IfNotNow
 

Confront the Crisis

Birthright

For our entire generation, going on Birthright has been seen as a rite of passage in our Jewish journey. And, for decades, Birthright’s programming has been funded by right-wing donors and designed to obscure, rationalize, and defend the Israeli Occupation. We can no longer allow a free trip that hides the truth be synonymous with being a young Jewish person in America.

Join us in demanding Birthright confront the crisis of the Occupation.

 
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We demand that Birthright confront the crisis of the Occupation and commit to making four simple changes by April 5th:

Demand 1

MARK THE WEST BANK ON EVERY MAP.


Demand 2

EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ON THE DAILY NIGHTMARE OF THE OCCUPATION .

Demand 3

SHOW A CHECKPOINT FROM A PALESTINIAN PERSPECTIVE.

Demand 4

BRING TRIPS TO HEBRON
TO SEE WHAT THE POLICIES OF OCCUPATION HAVE DONE TO THE CITY.

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Shira, Ben, and Emily at Umm al Khair

Shira, Ben, and Emily at Umm al Khair

Kicked Off

During winter 2018/2019 Birthright trips, three participants were kicked off their trip for asking questions about the border wall and the Occupation. It’s clear — Birthright only wants Jews who will accept their right-wing agenda without question. We refuse to remain silent, and demand that Birthright confront the crisis of the Occupation.

Even though their flights were cancelled and they were left stranded in Tel-Aviv, they went to Umm Al Khair, a village that’s been under threat of demolition for years, along with other anti-Occupation activists to support the community and bear witness to the Occupation.

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Resources to take on your trip

We have everything you need to ask questions on your trip: maps of the region, facts about Israel/ Palestine, what to do when extending your trip, our Liberation Syllabus for learning more about the Occupation, and more!

This above West Bank map is a physical representation of how the Occupation plays out in the West Bank. The area in blue marks expanding Israeli settlements, while the brown marks Palestinian land. In the map, one sees the blue area of settlements encroaching on Palestinian cities and villages while also cutting them off from one another. This is why the West Bank is sometimes described as 'swiss cheese' or an archipelago; Palestinian areas are becoming increasingly smaller islands distanced from one another by expanding settlements. Not so many years ago, the brown area of Palestinian land was contiguous.

 
 

What is ifnotnow?

Join Our Growing Movement

We are building a vibrant and inclusive movement within the American Jewish community, across generations and organizational affiliations. This movement is open to any who seek to shift the American Jewish public away from the status quo that upholds the occupation.

To learn more or get involved visit ifnotnowmovement.org

 
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“

June 2018

How do I reconcile with the fact that Birthright, a Jewish space, doesn’t uphold the Jewish values I’ve been taught to cherish? We’re encouraged to analyze, to challenge, to question. But why not here? Birthright is missing a crucial component of our Jewish tradition — asking questions. What does this tradition become if we bury some of its most basic values in that process?

- Alyssa, Birthright Participant in March 2018 / Read Full Letter

 

 

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Take action!

 

Make a Donation

Our movement depends on the generosity and support of our community.

 

Sign on to our demands

WE DEMAND THAT BIRTHRIGHT CONFRONT THE CRISIS OF THE OCCUPATION AND COMMIT TO MAKING FOUR SIMPLE CHANGES BY APRIL 5TH

Sign this petition if you want Birthright to meet these demands and confront the crisis

 

Attend an Orientation Training

Our orientation training is the essential building block of IfNotNow. Through attending one of our trainings, you will get the tools and materials necessary to start participating as a full member of IfNotNow.

 To sign up for a training or to express general interest in attending a training, please click here and complete the form. If you express interest in a city where we currently have trainings, you will then receive a Google Form to register for a specific date. If we aren't in your city yet, we hope to be soon.

Connect with others Locally

IfNotNow members and supporters get together regularly, for actions, community events, and meetings. Find out what’s happening near you by locating your city in the map of IfNotNow locations.

 

Add your testimonial

Let us know about your Birthright experience.

IfNotNow on Instagram

Check out these BEAUTIFUL Movement Builders Fellow🛠 This weekend, all of us gathering to talk about, share learnings, and grow our skills in building this movement across the country. Check the story for live updates and an inside look 👀 into what we’re learning.
We’ll keep saying it until we don’t have to anymore.
Talking to family about the occupation can be hard and painful! ESPECIALLY during the high holidays ✡️🍎🥯These are some things we find helpful to remember during stressful conversations
Shanah Tova everyone 🎨: @be.ccahh
We’re heading into the Jewish new year, 5780, with our eyes on the 2020 elections. This year, let’s end American support for the Israeli Occupation [link in bio]
We're going into shabbat not knowing what the next Israeli government will look like. But we do know that both major parties are promising annexation, and that is something our community needs to recognize as a crisis. Shabbat shalom, and we all get the rest we need to keep fighting because with or without Netanyahu, it isn't over.
Both major parties in Israel’s election are promising to annex the West Bank, and yet the millions of Palestinians whose lives will be affected by this decisions cannot vote — they have no say in who governs their lives. So please tell us again how Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.
This is how Netanyahu makes the Occupation endless. American Jews need to use our voice to speak out now. Netanyahu is citing US support as one reason he’s making this campaign promise. If our voice can make a difference, we need to use it. Swipe to see a map of exactly what Netanyahu is proposing.
Last Thursday at a town hall, two young Jewish constituents challenged @repschneider to acknowledge the Occupation as a human rights crisis and distinguish his approach to Israel/Palestine from Donald Trump's. He failed. To the rest of our out-of-touch communal and congressional leadership: Young Jews will keep on confronting you until you stop supporting endless Occupation and join us in the struggle for freedom & dignity for all.
Over 600 people registered for our webinar: "What the F*** is Happening?" last night. #DisloyalJews from across the country came together and connected the dots between white supremacy, antisemitism, and the Occupation. In this political crisis, here are some of the reasons why they joined:
Over 400 people have already registered for our webinar: ‘What the F*** is Happening?’ This moment is a crisis. The president is antisemitic. There's so many reasons why people need answers and community right now. Here's one from New Jersey. If you relate to this, register for our call TONIGHT at 8:30 ET/ 5:30 PT:[Link in bio] If you can't make it, register anyways and we'll send you a recording.
This resonates with us. We don’t have any jokes or witty comebacks at our out of touch Jewish establishments today. Our president is antisemitic. But unlike this cartoon, we won’t be alone. Tomorrow night at 8:30 ET we’re hosting a webinar called “What the F*** is Happening?” Let’s make sense of this crisis together: bit.ly/WhatTheF---Aug22 🎨: @j.a.k._
Last night, Rosa Druker, an IfNotNow Twin Cities member and constituent of Congresswoman Omar spoke at a press conference led by @rashidatlaib and @ilhanmn. Just as Rosa said last night, we refuse to let our Jewish identities be used as as tool to incite Islamophobia and we reject the narrative that criticizing Israel’s human rights violations is antisemitic.
We firmly support @rashidatlaib’s decision to refuse this humiliating gesture. Allowing Congresswoman Tlaib into the country on humanitarian grounds — and still barring @ilhanm — is a cruel joke and reflective of how Israel uses humiliation and control to maintain a military Occupation over millions of Palestinians.
Barring Rashida Tlaib For Congress and Ilhan Omar from entering Israel because of their political views is a horrendous and cruel decision. We urge Democrats to join us in condemning this decision and fight for freedom and dignity for all Israelis and Palestinians.
NEW: Last night, at the @workingfamilies forum, @elizabethwarren called out politicians who give lip service to a two-state solution yet are unwilling to push the Israeli government — but fails to fully acknowledge the responsibility of Israel and the US in continued occupation. "For a long time, everyone has mouthed the words two-state solution but no one has been willing to push hard." Considering Warren has put forward so many specific plans, we want to know if you too are disappointed to hear this vague commitment. Full unedited video on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/678900828863555/posts/2417641428322811?s=1114062898&v=e&sfns=mo
We are appalled by the detention of @issaamro after his call for US Congresspeople to #SkipTheTrip and reject AIPAC’s right-wing propaganda. ‪Issa risked his personal safety by publicly criticizing the Occupation, and we won’t let that risk be in vain. ‬ ‪To the members of Congress still on @AIPAC’s propaganda trip, @repmaxrose , @rephaleystevens , @repsusanwild it’s time to listen to freedom fighters like Issa and #SkipTheTrip now. ‬ ‪It’s your duty to use your position to speak out against the injustice of the Occupation. ‬
We’re confident that the host for Day 3 of our alternative digital tour, Basil Adraa of Protection and Sumud Committee in the South Hebron Hills, can compel members of Congress to #SkipTheTrip. These representatives didn’t #SkipTheTrip on Day 1 or Day 2. And we can understand why: AIPAC spends over $10,000 (!) on each of them for this trip. Is that legal? Seems unlikely. Is it ethical? Definitely not. Is it powerful incentive to not question or challenge AIPAC’s pro-occupation agenda? 💯