Lex Rofeberg
Overview
Lex Rofeberg [Lex Rofes] is an anti-Israel activist with IfNotNow (INN) who has expressed support for the violent “March of Return,” opposed the United States embassy move to Jerusalem and promoted training Jewish camp counselors to teach about “the Occupation.”Rofeberg has also traveled to Washington, D.C. to protest against the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and shown solidarity with INN founder, Simone Zimmerman after then-U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders suspended her as his national Jewish outreach coordinator due to her online attacks on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rofeberg has expressed support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and for activists with the anti-Israel Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). He also promoted anti-Israel agitator Ahed Tamimi.
As of February 2019, Rofeberg’s LinkedIn page said he was the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator at the Jewish American think tank Institute for the Next Jewish Future and a co-host for their weekly podcast, Judaism Unbound.
Rofeberg’s LinkedIn page also said that he graduated in 2013 from Brown University (Brown), where he served as a Student President at the Hillel in 2012. He was also a Student Representative on the Hillel International Board of Directors from September 2011 to June 2013.
As of February, 2019, Rofeberg attended Rabbinical School at ALEPH: The Alliance for Jewish Renewal.
INN Anti-Israel Activism
INN actions have aimed to demonize [00:38:13] Israel, harass the American Jewish establishment and decrease support for Israel among Diaspora Jewish young adults.Expressing Support for the March of Return
On May 14, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Twitter: “I saw this license plate. Dayenu — enough— is right. Enough endless occupation. Enough firing on unarmed protesters in Gaza.”On March 30, 2018, some 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza approached Israel’s border to take part in “Land Day Protests,” or the “March of Return.” The march was organized and funded by Hamas as a campaign of violent protests to spotlight the Palestinian demand to “return” to Israel. The “right of return” has since been discredited as a means to eliminate Israel.
March participants sent scores of kites bearing explosive devices across Israel’s border to burn Israeli crops and homes. Participants also attempted to breach the border fence, which caused the Israeli Defense Forces to respond with live fire. Agitators also threw Molotov cocktails and firebombs, shot firearms and threw rocks.
Media reports confirmed [00:00:20] the March of Return protesters’ breaches and attempted breaches of Israel’s border fence, some by armed Palestinians. One Hamas leader declared [00:00:30]: “We will take down the border [with Israel] and we will tear out their hearts from their bodies.”
On April 13, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “A journalist was killed by the IDF…His name was Yaser Murtaja...After killing this journalist, for Standing-While-Palestinian, the Israeli government made up lies about him.”
Yasser Murtaja, a photojournalist, was reportedly a Hamas spy who used drones to film Israeli military positions. Murtaja was shot and killed on April 6, 2018, as he filmed the 2018 Hamas-led “March of Return” protest in Gaza.
On April 12, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “Jewish Federations...Their silence in the face of over 30 dead Palestinian protesters (and over 1,000 wounded), is abominable and indefensible” and shared a live video of INN activists being arrested outside the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.
On April 9, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “How many more deaths will it take for people like Chuck Schumer to condemn the killing of Palestinian protesters?” and shared a live video of INN protesters outside of New York Senator Charles Schumer’s office.
Rofeberg’s post also encouraged people to “add your name” to an INN petition which claimed that “the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) opened fire on protesters in Gaza, killing 17 and injuring over 1,400 — over half of whom were injured after being shot with live ammunition.”
On April 6, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “We asked the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island to join us in our opposition to the daily nightmare that is the Occupation, and the clear travesty that manifests through shooting hundreds of unarmed protesters in Gaza. Their response? They called the cops.”
Rofeberg’s post shared a live video of himself and fellow activists being escorted [00:13:00] off the property by police. When police asked who was in charge, Rofeberg and another activist insisted they were “a collective."
On April 5, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “When we rationalize Israel's actions as ‘self-defense,’ we are rationalizing...shooting at unarmed people...at unarmed teenagers...Hundreds and hundreds of innocent people are being shot at for protesting nonviolently.”
On April 3, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “On Passover, we rise. It doesn’t matter that our bread doesn’t. Love to my friends and heroes who were arrested this morning at the Israeli Consulate. Will those in power hear the cries of those who have been killed?”
Rofeberg’s post shared an article about INN Boston activists who were arrested [00:19:47] after they chained themselves to the doors and blocked the entrance of the Israeli Consulate of New England on April 3, 2018.
Most of the Gazans who died between March 30, 2018 and April 11, 2018 were identified as terror operatives, killed while rioting against IDF forces, carrying out terrorist attacks, or attempting to breach the border security fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
The Facebook event description said: “Join IfNotNow members and supporters in Washington D.C. on May 14 to protest the opening of Trump’s Embassy of Occupation...the future of the Jewish community is opposed to that...and to the ongoing Israeli Occupation.”
That same day, Rofeberg shared a photo on Twitter of himself and fellow activists at the protest and wrote: “Rabbinical students are here at the #EmbassyofFreedom to stand strong against the occupation.”
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.
Rofeberg’s post also included a link to sign up for an INN “Camp Counselor Training on the Occupation.”
On June 12, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “Sending love and support to Ramah alumni today. You are not antisemites. You do not deserve to be treated like traitors by an organization you love. Calling on your camps to educate differently is not hate. Asking for the Occupation to be named, and Palestinian voices to be heard, is not blasphemy.”
Rofeberg’s post was in response to Camp Ramah’s Director, Rabbi Mitchell Cohen’s decision after meeting with INN members not to partner with the group.
That same day, INN shared on Facebook an image of a copy of Rabbi Cohen’s response and wrote: “Today the National Ramah Commission (NRC) emailed this statement...the NRC and its Director, Rabbi Mitch Cohen imply that our effort — by 15 Ramah alumni (who are members of IfNotNow) to ensure that Ramah community learns about the Occupation...is anti-Semitic.”
The email reportedly said: “Ramah camps have not engaged — and will not engage — in any way with If Not Now as an organization...we made it very clear to them….we do not allow any anti-Israel, anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist education at Ramah.”
In a statement on June 6, 2018, the NRC said: “a wide variety of positions supporting Israel can be voiced and discussed. We do not, however, permit the sharing of anti-Israel educational messages at camp.”
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.”
Two days after being appointed, Zimmerman was suspended from the position, following the discovery that she had posted on Facebook “profanity-laced messages...critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu” in 2015.
Zimmerman’s post reportedly said: "Bibi Netanyahu is an arrogant, deceptive, cynical, manipulative a**hole," [referring to the prime minister by his nickname]. The post went on to say: "F**k you, Bibi, for daring to insist that you legitimately represent even a fraction of the Jews in this world."
On April 15, 2016, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook about Zimmerman’s suspension: “My heart is in my stomach. What a sad moment for American Judaism. We… made it clear that we really don't care to have the leadership of our most talented, most successful young Jews if their views on Israel don't align with outdated notions of communal consensus.”
On April 16, 2016, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook that “[Zimmerman’s] Judaism is far closer to our Judaism than the Judaism of our establishment. For that reason, this feels like an attack on our whole network of social justice-loving, occupation-fighting American Jews.”
On January 12, 2017, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “If it ever has been unclear...I support a settlement boycott.”
On March 8, 2016, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “BDS is a disproportionately Jewish movement. Whatever you think of BDS, the idea that fighting it is synonymous with ‘defending Jews’ is totally anathema to young Jews today.”
On January 31, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “Follow IfNotNow's high school-led actions around the country today. #FreeAhed. #NoBirthdayBehindBars.” Rofeberg’s post embedded an op-ed titled: “A Letter To Ahed Tamimi On Her Birthday, From One Teenage Girl To Another.”
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/536488586
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lex-rofeberg-18756429/
On April 9, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “How many more deaths will it take for people like Chuck Schumer to condemn the killing of Palestinian protesters?” and shared a live video of INN protesters outside of New York Senator Charles Schumer’s office.
Rofeberg’s post also encouraged people to “add your name” to an INN petition which claimed that “the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) opened fire on protesters in Gaza, killing 17 and injuring over 1,400 — over half of whom were injured after being shot with live ammunition.”
On April 6, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “We asked the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island to join us in our opposition to the daily nightmare that is the Occupation, and the clear travesty that manifests through shooting hundreds of unarmed protesters in Gaza. Their response? They called the cops.”
Rofeberg’s post shared a live video of himself and fellow activists being escorted [00:13:00] off the property by police. When police asked who was in charge, Rofeberg and another activist insisted they were “a collective."
On April 5, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “When we rationalize Israel's actions as ‘self-defense,’ we are rationalizing...shooting at unarmed people...at unarmed teenagers...Hundreds and hundreds of innocent people are being shot at for protesting nonviolently.”
On April 3, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “On Passover, we rise. It doesn’t matter that our bread doesn’t. Love to my friends and heroes who were arrested this morning at the Israeli Consulate. Will those in power hear the cries of those who have been killed?”
Rofeberg’s post shared an article about INN Boston activists who were arrested [00:19:47] after they chained themselves to the doors and blocked the entrance of the Israeli Consulate of New England on April 3, 2018.
Most of the Gazans who died between March 30, 2018 and April 11, 2018 were identified as terror operatives, killed while rioting against IDF forces, carrying out terrorist attacks, or attempting to breach the border security fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Opposing U.S. Embassy Move
On May 14, 2018, Rofeberg attended an INN event in Washington, D.C. titled: “The #EmbassyOfFreedom: Rally Against Israeli Violence on Gaza.” Rofeberg held a sign that said: “Rabbinical Students Stand Against The Jerusalem Embassy Move.”The Facebook event description said: “Join IfNotNow members and supporters in Washington D.C. on May 14 to protest the opening of Trump’s Embassy of Occupation...the future of the Jewish community is opposed to that...and to the ongoing Israeli Occupation.”
That same day, Rofeberg shared a photo on Twitter of himself and fellow activists at the protest and wrote: “Rabbinical students are here at the #EmbassyofFreedom to stand strong against the occupation.”
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.
Also on May 14, 2018, Rofeberg shared a live video on Facebook of INN protesters marching with signs opposing the Embassy move and wrote: “Dozens of Gazans have been killed today. American Jews cannot stand for it. Hundreds of us here in DC to show that we don’t. #EmbassyOfFreedom.”
On June 12, 2017, Rofeberg participated INN disruption at the Celebrate Israel Festival in Watertown, MA and said: “‘Celebrating’ 50 years of Jerusalem ... represent 50 years of oppression and occupation for Palestinians. We have to highlight that. At conferences, or parades, or suburban mall gatherings. And that's what IfNotNow is doing, Baruch Hashem [Blessed be God].”
On June 12, 2017, Rofeberg participated INN disruption at the Celebrate Israel Festival in Watertown, MA and said: “‘Celebrating’ 50 years of Jerusalem ... represent 50 years of oppression and occupation for Palestinians. We have to highlight that. At conferences, or parades, or suburban mall gatherings. And that's what IfNotNow is doing, Baruch Hashem [Blessed be God].”
Promoting INN Camp Training
On March 26, 2018, Rofeberg shared an image on Facebook that said: “Calling all Camp Counselors! Sign up and Learn how to Teach about the Occupation” and said: “having learned about the travesties of the occupation…I so badly wanted to create the conversations that I had never been offered as a camper, around the travesties of occupation.”Rofeberg’s post also included a link to sign up for an INN “Camp Counselor Training on the Occupation.”
On June 12, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “Sending love and support to Ramah alumni today. You are not antisemites. You do not deserve to be treated like traitors by an organization you love. Calling on your camps to educate differently is not hate. Asking for the Occupation to be named, and Palestinian voices to be heard, is not blasphemy.”
Rofeberg’s post was in response to Camp Ramah’s Director, Rabbi Mitchell Cohen’s decision after meeting with INN members not to partner with the group.
That same day, INN shared on Facebook an image of a copy of Rabbi Cohen’s response and wrote: “Today the National Ramah Commission (NRC) emailed this statement...the NRC and its Director, Rabbi Mitch Cohen imply that our effort — by 15 Ramah alumni (who are members of IfNotNow) to ensure that Ramah community learns about the Occupation...is anti-Semitic.”
The email reportedly said: “Ramah camps have not engaged — and will not engage — in any way with If Not Now as an organization...we made it very clear to them….we do not allow any anti-Israel, anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist education at Ramah.”
In a statement on June 6, 2018, the NRC said: “a wide variety of positions supporting Israel can be voiced and discussed. We do not, however, permit the sharing of anti-Israel educational messages at camp.”
Protesting AIPAC
On March 26, 2017, Rofeberg participated in INN’s national protest against AIPAC at their national convention. The event’s Facebook description said: “AIPAC has directly supported policies that enable endless occupation.”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.”
On March 27, 2017, Rofeberg shared a photo of himself and fellow INN activists at the INN national protest against AIPAC in Washington, D.C.
That same day, Rofeberg shared a video on his Facebook page of the INN natioanl protest and wrote: “It's hard to put into words how special IfNotNow's action to #ResistAIPAC was...I've participated in many forms of Jewish prayer. Yesterday was the best.”
The video showed activists who barred [00:00:02] the entrance to the convention and wore [00:00:08] t-shirts that read: If Not Now Says End The Occupation Reject AIPAC.”
That same day, Rofeberg shared a video on his Facebook page of the INN natioanl protest and wrote: “It's hard to put into words how special IfNotNow's action to #ResistAIPAC was...I've participated in many forms of Jewish prayer. Yesterday was the best.”
The video showed activists who barred [00:00:02] the entrance to the convention and wore [00:00:08] t-shirts that read: If Not Now Says End The Occupation Reject AIPAC.”
Solidarity with Simone Zimmerman
On April 13, 2016, Rofeberg wrote a Facebook post congratulating INN co-founder, Simone Zimmerman for being appointed to serve as the Jewish Outreach Director for the Bernie Sanders Presidential campaign.Two days after being appointed, Zimmerman was suspended from the position, following the discovery that she had posted on Facebook “profanity-laced messages...critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu” in 2015.
Zimmerman’s post reportedly said: "Bibi Netanyahu is an arrogant, deceptive, cynical, manipulative a**hole," [referring to the prime minister by his nickname]. The post went on to say: "F**k you, Bibi, for daring to insist that you legitimately represent even a fraction of the Jews in this world."
On April 15, 2016, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook about Zimmerman’s suspension: “My heart is in my stomach. What a sad moment for American Judaism. We… made it clear that we really don't care to have the leadership of our most talented, most successful young Jews if their views on Israel don't align with outdated notions of communal consensus.”
On April 16, 2016, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook that “[Zimmerman’s] Judaism is far closer to our Judaism than the Judaism of our establishment. For that reason, this feels like an attack on our whole network of social justice-loving, occupation-fighting American Jews.”
Support for BDS
On November 1, 2017, Rofeberg wrote a statement on Facebook demonizing “local Jewish communal leadership…..JCRC and Jewish Federation officials” for praising then-Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, for signing “an executive order that prohibits state agencies from entering into contracts with companies that boycott Israel.”On January 12, 2017, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “If it ever has been unclear...I support a settlement boycott.”
On March 8, 2016, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “BDS is a disproportionately Jewish movement. Whatever you think of BDS, the idea that fighting it is synonymous with ‘defending Jews’ is totally anathema to young Jews today.”
Promoting an Anti-Israel Agitator
On July 26, 2018, Rofeberg wrote a post on Facebook and shared an article expressing support for anti-Israel agitator, Ahed Tamimi.Ahed Tamimi has a long history of physically attacking Israeli soldiers. Tamimi is the daughter of Bassem Tamimi, who is known for exploiting young children as political props in staged confrontations with Israeli soldiers.
On January 31, 2018, Rofeberg wrote on Facebook: “Follow IfNotNow's high school-led actions around the country today. #FreeAhed. #NoBirthdayBehindBars.” Rofeberg’s post embedded an op-ed titled: “A Letter To Ahed Tamimi On Her Birthday, From One Teenage Girl To Another.”
BDS
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement was founded by Omar Barghouti in 2005 to challenge “international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism.” BDS is an allegedly “Palestinian-led movement,” although leading BDS activists have admitted [00:01:01] this is not true.
One of the demands of BDS includes [point 3] what is generally known as the “right of return,” a demand discredited as a way to eliminate Israel. Barghouti said the “right of return” is a means to “end Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.”
Barghouti has said that BDS “aims to turn Israel into a pariah state, as South Africa once was.”
In his activism, Barghouti has also said [00:05:55] regarding Israel: “Definitely, most definitely, we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No…rational Palestinian, not a sellout Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine.”
The movement has been linked to numerous terrorist organizations and received a public endorsement from Hamas in 2017.
BDS initiatives include calling on institutions and individuals to divest from Israeli-affiliated companies, promoting academic and cultural boycotts of Israel, and organizing anti-Israel rallies, protests and campaigns.
The movement’s most notable achievement has been the infiltration of university campuses through lobbying for “BDS resolutions.” In these cases, student governments and student groups, backed by their own anti-Israel members and affiliates, have proposed resolutions on some form of boycott of, or divestment from, Israel and Israeli-affiliated entities.
Boycott resolutions, although non-binding, have been passed by student governments on numerous North American campuses.
BDS activity is often aggressive and disruptive. It has been noted that universities that pass BDS resolutions see a marked increase in anti-Semitic incidents on campus. On one campus, when the student government debated a BDS resolution, reports emerged of violent threats against those opposing it.
Social Media and Weblinks
Twitter:https://twitter.com/LexaphusFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/536488586
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lex-rofeberg-18756429/
Videos
3 videos
Photos & Screenshots
56 images
Infamous Quotes
“On Passover, we rise. It doesn't matter that our bread doesn't. Love to my friends and heroes who were arrested this morning at the Israel Consulate.”
“If it ever has been unclear, now seems like a worthwhile time to state clearly that i support a settlement boycott.”
“BDS is a disproportionately Jewish movement. Whatever you think of BDS, the idea that fighting it is synonymous with “defending Jews” is totally anathema to young Jews today.”
“I am not a JVP member. That said...I will not enter Israel as long as they are barred from doing so.”
