Announcements and Statements


Announcements
JVP Tashlich event on Sunday, September 21st, 2:30 pm

We write to invite you to a Tashlich event the Tacoma chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace is planning for 2:30 pm, Sunday, September 21st, at Owen Beach in Tacoma. This day is also a United Nations holiday called the International Day of Peace. We hope members of your spiritual community will attend.

The time between the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are traditionally the new-year period in which we recognize and atone for our wrong-doings and strive for renewal. One of the rituals is to symbolically cast away our sins by tossing things like pebbles into a body of water. We thereby aim to recognize our sins and to transform their energy — this year especially in order to renew our commitment to the struggle for justice in Palestine. As we acknowledge our complicity in genocide as US citizens, we commit together to act to end that complicity and to continue to work for justice and liberation for Palestinians.

Versions of “MOURN THE DEAD, FIGHT FOR THE LIVING: a mass public ritual-action to channel grief into action to stop a genocide” will happen around the country. In Tacoma, our focus is to take action together to end the genocide by calling for the US to stop sending weapons to Israel.

Unlike other protests that Jewish Voice for Peace Tacoma holds, for this one we will have only one large banner, visible to passersby, calling for an arms embargo. We ask that people leave other signs at home. We also ask people to wear white as much as possible (white shirt? white-and-black keffiyeh? all white if possible?), and we invite participants to bring a small white bundle (perhaps a pillow) to represent the shrouded murdered children for whom we mourn.

We envision a solemn time of reflection, song, a voicing of our grief and outrage and a recommitment together to take action to end the genocide.

Quakers Discern Genocide is Occurring in Gaza and Urge Courageous Action.

Quakers Discern Genocide is Occurring in Gaza and Urge Courageous Action 2025-07-25_0.pdf

Endorsement for this statement that is offered by American Friends Service Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Canadian Friends Service Committee, Friends World Committee for Consultation, Quakers in Britain/Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Quaker Council on European Affairs, Quaker Service Norway, Quaker United Nations Office, and others was approved at Tacoma Friends Meeting for Business on Sunday, September 14, 2025.

FCNL Calls for Diplomatic Solutions in Ukraine

The link below takes you to a document from the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) that outlines recommendations to end the current Russian/Ukranian conflict. Tacoma Friends are in the process of discerning if we are led to write a Minute of Concern regarding Ukraine. It is helpful to read what FCNL, our Quaker peace lobby, is saying on this matter.

War in Ukraine and the Urgent Need for Diplomatic Solutions.pdf

Audio of Tacoma Friends Minute on Conflict in Israel and Gaza

Friend Louisa Beal recorded our Minute as a PSA for KTAH Radio Tacoma 101.9 FM. The QR code below takes you to audio of the PSA.


Opportunities for Action

Community Statements

Tacoma Friends Updated Minute on Conflict in Israel and Gaza, approved by Meeting for Business June, 2025

Tacoma Friends Minute on Conflict in Israel and Gaza, approved by Meeting for Business January 14, 2024

TFM Land Acknowledgement that the meeting house sits on Puyallup Tribe unceded territory, recognition of our responsibility for harm, ongoing commitment to right relationships, and repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery.

2024 State of the Society Report “Tacoma Friends Monthly Meeting’s cup is full and runneth over! . . .”