Mordechai Liebling: Two Views of the Divestment Movement

by Lawrence Bush

Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, former head of the congregational arm of the Reconstructionist movement and a long-time activist with the Jewish Funds for Justice, has published a piece with Jewish Voice for Peace about why he recently came out in support of church participation in the movement to divest in corporations that profit from Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Several years ago, Rabbi Liebling published a piece for Meretz USA explaining why divestment is a counterproductive strategy. It’s a very useful exercise to read arguments on both sides of the issue from the same thoughtful man, so here goes:

Why Divestment is Counterproductive by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling

Why I Signed a Letter in Support of Church Divestment by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling