Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Feb 16 Update: Cincinnati City Council Session Debates Ceasefire in Gaza

This Wednesday was an incredibly challenging day, one of the most difficult in my memory for local Jewish advocacy. Along with more than 175 members of our Jewish community, I spent hours listening to community members share their perspectives on a potential ceasefire resolution by the Cincinnati City Council. It was emotionally draining, as many of the stories were difficult to hear. Some testified vividly to the loss and despair that war leaves in its wake. My heart reaches out to our Palestinian and Israeli brothers and sisters. 

Thank you to members of our Jewish community who came out and made their voices heard. Representing a wide spectrum from college students to octogenarians, encompassing all streams of Judaism, as well as Israelis and non-Jewish allies, we stood together in solidarity. Our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), in partnership with the American Jewish Committee (AJC), played a crucial role in mobilizing our community. This collaboration demonstrated that we are stronger when united and prepared to confront challenges together, especially in an adversarial atmosphere. The distressing rise in antisemitism in Cincinnati and across the United States since the atrocities of October 7 highlights the vital need for our joint efforts. The recent release of the AJC’s annual State of Antisemitism in America Report for 2023 further intensifies the urgency of our cause. For more details, see here. 

For those of us who attended, the day is still replaying in our heads. I recognize that it will take time to process. We heard some incredibly heart-wrenching stories of personal loss, as well as hurtful language equating our love for friends, family, and all the people of Israel, with our own traumatic past—such as claims that “Zionists are replacing Nazis.” Many of us witnessed a person, quietly sitting in the back of the room, tallying the number of “votes”—divided into two columns: “Pro-Ceasefire” versus “Genocide,” suggesting that our plea for dialogue over a resolution, which we fear will divide us, is equivalent to a vote for genocide. The pain of the day will linger with many of us for a long time. Recognizing the challenges these interactions present, we have created a “Guide to Recognizing & Discussing Problematic Rhetoric,” available here, for those encountering similar problematic language. 

I am incredibly proud of our community members, who all rose above the fray, focusing on messages of peace, humanitarianism, and the need for the safe return of hostages. During the marathon session, which lasted over four exhaustive hours, more than 75 of us shared our personal stories and perspectives. Our testimonies collectively highlighted our community’s unity and resilience amidst adversity (to hear from some of our community members, click here): 

• Concern that a ceasefire resolution would widen the divide between our local Jewish and Islamic communities. 
• The plea and necessity for healing between our two communities through constructive dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding. 
• Recognition that a mere pause in the conflict is inadequate for true peace, given Hamas’s stated goals and its record of breaking ceasefires. 

Israelis who live in Cincinnati spoke powerfully from their experience. The Jewish Agency for Israel asked our community’s Shaliach (Emissary) from Israel, Yarden Neeman; along with our Chaverim M’Israel, Shiri Avisar and Shaked Vatavu; not to participate due to concerns for their safety. However, they individually conveyed to me just how meaningful our community’s support is. They are proud of being integral to our Jewish community. 

Wednesday’s session offered both an opportunity to be heard and to listen, underscoring the challenging yet crucial work ahead of us to pave a path forward. This day highlighted the significance of our JCRC’s decades-long efforts to cultivate relationships with interfaith groups, local and statewide members, and leaders from various sectors, including other faith-based organizations. Despite the increase in contentious interactions with some leaders since October 7, our unwavering commitment to the essential work of dialogue and understanding persists. Even as current tensions test our established relations, we pursue our goals of fostering understanding and cooperation.  

As we listened to each other’s testimonials, it became clear that a ceasefire resolution, while well-intentioned, would not unite our Cincinnati community but would instead further divide us. Mayor Aftab Pureval, at the conclusion of the meeting, stated, “It’s become clear that at this time, consensus language doesn’t exist for an issue that is among the most nuanced and complicated in international affairs.” His address, announcing the Council’s decision not to consider a resolution, acknowledged our collective deep-seated pain. Read Mayor Pureval’s concluding statement here. 

It’s been a long week, but we know that our Jewish community remains committed to the enduring spirit of dialogue and resilience. As we celebrate this Shabbat, I want to share this moving music video (watch and listen here) shared at Thursday’s campaign meeting—1,000 musicians from all over Israel joined together at the Caesarea amphitheater calling on the world to bring the hostages back home. 

Shabbat Shalom, 

Danielle V. Minson
CEO
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati