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On behalf of the Jewish Federation and JCRC we want to provide a brief update on the Louisville Metro Government Ceasefire resolution that was heard last Thursday night.
The prime sponsors have indefinitely tabled the resolution and it is not likely to be brought back given a lack of support from Councilmembers. Resolutions like these have been filed in more than 210 communities across the country, and whether they’ve passed, failed, been tabled or went unheard, they were successful in only one thing: dividing communities. Meetings have descended into chaos with chanting crowds speaking over elected representatives, disrupting hearings, and shouting down anyone who even dares disagree.
On the night of the resolution’s vote, the process was divisive, as predicted. Following the public comment period in support of the resolution, the supporters conducted a staged and planned walkout. During that walkout, members of the crowd surrounded our Federation/JCRC group, shouting obscenities and yelling at us. We filmed these interactions, and you can watch them below.
Through out this process, several voices have attacked the Federation for taking the stand against divisiveness. We have listened to many voices, including those of you who have supported our commitment to both the people of Israel and yearn for a permanent peace. We have also heard the accusations of “obstructionist,” “scum,” “complicit in slaughter,” and other terms used to describe our voices sought to demonize and vilify, not to unite; thereby proving our point. The reality is, no matter what was included or what was omitted in the language, a resolution should have never sought to turn our community’s collective grief into a “win/loss” scenario. Yet that happened the minute that this was filed. From the outset, we haven’t been able to support this resolution on that basis.
To establish a timeline:
- We were given notice that two Councilmembers had filed a ceasefire resolution on January 30, 2024.
- We mobilized the Jewish organizations in Louisville to issue a unified statement directly to Metro Councilmembers opposing this resolution on the grounds that it was absolutely divisive.
- We stated, in part:
The organizations we represent want to be clear. We support the concept of a structured ceasefire, an end to hostilities, and a permanent peace. It has been nearly four months since Hamas attacked Israel and, amongst other atrocities, too children, women, and men hostage. More than 130 have not yet returned home. Thousands have been killed in Gaza as this war has progressed.
Many innocent women and children are among them. The organizations we represent want an end to this war just like everyone else. We all desire and look forward to the day when Israel lives in peace with all her neighbors. We hope for a speedy return of these hostages, alive, and a meaningful and permanent peace for those in Gaza and in Israel. We believe in the diplomatic process at the national level and a dialogue about how two peoples can live side by side in peace. Metro Council is not designed to weigh into this matter in a way that will bring Louisvillians together.
The letter was signed by
- Sara Klein Wagner, Jewish Federation of Louisville
- David Finke, Jewish Family and Career Services
- Melanie Pell, American Jewish Committee
- Beth Salamon, National Council of Jewish Women Louisville Section
- Matt Golden, Jewish Community Relations Council
- Rabbi Beth Jacowitz Chottiner, Congregation Temple Shalom
- Rabbi Ben Freed & Cantor Sharon Hordes, Congregation Keneseth Israel
- Rabbi David Ariel Joel, Temple Adath Israel Brith Sholom
- Cantor David Lipp & Rabbi Emeritus Robert Slosberg, Congregation Adath Jeshurun
- Rabbi Simcha Snaid, Congregation Anshei Sfard
- Rabbi Avrohom Litvin, Chabad of Kentucky
- We created an action alert system that went live to the community urging direct contact with their Metro Council members. Over 150 people responded to the call and issued statements to their Councilmembers opposing this resolution.
- We worked publicly and behind the scenes to stress that not only was the language problematic, but we remained consistent in our message that these resolutions are unbelievably divisive to the communities where they are filed.
- While the resolution took no less than seven forms leading into the vote night, neither the JCRC nor the Federation could support the various versions we remained consistent that divisive foreign policy matters have no place in Metro Council.
- Throughout the process, we sought and relied upon the guidance of our volunteer leaders and board members—they responded, by giving critical input and analysis to guide our decision making.
- In the days leading up to Metro Council’s meeting last Thursday, it was clear that the votes would be close. Nine of the Minority Caucus Councilmembers publicly stated they could not support this resolution as of March 6, 2024. Others privately stated their opposition. Many individuals outreached privately to Councilmembers regarding their opinion of the resolution. In the end, even with the Metro Council President offering a competing resolution, it became clear that the resolution did not have the votes to pass, even in a watered-down form. This led to the resolution being withdrawn.
It’s time to move forward and focus on the needs of this community and work to heal the rifts this resolution created.
We appreciate all your support throughout this process and for the folks that shared your positions with Council through the action alert or through personal phone calls and outreach. Your opinions and action matter. We are proud and grateful to work with dedicated leaders and communal colleagues and will continue to listen and to advocate.
Less than two weeks ago, we spent five days in Israel visiting our friends in the Western Galilee. We saw first hand the fragile day to day existence seeking normalcy while addressing the trauma of October 7th and fear of future attacks. We look forward to sharing our experience and the messages received in the days to come.
Here are videos captured of the walkout at Thursday’s metro council meeting.
Warning: Graphic language; content may be difficult for some to watch.