Fellow Lovers of Israel say NO to Ethnic Cleansing

As a proud Jew, ordained Cantor, and lifelong lover of Israel who joined the March for Life in Washington DC in the wake of the horrific Hamas terror attacks of Oct. 7th 2023, it was a non-starter for me to join over 350 Jewish leaders and celebrities in signing my name to the above full-page advertisement that appeared in the New York Times on February 13th, 2025.

True love involves being able to engage in constructive critique and to help loved ones see their blindspots, as well as being able to admit when one is wrong. It includes holding the line on basic, foundational values, not the least of which is an inherent aversion to the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, as proposed by Donald Trump. It means calling a spade a spade and holding Israel to account for its human rights record.

I therefore see my colleagues and my work at “Jewish People Say ‘No’ to Ethnic Cleansing” as a sacred endeavor that – like abolition of the death penalty – is fully in line with inherent 21st-century Jewish values, let alone human rights and ethical norms.

I invite all those who agree – including my many loved ones and friends baaretz (in Israel) – to visit the website above and add their voice to ours. A line has been drawn, and our descendants and history will note on which side we stand now. More importantly, it is a line whose strength has the potential to save millions of lives at risk of displacement and destruction. There is no holier cause than this.

May all the hostages taken on October 7th, 2023 be returned safely soon in our day,

May there be peace for all human beings living in Israel and Palestine.

May the killings END!

And may our voices be heeded…