Elana Orbuch
Overview
Elana Orbuch is an organizer with IfNotNow (INN) who helped coordinate an INN DC training event co-led by Taher Herzallah of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) in 2018.Orbuch also promoted INN DC events that repurposed Jewish rituals and indicated on Facebook that she “went” to a planning event for INN’s protest of the 2017 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) national policy conference.
As of June 2019, Orbuch’s LinkedIn page said that she was a “Research Assistant” at Georgetown University Law Center (Georgetown) since November 2018. “
Orbuch’s LinkedIn also said she was slated to receive a “Doctor of Law - JD” from Georgetown in 2021 and that she received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and International Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) in 2015.
INN Activity
Orbuch helped coordinate and promote a May 19, 2018 INN DC training event co-led by Taher Herzallah, the Associate Director of Outreach & Grassroots Organizing for AMP.On May 16, 2018, Orbuch invited her followers to come to the event to “learn more about what's been happening in Gaza.”
INN’s comment on the Facebook photo described the training as gathering to “learn more about the history of Gaza, Palestinian non-violent resistance and how our community can take action to oppose the Israeli Military's recent actions.”
In May 2018, terror group Hamas instigated violent riots on the Israeli-Gaza border. Thousands of rioters attempted to breach Israel’s border fence, declaring their intention to harm Jews across the border under the pretext of “peaceful resistance.”
On May 14, 2018, Orbuch shared to Facebook a video of an INN DC demonstration in Washington, D.C. to mourn [01:09:33] the Palestinians killed during the Great March of Return protests on Israel’s border with Gaza.
During the demonstration INN protestors chanted [01:32:00] “We are horrified by Israel’s violent response to Palestinian non-violent protests.”
On May 16, 2018, a Hamas senior official, Salah al-Bardawil, stated that 50 out of 62 protesters killed during the May 14 Gaza border protest were Hamas operatives. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) also claimed that three of its members were killed at the same protest.
During the demonstration INN protestors chanted [01:32:00] “We are horrified by Israel’s violent response to Palestinian non-violent protests.”
On May 16, 2018, a Hamas senior official, Salah al-Bardawil, stated that 50 out of 62 protesters killed during the May 14 Gaza border protest were Hamas operatives. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) also claimed that three of its members were killed at the same protest.
The May 14, 2018, event also protested the U.S. government’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
On December 20, 2017, Orbuch launched a Facebook-based fundraiser for INN.
On December 20, 2017, Orbuch launched a Facebook-based fundraiser for INN.
Repurposing Jewish Rituals
On March 19, 2018, Orbuch posted to Facebook: “Hey DC Friends --Starting to think of Passover plans? Are you looking for a meaningful way to conclude Passover? Come join me and IfNotNow DC for a Passover Seder!” She also linked to INN DC’s April 7, 2018 event “Let My People Know: IfNotNow DC Passover Seder.”On April 6, 2018, Orbuch again promoted INN DC’s Passover Seder to Facebook, adding: “We will be the generation to transform our community’s support for the occupation into a call for freedom and dignity for all.”
A Seder is a Jewish Passover ritual, that involves telling the story of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in ancient Egypt and their travels to the Promised Land.
On February 27, 2017, Orbuch promoted INN DC’s March 3, 2017, Friday night dinner, posting on the Facebook event page: “Hey all -- we are very excited to have another weekend with Shabbat Friday night dinners around DC. Feel free to fill out this form if you are interested in coming & share with friends who you think would enjoy to get involved with INN!”
Protesting AIPAC
On February 28, 2017, Orbuch indicated on Facebook that she “went” to the INN event “Join the Jewish Resistance: Baltimore Community Action Meeting.”
The event description invited attendees to “learn more about our upcoming action at AIPAC’s policy conference in March.”
On March 26, 2017, INN held a protest outside the Washington D.C. venue of the AIPAC Policy Conference. Protestors chained themselves to the entrance of the conference center. Several hundred protesters also marched and chanted for hours outside the venue.
The stated mission of AIPAC is to “strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of the United States and Israel.”
Four INN activists purchased tickets to the conference as AIPAC delegates, in order to gain access to the building. Once inside, the INN activists dropped [00:00:37] banners from the center’s third floor, stating that they “reject AIPAC and the occupation,” before being removed by security.
IfNotNow (INN)
IfNotNow (INN) is an anti-Israel organization founded in 2014, in response to Israel’s Operation Protective Edge (OPE) against Hamas.
INN claims to be “young Jews angered by the overwhelmingly hawkish response of American Jewish institutions” to OPE. INN presents three demands on its website: “Stop the War on Gaza, End the Occupation, and Freedom and Dignity for All.”
INN defines “the Occupation as the military rule over Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza,” which is land Israel has controlled for nearly 50 years since the 1967 Six-Day War. However, INN leaders have made [00:34:32] the claim [00:13:49] at protests that the occupation is 70 years long, referring to Israel’s founding in 1948.
INN actions have aimed to demonize [00:38:13] Israel, harass [00:05:44] mainstream American Jewish organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and decrease support for Israel among American Jews.
INN has used “public action and imaginative ritual” to achieve its goals, including disruptions where activists were arrested.
One of the high-profile arrests occurred at a May 2018 disruption at a U.S. Senator’s office in Washington, D.C. to protest legislation against the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
At the same incident, INN used [00:07:17] the Jewish ritual of the Mourner’s Kaddish prayer to mourn [00:09:10] protesters who were killed during the Hamas-organized and funded Great March of Return riots on the Israel-Gaza border.
INN activists have also staged and promoted walk-offs from Birthright Israel trips, a heritage trip to Israel for young Jewish adults from across the world.
INN claims to be “young Jews angered by the overwhelmingly hawkish response of American Jewish institutions” to OPE. INN presents three demands on its website: “Stop the War on Gaza, End the Occupation, and Freedom and Dignity for All.”
INN defines “the Occupation as the military rule over Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza,” which is land Israel has controlled for nearly 50 years since the 1967 Six-Day War. However, INN leaders have made [00:34:32] the claim [00:13:49] at protests that the occupation is 70 years long, referring to Israel’s founding in 1948.
INN actions have aimed to demonize [00:38:13] Israel, harass [00:05:44] mainstream American Jewish organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and decrease support for Israel among American Jews.
INN has used “public action and imaginative ritual” to achieve its goals, including disruptions where activists were arrested.
One of the high-profile arrests occurred at a May 2018 disruption at a U.S. Senator’s office in Washington, D.C. to protest legislation against the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
At the same incident, INN used [00:07:17] the Jewish ritual of the Mourner’s Kaddish prayer to mourn [00:09:10] protesters who were killed during the Hamas-organized and funded Great March of Return riots on the Israel-Gaza border.
INN activists have also staged and promoted walk-offs from Birthright Israel trips, a heritage trip to Israel for young Jewish adults from across the world.
INN claims to take no position on the BDS movement and that it is “open to any who seek to shift the American Jewish public away from the status quo that upholds the Occupation.” However, INN organizes with pro-BDS, anti-Israel organizations including American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).
Social Media and Weblinks
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ElanaOrbuch
Medium: https://medium.com/@ElanaOrbuch
