Rabbi Robert L Tobin
Delivered at Montclair State University
November 2, 2023
THIS WAR IS ABOUT HAMAS, NOT PALESTINE AND PALESTINIANS. THIS WAR IS ABOUT TERROR, NOT ABOUT SOLVING OVER 70 YEARS OF VIOLENCE AND CONFLICT. DONT BE FOOLED THE WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING WHO HAVE STARTED THIS BRUTAL WAR AND WHO PLANNED FOR IT TO BE EXACTLY AS IT IS, AND NOW THAY HAVE THE AUDACITY TO CLAIM THAT ISRAEL IS THE BAD GUY WHEN THE WAR IS WHAT THEY WANTED FROM THE BEGINNING.
WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING MARCHED IN SELMA AFTER BLOOD SUNDAY, WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING SAT IN BIRMINGHAM JAIL, WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING SPOKE OF HIS DREAM ON THE NATIONAL MALL, HE HAD ONE MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD TO HEAR OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
AND
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal."
So I call out to you: I WILL NOT BE SILENT!
You say back to me: I WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH!
[repeat 2-3 times]
THE STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE, the SJP right here on your campus HAVE PUBLISHED A TOOLKIT. I HAVE IT HERE. I WILL QUOTE FROM THEIR OWN WORDS.
I WILL QUOTE FROM THEIR WORDS, BECAUSE IN THE HOURS - NOT DAYS - NOT WEEKS - IN THE HOURS FOLLOWING THE BUTCHERY AND TERROR OF OCTOBER 7TH - THE SJP PUBLISHED THIS “TOOLKIT FOR THE DAY OF RESISTENCE.”
I URGE THE ADMINISTRATION OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD CONSCIENCE AND MORAL CONVICTION EVERYWHERE TO LISTEN TO THEIR WORDS! I ASK YOU, ARE THESE WORDS THAT YOU ENDORSE AND PROTECT HERE AT YOUR UNIVERSITY?
In the hours after Hamas brutally butchered over 1,400 men women and children in their homes, cars, and beds,
DESCRIBING THAT ACT OF BRUTAL TERRORISM, THEY SAID: Today, we witness a historic win for the Palestinian resistance:
CALLING ON THEIR PROTECTORS AND PROXIES EVERYWHERE THEY SAID: We are asking chapters to host demonstrations on campus/in their community in support of our resistance in Palestine AND YOU HAVE SEEN THEM HERE. BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY.
THEY SAID: our people are actualizing revolution. NOT PROTESTING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. ACTUALIZING A REVOLUTION.
When I say I WILL NOT BE SILENT!
You say I WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH!
THEY SAID: – it is our responsibility, therefore, to break through [THE NARRATIVE OF] “war” and “unprovoked aggression,” and instead ground our campuses and communities in a narrative which centers the legitimacy of resistance and the necessity of complete liberation.
WHAT DO THEY MEAN BY RESISTANCE? WHAT DO THEY MEAN BY COMPLETE LIBERATION?
When I say I WILL NOT BE SILENT!
You say I WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH!
THEY SAID - THAT EVERY ISRAELI IS A SETTLER AND -THEIR WORDS - Settlers are not “civilians”
THEY SAY - THERE ARE NO ISRAELI CIVILIANS.
When I say I WILL NOT BE SILENT!
You say I WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH!
THEY SAY - Resistance comes in all forms— armed struggle, general strikes, and popular demonstrations. All of it is legitimate, and all of it is necessary. THAT MEANS THAT THEIR DEMONSTRATION HERE IS PART AND PARCEL WITH THE TERRORISM OVER THERE. THEY ARE THE SAME. THESE ARE THEIR WORDS.
When I say I WILL NOT BE SILENT!
You say I WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH!
THEY SAY - ALL ISRAELI CIVILIANS ARE MILITARY ASSETS. ALL ARE SUBJECT TO ARMED STRUGGLE AGAINST THOSE CIVILIANS, WHICH HAMAS HAS PROVEN TO MEAN THE ACTUAL MURDER AND DESIRE TO ELIMINATE EVERY ISRAELI ON EVERY INCH OF LAND “FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA.” THEY PREACH VIOLENCE, MURDER, ETHNIC CLEANSING OF ISRAELIS FROM THEIR OWN LEGAL, INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, DEMOCRATIC HOME. WHEN THERE ARE NO HAMAS MISSILES, THERE ARE NO ISRAELI BOMBS. WHEN THERE ARE NO HAMAS HOSTAGES, THERE ARE NO ISRAELI TANKS IN GAZA. THIS IS A WAR DESIGNED BY, CREATED BY, AND EVEN TODAY CAUSED BY HAMAS AND THEIR PROXIES. WE ARE NOW IN THEIR PLAYBOOK, AGAINST OUR WILL.
They say: “These events are the natural and justified”
THIS WAR IS NOT ABOUT PALESTINE. IT IS ABOUT TERROR. THESE EVENTS ARE NOT NATURAL. THESE EVENTS ARE NOT JUSTIFIED. THIS WAR IS NOT ABOUT VENGEANCE. IT IS ABOUT TERROR. WHEN WILL THE WAR STOP? WHEN OVER 200 HOSTAGES STOLEN FROM THEIR BEDS ARE RETURNED HOME IN PEACE! WHEN WILL THE WAR STOP? WHEN HAMAS NO LONGER HAS THE POWER TO COMMIT TERROR AND MASS MURDER IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE! WHEN WILL THE WAR STOP? WHEN THE MISSILES THAT BEGAN FLYING FROM CIVILIAN TERRITORIES INTO CIVILIAN TERRITORIES ON OCTOBER 7TH - AND CONTINUE TO BE FIRED MINUTE AFTER MINUTE, HOUR AFTER HOUR EVER SINCE, ARE FINALLY SILENCED.
When I say I WILL NOT BE SILENT!
You say I WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH!
THIS WAR WILL NOT SOLVE THE ISRAELI PALESTINIAN CONFLICT. THIS WAR WILL NOT CREATE A JUST HOMELAND OR A NATION OF PALESTINE THAT WILL LIVE IN PEACE ALONGSIDE ISRAEL. THIS WAR WILL ONLY CAUSE THE FURTHER SPREAD OF SUFFERING OF THE INNOCENT AND DELAY THAT DAY OF PEACE. BECAUSE TERRORISM IS NOT JUSTICE.
I URGE THE ADMINISTRATION OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD CONSCIENCE AND MORAL CONVICTION EVERYWHERE TO LISTEN TO THEIR WORDS AND CONDEMN THAT MESSAGE FOR WHAT IT TRULY IS - TERRORISM RIGHT HERE ON YOUR CAMPUS.
I URGE OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS TO TAKE THE FRONT LINE HERE AND ACROSS AMERICA AGAINST THOSE VOICES ON THEIR CAMPUSES THAT THEY THEMSELVES ADMIT ARE CALLING FOR THE KILLING OF ISRAELI CIVILIANS IN THEIR HOMES WHEREVER THEY CAN FIND THEM.
I URGE ALL PEOPLE OF CONSCIENCE TO RECOGNIZE THE TERRORISM AND BRUTALITY OF THE MOVEMENT AND THE CYNICAL MANIPULATION BY THEIR PROXIES HERE, WHO DARE TO USE THE LANGUAGE OF LIBERATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS TO PROMOTE TERROR AND MASS MURDER.
When I say I WILL NOT BE SILENT!
You say I WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH!
AS MARTIN LUTHER KING HIMSELF SAID, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
When I say I WILL NOT BE SILENT!
You say I WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH!
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