Lesley Levy is an anti-racist Jewish Canadian human rights and peace activist.
Lesley Levy on “Not in my name” (2012): “I have been actively involved in the Palestinian rights, anti-occupation movement for the past nine years … When mainstream Jews insist that Zionism and Judaism are synonymous, I cannot help as a Jew but to feel tarred with the same brush. There is a yearning to cry out, “Not in my name!” I cannot remain informed of what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people and at the same time continue to be a silent bystander… My sense of outrage, guilt , and shame about the treatment of Palestinians clearly demonstrates that I do identify strongly as a Jew. I can disagree with the Zionist ideology and the policies of the Styate if Israel and still be proud of my Jewish heritage. One advantage of being in my sixties is that I have much less to lose by speaking out. I no longer worry about what others think, or whether it will ruin my chances of getting a job. I have earned the courage of my convictions.” [1, 2].
[1]. Lesley Levy, “The courage of my convictions”: in “Beyond Tribal Loyalties. Personal Stories of Jewish Peace Activists”, edited by Avigail Abarbanel (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2012) (pp 87-88 & 94).
[2]. Lesley Levy quoted in Gideon Polya, “Book Review: “Beyond Tribal Loyalties”. Stories of anti-racist Jews”, MWC News, 18 January 2012: http://mwcnews.net/focus/analysis/24184-gideonpolya-beyond-tribal-loyalties.html .