Temple Emanu-El is kick-starting a new Israel initiative. With AIPAC’s support, we are launching a campaign to mobilize our community for pro-Israel advocacy.
Last May, during the most recent conflict with Gaza, the narratives about Israel were unlike any I had heard in previous conflicts. In the news, political arena, and social-media platforms, Israel took a hard hit. Of course, Israel isn’t without her wrongs, but the rewriting of history and the ignorance surrounding an understanding of values held by HAMAS (the terrorist organization inside Gaza), was cause for great concern.
Though Temple Emanu-El’s Reform Zionist beliefs have not wavered in word, we could have been taking greater action — we’ve gotten a little sleepy on the subject.
A positive relationship between the State of Israel and the United States is critical to the continued
safety and security of Israel.
When large numbers of constituents reach out to their elected officials, policies happen. The response from our congressional representatives and senators back in May was slow…very slow.
Thanks to a tremendous push by AIPAC to encourage its constituents to get on the phones to call our representatives, a critical vote in September of 2021 regarding funding for Iron Dome (H.R. 5323) passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 420–9, two being “present” votes.
We plan to lay out a system that mobilizes congregants to call our representatives and senators when the next Israel issue arrives. We should be calling our senators and representatives and let them know the stance we’d like them to take, and we should be calling again to say “thank you” when votes are cast for pro-Israel legislation. We know many of you receive these kinds of call-your-senator-or-representative emails all the time from various organizations; they sit tucked in the 200+ other emails you get in a day.
If you’d like to learn more about our plans to move from an email that lands in your computer’s trash to real action, then, we invite you to join us for an information session. During this session we will also receive a briefing on the current political situation We’re offering two dates:
Friday, February 25, 6:30–7:15 (briefing to take place during a light dinner)
Register HERE
Wednesday, March 2, 7:00–8:00 via Zoom.
Register HERE
Our voices are more powerful together, let’s make sure they are heard.
If you have questions, please reach out to any of your rabbis to learn more.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Rachael
