Darfur: Four Questions

By RUTH MESSINGER & RABBI OR N. ROSE

As the holiday of Passover approaches, we prepare to celebrate the exodus of our ancestors from Egyptian bondage. During this season of liberation, the Jewish people must commit itself anew to ending oppression throughout the world. In the spirit of Passover, we ask you to consider the following questions about the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

1. What is happening in Darfur (western Sudan)?

Sudan, the largest country in Africa, is also one of the poorest nations in the world. It has been plagued by governmental corruption and civil unrest since it gained its independence in 1956. In February 2003, two rebel groups, the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, attacked government outposts in northern Darfur, demanding greater political and economic representation for black farmers living in western Sudan. In response to this insurgence, the Arab-led Sudanese government and their proxy militia known as the Janjaweed (“evil men on horseback” in Arabic) launched a brutal scorched-earth campaign to wipe out the black pastoralists in Darfur. This has involved the burning of homes and crops, the destruction of wells and granaries, and the rape, torture, and murder of countless civilians.

The violence in western Sudan has directly affected more than 3 million people. Almost 2 million have been displaced from their homes and over 200,000 have fled across the border to Chad. Estimates place the number of fatalities resulting from violence, disease, and malnutrition between 180,000 and 400,000 since the crisis erupted in early 2003. Tragically, the Janjaweed and other paramilitary groups (backed by the Sudanese government) have recently extended their genocidal campaign into Chad, attacking civilians now living in makeshift refugee camps.

2. What has the US government done to improve the situation in Darfur?

Not enough. The Bush administration has failed to make Darfur a priority. The President declared the crisis in Darfur “genocide” in September 2004, but he has yet to demonstrate the necessary resolve to improve this dire situation significantly. In fact, in September 2005, the US government blocked a UN declaration stating that countries have an unequivocal obligation to respond to genocide. President Bush must use his power and influence to lead an international effort, involving both NATO and the UN, to end the genocide in Darfur. If not, the United States will look back on Darfur as it does on Rwanda, Cambodia, and the Holocaust, regretting its inaction.

3. Why should Jews care about Darfur?

Our tradition teaches us that every human being is created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and that every life is precious. Our concern for human life requires that we act on behalf of the people of Darfur-“Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor" (Leviticus 19:16). For Jews, genocide is not only an abstract moral issue; it is also a personal one. From Egypt to Auschwitz, we have experienced the destructive power of human brutality and of human apathy. We have also learned that brave and caring individuals can make a difference-“The midwives, fearing God, did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live (Exodus 1:17).”

4. What can you do to help end the genocide in Darfur?
• Call the White House every week (202-456-1111) and ask President Bush to promote intervention through an international peacekeeping force with the mandate and ability to protect civilians.
• Join the “Million Voices for Darfur” campaign (www.millionvoicesfordarfur.org) and send a postcard (paper or e-card) to President Bush.
• Encourage your senators and representative to support the full FY 2006 supplemental appropriations request for continued peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance in Darfur. In addition, ask your representatives to support HR 723 that urges President Bush to take immediate action to protect civilians in Darfur, specifically calling for NATO assistance to the African Union.
• Join the American Jewish World Service and thousands of others rallying with the Save Darfur Coalition in Washington, DC on April 30, 2006 (www.ajws.org).
• Sign up with the Genocide Intervention Network and become a member of the first permanent anti-genocide constituency (www.genocideintervention.net).
• Share these four questions about the ongoing genocide in Darfur at your Passover seder.

“You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9).