Shomer Shalom Institute of Jewish Nonviolence

This blog will serve as the temporary website for the Shomer Shalom Institute of Jewish Nonviolence until shomershalom.org is up.

Shomer Shalom Institute of Nonviolence

This is an invitation to those of you who cherish the path of nonviolence in Jewish life or are interested in further deepening your relationship to nonviolence within the framework of Judaism.

Shomeret Shalom is an organization of Jews who follow a path of nonviolence based on Jewish principles of religious engagement. Some of us repeat a daily intention of Jewish nonviolence which is available below.

Shomer is a Hebrew word meaning stewardship. Traditionally, the word shomer is used in several key expressions: Shomer Shabbat: keeping the Sabbath, Shomer Kashrut: keeping kosher, Shomer lashon, guarding our tongue from hurtful speech and more recently Shomer Adamah: keeper of the environment.

Shomeret Shalom entails a daily choice not to cause intentional harm and committing oneself to active non-violence, a transformative pathway of social and spiritual action. We are conscientious objectors to war.

Individually, members of Shomer Shalom are committed to living a nonviolent Jewish life and are encouraged to participate in nonviolence organizations as Jews and to participate in Jewish organizations as practitioners of nonviolence.

Collectively, Shomeret Shalom offers retreats and programs dedicated to nurturing the nonviolent faith of its members. It produces and distributes educational and liturgical materials rooted in Jewish nonviolent traditions.

Shomer Shalom is committed to cultivating an intergenerational, multi-cultural and interfaith global community of peace, justice, loving kindness, and solidarity.

The Shomer Shalom Daily Intention

I believe that the practice of Judaism and the practice of all religions is for the sake of peace. Therefore, I, _____________, for the sake of peace and for the purpose of fulfilling "hashomer akhi anokhi"( I am responsible for safeguarding the life and well-being of my sister and brother), disavow the use of any form of physical, emotional, verbal, spiritual or economic violence toward myself and others, and hereby accept upon myself the way of non-violence/shmirat shalom. I do this of my own free will and full realization of the commitment I herewith assume.

As a Shomeret Shalom I, ___________ offer my diligence, devotion and dedication to the following principles and practices of Shmirat Shalom.

I choose to live by the principle that the study of Torah is intended to cultivate peace. I will study Torah as a Shomeret Shalom.

I choose to live by the principle that prayer is intended to cultivate peace. I will practice prayer as a Shomeret Shalom.

I choose to live by the principle that the Sabbath and Holy Days are intended to cultivate peace. I will practice Shabbat and Holy Days as a Shomeret Shalom.

I choose to live by the principle that our capacity for love and nonviolence is necessary for peace. I will practice love and nonviolence for all people as a Shomeret Shalom. As a shomeret shalom, I am a conscientious objector to war.

I choose to live by the principle that the earth and all that is in it is sacred. I will practice environmental stewardship as a Shomeret Shalom.

By offering this intention I, _______, accept the privileges and responsibilities of a steward of active nonviolence, a shomeret shalom. May peace prevail upon the earth quickly and in our day. Amen


Shomer Shalom and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

“In all cases, study the Torah personally, not in order to twist, distort, and make of it a permit to carry a rifle.”- Rabbi Aaron Samuel Tamaret,1906.

Shomer Shalom is committed to cultivating an intergenerational, multi-cultural and interfaith global community of peace, justice, loving kindness, and solidarity. Shomer Shalom is committed to building a peaceful future for all people living in the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel based on these same principles. Shomer Shalom supports all initiatives rooted in these concepts including inter-religious pilgrimage and dialogue, theatrical arts, women's leadership projects, Palestinian and Jewish cultural preservation. A shomeret shalom follows a path of non-cooperation with institutions and agencies that cause harm and affirms the use of nonviolent civil disobedience, and conscientious objection to war.

The Shomer Shalom Elders' Council as of March 2, 2008: Rabbi Everett Gendler, Mary Gendler, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Rabbi Debora Kohn, Rabbi David Shneyer, Rabbi Leonard Beerman, Rabbi Mike Rothbaum, Rabbi Zev Hayyim Feller, Rabbi Naomi Steinberg, Rabbi Bonny Grosz, Rabbi Brant Rosen, Rabbi David Cooper, Rabbi Burt Jacobson, Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg, Rabbi Phil Bentley, Rabbi David Seidenberg, Rabbi Jane Litman, Yehuda Stolov (Interfaith Encounters in Israel), Aaron Hahn Tapper (Abraham's Vision), Bobbie Brietman (Lev Shomea), Alan Solomonow (AFSC) Chief Tom Dostou of the Algonquin Nation, Kathy Kelly (Voices for Creative Nonviolence), Pamela Meidell (Buddhist Priest of Zen tradition), Doug Hostetter (Mennonite Interfaith Peace Pastor) Rabia Terry Harris (Muslim Peace Fellowship), Ibrihim Ramey (Muslim American Freedom foundation), Yacoub Hussein (Palestinian Sufi), Richard Deats (IFOR)* (organizations are for identification purposes only)

FOUNDERS CONFERENCE OF SHOMER SHALOM CHICAGO MAY 16-18TH
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT RABBI LYNN GOTTLIEB rabbilynn [at] earthlink.net

Shomer Shalom Path of Jewish Nonviolence Founders Conference

A weekend of prayer, study and action
May 15-18 Chicago, Illinois

Nonviolence is a pathway of social and spiritual transformation that has revolutionized the struggle for justice and peace. Join a founding community of Jews and spiritual elders from other nonviolence traditions including Indigenous, Buddhist, Christian and Islamic adherents of nonviolence to learn about and affirm the role of nonviolence in Jewish life.

Schedule of Events

Thursday May 15, 2008 5:00pm-7:00pm, DePaul University: A Rabbi's Journey to Islam with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb

Friday May 16, 2008 8:00pm – 11:00pm Friday evening service with Rabbi Chava Bahle, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Rabbi Everett Gendler

Saturday retreat on Judaism and nonviolence at Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Chicago

Saturday Evening Performance: Peace Tales with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb and Jewish hip hop artist EPryhme at JRC

Sunday Noon Shomer Shalom Ceremony in the park. Participants are invited to recite the prayer of Jewish nonviolence

2:00pm March for Peace with Justice...with Shomer Shalom and spiritual elders forming a peacewalk affinity group