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Tuesday January 7, 1997

Jewish activist criticizes Israel's human-rights abuses

MICHAEL GELBWASSER
Boston Jewish Advocate

Joshua Rubenstein abhors the illegal incarceration, torture and killing of prisoners. And he'll firmly criticize all countries that do it -- even Israel.

Although many Jews consider the Jewish homeland beyond reproach, Amnesty International USA's northeast regional director refuses to ignore human rights violations there or anywhere else. Rubenstein is offended when Jews question his loyalty to Judaism.

"Israel faces severe challenges. We all understand that," Rubenstein asserts. "But when it comes to preserving human rights, Amnesty International can't pull punches. There are plenty of people in Israel who welcome...balanced, well-informed scrutiny. I'm proud to be part of that effort."

Rubenstein has written about human rights issues for the Nation, the New York Times and other publications. He also addresses these issues in both of his books.

"I like being a troublemaker," says Rubenstein, who is a fellow at Harvard University's Russian Research Center.

Rubenstein has fought hard for his beliefs since the spring of 1968, when as a freshman he participated in the student revolt at Columbia University.

In Leningrad in 1971, he met refusenik William Brui during a summer tour for Indiana University undergraduates. Brui, an artist, had been waiting three years for a visa. Rubenstein smuggled a handmade book of Brui's work out of the country and then wrote about him for Art News. Brui, who was allowed to leave Russia that fall, now lives in Paris and keeps in touch with Rubenstein.

Rubenstein traveled often during the early 1970s. In 1971, he moved to Israel. Rubenstein returned to the United States a year later, settling in Boston. He began writing fiction, essays, criticism and book reviews while teaching at local Hebrew schools.

"Aside from one or two people, no one was writing about Soviet dissidents," he recalls.

Rubenstein's insatiable appetite for activism drew him to Amnesty International in April 1975, when he joined the organization as a volunteer. In October, Amnesty hired Rubenstein as its part-time New England coordinator and field organizer for the Midwest and South. The organization went national in the late 1970s, and Rubenstein has been one of the movement's principal organizers ever since.

"It's fair to say I've organized more local community chapters than anyone else in the States," Rubenstein says.

Each year, Amnesty publishes a report documenting human rights violations worldwide. Israel's violations hardly stand alone: The 1996 report cites 146 countries, including the United States.

"We don't come out against any country," Rubenstein says. "Our job isn't to pick on anyone. Our job is to document abuses of human rights within our framework."

Rubenstein maintains contact with over 400 Amnesty chapters. He also arranges speakers and films for the chapters, works with the media and testifies in state legislatures when human rights-related issues arise.

Being Jewish is as important to him as his work. On Sukkot during his boyhood, recalls Rubenstein, who was raised Conservative, "enough of us stayed out of school to play baseball." Later, he was a counselor at Camp Ramah in Connecticut and participated in United Synagogue Youth activities. Today, he keeps kosher and observes the holidays, "but I do not consider myself an observant Jew.

"I'm well aware that people feel sensitive to criticism of Israel. But I assure you our work is balanced, well documented and not motivated by animosity toward anybody."

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