Arik Ascherman

Arik Ascherman
אריק אשרמן‎
Rabbi Arik Ascherman in 2012
Born
Arik Ascherman

1959 (age 64–65)
Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Known forLong time executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights

Arik Ascherman (Hebrew: אריק אשרמן; born 1959) is an American-born Israeli Reform rabbi, and Executive Director of the Israeli human rights organization Torat Tzedek-Torah of Justice. For 21 years, starting in 1995, he served as Co-Director (1995-1998), Executive Director (1998-2010), Director of Special Projects (2010-2012) and President and Senior Rabbi (2012-2017) for Rabbis for Human Rights, an Israeli organization.[1][2]

As a human rights activist,[3] he has spearheaded activities to defend Palestinians against Israeli settler violence,[4] worked for socioeconomic justice for Israelis, and advocated on behalf of Israel's Bedouin citizens. He has been frequently attacked and subject to beatings by settlers,[5] and has stood trial several times for acts of civil disobedience. He appears in the 2010 documentary Israel vs Israel.[6] He is fluent in both Hebrew and Arabic.[5]

  1. ^ "Israeli rabbi faces trial for opposing demolition of Palestinian homes". Daily Times (Pakistan). 14 January 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Profile: Arik W. Ascherman" (in Hebrew). Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  3. ^ Lynfield, Ben (17 December 2010). "In Israel, a rabbi who argues that anti-Arab measures are un-Jewish". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference NY was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Judy Maltz,'How a U.S.-born Rabbi Became the Nemesis of Radical West Bank Settlers,' Haaretz 26 April 2021:'During nearly a quarter century of human rights work, Ascherman has been arrested, by his count, “dozens” of times and physically assaulted, including at knifepoint, “somewhere between 20 to 30 times.” He stood trial once for trying to obstruct a bulldozer that was about to demolish a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem, though his conviction was later overturned after he agreed to perform community service. He had another close call earlier this year when his car was sabotaged while he was out on patrol duty, and the wheels started to break loose while he was driving back home.'
  6. ^ "Israel vs Israel (2010)". Internet Movie Database. 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.