Though he planned to attend rabbinical seminary immediately after graduation, he was not accepted, and encouraged to reapply after gaining some real life experience.

[4] He attributes his interest in activism on behalf of universal human rights to the rabbinic concept of tikkun olam (lit.

[7] He draws his inspiration specifically from a remark in the Mishnaic ethical tract Pirkei Avot: "In a place where there are no men (decent people) strive to be a man.

Here they were accused of obstructing police activities and incitement to riot after they questioned Israeli soldiers who had fired live ammunition into the village.

[11] The effort was launched in 2002 when a Palestinian peace activist solicited RHR's help to protect olive pickers against attacks by settlers living near the village of Yassuf.

[12] According to Nicholas Kristof, writing in The New York Times, Ascherman's car has been stoned by Palestinian youths and he has been arrested and beaten up by Israeli security forces and settlers.

When he went to give testimony, he found himself accused of "inciting Palestinians to oppose the police" near the ongoing archaeological dig in the City of David.

RHR led efforts that ended of the "Israeli Wisconsin Plan" in 2010, was active in the social protest movement of 2011, and was instrumental in creating the "Public Housing Forum."

RHR also began to teach in pre-army academies and created "human rights yeshivas" at Israeli universities and colleges.