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Arik Ascherman

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Jun 29, 2018, 2:33 PM

Is It Really So Complicated?

Illustrative: Ta'ayush activists film a settler siccing his pit bull on the sheep of a Palestinian shepherd, which he claimed had encroached on his land. (Screen capture/Ta'ayush)

'Don't exploit the poor' means making sure a single mother can pay rent, and that farmers' fields are protected

Jun 22, 2018, 5:32 PM

Purifying Water and Sewer Water

This week's Torah portion, "Khukat," deals with several kinds of water, but not untreated sewer water flowing from settlements into Palestinian fields. We first are commanded how to make the purifying "waters of lustration" created from the ashes of...

Jun 15, 2018, 7:07 PM

On Torah, Catching Settlers in Palestinian Fields, and Destroying Palestinian Trees

What can the Torah teach about the connection between the settler shepherd I caught last Sunday grazing his flock in a Palestinian field, and settlers destroying Palestinian trees the previous day (Shabbat), as soldiers watched and waited for the...

Jun 8, 2018, 2:21 PM

Who Is More Zionist? Who Cares More About Defense?

This week's Torah portion (Shlakh Lekha) tells of the disastrous results after most of the spies bring back a negative report about the Land of Israel, and the Israelite's ability to conquer it. The haftara tells the parallel story...

May 25, 2018, 10:22 PM

Khan Al Akhmar, Crazy Musa and Parashat Naso

Yesterday our High Court again chose undemocratic law over justice and decency by punishing helpless people for violating laws unfairly imposed upon them. I totally reject the current attempts to cripple our court system, but that does not mean...

May 18, 2018, 5:55 PM

Bad Intent Is Not a Death Sentence: Sinai, Gaza and Ruth

Not for the first time, my thoughts (and writing) as Shavuot approach turn to the Tikun Leyl Shavuot (all-night Shavuot Torah study) teaching I heard from my beloved teacher Rabbi Ben Hollander z"l in 1983. My recollections of that...

Apr 19, 2018, 7:23 PM

Misheberakh — A Loving Prayer of Healing for the State and People of Israel

I seem to be making a habit of speaking at US Congressional briefings, and then rushing home to be in Israel with my family to celebrate holidays. I am grateful to J Street, J Street U and the J...

Apr 13, 2018, 6:31 PM

The Fair Umm Al Hiran Agreement Israel Reneged On

“In the framework of several meetings that took place between Benny Tefilin (representing the Issa and Mousa groupings of the Abu-El Qian family living in the Hiran area) and Yigal Buskalia on behalf of the Bedouin Directorate in February-March...

Apr 5, 2018, 1:04 PM

‘I Have An Order’ — Passover Thoughts 5778

The State of Israel has transformed, and continues to change both the Jewish people and Judaism. Returning a few weeks ago from protecting shepherds on the Friday of the week we read the last two Torah portions of Exodus...

Mar 30, 2018, 4:53 PM

Our Seder for S. Tel Aviv residents and asylum seekers

We are sitting in the heart of South Tel Aviv. From time immemorial Pharaohs and oppressors have used fear to pit oppressed groups against each other. Generation after generation of veteran South Tel Aviv residents live in poverty. Today...

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About Me

Rabbi Arik Ascherman led Rabbis For Human Rights for 21 years, and is in the process of creating a new human rights organization, "Torat Tzedek (Torah of Justice). Rabbi Ascherman is a sought after lecturer, has received numerous prizes for his human rights work and has been featured in several documentary films, including the 2010 "Israel vs Israel."