The JPF was formed in 1941 because of the pressing need to support young Jewish conscientious objectors, many in prison or awaiting prison because they would not serve in the military. In that dark era family and friends often turned on them. Quaker communities stepped forward and offered what support they could but essentially these principled and, sadly, unpopular, Jewish COs were abandoned.
At that moment, two rabbis and one woman employee of a Jewish organization created the JPF. Since then, we’ve been there during our far too many wars. Given our nation’s addiction to military solutions a younger generation will still need to search for answers and responses.
No one knows if a draft will ever be reinstituted. Most of our Jewish antiwar groups seem to have vanished, having turned to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. So we ask where young Jews could turn to in the event of yet another war, as I did at age 18 when the JPF was there to help. The JPF remains a voice for peace. Do we need to survive and thrive? You bet we do.