Rabbi Jeffrey Newman arrested on XR demonstration

Rabbi Jeffrey Newman before his arrest Protest in The City, London Extinction Rebellion’s October Rebellion, London, 2019. Photo by XR

JVL Introduction

We’re full of admiration for Rabbi Jeffrey Newman, arrested in London on Sunday on the Extinction Rebellion demonstration.

Rabbi Newman said: “The highest principle is the saving of life, pikuach nefesh, there isn’t anything more that we’re doing here in Extinction Rebellion than being aware that millions, or hundreds of millions of people, already are at threat because of the changing climate.”

This article was originally published by Jewish News on Mon 14 Oct 2019. Read the original here.

Video shows rabbi taken by police during Extinction Rebellion protest

Rabbi Jeffrey Newman, 77, was removed by police Monday after joining the climate protest in central London.

Dramatic footage shows Rabbi Jeffrey Newman being taken away by police during an Extinction Rebellion protest in the capital today.

Before being removed, Rabbi Newman, 77, knelt down in the middle of the road outside Mansion House in the City of London where he was gathered with dozens of Jewish protesters campaigning for governmental action against climate change.

In the video, Rabbi Newman can be seen refusing to stand up and telling a policeman “I would like to say that you’re not speaking truth.”

Rabbi Newman revealed he was released on Monday evening after being held in custody for several hours.

The rabbi emeritus of Finchley Reform Synagogue, who wore tallits and a white kippa with the black Extinction Rebellion logo, also carried a lulav palm frond and etrog yellow citrus.

He said:  “The highest principle is the saving of life, pikuach nefesh, there isn’t anything more that we’re doing here in Extinction Rebellion than being aware that millions, or hundreds of millions of people, already are at threat because of the changing climate.”

Comments (5)

  • Naomi Wayne says:

    Good to see his own synagogue, Finchley Reform, posted an approving piece on their Facebook page, and there was solidarity too from Danny Rich, Chief Exec of Liberal Judaism.

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  • Kenny Fryde says:

    I was privileged to grow up within Finchley Reform Schul under Rabbi Jeffrey’s powerful spiritual leadership. He was unfailingly generous and thoughtful, gifted at bringing his learning to bear upon the real world, but above all he exuded an extraordinary level of honesty and lack of front that was at once disarming and demanding of the listener’s full attention. It has been very moving to see his courage on display before the world’s media.

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  • different frank says:

    Better than Rabbi Johnathan Sacks who praised A vile racist book by well known racist, Douglas Murray.
    Good on him.

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  • Jean Crocker says:

    Let’s hear it for Rabbi Jeffrey Newman!

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  • Ron says:

    But who gave the order if not our own mayor?

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