February 3, 2012

• Dershowitz "We Are One With Israel" Event a Success (watch recording)
• Community Letter to the Editor in Philadelphia Inquirer
• BUY ISRAEL Community Initiative and Photo/Video Contest
• Educating Yourself about BDS
• Save the Date - May 6, 2012 - Community Israel Advocacy Conference
• Upcoming Events

      

On Thursday February 2, 2012 a clear and unequivocal statement was made at the University of Pennsylvania.  That statement was "stop lying about Israel and we will stop telling the truth about you!".  In that one phrase, Alan Dershowitz summer up the feeling of the entire Jewish community when it comes to BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction against Israel).  The 900 attendees and the thousands watching across the globe witnessed Dershowitz systematically pick apart the ideology of BDS or DBS as he calls it (intentionally done to focus on the most common of their attacks - divestment). We encourage all who were not able to attend of view the web-cast to watch a recording of the event at our Jewish Philly Live-stream Page.

Please also see an open letter from Ambassador Michael Oren on the occasion of last night's event and the theme of advocating for Israel against BDS charges

Community Letter to the Editor in Philadelphia Inquirer:  

Please take a moment to read the Letter to the Editor submitted on behalf of the community coalition opposed to the BDS conference at Penn.  The letter was drafted by professionals at the local offices of the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and of course the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

It begins:  

The op-ed "Aim to promote human rights of the Palestinians" (Sunday) regarding the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel conference at the University of Pennsylvania, is typical of the attempts of the global BDS campaign to malign and delegitimize Israel.

This conference will be a one-sided polemic against Israel. (read full letter)

• If you have not yet seen the  put forward by a broad coalition of Jewish community organizations, you can find it.

• Please also see a recently drafted Interfaith Statement from our partners in the interfaith community - some of whom are actually leaving on a Jewish community sponsored mission to Israel on Monday.

 BUY ISRAEL Community Initiative and Photo/Video Contest:

Those looking to take action to respond to those who would seek to boycott Israeli goods can take part in our BUY ISRAEL COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.  An excellent way to respond to boycott campaigns is to financially support Israel through buying Israeli products.  When you buy goods made and grown in Israel, not only are you getting quality items but you are also supporting a loyal and important American  ally.  This Buy Israel initiative is adapted from a ZOA program in place since 2009.

Also, make sure to take part in our BUY ISRAEL PHOTO AND VIDEO CONTEST.  Take smiling and energetic photos and videos of you buying Israeli products and upload them to our Facebook page or submit them to our office.  Winners will receive iTunes gift certificates and the best photos and videos will be featured on our website and in the Jewish Exponent. Click HERE for more details.

Get Educated About BDS:

Please be sure to visit our new Israel Advocacy Web-Page to educate yourself about the distortions of BDS and its supporters.  This is not simply a group asking questions about Israel.  In casting genocidal aspersions, Apartheid claims, and Nazi comparisons, the BDS ideology crosses the line.  We, as a community, need to be able to express that in the clearest and strongest way possible.  Our community had the goal of responding with with the superiority of our message not the volume of our rancor.  Join us in that effort.  Read more HERE about why it is important to respond to BDS.

SAVE THE DATE - Israel Advocacy Conference - May 6, 2012:

Join with our community to hear expert panelists, motivating key-note speakers and students currently working to support Israel on campus.  Sunday morning, May 6, 2012 (Details TBA)

16th Annual Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia

 

Inbal Pinto & Avshalom Pollak Dance Company

February  9, 10, & 11 -  Philadelphia premiere of OYSTER

Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Receive 20% off tickets! Use code 'JFGF20' online or mention at the box office.

Tickets: 215-898-3900 or www.annenbergcenter.org

Please contact us if you would like your Israel related events listed in future Israel Action Updates.   

For more information about these and other Israel related issues, or to find out how you can get involved, please contact David Cohen at dcohen@jfgp.org.