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'Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By': Jews of Conscience on Palestine - cover image

Copyright

Susan Landau;

Published On

2025-06-25

ISBN

Paperback978-1-80511-668-4
Hardback978-1-80511-669-1
PDF978-1-80511-670-7
HTML978-1-80511-672-1
EPUB978-1-80511-671-4

Language

  • English

Print Length

166 pages (xviii+148)

Dimensions

Paperback156 x 12 x 234 mm(6.14" x 0.47" x 9.21")
Hardback156 x 16 x 234 mm(6.14" x 0.63" x 9.21")

Weight

Paperback327g (11.53oz)
Hardback500g (17.64oz)

THEMA

  • QRJ
  • JPW
  • NHTQ
  • JBSL
  • JPVH

BISAC

  • REL040030
  • REL040090
  • POL059000
  • POL045000
  • HIS019000
  • SOC051000

Keywords

  • Jewish anti-Zionism
  • Palestinian solidarity
  • Israel-Palestine conflict
  • Moral dissent
  • Settler colonialism
  • Jewish progressive voices

'Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By'

Jews of Conscience on Palestine

  • Susan Landau (editor)
This volume is a timely and powerful collection of Jewish dissent against Zionism and the impact of Israeli statehood on the indigenous Palestinian population. Bridging history, politics, theology, and conflict studies, this book traces a moral and intellectual tradition of resistance from within the global Jewish community—one rooted in values of justice, equality, and compassion. From early twentieth-century critics like Ahad Ha’am and Hannah Arendt to contemporary scholars, rabbis, journalists, and activists, the voices gathered here challenge the dominant narratives that conflate Judaism with Zionism.

As violence escalates in Gaza and misinformation clouds public understanding, this book offers essential historical context and urgently needed counter-narratives. Through curated quotes, essays, and reflections, it documents how generations of Jews have spoken out—often at personal cost—against militarism, racism, and settler colonialism. In doing so, it reclaims an ethical tradition that links solidarity with Palestine with all struggles for justice throughout the world.

This is an anti-war, anti-prejudice book for anyone seeking clarity amid polarization. In this unprecedented political moment, it is an essential resource for educators, activists, faith leaders, and all who value human rights. By amplifying voices of conscience, it deepens our understanding of Israel-Palestine relations and reminds us of the enduring power of moral dissent.

Endorsements

This volume is an essential and accessible guide for anyone seeking to understand the complex history and present realities of Israel-Palestine. Thoughtfully curated and clearly narrated, it brings together key sources—many unfamiliar to general readers—and frames them within a compelling historical and political context. The responses and statements about the current context in Gaza and the call to action of Jews inside and outside Israel to speak out and oppose the Israeli state and its western supporters are sometimes truly moving. Structured to reflect different historical periods, the book result is a powerful, engaging, and invaluable resource that sheds light on the roots of the occupation and current genocide in Gaza. A must-read for those trying to make sense of a deeply contested and urgent issue.

Erica Burman

The University of Manchester

Additional Resources

[document]EPUB Accessibility Report

Contents

About the Book

(pp. ix–xii)
  • Susan Landau

About the Author

(pp. xiii–xvii)
  • Susan Landau

I. RECLAIMING JEWISH VOICES OF CONSCIENCE ON ISRAEL-PALESTINE

(pp. 1–2)
  • Susan Landau

I.1 “A Land Without a People”

(pp. 3–6)
  • Susan Landau

I.2 The Zionist Idea

(pp. 7–12)
  • Susan Landau

I.3 Judaism Is not Zionism

(pp. 13–16)
  • Susan Landau

I.4 On Occupation

(pp. 17–20)
  • Susan Landau

I.5 On Divestment

(pp. 21–24)
  • Susan Landau

I.6 On Peace and Justice

(pp. 25–30)
  • Susan Landau

II. AMPLIFYING JEWISH VOICES OF JUSTICE ON ISRAELPALESTINE

(pp. 31–32)
  • Susan Landau

II.1 Democracy, Equality, Refugees

(pp. 33–36)
  • Susan Landau

II.2 Apartheid and Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)

(pp. 37–42)
  • Susan Landau

II.3 Zionism, Then and Now

(pp. 43–46)
  • Susan Landau

II.4 Nonviolent Activism

(pp. 47–52)
  • Susan Landau

II.5 As a Jew

(pp. 53–56)
  • Susan Landau

II.6 Antisemitism and Interfaith Relations

(pp. 57–60)
  • Susan Landau

III. ENGAGING JEWISH VOICES OF CONSCIENCE AND DISSENT, POST 7 OCTOBER 2023

(pp. 61–64)
  • Susan Landau

III.1 Initial Responses: In the Aftermath of 7 October 2023

(pp. 65–70)
  • Susan Landau

III.2 Considering the Context: Settler Colonialism, Supremacy, and Hubris

(pp. 71–76)
  • Susan Landau

III.3 Unbending the Arc: Genocide, Complicity, and Responsibility

(pp. 77–86)
  • Susan Landau

III.4 Critical Distinctions: Antisemitism, Zionism,and Judaism

(pp. 87–92)
  • Susan Landau

III.5 Praying With Our Feet: Jewish Values in Action

(pp. 93–98)
  • Susan Landau

III.6 A Moral Reckoning: Statements of Conscience

(pp. 99–104)
  • Susan Landau

III.7 The College Campus: Dissent, Repression, and Resistance

(pp. 105–110)
  • Susan Landau

III.8 Affirming the Prophetic: Hope in Action

(pp. 111–114)
  • Susan Landau

Contributors

Susan Landau

(editor)

Susan Landau is a passionate advocate for kindness, justice, truth, and equality. The time- honored ethical tradition of Judaism grounds her self-definition as an anti-Zionist Jew, and shapes over twenty years of her active engagement in learning, organizing, educating, writing, and advocating for justice for all people of historic Palestine. She offers presentations, classes, and webinars locally, and at regional and national conferences. Susan is a co-editor of a study guide, Why Palestine Matters: The Struggle to End Colonialism (2018, Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church, USA). Susan Landau, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She combines her lifelong career as a psychotherapist with a commitment to political education and advocacy in support of justice in Palestine. Susan lives in East Falls, Pennsylvania where she maintains her private psychotherapy practice.