The New Dark Age

[Got this note today, thought I’d share it with you. The Ed.]

I want to share with you this extraordinary letter we received from the Shministim. A few days after the December 18th rally, the day after Tamar Katz was finally released from solitary confinement, the young Shministim gathered in a room to celebrate and to decide what they wanted to say to each and every one of you. This is the message they carefully wrote together:

Dear friends and supporters,

On the eve of Hanuka, the festival of lights, we, the Shministim, would like to take a moment to thank you for all you’ve done for us and for our struggle.

While we sit down with our families and light the first candle of the holiday, symbolizing the rebellion against an occupying army, some of us are still behind bars, denied the freedom to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones, denied the right to freedom of thought and political consciousness.

During this dark period of consecutive jail terms, military trials and attempts to break our beliefs, you were our light.

Each and every one of you who helped with the campaign, who sent a supporting letter, who sent the link of the website to a friend. You’ve let our struggle be heard around the world, the letters, the postcards and posters, the demonstrations, all of those actions fulfilled our wildest dreams.

We would like to thank you once again and wish you all a happy and free holiday.

in solidarity,
The Shministim
The struggle for freedom continues. Thank you, William, for being a part of that struggle

Happy Holidays and Chag Sameach,

Cecilie Surasky
Jewish Voice for Peace

P.S. The Shministim have asked that you click on this link if you would like to get regular updates about what is happening to them in Israel: http://groups.google.com/group/refuseileng/subscribe. You can also write to the Shministim directly, as hundreds of you have already done, at support.refusers.israel@gmail.com. And of course, we will let you know when and how you can continue to help the Shministim.