Courage in the Face of Conscience: A Conversation with Israeli Conscientious Objectors
What does courage look like when your deepest convictions clash with your country’s expectations?
On Tuesday, August 5th, 2025, we hosted an extraordinary and powerful conversation that challenged us to examine our own understanding of moral courage. In collaboration with Red Letter Christians, our Gathering Voices meeting featured three remarkable Israeli conscientious objectors whose stories illuminated the profound personal cost of standing for peace.
📺 Watch the Full Event Recording & Access All Resources
The complete recording and comprehensive resource guide (including letter-writing forms for imprisoned refuseniks, conscientious objector resources, and peace organization links) are available at:
Stories of Sacrifice and Conviction
During this powerful event, we heard directly from:
Itamar Greenberg, who chose 197 days in prison rather than serve in the Israeli Defense Forces—nearly seven months of his life given up to honor his conscience.
Sofia Orr, who spent 85 days behind bars for her refusal to participate in military service—a young woman who chose personal sacrifice over compromise of her values.
A third Israeli objector who shared their journey as they prepare to report to prison in October rather than take up arms—courage in real time, as someone faces an uncertain future for the sake of their convictions.
Voices from Multiple Perspectives
This conversation extended beyond individual stories to explore the broader landscape of conscience and peace:
Diana Oestreich, a U.S. soldier turned peacemaker and FOR WWJKW ’24-5 Co-Fellow, brought her unique perspective on the transformation from warrior to peace advocate.
Shane Claiborne from Red Letter Christians illuminated the Christian tradition of conscientious objection, drawing from centuries of faithful witness.
Ariel Gold from Fellowship of Reconciliation shared insights into the Jewish tradition of conscience and the complex history of objection within Jewish communities.
The Question That Resonated
At the heart of this gathering was a question that transcends national boundaries, religious traditions, and personal circumstances: “What does courage look like for me?”
These Israeli objectors didn’t ask us to follow their exact path, but they invited us to examine our own lives with the same moral clarity that led them to choose prison over violence. Their witness challenged us to consider where our own lines are drawn and what we’re willing to sacrifice for our deepest convictions.
Why These Voices Matter
In a world where violence often seems like the only response to conflict, these voices offered a different vision—one where courage means saying “no” to systems of harm, even when the personal cost is severe. Their stories reminded us that peace isn’t passive; it requires active resistance to injustice and the willingness to pay the price for that resistance.
This wasn’t just a conversation about military service or international conflict. It was about the fundamental question of how we live with integrity in a world that often demands compromise of our deepest values.
Continue the Conversation
Whether you’re a longtime peace advocate or someone just beginning to wrestle with questions of conscience and courage, this conversation offered something vital. In a time when moral clarity feels both urgent and elusive, these voices provided a compass—not telling us exactly where to go, but showing us what it looks like to navigate by the stars of our deepest convictions.
The impact of this conversation continues beyond the event itself. The stories shared, resources provided, and connections made serve as ongoing inspiration for all of us asking what courage looks like in our own lives.
📋 Access All Event Resources
The complete resource guide includes letter-writing forms for imprisoned Israeli refuseniks, U.S. military conscientious objector resources, peace organizations, books, and much more:
This event was presented by Gathering Voices in collaboration with Red Letter Christians, featuring insights from Fellowship of Reconciliation and FOR WWJKW fellows.
