As Jews, we are intimately acquainted with what happens when
otherwise good people are silent in the face of political
oppression and violence. Our tradition teaches us that human
life is sacred because all of humanity is created btselem
elohim, in the image of God (Gen 1:26). Further, the Torah makes
clear that we have an obligation to preserve the sanctity of
life by speaking out in response to oppression and brutality in
our world. In the Holiness Code, we are told that we may not
stand idly by when [our] neighbor's blood is being shed"
(Leviticus 19:16). As the Babylonian Talmud states: Whoever is
able to protest against the transgressions of his own family and
does not do so is punished for the transgressions of his family.
Whoever is able to protest against the transgressions of the
people of his community and does not do so is punished for the
transgressions of his community. Whoever is able to protest
against the transgressions of the entire world and does not do
so is punished for the transgressions