Arik Ascherman
Arik Ascherman (Hebrew: אריק אשרמן; born 1959) is an American-born Israeli Reform rabbi, and Executive Director of the Israeli human rights organization Torat Tzedek-Torah of Justice. For 21 years, starting in 1995, he served as Co-Director (1995-1998), Executive Director (1998-2010), Director of Special Projects (2010-2012) and President and Senior Rabbi (2012-2017) for Rabbis for Human Rights, an Israeli organization.
Arik Ascherman אריק אשרמן | |
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Rabbi Arik Ascherman in 2012 | |
Born | Arik Ascherman 1959 (age 64–65) Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Known for | Long time executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights |
As a human rights activist, he has spearheaded activities to defend Palestinians against Israeli settler violence, worked for socioeconomic justice for Israelis, and advocated on behalf of Israel's Bedouin citizens. He has been frequently attacked and subject to beatings by settlers, and has stood trial several times for acts of civil disobedience. He appears in the 2010 documentary Israel vs Israel. He is fluent in both Hebrew and Arabic.