On 30 March, the same day that the Knesset passed its barbaric death penalty law, a vast coalition of Jewish organizations across Israel and the world immediately petitioned the Supreme Court of Israel to repeal it. The next day, the court ordered the state to respond to that petition and the request for an interim injunction by 24 May. The thousands of members of “L’chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty” in Israel and throughout the Diaspora, together with various Israeli politicians and Jews of good conscience, as well as all of civilized humanity, will, of course, continue to do all we can to support this vital, sacred effort.

The Knesset passed this medieval law on the eve of Passover. As L’chaim has underscored, the grotesque spectacle of Minister of National Security Ben Gvir’s immediate, champagne-laden celebration of this death-worshipping event effectively desecrated that holiday for all of Israel. His abject abomination will do more than any antisemitic trope to further the lethal Passover blood libel that has led enemies of Israel to label Judaism a proverbial “Death Cult” time and again.

It so happens that the 24 May deadline for a response to the request for an interim injunction falls just after the next major Jewish holiday of Shavuot. By the end of that festival, which is dedicated to honoring the narrative of the Divine revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai, the truth about the unconstitutional nature of this unabashedly racist law and of the deterrence delusion must also be fully revealed. That knowledge, in turn, must lead to the unconditional repeal of this monstrosity. Nothing short of such an unmitigated reversal can merit Israel’s redemption in the eyes of civilized humanity in the wake of this unfolding calamity.

Actively pursuing repeal to halt Ben Gvir’s political grandstanding

Expedition of repeal is essential, given the rush to execute........

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