses is not equal in all spaces, we believe American Jews, and our allies, must fight against the forces of antisemitism regardless of which political party or community it comes from. Further, we must distinguish between a lack of awareness or understanding and actual anti-Jewish bigotry, and respond accordingly.
Core Principle 5
We believe fighting antisemitism requires fighting white supremacy & vice versa
We believe our community must fight against white supremacy in America. While antisemitism isn't limited to one community, we must recognize that antisemitism is an animating force of modern white supremacist movements, that it presents a uniquely dangerous threat, and that as white supremacy rises so too will antisemitism. Moreover, we must stand up for all who may be attacked by these forces, including those in the Muslim, Black, Latinx, Indigenous (Native American), and LGBTQIA communities. We should recognize many Jews identify as part of these communities as well.
Core Principle 6
We do not tolerate demonization or dismissal of anyone's lived reality
We do not tolerate any attempt to demonize, delegitimize, or erase the narratives, history, trauma, and lived reality of marginalized and historically targeted communities.
Core Principle 7
We reject the notion that one must either support Israel or Palestine
We reject the notion that one must either support Israel or Palestine. We long for a future that honors and protects the dignity, national aspirations, and individual and collective wellbeing of Palestinians and Israelis. The very foundation of a mutually agreeable solution requires honoring the trauma, needs and rights of both peoples.
Core Principle 8
We approach this work with humility
We recognize that the status quo creates structural barriers which deny Palestinians dignity, safety, and many fundamental rights. And, we recognize the real, present, and persistent threats to the life of Jews in Israel and around the world. We understand that fully reconciling these inherent contradictions is incredibly difficult.
