Holy Land: Rabbis for Human Rights prepare volunteers to help with olive harvest

At the Talitha Kumi Educational Center over 20 staff members reviewed the protocols and priorities guiding RHR work in the field

Source: Rabbis for Human Rights

.Rabbis for Human Rights say: "We are more prepared for this harvest than ever before...Though we wish we didn't have to be there at all."

"As a child," shared Adam, our Palestinian Director of Field Operations in the Occupied West Bank, "I remember the joy of the Olive Harvest in Hizma; it was a full-day family affair: working, drinking, tea, and celebrating a successful day's work with makluba..." His memory reminded our whole team just how much we shouldn't have to do what we're preparing to do.

The fact that it is our staff, internationals, and Israeli volunteers picking olives instead of Palestinian families in many places across the Occupied West Bank is a testament, first and foremost, to the failure of the Israeli state to uphold its commitments to democracy, justice, and security for all under its rule.

It is a testament to a new perverted Judaism that "builds up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity." (Micah 3:10)

It is a reminder of just how far we are from the prophetic vision that "every family shall sit under its own vine and fig tree, with no one to disturb them." (Micah 4:4)

Yet our belief that such a reality is possible is what drives the work we do. It is what drives us to organize a three-day intensive workshop for our staff in Beit Jala.

At the Talitha Kumi Educational Center over 20 staff members reviewed the protocols and priorities guiding our work in the field, including:

- Palestinian-led decision-making; our solidarity and partnership with Palestinian farmers is built on mutual trust. We arrive only at sites where we have been invited and act as guests should in the presence of their host.

- Our steadfast commitment to non-violence and de-escalation.

-Maintaining the physical safety and mental well-being of our Palestinian partners, staff, and volunteers.

Legal specialists from the Human Rights Defenders Fund guided us through scenarios we may encounter in the field and in exercising our rights. Drama games allowed veteran activists and harvesters to share their wisdom with newcomers in an earnest yet playful way. Rabbi Kobi Weiss explicated the religious significance of our work, tying it to a long history of Jewish social justice, and speaking to the significance of this moment in Jewish history. Dr. Solomon and field medic Khaled taught first-aid protocols, including CPR, wound treatment, and when to call an ambulance.

In one session, staff were invited to express the ultimate purpose of their activism. These are the answers, the "why" carrying us into the olive groves come mid-October:

"To fight for the freedom and dignity of my people."
- "To practice a Judaism that pursues Justice and loves the neighbor."
- "To combat the violence in the West Bank with non-violence."

Support Rabbis for Human Rights: www.rhr.org.il/en/donate/?
Protect the Olive Harvest: https://causematch.com/olive_harvest_26?

Volunteer to help with the harvest

You are invited to the Olive Harvest. Picking begins in the olive groves in under a month. Palestinian farmers are requesting your presence.

This harvest, communities across the West Bank have asked us to stand with them in the groves, and over 350 international volunteers have already signed up. Volunteers can sign up to accompany farmers any day from Sunday through Friday, from October 16th through the end of November, so the picking can happen safely. Add your name to receive the details as they come together: harvest days, transportation, and logistics HERE

Volunteers are signing up from all over the world. Palestinian farmers will not be alone this harvest season.

This week, Acting CEO Anton Goodman met with the Australian Ambassador to Israel, Neil Hawkins, to discuss the importance of protecting the Olive Harvest in Palestinian communities.

Or come on a Winter Solidarity Visit

Together, let's show that solidarity knows no borders: Join Achvat Amim and Rabbis for Human Rights this Winter!

From December 17th to January 5th, embark on a transformative 20-day program: the Winter Solidarity Visit. This unique opportunity is a collaboration between Rabbis for Human Rights and Solidarity of Nations - Achvat Amim. It combines solidarity presence, immersive Jewish learning with Israeli organizations and activists, and volunteer work focused on supporting communities in Palestine facing the threat of displacement due to state and settler violence. This program is ideal for those passionate about justice, human rights, and community empowerment. See: www.achvatamim.org/winter-solidarity.html.
Application deadline: October 15th.