Omar Opeyany
Contributing Writer
The UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) is a student-led organization on campus that is calling for justice in Palestine, fighting against antisemitism, and fostering a thriving Jewish community on campus. They are one of the many groups on campus that spearhead efforts for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine and call for the UCs to divest their funding from companies that have ties to the Israeli military.
UCSB JVP originally had a chapter around 2014 that had disbanded, but a new chapter started last year that has hit the ground running in mobilizing the community. Julie and Emma, members of the UCSB JVP board who are identified by their first names, spoke with The Bottom Line (TBL) to talk about who they are, what they do, and how we can play a role as students in fighting for justice in Palestine.
TBL: What inspired the creation of a JVP chapter at UCSB?
Emma: At the time when there was no JVP at UCSB, there was a gap for Jewish students who aren’t Zionist or are at least questioning it. There was nowhere for them to find a space to talk with other Jewish people about it and stand in solidarity with Palestine. In the wake of October 7th and Israel’s escalation in Gaza, it was even more obvious that now would be a good time to create that space.
TBL: The events in Palestine are a very complex issue for many people; what message do you have for those who have misconceptions or are hesitant to join?
Emma: I think it’s really important to ask questions — whether it be a friend, relative, or simply going online and doing research. Before October 7th I had an idea of what was going on, but it wasn’t really until then I needed to know so much more. It is important to see how nuanced it is, like why so many Jewish people feel so rooted in Zionism. It is not something that can just be turned off. It is intertwined with their entire lives, which is why it is really important to continue educating ourselves. We hear about the conflict on the news every day which gets exhausting. But to remember what we are seeing is a real thing happening to real people and it is something we cannot continue to let happen.
Julie: A lot of Zionists don’t understand the extent of what Israel’s government has done and the fact that what they’re doing is not okay. There’s a lot of misinformation on what Zionism is but it’s a very dangerous and hateful ideology. The safety of Jewish people cannot be dependent on the state of Israel. It hasn’t been thousands of years before the creation of Israel, and it shouldn’t be dependent on Palestinian livelihoods.
TBL: Many groups advocate for change at UCSB, but all have different ways of enacting it. What approach or method does UCSB JVP take?
Emma: Everything we do is rooted in Judaism and we use it to guide us in collective liberation. It’s especially important as Jewish people we stand up for this because so much of what Israel is doing is justified using Zionism. There are so many people that are uneducated on what Zionism is. We are here to show that we are Jewish yet we are not Zionist and that we are here to fight for Palestine.
Julie: It’s also important to see that Judaism is twisted to justify Zionism, but in reality all of our history, culture, and values are the antithesis of Zionism. We just think it is important for us to come at this from a Jewish lens and let our values guide us.
TBL: What is the best way for UCSB students to get involved? Any long-term goals?
Julie: We have a Shabbat on Friday nights which is a Jewish ritual or prayer. It is a way for us to get into the community and pray and call for a ceasefire. We have a lot of plans for Jewish holidays and teach-ins. If people want to be involved, the best way to start would be to follow our Instagram, @ucsbjvp.
Emma: In terms of goals, we are always continuing to expand our community, we are always happy to talk to people and to answer questions. At the end of the day we are fighting for a free Palestine.
Julie: We also work a lot with Students for Justice in Palestine and with the Divest organization on campus, I would say people should really check those out. Especially because our main lens is through a Jewish lens, Student for Justice in Palestine is also a great place to look.
On Jan. 15, a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced by Qatari and U.S. mediators. Divisions continue to grow within Netanyahu’s government, many high ranking officials resisting against the deal in spite of the family members of the Israeli hostages calling to accept the terms. Despite implementation of stage one of the deal, such as hostage exchanges and allowing humanitarian aid to be transported into Gaza, the Israeli military continues to raid the West Bank and detain Palestinians without cause. The future of the ceasefire deal remains uncertain as the incoming Trump administration rescinds the sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements and restrictions on U.S. made bombs being sent to Israel, and appoints officials with staunch pro-Israel stances in his cabinet.