4g) Supervisors' Reports Regarding Board Special Assignments, Standing and Ad Hoc Committee Meetings, and Other Items of General Interest
(Sponsor: Board of Supervisors)
I am writing in full support of the Ceasefire resolution presented to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors by a group of concerned County residents. This resolution calls on Mendocino County to join many other municipalities in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages, unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, restoration of food, water, electricity, internet and medical supplies and the other demands of this resolution.
I have been the rabbi of the Mendocino Coast Jewish Community for the past 35 years. But I write here as an individual from my own heart and conscience, acknowledging that the views of people in our Jewish community vary at this painful and challenging moment. I am sickened and horrified by the mass murder of Israeli Jews and others in Israel, and by the taking of hostages by Hamas, on October 7. I ache for those still in captivity and those who have lost their lives as captives over the past four months. I know that in the small country of Israel the pain of these terrible events ripples outward to touch people all over the country. And for many it restimulates trauma from historical experiences of being victims of mass murder. I understand that there needs to be some kind of response on the part of Israel and the international community to these terrible acts.
I also recognize, as the leader of a Jewish community, that fears of anti-semitism locally and in the larger world are not unfounded. I understand that this was vividly demonstrated by a hateful zoom-bomber at a recent Supervisors’ meeting. We must all be careful to express ourselves in ways which do not endanger Jewish lives and Jewish community. At the same time we must not let the worst elements of our world intimidate us and keep us from acting justly. I am impressed that the resolution before you does not use bombastic or inflammatory language, even while calling firmly for a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid and a release of all hostages.
The violence, killing, destruction of housing, hospitals, schools and infrastructure in Gaza to date simply must be stopped. According to the United Nations, as of today, March, 25, 2024, over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. About 70 percent of those killed are said to be women and children. Communicable diseases like typhoid are currently breaking out owing to lack of basic sanitation and medical care in Gaza. Deaths from hunger are now being reported. The closed border, preventing refugees from leaving and aid from entering is the stuff of nightmares, particularly as the city of Rafah, which until recently has been a place where displaced Gazans have been directed to flee, is now experiencing an extensive bombing campaign. Calling on whole populations to flee to avoid mass bombing is dreadful — the fact that they are then hit with mass destruction in places that were supposed to be their refuge is doubly awful.
It will take the whole world to make this violence cease. I take heart from the international uprising to demand an end to this destruction, and I hope that Mendocino County will join in this call. Usually the business of our local Board of Supervisors is to take care of the business of the County. But citizens of Mendocino County are also citizens of the world, and your vote for this resolution will amplify those voices calling for an end to this terrible violence, raise them up to the State, to the US government and to the international community. What you do with this resolution matters.
I am writing in support of a Gaza ceasefire resolution. The killing of innocent Palestinians and the forced starving need to stop. We need to do all we can to make this happen.
Dear Members of the Board of Supervisors,
I am writing in full support of the Ceasefire resolution presented to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors by a group of concerned County residents. This resolution calls on Mendocino County to join many other municipalities in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages, unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, restoration of food, water, electricity, internet and medical supplies and the other demands of this resolution.
I have been the rabbi of the Mendocino Coast Jewish Community for the past 35 years. But I write here as an individual from my own heart and conscience, acknowledging that the views of people in our Jewish community vary at this painful and challenging moment. I am sickened and horrified by the mass murder of Israeli Jews and others in Israel, and by the taking of hostages by Hamas, on October 7. I ache for those still in captivity and those who have lost their lives as captives over the past four months. I know that in the small country of Israel the pain of these terrible events ripples outward to touch people all over the country. And for many it restimulates trauma from historical experiences of being victims of mass murder. I understand that there needs to be some kind of response on the part of Israel and the international community to these terrible acts.
I also recognize, as the leader of a Jewish community, that fears of anti-semitism locally and in the larger world are not unfounded. I understand that this was vividly demonstrated by a hateful zoom-bomber at a recent Supervisors’ meeting. We must all be careful to express ourselves in ways which do not endanger Jewish lives and Jewish community. At the same time we must not let the worst elements of our world intimidate us and keep us from acting justly. I am impressed that the resolution before you does not use bombastic or inflammatory language, even while calling firmly for a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid and a release of all hostages.
The violence, killing, destruction of housing, hospitals, schools and infrastructure in Gaza to date simply must be stopped. According to the United Nations, as of today, March, 25, 2024, over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. About 70 percent of those killed are said to be women and children. Communicable diseases like typhoid are currently breaking out owing to lack of basic sanitation and medical care in Gaza. Deaths from hunger are now being reported. The closed border, preventing refugees from leaving and aid from entering is the stuff of nightmares, particularly as the city of Rafah, which until recently has been a place where displaced Gazans have been directed to flee, is now experiencing an extensive bombing campaign. Calling on whole populations to flee to avoid mass bombing is dreadful — the fact that they are then hit with mass destruction in places that were supposed to be their refuge is doubly awful.
It will take the whole world to make this violence cease. I take heart from the international uprising to demand an end to this destruction, and I hope that Mendocino County will join in this call. Usually the business of our local Board of Supervisors is to take care of the business of the County. But citizens of Mendocino County are also citizens of the world, and your vote for this resolution will amplify those voices calling for an end to this terrible violence, raise them up to the State, to the US government and to the international community. What you do with this resolution matters.
With respect,
Rabbi Margaret Holub
I am writing in support of a Gaza ceasefire resolution. The killing of innocent Palestinians and the forced starving need to stop. We need to do all we can to make this happen.