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For every American who cares about a safe and secure Israel...
Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI) supports a policy of "peace for peace" between the Arab states and Israel, and rejects "peace for territory." We believe the Arabs when they call for the destruction of Israel. Therefore, the giveaway of any areas would simply mean that Israel would be feeding into the enemy's plan. AFSI opposes spending US tax dollars, estimated to be in the billions, to fund a phantom "peace" plan.
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Save the Dates!!
Join AFSI's Chizuk Mission in Israel: May 9-17
Be part of history and show your support for the endangered lands and people of Israel!
International Temple Mount Awareness Day - March 16th
The purpose of this day is to protest the situation of grave abuse of Jewish rights on the Temple Mount. Israelis will ascend the Temple Mount. It is hoped that those who cannot be there will provide grass roots support by deluging the Prime Minister's office on that day with telephone calls, faxes and emails.
For all the details, please visit:
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Americans for a Safe Israel
March 2010 Newsletter |
Americans For a Safe Israel
1751 Second Avenue (91st Street)
New York, NY 10128
Tel: 212-828-2424; 800-235-3658; Fax: 212-828-1717
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| A Message from the Director :
In reviewing the events of the past month, it is glaringly obvious that so many of our activities and contacts derive from the people we meet and the projects we adopt as a result of our AFSI Chizuk missions. This past Nov. 2009 mission reinforced our friendships with so many Israelis who need our help in sustaining their efforts. It also brought us new friends for whom we will expend as much effort as possible. The participants in the mission were extraordinary. So many of them have committed themselves to actively promoting AFSI's programs, and those of the Israelis we are committed to support. I am so proud of the fact that our face-to-face meetings with the people and places of the endangered areas of Israel have brought about such positive results.
Here are highlights of successful events and introductions that AFSI members have made on behalf of our Israeli heroes:
Alon Davidi from Sderot spoke in Brooklyn at the Young Israel of Flatbush, and at Kehilath Jeshurun in NYC. In addition, Alon had meetings in NYC, Long Island and Toronto, Canada. Wherever he delivered his message, people seemed to wake up to the truth that the situation in Sderot is still critical and much help is needed. (alondavidi@walla.com)
 We had a very well attended, informative event with MK Dr. Arieh Eldad at the West Side Institutional Synagogue on Feb. 11. AFSI was also instrumental in arranging his talk at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills on Saturday evening, Feb. 13. We felt privileged to be facilitators for MK Dr. Eldad who co-chairs the Land of Israel Forum in the Knesset.
 Aharon Pulver arrived in NYC with Yoel Silberman, one of the Shomrim Hadashim whom the AFSI Chizuk mission had met with in the Galilee on our November, 2009 trip. This organization is supported by the Israel Independence Fund fund5708@gmail.com. Sheryl and Steven Burke, who had been with us on the mission, became passionate about the Shomrim's work to protect Israeli farmers from Arab Israeli violence, and arranged an event in their hometown of Toronto on February 21. Sheryl worked incredibly hard to make the program a huge success, enlisting the aid of Yossie Winter of the Toronto Zionist Council, another Chizuk participant. A hearty Kol Hakovod to the Toronto team for their earnest efforts.
Jack Ross, another Nov. 2009 Chizuk participant, is planning an event at his synagogue, Congregation Beth Sholom, in Rochester, NY, on March 4, at 7:30 P.M., to host Anita Tucker, pictured below.  The AFSI Chizuk group met Anita on our latest visit at the site of her projected new home in Yesodot. Can you imagine being greeted with a table laden with goodies on an otherwise barren wind-swept hilltop? There was Anita with her amazing smile and warmth, greeting the very first bus load of people to visit Yesodot.
Her upcoming speaking tour in the U.S. will be from March 2-17. The subject of her tour is: "Our Israel today, faith in the future - the Gush Katif phenomenon." Anyone wishing to meet with Anita should write to her at: atucker@isdn.net.il. For information about other projects for the almost forgotten former Gush Katif communities, contact Dror Vanunu: gkatif@netvision.net.il | |
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Chapter Report: Chicago
 AFSI welcomes the new Chicago Chairs, Blanche Keno and Cheryl Jacobs Lewin, who are active in US politics as well as many activities that support Israel. Both women were inspired to become more active in AFSI during the Nov. 2009 Chizuk mission to Israel. Cheryl, who has worked closely with past Chicago Chairman, Ira Kahn, maintains contact with many of the Israelis she met during the last AFSI trip who want assistance in Chicago. They include Ron Allswang from Maskiot and Yehudit Tayar of Beit Horon. Cheryl and Blanche are currently working with Manhigut Yehudit (the last AFSI trip was a joint venture of the two organizations) on their New York March 1 st fundraising dinner that will honor the memory of Cheryl's late brother, Bradley Jacobs z''l.
One of the primary goals for the Chicago chapter is to reach out to former members as well as to expand the membership to the many potential supporters who may not be aware of AFSI's work.
Pictured above left to right are Cheryl Lewin, Blanch Keno and Carol Flatto, Florida Chapter Chairwoman. Contact information: Cheryl Jacobs Lewin cjlpr@yahoo.com and Blanche Keno blanchekeno@sbcglobal.net |
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Chapter Report: Florida
The South Florida Chapter Chairpeople, Carol Flatto and Sidney Kulick hosted Raphaella Segal, Assistant Mayor of Kedumim, at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center on February 10th. Dr. Segal gave a powerful presentation to an audience of about 50 on her vibrant community and its strategic importance, located just 60 minutes from Yerushalayim and 40 minutes from Tel Aviv. She explained that Kedumim was the first modern Jewish community in Samaria, established in 1975 with just a small group of people. It has now grown to be a place that 5,000 people call home. Daniella Weiss, one of the original settlers of Kedumim, served as Mayor for eleven years, during which time she became known as a fierce defender of the Jewish right to live in all of Eretz Yisrael. Raphaella, and her assistant, Shoshana Shilloh, now work as Assistants to the new Mayor, Chananel Dorani. Raphaella graciously invited audience members to visit her in Kedumim. To arrange a visit, one can call her US number at 908-591-7318.
At a Board Meeting following the presentation, Sidney Kulick was unanimously approved as Vice Chairman of the South Florida Chapter. Sidney had strengthened his ties to AFSI's work on a Chizuk Mission to Israel. It is a pleasure to welcome him to his new leadership position. Contact Carol at plypress@yahoo.com, and Sidney Kulick at: kul@miamidade.gov. |
Chapter Report: Boston
 Chairman Richard Salter's two sons have waged a somewhat lonely but vigorous pro-Israel campaign at their high school level. Aaron Salter, who recently graduated from the Univ. Of Maryland, co-founded Newton South's first Israeli Advocacy Club. Although this club still exists with a growing membership, Daniel Salter, the youngest son, felt the need to form a second club that was centered more on activism. Daniel recently received the approval of Newton South High School to show Alan Dershowitz's "A Case For Israel," as a response to the high school's hosting of a lecture by the notorious Noam Chomsky. Contact Richard Salter at rsa4811737@aol.com. |
Charges of Anti-Semitism at Evergreen State College, OR
Fred Ehrlich, former AFSI Chairman in Seattle, and Nov. 2009 Chizuk participant, has set a fine example for everyone who wants to take an active role in defending Israel. When he learned that Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington was awarding a $2000 Rachel Corrie Memorial Scholarship, he immediately wrote to State Senator Paul Shinn with a copy to Representatives Mary Roberts and Marko Liias, protesting the award. He stated his belief that "This fund is apparently intended to institutionalize and promote anti-Semitism in our State sponsored school, on the very doorstep of our State Capitol." The response he received from Mary Roberts was that they didn't find anything "objectionable or anti-Semitic" in the situation.
Fred continued the correspondence, reminding the Representatives that Rachel Corrie had been an activist with ISM (International Solidarity Movement), filled with hatred for Jews and America. As such, she is not a role model for students. He pleaded to put an end to the scholarship program. His response from Mary Roberts was, "I don't accept your assumption that being critical of Israel amounts to anti-Semitism."
It is obvious that fighting the war doesn't mean winning the battle; however, Fred and others who take the time and effort to combat these evils, desrve our commendation. Contact Fred at: dre@bearcatweb.com. |
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The List of Success Stories Goes on....
 Former AFSI Executive Director, Barry Freedman, now on the Board of RAJE, Russian American Jewish Experience, an amazing organization working out of the Brighton Beach Jewish Center, 2915 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY, has been working with AFSI Jerusalem Chapter Chairman Bill Mehlman to promote a visit to New York by Yosef Begun, pictured right, former Soviet Refusenik. A date has been set, March 21, at 4:30 P.M. for Begun to address a large group of RAJE participants at the synagogue. The public is invited to attend. Plans are also being made through AFSI's Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago Chapters for Begun's appearance in those cities.
Dr. Howard Garber, in Anaheim, CA., has arranged for AFSI to have a booth at the largest annual Jewish community event in Orange County on Sunday, May 2, from 1-6 P.M. Israel Expo draws more than 6,000 attendees from all over southern California each year. We are pleased that Dr. Garber will be representing AFSI at this event.
Word has come from Israel Danziger, pictured left, head of Mishmeret Yesha, that the vocational school the Chizuk mission visited in Nachliel has been approved by the Town Council. A ten year rental contract has been signed for an industrial building. The school will train 16-18 year old Jewish tradesmen, craftsmen, and farmers. It will be located alongside Yeshiva Yeshuat Mordechai in Nachliel where the areas stressed from the Torah, Mishnah, Halacha and Mussar are all focused on relating to the physical and spiritual building of the Land. Contact Israel at: guards24@zahav.net.il
Arieh King, that fiery defender of Yerushalayim, founder and head of the Israel Land Fund, who has for years been battling the give-away of Jewish land by the JNF, writes about the land near the Atarot airport in Yerushalayim where the Arabs have begun new construction, even though the JNF could prevent it from happening. He condemns the JNF for planting thousands of trees at Rwuabi, the new Arab city near Ramallah. He declares that "the Anti-Zionist leaders in Israel are using the JNF to promote a political agenda, building a Palestinian city with Jewish money." Arieh is constantly finding properties that can be bought by Jews to maintain a Jewish presence in Yerushalayim, Acco, and other cities. Interested parties should contact him at: kingshire@bezeqint.net.
AFSI has been on record since 1980 for exposing the NIF (New Israel Fund) anti-Israel activities for years. Unfortunately, many Jewish foundations and individual donors believe they are helping Israel by donating to Federations such as the Jewish Federation in NY, the Durham-Chapel Hill Federation and the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids. These organizations donate large sums of money to the NIF, which, while it does support some good works, primarily puts its efforts into "Israeli-Arab nongovernmental organizations that openly and unabashedly dedicate themselves to removing the Jewish character of the state of Israel." See the March issue of OUTPOST for a more detailed expose of the NIF, as well as an excellent article by Samuel Sokol and David Bedein: "Your Federation Dollars Hard at Work: American Jews fund anti-Israel organizations."The article was printed in World Net Daily - WND, Feb. 3rd. |
The best way to send a message to the detractors of Israel in the media, the Administration, and the public is by joining AFSI and becoming active with AFSI's work. As a member, you will also receive our renowned monthly publication, The Outpost. See past editions. | |
 A special thanks...
to Sharon Goldner, a particpant on the November 2009 mission, who has volunteered to create this newsletter each month. "I am passionate about supporting AFSI's mission to educate and empower Americans about what is really going on in Israel, and to spotlight the many citizen heroes in Israel who are working to keep our Jewish state strong and vibrant." |
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