The Shministim Tour is a series of conversations between two young Israeli women who went to jail for following their consciences and Americans from all communities and political backgrounds.  Maya Wind and Netta Mishly will speak at universities, synagogues, and community centers about their personal journeys from high school to military prison; a path shared by dozens of young Shministim but wholly unique in each case.  They will engage students, activists, supporters, and critics on both coasts and in between. The tour will last from September 13 through October 10, 2009.

In addition, three Shministim — Yuval Ophir-Auron, Omer Goldman, and Sahar Vardi — are coming to South Africa (October 2-12, 2009).

The Shministim (Hebrew for “twelfth-graders”) are an informal group of young Israelis who openly declare their refusal to join the Israeli military.  Every year, the Shministim sign a different letter, a tradition harkening back to the 1970s when the first Shministim class expressed their dissent in a letter to Prime Minister Golda Meir.  The 2008 letter, signed by both Maya and Netta, declares, “We cannot be moral and serve the occupation.”

The US tour is being organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and CODEPINK Women for Peace.

Jewish Voice for Peace is a diverse and democratic community of activists inspired by Jewish tradition to work together for peace, social justice, and human rights. We support the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians for security and self-determination.

CODEPINK Women for Peace is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities.

Some of the US tour endorsers include:

American Friends Service Committee
Bay Area Women in Black
Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Global Exchange
Interfaith Peace Builders