From the desk of Rabbi Kinberg
I do not want to discuss stressful topics at Shabbat services, especially Friday night.
Unless it is a special Shabbat service dedicated to empowering people and uplift on a certain topic.
Shabbat morning, we do discuss challenging issues and the woes and worries of the world through the Torah portion, drawing out ancient wisdom for today. But Friday night is a time of peace, calm, renewal, and joy. And to feel filled up and empowered.
I want to create a sanctuary at Kol Ami for our souls. A place of community, a space to be able to breathe as a Jew, a space to connect to the ancient songs and prayers of our people, our ancestors. I will not be focused on the week's horrors on Friday nights. Or even on Shabbat morning. I will be focused on creating a sanctuary for our Jewish souls. But this does not mean I should or could stay silent on the critical issues of our day. I have to meet at the moment. My ancestors and grandchildren demand that of me as a rabbi and a teacher to the Jewish people.
Therefore, I do want to address this moment here. In this virtual space.
As your rabbi, I am obligated to speak to issues that negatively impact not just the Jewish people but also all of humanity and the planet itself. That is part of the work of a religious and spiritual leader.
This is not about politics. It is about our values and our engagement in the sacred work of Tikkun Olam. As Jews, we are healers and repairers of our broken world, in thought and deed. We are here to help, not to hurt humanity. And we are on a sacred mission.
This moment is unlike any other in Jewish history. And I would like to speak to the moment, here and now.
Jews are not colonizers. But Americans are.
Jews fighting to protect themselves and demanding the right to return and thrive in our indigenous homeland is not colonization. It is one of the greatest anti-colonial triumphs in world history.
Israel is not a colonial enterprise. But the USA is.
Trump and his friends exist within the colonizer framework. Therefore, so do all of us Americans. This is OUR government. The paternalistic attitude (from the American right and left), the desire to capitalize on the suffering of the poor and displaced, the taking "ownership" of land that belongs to another people...all of this is part of the legacy of colonialism. We live in a colonizer nation. I live within a few minutes to a few hours of a half dozen Native American reservations. We stole their land, stole their children, gave them diseases, destroyed their traditional ways of life, and forced them to speak English and practice Christianity. If anyone knows how to colonize it, it is Americans. We must stop this as American Jews.
As a rabbi and Zionist committed to the ethical teachings of Judaism, I am profoundly opposed to President Donald Trump’s recent proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip and relocate its Palestinian inhabitants to neighboring countries. This plan, which international leaders and human rights organizations have widely condemned as a form of ethnic cleansing and a violation of international law, stands in stark contrast to the core values of our Jewish faith.
Judaism teaches the sanctity of human life and the imperative to pursue justice and peace. The forced displacement of the Gazan population and the imposition of foreign control, American control, over their homeland violate these principles. America has no business in Gaza, and Israel does not own Gaza either. It is not a problem to be solved; it is a place where humans live, and babies are born daily.
As Jews, we are obligated to those Gazan babies born yesterday and today. The Prophet Isaiah reminds us to “seek justice, encourage the oppressed” (Isaiah 1:17), and the Torah commands, “You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21). These teachings compel us to stand against actions that would cause harm to vulnerable populations and undermine their rights.
The dream of transforming Gaza into a prosperous region cannot be achieved through coercion and displacement. True peace and prosperity arise from mutual respect, dialogue, and upholding human rights. Israel can live in safety and peace with its neighbors. But not with the "help" of Trump. We must work towards solutions that honor the dignity of all peoples involved, fostering coexistence rather than division. Hamas is our enemy--the Gazan people are not. They deserve the world community to help rebuild their society rooted in democracy and co-existence with Israel.
I call upon all of us to reject proposals that perpetuate injustice and to instead pursue avenues that align with the ethical imperatives of our tradition: to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Only through such commitment can we hope to achieve a lasting and just peace in the region. As American Jews, we have a vital role in speaking up for the self-determination of both Palestinians and Israelis. Both deserve a place to call home on this sacred land.