More American Jews Urge Israel to Deliver Gaza Aid/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Amid worsening hunger in Gaza, a growing number of American Jews — including prominent organizations and rabbis — are publicly urging Israel to ensure the delivery of food and medical aid. While opinions vary politically, the humanitarian crisis has sparked moral and theological appeals for action. Protests and advocacy efforts are spreading across the U.S. Jewish community.
American Jews Urge Israel on Gaza Aid Quick Looks
- Major U.S. Jewish organizations call for expanded humanitarian aid to Gaza
- 1,000+ rabbis sign letter urging Israel to allow food and medicine deliveries
- Protests erupt, with clergy arrested at Senate Majority Leader’s office
- Reform and Conservative movements issue strongest public critiques
- Orthodox Union voices sadness but maintains support for Israel’s war goals
- Disagreements persist within the Jewish community, with some denying crisis
- Political pressure builds on Israel as U.S. Jews take a more vocal stance
- Debate intensifies over Zionism, morality, and human rights in Gaza
Deep Look: Amid Gaza Starvation Crisis, U.S. Jews Intensify Calls for Humanitarian Action by Israel
As famine looms in Gaza and images of starving children dominate international headlines, a growing chorus of American Jews is calling on the Israeli government to allow more food and medicine into the region. In an unprecedented show of concern, Jewish organizations across denominations — including Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox — are publicly urging Israel to act decisively to ease suffering among Palestinian civilians.
Historically united in support for Israel, American Jews are now confronting one of the most morally complex moments in the modern history of the U.S.–Israel relationship. The war in Gaza, approaching its second year, has reignited ethical debates within Jewish communities across the United States, as many struggle to reconcile their loyalty to Israel with what they see as a humanitarian catastrophe.
Leading Jewish Groups Speak Out
The American Jewish Committee (AJC), long considered a centrist voice in Jewish advocacy, issued a carefully balanced statement. It reaffirmed support for Israel’s war to eliminate Hamas but also acknowledged the crisis in Gaza:
“We are deeply concerned about worsening food insecurity in Gaza,” said the AJC, urging increased cooperation to ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians.
The Rabbinical Assembly, representing Conservative rabbis, echoed that call:
“The Israeli government must do everything in its power to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need. Our tradition demands the provision of food, water, and medical care,” the group stated.
Meanwhile, the Orthodox Union expressed mixed emotions. Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer told the Associated Press that his community is “proud, sad, and angry” — proud of Israel’s military ethics, sad about the suffering, and angry at what he called selective blame placed on Israel.
But the Reform Jewish Movement, the largest Jewish denomination in the U.S., delivered perhaps the strongest rebuke:
“Israel must not sacrifice its moral standing,” the group said. “Pervasive hunger in Gaza cannot be ignored, and blaming Hamas does not absolve Israel of its responsibility.”
Rabbis Across the Country Demand Action
The spiritual shift is perhaps most visible among local clergy. Rabbi Jon Roos of Temple Sinai, a Reform congregation in Washington, D.C., said the mood in his community has changed dramatically in recent weeks.
“There’s been a deep shift in the tone and content of conversations about Israel and Gaza,” Roos said. “People are holding two truths: that the October 7 attacks were horrific, and that the ongoing suffering in Gaza is also unacceptable.”
Roos and his congregation were among over 1,000 rabbis who signed a public letter urging Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The letter condemned civilian deaths and the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
Rabbi Aaron Weininger, who leads a Conservative synagogue in Minnesota, emphasized that supporting both Israeli and Palestinian dignity is compatible with Zionism.
“Zionism is strong enough to care for both peoples,” he said. “Calling out suffering does not weaken our support for Israel — it strengthens it.”
While some congregants expressed concerns about publicly criticizing Israel, both Roos and Weininger said most responses have been supportive and reflect long-standing Jewish values around justice and compassion.
Protest Turns to Civil Disobedience
On Capitol Hill, the urgency translated into direct action. More than two dozen rabbis were arrested this week after staging a sit-in at the office of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). They demanded that Congress pressure Israel to allow full humanitarian access to Gaza.
“Palestinian lives are sacred too,” said Rabbi Alissa Wise, founding director of Rabbis for Ceasefire. “We’re here to affirm the sanctity of life — Israeli, Palestinian, all of us.”
Another protester, Rabbi Andrue Kahn, who leads the American Council for Judaism, said growing numbers of rabbis and Jewish activists feel morally compelled to speak out.
“The dam has broken,” Kahn wrote in an email. “Starvation on this scale has prompted people from across the political spectrum to demand change.”
Dissent and Denial Within the Community
Not all voices within American Jewry agree. Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), a Jewish Republican, drew sharp criticism last week after dismissing reports of Gaza’s famine as “Muslim terror propaganda” and posting, “Until hostages are released, starve away.”
Several conservative Jewish media outlets echoed those views. The Jewish Voice claimed food and medicine were entering Gaza but were being stolen by Hamas. The Jewish News Syndicate published a column by Mitchell Bard arguing that criticism of Israel from American Jews reflected weakness, not solidarity.
“Israel doesn’t need scolding,” Bard wrote. “It needs loyal allies who understand the stakes.”
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