In the 18th month of the Israeli military’s genocide of Gaza, a few miles north of the seat of American fascism, 2,000 Jews and friends from around the country gathered in Baltimore for Jewish Voice for Peace’s National Member Meeting.
Jewish Voice for Peace was formed in 1996 in a dorm room in Berkeley, California. Over the last 29 years, it has transformed into one of the most significant collectives of Jews working in solidarity with the Palestinian Liberation Movement. Since the onset of the current genocide in Gaza, JVP has been particularly formidable, organizing thousands of demonstrations across America’s most iconic landmarks, political and economic institutions, and in smaller cities and towns throughout the country. Similar to any other organization critical of Israel, Jewish Voice for Peace has often been labeled by right-wing politicians as an extremist group in an attempt to discredit Jewish folks who oppose Israel’s apartheid regime, illegal occupation, ongoing ethnic cleansing, and genocide. This organization is targeted because it challenges the very notion that all Jews support Israel, and the false claim that criticism of Israel equates to antisemitism. Nevertheless, this is also where the power of this organization lies, in its ability to create, normalize, and prove that Judaism is a separate entity from Zionism.
As a person who was born and raised in colonial-apartheid Israel and socialized as Israeli, it felt imperative for me to participate in this conference for a number of reasons. The ability to form community with other like-minded Jews is meaningful to my personal growth as a Jewish individual, an activist, and as a human being who believes in our responsibility for making this world a better place for those currently oppressed and for future generations. Most of the workshops focused on helping us develop the skills needed to organize and remain resilient while creating communities of support for us to build unity and collective strength. The moment I felt that very deeply was during a panel in which I had the opportunity to speak alongside Congresswoman Cori Bush and political activist Linda Sarsour. As Bush shared struggles from her personal life, Sarsour wiped her tears with her keffiyah, and this moment represented the sense of connection we all felt in this space. We are all one peoples regardless of our differences, and our fight is for humanity. The ability to learn and educate myself about the lived experiences of other Jewish folks, different aspects of the Palestinian movement, and organizing strategies from experts will help my efforts in making my existence on this earth one that positively informs and supports others.
JVP is also explicitly focused on collective liberation. Therefore, I felt my other identities, particularly as a Black and trans individual, were also honored. Those intersections were uniquely explored in workshops that delved into members’ experiences, giving them the opportunity to discuss, be educated, and educate one another about our experiences regarding anti-Black racism and LGBTQIA+ phobia in the scope of Israel and Zionism. I was refreshed to find that no one in this movement claims perfection. However, all the attendees I interacted with were committed to continuously unlearning the racist frameworks we were indoctrinated into within Zionist systems. Together, we were re-creating a Jewish identity that does not rely on a sole geographic location and an oppressive colonial and heavily militarized regime to exist. We were working to heal from the generational traumas and fears upon which the genocidal Zionist mindset is rooted.
These are undoubtedly perilous times. The Trump regime is testing the extent of its power by deporting green card holders, academics with visas, and even children who are U.S. citizens. ICE has been deployed to abduct students in the streets without due process, all DEI initiatives have been prohibited, and a global trade war has officially started. Essential to the context of this conference was the fact that he Trump regime is targeting pro-Palestine activists under the false claims of attempting to battle antisemitism, all while having figures who enact heinous antisemitism in his close circle, including his unelected advisor, Elon Musk, who made a Nazi salute at his post-inauguration rally. Trump has also used this as justification to launch a full-fledged fight against the American higher education system by cutting off federal funding to any University that does not comply with his undemocratic and anti-free speech demands.
It is under these conditions that we gathered to strategize, connect, and fortify ourselves for the essential work of trying to end the Israeli military’s genocide in Gaza and resisting rising facism here in the U.S. So, what is the future of Jewish solidarity organizing with Palestine in the face of unpredictable times under an authoritarian ruler? I saw it around me in Baltimore.
Overall, the event included plenaries with movement leaders from around the country and more than 85 workshops, including: “Judaism Liberated from Zionism,” “Fight to Win: Organizing for Material Change,” and “Faculty Organizing: Building Infrastructure to Support Anti-Zionist Jewish Voices on Campus.” Many workshops emphasized how Jewish identity and spiritual practice can be reclaimed as tools of resistance rather than used as political cover for state violence, as we build a Judaism liberated from Zionism.
Over 100 Jewish students from around the country attended the JVP National Member Meeting. “Young people, especially students, are at the heart of today’s freedom movements,” said JVP’s Manager of Campus Organizing, Jonah Rubin, emphasizing the importance of institutions standing with young people and demanding that universities protect students from government overreach. The ability to speak with Jewish organizers across various Universities helped me better understand that, indeed, antisemitism was simply used as an excuse to demonize the encampments without any substance. I knew this was the case at my university (USC), but the fact that we all had the exact same experience made it so much clearer for us all; our identity is, in fact, being used to cause harm and spread false narratives.
In addition to workshops that focused on the political, economic, or spiritual components of our organizing, there were also opportunities to learn about the day-to-day logistics that will keep us safe in the midst of rising fascism. Michael Wolfe, a JVP Chapter Organizer who led a workshop on digital security, stated that “the digital landscape has become a new frontier of repression. With tech giants like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg either aligning with or enabling authoritarian efforts, platforms like X and Meta have become tools of surveillance used by groups such as Canary Mission and government agencies. Wolfe’s workshop on digital security is meant to empower organizers to safeguard their communications and identities as a form of resistance.”
The National Member Meeting also featured many political leaders from JVP’s partner organizations including The Arab Resource & Organizing Center, Adalah Justice Project, Rising Majority, The Movement for Black Lives and so many more organizations working towards collective liberation. History has shown us that the only way forward is to build a united force against the ascendant far-Right, and the breadth of speakers and movements showed that this united force is already taking shape.
As I was walking around and randomly asking folks why they journeyed to this conference, I found it interesting that everyone had such clear answers. Although they came to Baltimore for a wide range of reasons, I noted that for all of them, giving in was never a choice. Regardless of the suppression and violence we might experience, the movement is committed to fighting for Palestinian liberation and freedom and dignity for all humans.
Every so often, I envy those who live in denial. Those who choose ignorance every single day. Those who are unable to see the humanity of Palestinians, or immigrants, or trans folks, and continue to live their lives as if the world is not falling apart right in front of us. Those who are able to legitimize their own lack of empathy, carelessness, selfishness, and even cruelty. That is because that’s a much easier choice. However, the people who attended the NMM 2025 were unable to do that. Here, I was surrounded by others who, like myself, viewed silence in this time of genocide as a non-option. We were all committed because taking action is necessary for us to be at peace within ourselves, even in such a peaceless time.
In the midst of many enduring questions about how we will not only persist but also continue organizing for justice in this uncertain future, we will also always have some answers. These answers lie in our interconnectedness. We do not feel separated from the people of Palestine, and we do not feel separated from any other marginalized or oppressed communities. This is not only because of the history of suffering and genocide in particular, which many of us know so well as Jews, it is because the first identity we align ourselves with is human. We deeply care about our fellow humans, and we understand that the work of collective liberation requires us to focus on those who are most oppressed, both in defending and learning from their steadfastness and struggle.
While this moment requires the Jewish left to adopt new strategies, some things will remain the same: Jewish organizers across the world will continue to amplify the voices and struggles of Palestinians. Everyone is vulnerable under the Trump regime, and the regime has made it clear it will target JVP. However, our Jewishness (and Whiteness in the case of many members of JVP) affords us a little more protection in this time of unsafety. With this privilege, we will be bold in our commitment to Palestinian freedom. In response to the pervasive lie that it is antisemitic to criticize the genocidal Israeli state, a falsehood that is intended to silence dissent, we will make it clear that the Jewish tradition calls us into solidarity with Palestine and all people.
The domino effect of oppression and fascism continues to harm more and more of our friends and community members. Yet all weekend long, I saw healing as we joined together young and old, religious and secular, folks from all over the country, pushing even harder, thinking more strategically, and letting our pain radicalize and unite us.
