Cambridge Day does not endorse candidates or positions. Views expressed in this column are those of the writers.
As Jews, we have a unique relationship to the genocide in Palestine. We have watched as the Israeli military murders, starves, and displaces Palestinians, all while speaking the language in which we pray.
We carry the trauma of genocide in our collective memory. We know from our ancestors what it feels like to lose entire generations. Because of this, we hold steady our moral obligation to do everything in our power to stop the genocide. As Somerville Jews, we demand that our taxpayer money be divested from companies that are complicit in such atrocities.
On November 4th we have the chance to vote yes to divest. Many of us in Somerville have worked tirelessly to place this question on the ballot. The current Palestinian solidarity ballot question reads as follows:
“Shall the Mayor of Somerville and all Somerville elected leaders be instructed to end all current city business and prohibit future city investments and contracts with companies as long as such companies engage in business that sustains Israel’s apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine?”
Learn more about the ballot question here and see our recent Q&A here which addresses implementation, and the non-binding nature of the resolution.
It is undeniable that Israel is committing genocide, apartheid, and illegal occupation in Palestine.
Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion or race. Using American taxpayer money, Israel has killed over 67,000 people and injured nearly 170,000 in the Gaza Strip —18,000 of the dead being children — and continues to bomb, starve, and forcibly displace Palestinians with impunity. Many human rights groups (including the UN, Israeli organizations and many others) have declared this a genocide.
As of October 9th, 2025, Israel has agreed to a ceasefire. We celebrate as families are reunited, and we hope for a lasting and permanent ceasefire. However, in the days since the ceasefire, atrocities continue. Journalists and civilians are still being killed. Palestinians continue to starve due to Israel’s decision to only allow half of the promised aid in.
As we keep our eyes on Palestine, we recognize that the dehumanization and oppression of Palestinians will not end with a ceasefire. Rather, the apartheid legal system in Israel will need to be dismantled.
Lastly, illegal occupation is the act of forcibly displacing people from their homes and businesses without the right to do so. The government of Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and Israeli settlers have, for decades, taken control of Palestinian-owned homes and livelihoods using armed vehicles and machinery, violent aggression by soldiers, settler-armed violence, and verbal and physical intimidation, all in violation of international law. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to be illegal.
What companies are we talking about divesting from?
Somerville has a contract with the IT company Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HP), which is complicit in Israeli apartheid. HP provides servers for Israel’s Aviv System, which surveils Palestinians’ daily movement and defines the rights of Palestinians through the ethnically-segregated ID card system, allowing for systematic violence and discrimination. HP also provides other services and technology to the IDF.
Somerville has awarded $1.7 million to HP in school contracts in the last 10 years.
Lockheed Martin (LM) provides weapons, fighter jets and other equipment to Israel. Israel uses LM’s F-15 and F-35 fighter jets to drop bombs on Gazans, their homes, and their land. Israel has used thousands of LM’s AGM-114 Hellfire missiles to destroy more than 92% of residential buildings in Gaza.
Somerville’s municipal employees’ Pension Fund, as of a 2024 public records request, is invested in 1,222 shares of Lockheed Martin, amounting to $553,859.28 invested in this weapons manufacturer.
Somerville Jews demand a free Palestine.
As we have watched in real time the deliberate starvation and bombing of men, women, and children in Palestine, it’s no wonder that a growing number of Americans want Israel to end its military actions. That number includes many thousands of Jewish-American refugees, and descendants of refugees, who believe that “never again” means never again for anyone.
As Mayoral candidate and current City Councilor Willie Burnley Jr. stated: “When we say speaking out against a genocide is antisemitism, we do a huge disservice — not only to the folks who have fought for freedom and dignity for all people who are Jewish — but also for people who said ‘Never again.’”
How can I support Ballot Question 3?
Pledge to vote Yes on Question 3. Volunteer to door knock with us to get out the vote. Donate to the campaign. Most of all, please vote YES to DIVEST!
As Jews, we have a unique responsibility to stand up against the starvation of the people of Gaza, as Israel is committing these atrocities in our name. As this genocide has been carried out using American weapons and tax dollars, all Americans have a responsibility to stand up against this horror.
We call on all our neighbors: Now is the time to vote to remove our tax dollars from the Israeli genocide and apartheid of Palestine.
In solidarity,
Members of the Somerville Jewish Community
Alana Tova, Ward 2
Annika Schafer, Ward 6
Hannah Farman, Ward 7
Mo Katz-Christy, Ward 6, Associate member of Havurat Shalom and member of Kavod and BWC
Annie Slate, Ward 5
Alain Jehlen, Ward 2
Ida F Winick-Likely, Ward 7
Maya Spielberg Friedrich, Ward 2
Rachel Mead, Ward 3
Terra Mikalson, Ward 3, Member of BWC and Kavod
Jessica Wygoda, Ward 3, Israeli-American, Member of BWC, Israeli-American
Lauren Colodny, Ward 1, Associate member at Havurat Shalom
Stephanie Geheran, Ward 2
Shana Berger, Ward 2, Member of Dorshei Tzedek
Hannah Cross, Ward 7
Vika Zafrin, Ward 3, Immigrant
Keira Horowitz, Ward 3
Eva Grossman, Ward 3
Molly Fraust-Wylie, Ward 2
Alissa Zimmer, Ward 4
Lee Romaker, Ward 5, Member of Havurat Shalom
Daniel Vernick, Ward 6
Daniel Fireside, Ward 7, Child of Holocaust Survivor
Jacques Klapisch, Ward 7
Ben C, Ward 2
Sophie Cash, Ward 7
Tim Santos-Heiman, Ward 6
Ms Bergman, Ward 2
Alexandra Epstein, Ward 2
Shariann Lewitt, Ward 4
Robert Costa, Ward 3, Tufts Jewish Community
Lawrence Rosenwald, Member of Havurat Shalom
Nina Katz-Christy, Ward 6
Dana G, Ward 6
Coco Rosenberg, Ward 5, member of BWC, Kavod Boston, Nehar Shalom, and Tzedek Lab
Rabbi Shifra Freewoman, Member of Havurat Shalom
Benjamin Silverman, Ward 3, Member of BWC
Lizabeth Roemer, Ward 5
Regina Fink, Ward 6, Member of BWC
Melissa Kagen, Ward 1
Sarah Binney, Ward 2, Member of the Tremont St Shul
Eric Young, Ward 7
Josh Bartok, Ward 5, Son of holocaust survivor
Ashley Fox, Ward 3
Rabbi Greg Hersh, Rabbi of V’ahavtah: A Judaism Beyond Zionism Synagogue in Cambridge/Somerville, JVP Rabbinical Council, Rabbis4Ceasefire
Amanda Mastrangelo, Ward 4
Joan Leib, Ward 1
Leah Cirker-Stark, Ward 3
Lizzie Rutberg, Ward 2
Sonia Lipson, Ward 3, BWC
Sam Dolph, Ward 5
Rose Sadler, Ward 7
Maya Levine, Ward 2, member of Havurat Shalom and BWC
Benjamin Axelman, Ward 5
Eric Robsky Huntley, Ward 5, Member of Kavod, BWC, V’ahavtah, Kehillah, MIT Jews for Collective Liberation
Tal Fox, Ward 5
Naomi Roswell, Ward 5
Jillianne Wisnewski, Ward 6
Martha Schnee, Ward 3
Catherine E. Reuben, Ward 5
Amy Dickson, Ward 2
Itai Squires-Kasten, Ward 2, Member of Tremont St Shul
Hayyim Feldman, Ward 3
Esther Alter, Ward 2
Sam Heller, Ward 3, Member of BWC
Rose Mendelsohn, Ward 3
Franny Alani, Ward 4
Lucy Colby, Ward 1
Tracey Kaplan, Ward 1
Bonnie Lipton, Ward 6
Anna Feder, Ward 5
NB, Ward 3, BWC
Maya Harel, Ward 2
Aliza Arzt, Ward 6, Member of Havurat Shalom
Eliot Stanton, Ward 2
Emily Piper, Ward 2, Member of BWC and BWC Shule Committee
Todd S. Kaplan, Ward 6, Member of TBB and Havurat Shalom
Hannah Miller, Ward 7
Joshua Sisman, Ward 2
Maya Bickel, Ward 6
Amalya Megerman, Ward 7
Alison Boreiko, Ward 4
Crystal M. Huff, Ward 5, member of Havurat Shalom
Mehitabel Glenhaber, Ward 5
Noam Miller, Ward 2, Israeli American
Daniel Mangoubi, Ward 2, Member of Tremont St. Shul
Eli Kopter, Ward 4
Eline Bakker, Ward 3
Ezra Dodson, Ward 5
Zoe Schoen, Ward 5, BWC
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Why these Somerville Jews will vote ‘Yes’ on Question 3
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Cambridge Day does not endorse candidates or positions. Views expressed in this column are those of the writers.
As Jews, we have a unique relationship to the genocide in Palestine. We have watched as the Israeli military murders, starves, and displaces Palestinians, all while speaking the language in which we pray.
We carry the trauma of genocide in our collective memory. We know from our ancestors what it feels like to lose entire generations. Because of this, we hold steady our moral obligation to do everything in our power to stop the genocide. As Somerville Jews, we demand that our taxpayer money be divested from companies that are complicit in such atrocities.
On November 4th we have the chance to vote yes to divest. Many of us in Somerville have worked tirelessly to place this question on the ballot. The current Palestinian solidarity ballot question reads as follows:
“Shall the Mayor of Somerville and all Somerville elected leaders be instructed to end all current city business and prohibit future city investments and contracts with companies as long as such companies engage in business that sustains Israel’s apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine?”
Learn more about the ballot question here and see our recent Q&A here which addresses implementation, and the non-binding nature of the resolution.
It is undeniable that Israel is committing genocide, apartheid, and illegal occupation in Palestine.
Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion or race. Using American taxpayer money, Israel has killed over 67,000 people and injured nearly 170,000 in the Gaza Strip —18,000 of the dead being children — and continues to bomb, starve, and forcibly displace Palestinians with impunity. Many human rights groups (including the UN, Israeli organizations and many others) have declared this a genocide.
As of October 9th, 2025, Israel has agreed to a ceasefire. We celebrate as families are reunited, and we hope for a lasting and permanent ceasefire. However, in the days since the ceasefire, atrocities continue. Journalists and civilians are still being killed. Palestinians continue to starve due to Israel’s decision to only allow half of the promised aid in.
As we keep our eyes on Palestine, we recognize that the dehumanization and oppression of Palestinians will not end with a ceasefire. Rather, the apartheid legal system in Israel will need to be dismantled.
Apartheid is a crime against humanity under international criminal law. Under Israeli law, Palestinians have different rights depending on where they live, but Palestinians everywhere under Israel’s control, including in exile, have lesser rights than Jewish Israelis. For example, many cannot travel on Israeli streets or own, build, or renovate homes in certain areas. Many cannot vote, cannot dissent or protest, cannot gain residency or citizenship through marriage, and are subject to many more practices of segregation and oppression. Even when these rights are in theory available, in practice Palestinians are faced with immense challenges and discrimination that effectively invalidates those rights. These practices are clear examples of apartheid. In 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s laws constitute “systemic discrimination.”
Lastly, illegal occupation is the act of forcibly displacing people from their homes and businesses without the right to do so. The government of Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and Israeli settlers have, for decades, taken control of Palestinian-owned homes and livelihoods using armed vehicles and machinery, violent aggression by soldiers, settler-armed violence, and verbal and physical intimidation, all in violation of international law. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to be illegal.
What companies are we talking about divesting from?
Somerville has a contract with the IT company Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HP), which is complicit in Israeli apartheid. HP provides servers for Israel’s Aviv System, which surveils Palestinians’ daily movement and defines the rights of Palestinians through the ethnically-segregated ID card system, allowing for systematic violence and discrimination. HP also provides other services and technology to the IDF.
Somerville has awarded $1.7 million to HP in school contracts in the last 10 years.
Lockheed Martin (LM) provides weapons, fighter jets and other equipment to Israel. Israel uses LM’s F-15 and F-35 fighter jets to drop bombs on Gazans, their homes, and their land. Israel has used thousands of LM’s AGM-114 Hellfire missiles to destroy more than 92% of residential buildings in Gaza.
Somerville’s municipal employees’ Pension Fund, as of a 2024 public records request, is invested in 1,222 shares of Lockheed Martin, amounting to $553,859.28 invested in this weapons manufacturer.
Somerville Jews demand a free Palestine.
As we have watched in real time the deliberate starvation and bombing of men, women, and children in Palestine, it’s no wonder that a growing number of Americans want Israel to end its military actions. That number includes many thousands of Jewish-American refugees, and descendants of refugees, who believe that “never again” means never again for anyone.
A recent Washington Post survey found 61% of American Jews say Israel has committed war crimes and almost 40% say Israel is guilty of genocide. In our community, more than 150 Jewish Somerville residents have signed our Jewish solidarity letter condemning Israel’s violence and dozens every month attend Jews for Palestine standouts.
As Mayoral candidate and current City Councilor Willie Burnley Jr. stated: “When we say speaking out against a genocide is antisemitism, we do a huge disservice — not only to the folks who have fought for freedom and dignity for all people who are Jewish — but also for people who said ‘Never again.’”
How can I support Ballot Question 3?
Pledge to vote Yes on Question 3. Volunteer to door knock with us to get out the vote. Donate to the campaign. Most of all, please vote YES to DIVEST!
As Jews, we have a unique responsibility to stand up against the starvation of the people of Gaza, as Israel is committing these atrocities in our name. As this genocide has been carried out using American weapons and tax dollars, all Americans have a responsibility to stand up against this horror.
We call on all our neighbors: Now is the time to vote to remove our tax dollars from the Israeli genocide and apartheid of Palestine.
In solidarity,
Members of the Somerville Jewish Community
Like this:
Related Stories
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.