Para aqueles que não querem ouvir. Eles estão a ouvir!

I'm listening. That's it. It's that simple. As nearly any Jewish person today knows, young people aren't participating in Jewish life the way their parents and grandparents once did. And I'll be honest—as a rabbi, this worries me. The Jewish establishment tries to solve the problem by funding expensive projects to entice young people with things like free trips to Israel. At community events, organizers wring their hands when only a few young people show up. The truth is that the young Jews are there, ready to participate in Jewish life. They've always been there. And they're telling us what they want and need to be a part of this community.   We just haven't been listening. But I'm trying to change that. Starting with me, starting with you, starting now. The young Jews of Jewish Voice for Peace have made a stunning declaration of purpose that cannot be ignored.  Watch it now—and spread the word. And then read about its significance in a longer think-piece that I've written. They are telling us loud and clear: they want a Jewish community that unconditionally values all life equally. And an identity that doesn't demand that they justify taking another people's land. What they want is the values of justice that we taught them, but could never really embrace when it came to Israel and Palestine. Read what they have to say:   We exist. We are everywhere. We speak and love and dream in every language… We remember how to build our homes, and our holiness, out of time and thin air, and so do not need other people's land to do so … We refuse to have our histories distorted or erased, or appropriated by a corporate war machine. We will not call this liberation… We commit ourselves to peace. We will stand up with honest bodies, to offer honest bread…We are young Jews, and we get to decide what that means.   Better yet, watch them. And share this link with everyone you know. If you're young, Jewish, and proud, join them. If you're just proud, support them: Invite them to your synagogue (or church or school or mosque) to speak. Take them to lunch and listen, really listen. Or make a gift in honor of their efforts. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, starts tomorrow night. This New Year, I ask you—whether you are Jewish or not—when you hear a young adult knocking at your door, please open it. And listen. Shana Tovah, Rabbi Brant Rosen, Co-Chair of Rabbinical Council Jewish Voice for Peace P.S. These young people are initiating an exciting campaign, the Go & Learn Campaign, that will aim to bring 1,000 people to youth-led educational events about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement nationwide—stay tuned for when they will be in your area. Better still, send them a message of support so you can be sure to learn first about their plans.

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