Instagram story viewer> @giligetz> Posts

giligetz

@giligetz

4.7K

followers

2759

following

Photojournalist, Peace Activist and Actor

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

It was so deeply special and powerful to spend the last few days with friends and visionary Israeli and Palestinian leaders building peace through partnership, grounded in equality, shared humanity, and the belief that we are helping bring a future where all people, from the river to the sea, are safe and free. Israelis and Palestinians. Deeply inspiring and courageous.
It’s much harder for Palestinians to visit the US because of Trump’s racist policies. But peace will come.

Life has become painfully cheap in the holy land. The sacredness of life has eroded dramatically. Daily death, killing murder and other forms of violence have been normalized, and spread to all corners of the land. Alongside a rise in dehumanization, trauma and deep depression and despair of the populations while being led by fanatical murderous criminals. Isolated, abandoned, neglected and brainwashed.
But peace will come - it’s already here.

In these dark times it was powerful to witness the impact on American audiences hearing this message of peace. Many of whom are accustomed to a binary perspective that so often inherently demands dehumanization. Often facing and holding perspectives that justifies violence, minimizes atrocities, and denies the humanity of Palestinians and/or Israelis.

But in these conversations people were invited into something different: to support joint work for peace, freedom, democracy and justice. Work rooted in pain, lose struggle and sacrifice but also in the truth that peace and equality will come and that it will bring a better, safer future for all of us. And that we must build it together. Because our lives are profoundly interconnected. Everyone can be a partner in that work.

Peace was already present in that room. In front of our eyes. This radical reality…

On April 30th, the People’s Peace Summit, organized by the @itstime.coalition coalition of over 80 peacebuilding and shared society organizations, will take place in Tel Aviv at a moment when Israel is heading toward elections during an ongoing coup and endless wars.

I added at the end few photos from last year’s It’s time People’s Peace Summit in Jerusalem. by @giligetz

220

24

6 months ago

My top 10 picks for 2023 images I captured.
Published in JTA, Haaretz, 972 and the high holidays program of CBST 🙂
Happy New Year everyone.

Pink Front at the weekly march against the Netanyahu judicial coup in Tel Aviv.

Block against the occupation and UnXeptable weekly protests against the judicial coup in Washington Square Park

Israeli led protest against Kohelet’s Moshe Koppel, one of the leading architects of the Judicial Coup, in his visit to New York.

Israeli led rally for release of hostages held by Hamas outside the United Nations as the families visit the United Nations headquarters

Jewish led protest for Ceasefire in Gaza in front of the White House

Israel’s judicial coup architect Jewish supremacist Simcha Rothman walks at New York City Celebrate Israel Parade while being protested by Israelis and American Jews.

Flame of Hope
2023 Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Ceremony. 15,000 attend in a standing room only largest peace event in the region.

The NYC Israeli anti occupation Block (גוש נגד הכיבוש) and American Jews protested outside of Bibi’s hotel a day before his meeting with Biden.

50th Anniversary year of the legendary Pride Shabbat at CBST.

Reclaim Pride Coalition’s 2023 Queer Liberation March by @giligetz

263

13

3 years ago

“I reversed the genders of every person in the Torah - Why would I do such a massive act of chutzpah?” Yael writes about the first ever Simchat Toratah in which she will unveil Chumash Bereshit in #Hebrew #Jewish
And my photo :) by @giligetz

189

6

5 years ago

Thank you @jstreetdotorg for hosting @israelisforpeacenyc Tamar and me. And thank you, @amifieldsmeyer for your truly excellent and inspiring book about fighting the rise of authoritarianism.

Still processing the Oct 7th vigil. It was extremely intense and inspiring. Proud that we insisted on holding a vigil and honor the deep pain and struggle of both people. While being shouted at with venom and hate on an extremely painful day for our community and people.

Beyond all the noise, media coverage, commentators, influencers, and the endless pro and anti sides, we believe that peace and an end to the killing can bring about a better future for all Israelis and Palestinians from the river to the sea who are paying such an unbearable price. That we must stop the crimes. That we can work across difference. We can mourn together, resist together and fight for democracy, safety, equality and freedom for all of us. Not denial of each other’s humanity and pain. Not in support/justification/minimization of killing children.

And America must lead. I spoke about the leadership of our friend the next member of congress Brad Lander and senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed who believe we need big coalitions to fight for American democracy. That there is a way for Jews and Muslim and all Americans to work together in this critical moment for our democracy. That our freedom depends on us being able to do it. Not walking away from each other. It’s true in America and in
Israel/Palestine.

That another way is possible… by @giligetz

47

0

4 days ago

I voted early with an absentee ballot since I’ll be out of the country during the election.

I voted on the Working Families line, including for my friend Brad Lander for Congress, Kathy Hochul for Governor, Letitia James for Attorney General, and Grace Lee for State Senate.

Make a plan to vote. We are going to win back the house and senate if everyone shows up. by @giligetz

57

0

5 days ago

@truahrabbis Jewish calendar featuring my photos has arrived!

The cover features my photograph of the massive protest against ICE in April outside NYC’s ICE headquarters, where 10 rabbis were arrested. by @giligetz

15

1

8 days ago

Yesterday we protested the ICE shooting and terror in our city in a large coalition of orgs with public officials.
My photos: by @giligetz

61

0

9 days ago

“Once again, the screams of hate thundered over the nuanced pleas for peace. The scene in Union Square this week felt furious and historical, painful and fraught. And yet I still believe: There is more that unites us than divides us. Peace will prevail. It begins in the messy middle where redemption lives.” ~ Rabbi @amichailaulavie

We invite you to read Rabbi Amichai’s eye witness account and reflections on what happened in Union Square on the third annual @israelisforpeacenyc Vigil for 10/7. He was right in the middle of it ➡️ 🔗BLOG link in our bio or visit: www.labshul.org/category/blog

📸 Photo credit: @giligetz by @giligetz

137

8

9 days ago

I am proud of our way. Proud of my fellow @israelisforpeacenyc organizers. Proud of all who stood with us on this difficult night.

It was very hard night to face such an enormous amount of hate. We were deeply honored to host the Mayor, renowned religious leaders, and public officials as we read testimonies from October 7 survivors and hostage families, as well as Palestinians surviving the atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank.

And we called for an end to the killing. We called for peace.

I’m truly overwhelmed and appreciative of all the messages of support and love. When you face such levels of hate, you feel very vulnerable and isolated. So it means a lot. Thank you. I’ll try to get back to everyone.

Peacemaking often requires challenging your own community. It means facing the binary, rigid, tribal, intolerant, and sometimes violent reactions that come when we offer another path, one based on our shared humanity rather than narrow ideological differences.

A path that believes there will be no liberation or freedom for anyone if we don’t work together.

And that only together can we free all of us from violence and hate. Not by further decoupling our pain. By insisting the killing stops and healing and rebuilding and reconciliation and peace begin.

My photos: by @giligetz

195

9

9 days ago

Tonight, organized by @israelisforpeacenyc, we read the heart-rending words of mothers & fathers & sons & daughters who lost Israeli loved ones on October 7th — and who lost Palestinian loved ones in the three years since.

We said kaddish for all of them. We refused to compromise on anyone’s humanity. No amount of shouting stopped us (and no amount of social media snark will, either).

May their memories be for a (direly needed) blessing.

📸: @giligetz (of course) by @giligetz

3k

161

11 days ago

Last Wednesday, Mai Shahin, Jamil Qassas, and Gili Getz gave an empowering talk to the Tri-College community. They left a powerful impression on our community. Bi-Co Atidna is honored to share and uplift the critical work by @combatantsforpeace_english and @afcfpeace for a future without war and oppression. Thank you to everyone who came to and supported this event ☮️🕊️✌️ taken in Bryn Mawr College by @giligetz

59

0

12 days ago

One of my favorite NYC Jewish celebrations is Simchat Torah Across Brooklyn with the Brooklyn Jewish community, the day our people celebrate the Torah.

I experience it as an expression of a Judaism that is free. Free to be together across difference. Inclusive. Connected. Full of joy and love.

Growing up I never thought of the Torah as belonging to me. But over time, I learned to experience the Torah as mine. Learning that I get to shape my relationship with it. That it is mine to dance and celebrate with. That it belongs to all of us.

It’s also a beautiful moment of renewal in our tradition.

My photos: by @giligetz

199

3

14 days ago