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STAND
WITH ISRAEL COMMITTEE
ONGOING PROJECTS AND HOW TO JOIN
Quick
Links:
Memories from the CBI Israel Mission
New Committee Members Needed
May Was Israel Month at Congregation Beth
Israel
AIPAC Holds Largest-Ever Policy Conference
AIPAC Opens San Diego Office
Support Israeli Economy by Buying Israeli Toys
New Advocacy in Support of Israel
Support the House of Israel in Balboa Park
CBI's OneFamily Fund
Mission Statement of The Stand with Israel Committee
Web Links About Israel
Stand
With Israel's Upcoming
Programs
New Committee Members
Needed
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| Stand With Israel Committee |
The Stand With Israel committee is looking for a few (actually more than a
few) good new members. We are a dynamic group dedicated to uphold and strengthen
the solidarity of Congregation Beth Israel with the State of Israel and its
people. We meet every other month on Tuesdays, alternating between morning
and noon meetings. We welcome your involvement.
Phyllis Cohn and Linda Platt
founded the committee in 2002 and after more than two years under their valued
leadership, they recently handed over the co-chairmanship to Carol Fox and
J.J. Surbeck. Bob Metz is treasurer and Harvey Helsel is acting secretary.
Be sure to check out our Stand
With Israel links, made possible by the hard work of our committee members. Let us know of any worthwhile links
we may not have listed, and be sure to tell your friends about this terrific
resource.
May Was Israel Month at
Congregation Beth Israel
The Stand With Israel Committee proudly celebrated Israel Month in May
at Congregation Beth Israel. Israel was celebrated in various ways to teach
the CBI community about and rejoice in the land of Israel. We highlight Israel
every month, but especially so in May when Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance
Day) and Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel's Independence Day) occur. This month, take
time to ponder your connection and commitment to the Jewish homeland, and to
consider what you can do to help secure the future of Israel and her people.
Some ideas of how to get involved are:
- Join ARZA and support the Reform Movement in Israel.
- Join AIPAC to aid in ensuring a strong American-Israeli relationship.
Go to the AIPAC Policy Conference.
- Be generous to our OneFamily Fund and assist with families that
have suffered as a result of the terrorism in Israel.
- Support (with energy and/or donations) other organizations committed
to the State of Israel and its citizens.
- Purchase Israeli made products on-line.
- Visit and support the House
of Israel in Balboa Park.
- Send your youngsters to Israel this summer through the Reform Movement's
NFTY, the Scott Stone Israel Teen Trip or other programs.
- Encourage young adults to participate in a Birthright Israel trip.
- Become a member of the Stand With Israel Committee. We welcome
new members and new ideas.
- VISIT ISRAEL! Tourism is vital to the well being of Israel. Plan
to travel there this year, and take the whole family.
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AIPAC Holds
Largest-Ever Policy Conference
In May AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) held its largest-ever
annual Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. More than 4,000 pro-Israel activists
from all 50 states attended the event, which included speeches by Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton (D-NY) and the bipartisan leaders of both the House of Representatives
and the Senate. Conference attendees also visited Capitol Hill to lobby their
congressmen and senators about issues of importance to the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Please go to www.aipac.org to
learn how you can join this important organization and help to strengthen the
ties between the United States and Israel.
AIPAC Opens San Diego
Office
An open house was held on July 12th to celebrate the opening of the new San Diego
AIPAC office. Herb Keinon, Diplomatic Correspondent of the Jerusalem Post spoke
on the transformation of Ariel Sharon from settlement Champion to disengagement
architect and the viability of his plan. The New San Diego AIPAC Office is located
at 9339 Genesee Avenue, Suite 270, San Diego, CA 92121. That’s the green
building across Genesee Ave. from the JCC. Tel. 858-626-2790. Fax 858-626-2796.
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House
of Israel Supports PR for Israel
The House of Israel (HOI) in Balboa Park serves as a powerhouse of public relations
on Israel's behalf. Its purpose is to educate with positive facts and impressions
of Israel, the thousands of visitors who stop by each year. Additionally, the
HOI hopes to inspire its visitors to travel to the land of Israel.
Help Israel's Economy & Have Fun at the Same Time
In our efforts to help the economy of the State of Israel, the Stand with Israel
committee has identified some Israeli-made toys that we want to share with members
of Congregation Beth Israel. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle
or friend—these companies offer various choices for gifts for the little ones
in your lives.
- Tiny Love specializes
in toys for infants and toddlers. They are the creators of the award
winning Gymini Activity Gym for babies.
- Amav is the number
one manufacturer of arts and crafts oriented toys in the world.
- Taf Toys Some
of the leading baby and toddler toys come from this Israeli company.
Their design principles are: love, learn, grow and develop.
- Handmade
Toys The adorable wooden puzzles and accessories from this
company are made on a kibbutz in the Galilee.
In purchasing these Israeli-made products you will not only delight the
youngsters, but you will help the Israeli economy. Some of the toys made
by these companies are easily found in local stores. For the others,
the web sites will direct shoppers. Contact Carol
Fox at with suggestions of additional Israeli companies to include
in the future.
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New
Advocacy in Support of Israel
Join other volunteers online to write letters to the media whenever needed. Public
opinion is shaped in part by such letters and it is important that our voices
be heard as often as possible.
Stand With Israel Committee member J.J. Surbeck has created an online group where
volunteers share their knowledge and experience, and assist each other in writing
letters to protest or correct blatantly partial or misleading articles or broadcasts
concerning Israel.
To join, send a blank e-mail message to the online
group. This important activity in support of Israel needs committed participants.
If you have questions or encounter any problems in joining, email J.J.
Surbeck.
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OneFamily Fund Needs Your
Contributions
The OneFamily program connects people from around the world who want to make
a difference in the lives of Israelis who have suffered as a result of terrorism.
Earlier this year, CBI, through OneFamily, was assigned the Avni family who lives
just outside of Haifa. Their son was murdered, and the parents and three other
children are understandably devastated. Even their business is in jeopardy due
to their loss.
Please consider donating to CBI's OneFamily Fund. Your tax deductible donation
will contribute to improving the shattered lives of the Avni family, who are
victims of terrorism. The financial and emotional needs of the family are huge,
following the loss of their son and brother in a devastating act of terrorism.
All funds raised by CBI will be distributed to the Avni family by OneFamily to
provide for the needs not covered by the Israeli government. Mail your contribution
to CBI, payable to Congregation Beth Israel or OneFamily. There are no administrative
costs; 100% of your contribution will assist our adopted family.
Thank you for your generous help with this project. For more information on the
OneFamily Fund and on the Avni family, see our OneFamily
Program page.
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Mission Statement of the Stand
with Israel Committee
The mission of the Stand with Israel Committee is to uphold and strengthen the
solidarity of Congregation Beth Israel with the State of Israel and its people.
The historical bond that exists between the Diaspora and the State of Israel
is covenanted in the Bible and renewed daily by Jewish prayer and values.
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Past-President Jerry Goldberg greeted Religious School students and parents
at the Israel Solidarity banner dedication on January 26, 2003. The banner
will be on continuous display in the Price Family Courtyard to proudly
proclaim that our congregation is firmly united with Israel.
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- We will champion and advocate support of Israel and the involvement of
our congregational community through outreach and educational programs.
- We will create and publicize opportunities to enhance the spiritual, social
and financial well being of Israel.
- We will increase awareness of the importance of Israel's existence to our
lives and to our shared future by providing a forum for speakers and writers.
- We will actively encourage our congregants to become engaged in the American
political arena to maintain a strong relationship between the United States
and Israel, a relationship based on the democratic ideals that both nations
share.
- We will work to gain support of Israel in the world political arena.
Stand
With Israel Committee's Upcoming Programs go to top
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