CNY Working for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel host an evening with Rabbi Steven Walt. Rabbi Walt will speak about the international movement for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) initiated to compel Israel to halt its violations of international law and human rights.

“Our group is honored to host Rabbi Walt, and to welcome his voice in our community at a time when the discussion about Israeli governmental policies and human rights is increasingly on the table,” notes event organizer Carole Resnick. “Rabbi Walt speaks from the heart with powerful honesty that reflects his personal journey and struggle with the realities in Israel and Palestine today.”

Rabbi Walt is a congregational rabbi and a human rights activist who has devoted much of his career to promoting justice and security for all in Israel/Palestine.  He is Rabbi emeritus of Congregation Mishkan Shalom, an activist synagogue in Philadelphia, which he founded in 1988, and currently serves at Congregation Tikkun v’Or in Ithaca.

Rabbi Walt was one of the founders of Rabbis for Human Rights-North America and served as its first executive director from 2003-2008.  In 2009 in response to the Israeli attack on Gaza, Rabbi Walt co-founded Taanit Tzedek – Jewish Fast for Gaza. He is a frequent speaker and blogger on questions such as: Can one be a supporter of the state of Israel while disagreeing with many of its government’s policies?  Can one be pro-Israeli and also pro-Palestine?

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Rabbi Walt was an activist in the struggle against apartheid. As an undergraduate he studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and University of Cape Town. In 1974 he emigrated to America and completed a Masters in Education at Jewish Theological Seminary. In 1984 he was ordained as a rabbi by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.  Rabbi Walt is a board member of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, and a member of the Rabbinical Council of Jewish Voice for Peace.

The presentation is free and open to the public. Organized by CNY Working for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel, a project of the Syracuse Peace Council.
(315) 472-5478, www.peacecouncil.net/pal-is