Chairperson of Yesh Atid, Yair Lapid, delivered the following statement this afternoon at the beginning of a faction meeting in Tel Aviv:

In the past two years the people around this table woke up every morning and went to work. They worked to change the priorities in Israel. They worked to place the middle class and the weakest in society firmly in the center, so that the country would work for them and not for the members of the Likud Central Committee or special interest groups who make money at the expense of the citizens of Israel.

We didn't have enough time, and even though we made some mistakes we learnt from them and we managed to do a huge amount.

We filled a hole in the budget of 40 billion shekels and tackled the economic crisis left by Netanyahu, we brought down the size of his government to no more than 18 ministers and cancelled the unnecessary position of "Minister Without Portfolio." We passed the equal burden law, cut back on the allocations for yeshivot and struck off the law which funded schools even if they didn't teach core subjects. We brought to an end the corruption in the government companies and added billions of shekels from trapped profits and the black market. With those funds we created the school summer programs and saved thousands of shekels for tens of thousands of young families.

We put together the plan to assist Holocaust survivors with over a billion shekels, a plan that provides them with free medication and increases their benefits, but in essence it is a plan which allows them to live out the rest of their lives in dignity.

Together, we started a process to increase the supply of housing after prices increased by over 80% under Netanyahu. Last month, for the first time prices began to decrease, and now they're increasing again. Together, we prevented tax increases on the middle class in the last budget despite all the pressures.

In the past two years, Netanyahu did everything to delay these changes. Even now, he's trying to stop the most social budget presented here in years, a budget which increases the investment in education, health and welfare by over 10 billion shekels.

Netanyahu prevented us from granting 190,000 elderly people increased benefits which would help them break out of the cycle of poverty. He prevented us from granting young couples their only chance to own an apartment with a 200,000 shekel saving through the VAT exemption bill.

He prevented the public from receiving 4 billion shekels for the medical services to bring down the cost of health insurance, reduce waiting times and increase the basket of medicines through the public system.

He took away from the Israeli public the break-up of the water conglomerates, an additional 1,100 police officers and prison guards from the Internal Security ministry, the summer programs, the program to reduce class sizes and the psychometric exam reforms, the national plan to reduce the cost of living which will decrease banking fees, cut the cost of pensions and bring down the cost of food.

Even if he decided to go to elections, all Netanyahu had to do was wait one more month! A month, and the budget would have passed with everything that's important to the Israeli public. Why didn't he do it? Because he doesn't really care about the citizens of Israel. All he cares about is remaining in his job, with all the perks.

That's the bad news. The good news is that all this can be changed. All these programs are ready, the groundwork is behind us, the train is ready to depart a month after the elections. That's why we're here. That's why we'll cooperate – either before the elections or after them – with anyone who sits in the political center and wants to ensure the middle class and the weakest in society live in a society which cares about them, with a strong and growing economy, where the rules of the game are fair, where the priorities are right, where our international relations aren’t being destroyed every day.

Real change won't come from the left or the extreme right, real change can only come from the center. For six years Bibi has been holding Israel back but he won't stop the change Israel needs anymore.

For More Information Contact:

Yair Zivan

International Media Advisor for Yair Lapid and Yesh Atid

Phone: 0523450061

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IN A SPIRITED ORAL ARGUMENT ATTORNEY ALYZA LEWIN

URGES HIGH COURT TO ENFORCE LAW PERMITTING

US CITIZENS TO HAVE PASSPORTS IDENTIFYING

“ISRAEL” AS PLACE OF BIRTH

            Adeptly fielding more than 50 questions in half an hour from Supreme Court Justices, Alyza D. Lewin presented the case for enforcement of a 2002 law that gives American citizens born in Jerusalem the right to list their place of birth in U.S. passports as “Israel.” She argued alternatively (1) that “what goes on a passport . . . does not amount to sovereign recognition” and (2) that if it is viewed as amounting to recognition, “Congress has the ability afterwards, upon deliberation, to decide if they disagree with [the President’s] recognition.”

            The litigation was initiated by Lewin & Lewin on behalf of Menachem Binyamin Zivotofsky, an American citizen born in Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem soon after the law was passed. His parents requested that he be issued a U.S. passport recording his place of birth as “Israel” as prescribed by Congress’ 2002 legislation, but the Department of State refused to do so on the ground that the law “interfered” with the President’s foreign-policy of not recognizing Jerusalem as being in Israel. Menachem became Lewin & Lewin’s youngest pro bono client when the lawsuit was filed in United States District Court for the District of Columbia in September 2003.

            The District Judge first dismissed the case on the ground that Menachem lacked “standing” because he possessed a valid passport, and the precise place of birth did not affect the validity of the passport. After the Court of Appeals reversed that decision in 2006, the District Court dismissed the case again on the ground that the complaint raised a nonjusticiable “political question.” A majority of the Court of Appeals agreed with this ruling, but the Supreme Court reversed it in an 8-to-1 decision in 2012. The Court of Appeals then found Congress’ law unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court again agreed to review that decision. 

            Justice Kennedy suggested during the argument on November 3 that a contemporaneous statement by the State Department declaring that the place-of-birth designation “is not recognition” would resolve the concern that Congress was interfering with the President’s power of recognition. Chief Justice Roberts appeared later during the argument to agree with this suggestion. Justice Ginsburg asked Ms. Lewin whether the remainder of the statute, which dealt with Jerusalem as the “capital of Israel,” did not affect the constitutionality of the place-of-birth provision. Ms. Lewin replied that the constitutionality of the  place-of-birth provision had to be “determined on its own,” and this provision merely gave “individuals a choice and does not confer formal recognition.”

            Justice Breyer asked whether the Court did not have to defer to the statements of “foreign affairs experts in the State Department” who said that the place-of-birth designation of “Israel” encroaches on the President’s core recognition authority. Ms. Lewin replied that it was “a rather extreme position” to have the State Department’s “say-so . . . automatically . . . end the question or any review by any other branch.”

            Justice Alito observed that the United States had recognized Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem by acknowledging the validity of an Israeli birth certificate for Menachem. Justice Kagan asked whether the 2002 law was not “selective” because it only allowed American citizens to say they were born in Israel but did not allow other self-identification for place-of-birth designations. Ms. Lewin replied that the 2002 law “was rectifying a misguided policy of the State Department” which allowed Palestinians born in Tel Aviv or Haifa to remove “Israel” from their passports and list only the city of birth. The law was designed to permit the reverse – designation of “Israel” by those who were born in Jerusalem and wanted it.

            Ms. Lewin also noted in her argument that if Congress’ law is implemented, the passports of US citizens born in Jerusalem “would be indistinguishable from all the other passports of individuals born in Tel Aviv or Haifa or anywhere else in Israel. That passport would not, when shown, be making any kind of political statement.” That observation was repeated by Justice Scalia during the argument of Solicitor General Verrilli. Justice Scalia said that if the law is implemented, “All you know is that the person was born in Israel. It could have been anywhere in Israel.”

            A decision on the case will be rendered before the end of June 2015.

            FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT LYNDA AT 202-828-0818 or [email protected].

Lynda K. Prior, Office Manager

LEWIN & LEWIN, LLP
888 17th Street NW, 4th Floor

Washington, DC 20006

202.828.1000 (phone)

202.828.0818 (direct)

202.828.0909 (fax)

[email protected]

Israel's recent land grab in the West Bank is the largest in three decades and will only make the situation in the West Bank and Gaza even worse. Abbas has been a great friend to Israel and Israel pays him back by appropriating 990 acres of land in the West Bank. They will only cause Abbas to be further alienated from his own people. The  Arab radicals will say " you see what happen to Abbas the Israelis just screwed him you can only deal with Israel by being with us Arab extremists."

Perhaps BiBi believes the US is so busy on so many other fronts in the world today that we have nothing to worry about . After putting Hamas in their place we are “golden,” the only country in the world seriously going after terrorists. But BiBi is wrong in his strategy. The enemies of Israel want examples to prove that Israel is unreasonable and secondly to prove there is point in negotiating with this bully. BiBi has just played into the enemies' hands. He might have won this recent battle with Hamus but his high-handed behaviour could cause us to lose the War!

We must show our enemies that we are firm but reasonable. Not that we want more and more of Palestinian land as the Arab extremist claim.This land is not that important that more lives of either side must be lost. We must stop focusing myopically on try to get your opponent to say you are right and I have always been wrong. This will never happen. In difficult deep rooted conflict the parties must look for the smallest amount of common ground and build on it every day! In doing so you are attempting your opponent to agree to act in ways that get you what you really need, even when the other party doesn't agree with you! This should be the prudent behaviour of Israel towards its opponents.

 Surveys in North America and Western Europe among Jews by generation show that the younger you are as a Jew the less Israel means anything to you! One of the main results from these attitudinal studies are that younger Jews believe in more numbers than ever that the propaganda against Israel that it is in fact a bully is correct! Within the next 20 to 25 years the US foreign policy toward Israel is expected to greatly change toward Israel. Since, American Jews shall be so assimilated that they will not see any need for Israel to be treated as “special case”. Israel must stop managing its strategies in a bubble, and not considering the impact of its behaviour on its greatest supporters in the world -all of us Jews in North America. 

Assoc.Professor Alan Levy BA, MIR,LLM
Human Resources,Labour Relations,Leadership & Dispute Resolution
Department of Business Administration
Faculty of Arts 
Brandon University

August 27, 2014

Great article, thanks. As I was reading, I was thinking that there are lots of moderate Israeli Arabs, but they wouldn't go to a peace conference, as that only attracts radicals. You also hit on a phenomenon that is seen all over Europe now, where radical children are the locally born offspring of integrated Muslim parents, who are doing well and happy with where they are living. I've assumed this was due to the more recent proliferation of Saudi-funded mosques, combined with the leftist media influence, and the usual rebellion against parents.

• Stacey Cherney

August 19, 2014, TORONTO —  B’nai Brith Canada calls on Jewish students at York University to be on alert this coming school year, as the incoming President of the York Federation of Students (YFS), the York University student government body, has uploaded material promoting a Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Most Wanted Terrorist.

Faouzi Mohamad Ayoub was reportedly killed in May while fighting against the Free Syrian Army. He is wanted by the FBI for attempting to use a false passport to conduct terrorist activity with the Lebanese Terrorist organization Hezbollah. Posting his image alongside quotations of Faouzi Ayoub, being described as a “martyr”, is a clear endorsement of a terrorist.

B’nai Brith Canada notified Commissioner Bob Paulson of the RCMP, and are calling for an investigation regarding these recently exposed issues before school opens for the coming year. Minister of Justice and Attorney General, The Honourable Peter MacKay has also been notified by B’nai Brith Canada about these issues.

“To endorse a known and wanted terrorist is a cause of fear and concern,“ said Frank Dimant, CEO, B’nai Brith Canada. “This sort of idealizing of terrorists by student leaders should be of great concern to the York University administration, as it creates a toxic environment for Jewish and pro-Israel students on campus.

“The Honourable Mr. MacKay and Commissioner Paulson have been notified of this problem, and we hope to see immediate investigation. It is integral for the safety and security of Jewish and pro-Israel students on campus that endorsement of terrorists does not cause an environment of fear, G-d forbid resulting in any sort of violence or harassment.

"The B'nai Brith Canada anti-hate hotline is available to pro-Israel Jewish and Christian students, where they can report any incidents of antisemitic activity. In addition to this resource, B'nai Brith Canada will be exploring legal actions in order to ensure safety of these students on campus."

The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies 

August 11, 2014

For more information, contact:

[email protected] / 202-434-8994

400 JEWISH LEADERS & SCHOLARS DENOUNCE "GENOCIDE" CHARGES AGAINST ISRAEL

Washington, D.C. - More than 400 Jewish leaders, rabbis, and Holocaust and genocide scholars have signed a public statement denouncing accusations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

The statement was organized by The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, based in Washington, D.C. It follows a July 9 claim by Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, that Israel is "committing genocide," an August 1 assertion by Fatah foreign affairs spokesman Nabil Sha'ath that the situation in Gaza is "a Holocaust," and an August 1 accusation by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan that Israel is guilty of "Hitler-like fascism." 

"The Holocaust was the deliberate, systematic mass murder of six million innocent Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators," the statement by the 400 leaders notes. "By contrast, Israel is acting in legitimate self-defense against Hamas terrorism. Israel has no interest in harming innocent civilians, and indeed has done its utmost to avoid civilian casualties, whereas Hamas deliberately targets Israeli civilians. Any comparison between Israel and the Nazis outrageously distorts Israel's actions and trivializes the enormity and nature of the Holocaust."

The signatories include:

*  Prominent figures in the American Jewish leadership, including David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee; Michael Siegal and Jerry Silverman, the chair and president, respectively, of the Jewish Federations of North America; David J. Michaels, Director of UN and Intercommunal Affairs for B'nai B'rith International; Rabbi Dr. Yitz Greenberg and Prof. Walter Reich, past chairman and past executive director, respectively, of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; and leaders of the American Society for Yad Vashem, the Simon Wiesenthal Center; the National Council of Young Israel; the Religious Zionists of America; and the Wexner Foundation.

*  Leading rabbis from coast to coast, including Rabbi Dr. Haskel Lookstein of Kehilath Jeshurun; Rabbi Mark Dratch, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Council of America; Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple (Los Angeles); Rabbi Harold Schulweiss, co-founder of Jewish World Watch; the presidents of the New York Board of Rabbis, the Westchester County (NY) Board of Rabbis; and the South Jersey Board of Rabbis and Cantors; as well as numerous presidents and board members of synagogues of all denominations.

*  Prominent Holocaust scholars, including Prof. David S. Wyman, author of the best-selling The Abandonment of the Jews: America and the Holocaust 1941-1945; Prof. Deborah Lipstadt, author of History on Trial; and Prof. Michael Berenbaum, former research director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

*  Academic notables such as Prof. Jonathan Sarna, chair of Brandeis University's Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program; Dr. David Berger, dean of Yeshiva University's Revel Graduate School; and faculty members at numerous other universities, including the directors of the Jewish Studies or Holocaust Studies centers at the University of California-Berkeley; the  University of Alabama; the University of Texas at Dallas; Florida International University; Concordia University; Indiana University; Fairfield University; Brooklyn College; Florida Gulf Coast University; and UCLA Hillel.

* Noted Jewish commentators, including Leon Wieseltier, of The New Republic; Dr. Erica Brown, of the New York Jewish Week; Prof. Gil Troy; and Rabbi Dov Fischer.

The complete text of the statement, with all the signatories, follows below.

================

A STATEMENT OF CONCERN

As officials of Jewish or Holocaust-related institutions, or scholars of Holocaust and genocide studies, we are deeply troubled by the false accusations of genocide that have been made against Israel in recent days.

On July 9, Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, in a speech in Ramallah, accused Israel of "committing genocide." On August 1, on Al Jazeera's English-language TV broadcast, Fatah foreign affairs spokesman Nabil Sha'ath described the situation in Gaza as "a Holocaust." Also on August 1, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan accused Israel of "Hitler-like fascism." 

The Holocaust was the deliberate, systematic mass murder of six million innocent Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. By contrast, Israel is acting in legitimate self-defense against Hamas terrorism. Israel has no interest in harming innocent civilians, and indeed has done its utmost to avoid civilian casualties, whereas Hamas deliberately targets Israeli civilians. Any comparison between Israel and the Nazis outrageously distorts Israel's actions and trivializes the enormity and nature of the Holocaust.

Rabbi Stephanie S. Aaron 

Congregation Chaverim - Tucson, AZ

Rabbi David Adelson

East End Temple - New York, NY

Cantor Lauren Furman Adesnik

Temple Emanu-El of Greater Atlanta, GA

Rabbi Benjamin Adler

Adath Israel Congregation - Lawrenceville, NJ

Jacob Adler

Rabbi, Temple Shalom, Fayetteville, AR

Associate Professor, University of Arkansas

Prof. Ana Maria Tapia Adler

Universidad de Chile

Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein

Director, Interfaith Affairs, Simon Wiesenthal Center - Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Daniel Alexander

Congregation Beth Israel - Charlottesville, VA

Prof. Robert Alter

Director, Center for Jewish Studies, University of California-Berkeley

Rabbi Dr. Elisha Ancselovits

Liverpool Hope University, UK

Rabbi Spike Anderson

Stephen S. Wise Temple - Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Marc D. Angel

Founder and Director, Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals - New York, NY

Rabbi Maurice Appelbaum

Congregation Ahavas Israel - Greenpoint (Brooklyn), NY

Rabbi Raphael Asher

Congregation Bnai Tikvah - Walnut Creek, CA  (emer.)

Prof. Sidney Aster 

University of Toronto (emer.)

Rabbi Ira Axelrod

Congregation Chesed V'Emes - Brookline, MA

Rabbi Aryeh Azriel

Temple Israel - Omaha, NE

Ari Babaknia, M. D.

Chairman, Memorah Foundation 

Dr. Harvey Babich

Chairman, Biology Department - Stern College for Women

Rabbi Andy Bachman

Congregation Beth Elohim - Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Hanan Balk

Golf Manor Synagogue - Cincinnati, OH (emer.)

Rabbi Eliot J. Baskin, D. Min. 

Jewish Community Chaplaincy & Rafael Spiritual Healing Center of 

Jewish Family Service of Colorado - Denver, CO

Prof. Paul R. Bartrop

Director, Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies

Florida Gulf Coast University

Marilyn & Jack Belz

Memphis, TN

Prof. Michael Berenbaum

Director, Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust

American Jewish University - Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Shalom Z. Berger, Ed.D.

The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education, Bar-Ilan University

Rabbi Saul J. Berman

Associate Professor, Stern College of Yeshiva University

Adjunct Professor, Columbia University School of Law

Rabbi Yaakov Bieler

Kemp Mill Synagogue - Silver Spring, MD

Rabbi Gabriel Botnick

Temple Aliyah - Woodland Hills, CA

Dr. Erica Brown

Consultant to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington & the Jewish Agency

Rabbi Peter Berg

The Temple - Atlanta GA

Prof. Alan L. Berger

Director, Center for the Study of Values and Violence After Auschwitz - Florida Atlantic University

Dr. David Berger

Ruth and I. Lewis Gordon Professor of Jewish History and Dean

Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, Yeshiva University

Prof. Michael Berger 

Emory University

Rabbi David Berkman

New City Jewish Center - New City, NY

Rabbi Alan Berkowitz

Principal,  Magen David Yeshivah Elementary School - Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Seth L. Bernstein

Bet Aviv - Columbia, MD

Rabbi ElizaBeth Beyer, RN, MS, JD

North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation| - Tahoe Vista, CA

Jay A. Blum

Author & Board Member, Temple Israel - Columbus GA 

Prof. Rabbi David R. Blumenthal

Emory University

Rene Don Boni

Second Generation

Rabbi Mark Borovitz

Beit TShuvah - Los Angeles, CA

Prof. Oded Borowski

Emory University

Rabbi Bradd Boxman

Congregation Kol Tikvah - Parkland, FL

Rabbi Dr. Reeve Robert Brenner

Congregation Bet Chesed - Bethesda, MD

Rabbi Charles K. Briskin

Temple Beth El - San Pedro, CA

Adina Burian

Member of the Board, American Society for Yad Vashem

Lawrence Burian

Member of the Board, American Society for Yad Vashem

Rabbi Lee Bycel

Congregation Beth Shalom - Napa, CA

Rabbi Dr. Shalom Carmy

Editor, Tradition

Miriam Chaikin

Author & editor

Dr.  Frank Chalk

Professor of History and Director, Montreal Institute for 

Genocide and Human Rights Studies, Concordia University

Cindy Chazan

Vice President, The Wexner Foundation

Rabbi Michael Chernick

Professor Emeritus, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Rabbi Yisroel Ciner 

Congregation Beth Jacob of Irvine, CA

Rabbi Malcolm Cohen

Temple Sinai - Las Vegas, NV

Rabbi Stephen Cohen

Congregation B'nai B'rith - Santa Barbara, CA

Rabbi Karen Companez

Temple Beth El - Flint, MI

Rabbi Abraham Cooper

Associate Dean, Simon Wiesenthal Center - Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Neil Cooper

Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El - Wynnewood, PA

Rabbi Menachem Creditor

Congregation Netivot Shalom - Berkeley, CA

Leslie Katz Crotty

Immediate Past President, B'nai Israel - Southbury, CT

Jordan Dale

Executive Director, Surprise Lake Camp

Rabbi Stanley M. Davids 

Temple Emanu-El - Atlanta, GA (emer.)

Rabbi Judi Ahavah Del Bourgo

Beth El Synagogue - Margate, NJ

Michael Dickerman

Adj. Faculty in Holocaust and Genocide Studies

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

Gemma Del Duca, S.C., Ph.D.

National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education, Seton Hill University

Prof. Michael N. Dobkowski

Department of Religious Studies, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Rabbi Michael Dolgin

Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto, Canada

Michael Drake, MD

Past President. Temple Adath B'nai Israel - Evansville, IN

Rabbi Mark Dratch

Executive Vice President, Rabbinical Council of America

Rabbi Menashe East

Mount Freedom Jewish Center - Randolph NJ

Rabbi Denise L. Eger

Congregation Kol Ami - West Hollywood, CA

Rabbi Dr. Stephen J. Einstein

Founding Rabbi, Congregation B'nai Tzedek - Fountain Valley, CA (emer.)

Rabbi Richard Eisenberg

Beth El Synagogue - Torrington. CT

Rabbi Dennis Eisner 

Peninsula Temple Beth El - San Mateo, CA 

Rabbi Warren Elf

Rabbi, Southend and District Reform Synagogue

Trustee, Forum for the Discussion of Israel and Palestine (Fodip)

Sammy Eppel

Latin America Coordinator, Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy

Stuart Erdheim

Filmmaker

Rabbi Morley T. Feinstein

University Synagogue - Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Dr. Carl Feit

Yeshiva University

Rabbi Dr. Mordecai Finley

Ohr HaTorah - Mar Vista, CA

Arlene Fickler

President, Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel - Philadelphia, PA

Risa Filkoff

Board President, Beth Sholom B'nai Israel - Manchester, CT

Rabbi Steven N. Fineblum

Temple Sinai - Cinnaminson, NJ 

Rabbi Shai Finkelstein

Baron Hirsch Congregation - Memphis, TN

Rabbi Dov Fischer

Young Israel of Orange County, CA

Adj. Prof. of Law, Loyola Law School

Suzette Adouth Fisher

Board President, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Dr. John D. Fonte

Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

Rabbi Joseph M. Forman

Or Chadash - Flemington, NJ

Rabbi Gerald R. Fox

Temple Beth Shalom - Brigantine, NJ

President, South Jersey Board of Rabbis and Cantors

Rabbi Jeffrey Frances

Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy - Rockville, MD

Rabbi Josh Franklin

Temple Beth Elohim - Wellesley, MA

Rabbi Carla Freedman

Beth Israel Congregation - Sun City Center, FL

Rabbi Matt Friedman

Instructor, University of Phoenix

Prof. Arie A. Galles

Member, Weinstein Holocaust Symposium / Soka University

Prof. Zev Garber

Chair, Jewish Studies and Philosophy, L.A.Valley College (emer.)

Editor, Shofar - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies

Rabbi Wendi Geffen

North Shore Congregation Israel - Glencoe, IL

Rabbi David Gelfand

Temple Israel of the City of New York

Rabbi Laura Geller

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, CA

Cantor Robert M. Gerber

Har Sinai Congregation - Baltimore, MD

Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz

Congregation B'nai Jeshurun - Short Hills, NJ

Rabbi George D. Gittleman

Congregation Shomrei Torah - Santa Rosa  CA

Rabbi David Glanzberg-Krainin

Beth Sholom Congregation - Elkins Park, PA

Lawrence M. Glaser

Adjunct Professor, Holocaust & Genocide Studies, Richard Stockton College

Assistant Director, N.J. Commission on Holocaust Education

Rabbi Ozer Glickman

Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (Yeshiva U.)

Adjunct Professor of Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Rabbi Gary Glickstein

Temple Beth Sholom - Miami Beach, FL

Dr. Myrna Goldenberg

Montgomery College, MD (emer.)

Rabbi Ezra Goldschmiedt

Congregation Sha'arei Torah - Cincinnati, OH

Rabbi Yamin Goldsmith

Menahel, Sha'alvim for Women

Rabbi Aaron Goldstein

Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, UK

Rabbi Dr. Andrew Goldstein

Hon. President, Liberal Judaism, UK

Rabbi Josh Goldstein

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Sha'arey Shalom - Springfield, NJ

Rabbi in Residence, The Chai Center for Jewish Life - Warren,NJ

Rabbi Lisa L. Goldstein

Executive Director, Institute for Jewish Spirituality

Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin

Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies

Dr. Henry Gonshak

Professor of English and Holocaust Studies, Montana Tech

Rabbi Evan Goodman

Santa Barbara Hillell - Santa Barbara,  CA

Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz

Temple Isaiah - Lafayette, CA

Rabbi Bruce D. Greenbaum

Congregation Beth Israel - Carmel, CA

Gerald S. Greenberg

President, Adath Israel Congregation - Cincinnati, OH

Prof. Gershon Greenberg

American University, Washington, D.C.

Rabbi Irving Yitz Greenberg

Founding President, Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation

Chairman, United States Holocaust Memorial Council, 2000-2002

Rabbi David Greenstein

Congregation Shomrei Emunah - Montclair, NJ

Rabbi Micah D. Greenstein

Temple Israel - Memphis, TN

Rabbi Nicki Greninger

Temple Isaiah - Lafayette, CA

Dr. Elvira Groezinger

Former lecturer, University of Potsdam & Freie Universitaet Berlin

Prof. Dr. Karl E. Groezinger

Zentrum Juedische Studien, Berlin Brandenburg, Humboldt Universitaet

Rabbi Yonah Gross

Congregation Beth Hamedrosh - Wynnewood, PA

Andy Groveman

Belz Enterprises - Memphis, TN

Jan Groveman

Member of the Board, American Society for Yad Vashem

Prof. Jeffrey S. Gurock

Yeshiva University

Rabbi Jason Gwasdoff

Temple Israel - Stockton, CA

Rabbi Jon Haddon

Danbury, CT

Dr. Elana Stein Hain

Shalom Hartman Institute of North America

Prof. Paul Halpern

University of Toronto (emer.)

Rabbi Jon Hanish

Temple Kol Tikvah - Woodland Hills, CA

Chair, West Valley Rabbinic Task Force

Martha Hare, PhD, RN

Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation - Bethesda, MD

David Harris

Executive Director

American Jewish Committee

Rabbi Mordechai Harris

Baron Hirsch Congregation - Memphis, TN

Prof. Michael R. Hayse

Director, Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies

The Richard Stockton College of NJ

Rabbi Sidney M. Helbraun

Temple Beth-El - Northbrook, IL

Rabbi Jason Herman

Executive Director, International Rabbinic Fellowship

Rabbi Avraham Y. Heschel

Director of the Brandler Institute of Chasidic Thought

Rabbi Tom Heyn

Temple Israel of Greater Miami, FL

David G. Hill, MD

President, B'nai Israel - Southbury, CT

Rabbi Cantor Patricia Ernest Hickman

Temple Israel of Brevard - Melbourne, FL

Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller

Temple Beth Torah - Ventura, CA

Rabbi David Hoffman

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Michael Horowitz

CEO, 21st Century Initiatives

Rabbi Daniel Horwitz

JB Greenfield Chapel, Congregation Beth Yeshurun - Houston, TX

Rabbi Mitchell M. Hurvitz

Temple Sholom - Greenwich, CT

Rabbi Geoff Huntting

Temple Sinai - Sarasota, FL

Rabbi Prof. Steven L. Jacobs

Chair, Judaic Studies - The  University of Alabama

Rabbi, Temple Emanu-El - Tuscaloosa, AL

Rabbi David Jaffe

Gann Academy - Waltham, MA

Michael Jesser

Executive Director, Jewish World Watch

Rabbi Yoel Kahn 

Congregation Beth El - Berkeley, CA

Rachel Gottlieb Kalmowitz

Temple Beth El - Bloomfield Hills, MI

Harry Karten

Member of the Board, American Society for Yad Vashem; 

Jewish Partisans Educational Foundation; and Park East Synagogue

Rabbi Joshua Katzan

Congregation Habonim  - New York, NY

Janice Kamenir-Reznik

Co-Founder, Jewish World Watch

Rabbi Steven Kane

Congregation Sons of Israel - Briarcliff Manor, NY 

Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky 

Bnai David Judea Congregation - Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Paul Kipnes

Congregation Or Ami - Calabasas, CA

Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner

President, New York Board of Rabbis

Senior Rabbi, Temple Emanu El, NJ

Rabbi Daniel Kirzane

AIPAC commends the House of Representatives for adopting a bipartisan resolution calling for the permanent demilitarization of Gaza and denouncing the use of civilians as human shields by Hamas. The resolution also strongly supports the right of Israel to defend its citizens against Hamas rockets and the terrorist organization’s use of terror tunnels to attack the Jewish state. The resolution was authored by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL).

The resolution notes that Hamas “has been using civilian populations as human shields by placing their missile batteries in densely populated areas and near schools, hospitals, and mosques.” In contrast, Israel “drops leaflets, makes announcements, places phone calls and send text messages to the Palestinian people in Gaza warning them in advance that and attack is imminent, and goes to extraordinary lengths to target only terrorist actors.”

The resolution further calls on the international community to recognize and condemn Hamas’ breaches of international law through the use of human shields. It also condemns the United Nations Human Rights Council’s “biased commission of inquiry into Israel’s Gaza operations.”

Hamas is engaged in unprovoked terrorist aggression against the Jewish state while employing tactics that have jeopardized the safety of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 24, 2014

July 18, 2014 Toronto – Jewish human rights organization B’nai Brith Canada is calling for additional oversight at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) following the disturbing discovery that 20 rockets were found hidden in a vacant UNRWA school.

Frank Dimant, CEO, B’nai Brith Canada, issued the following statement:

“This is sadly another example of hypocrisy at the United Nations and its agencies and further proof that Palestinian terror organizations are using civilians and civilian institutions as cover for their terrorist operations. While UNWRA has assured the global community that the rockets have been removed, it has yet to clarify whether or not the rockets were returned to the terrorist organizations that placed them there or were destroyed.

“The United Nations must ensure that its facilities are not used to store or manufacture weapons weapons and that U.N. funds are not funneled to terrorists. It is time that having a special agency solely for Palestinians - one often used as a political tool against a liberal democracy - be abandoned in favor of the existing universal UN Refugee Agency handling all other refugees.”

For Immediate Release, July 21, 2014

Toronto­­­­ --- Upon learning that hateful messages were spray-painted at a Thornhill Ontario mosque last night, Berl Nadler, Co-Chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Greater Toronto Region, issued the following statement:

“We unequivocally condemn all acts of vandalism committed against any place of worship. There is no place in Canadian civil society for acts of bigotry and hatred. We have been in touch with York Regional Police who quickly launched an investigation, and we are confident they will do their utmost to bring the perpetrators of this act to justice.”

Ottawa, ON – In recent weeks, anti-Israel protests in Calgary, the Greater Toronto Area, and Montreal have seen deplorable vitriol and violence against Jews. In France and Turkey, recent protests have likewise led to open expressions of antisemitism and, in some cases, violent attacks against Jews or Jewish institutions.
 
In response, Shimon Koffler Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), issued the following statement:

“We are alarmed that anti-Israel demonstrations in Canada have become an outlet for hateful vitriol, intimidation, and even violence against Jews. Such abhorrent incidents are not only an attack on the Jewish community, they are an attack on core Canadian values including respect for the law and for free speech. We unequivocally condemn any such behaviour, regardless of the perpetrator or victim, including the most recent event in Vaughan.

“Canadians of all backgrounds would be outraged to learn that these disturbing acts took place in our country. We urge authorities to thoroughly investigate these events and hold accountable those who have broken Canadian law.”

Hi Rhonda

Thanks for your article. Hang in there. I have been in Tel aviv for the last 4 days and the latest siren tonight at around 10:00 stressed me a bit. I cannot imagine how the towns and cities close to Gaza are feeling and my heart also goes out to the innocent civilians on the other side. Take care of yourself and keep up those prayers,

Morris

Morris Glimcher

Executive Director

Manitoba High Schools

        Athletic Association

204 925-5624 fax

Dear Winnipeg Jewish Review,

It is wonderful to see that so many  young Winnipeggers are here in Israel these days.  Here in Kiriat Shmona things are almost completely quiet:  No sirens, no explosions, no running to the shelter!  I guess we are sitting this one out.

A far cry from the ‘90s and 2006 when we were the main targets.  On the good side, we were interviewed endlessly by the foreign press.  Well, I don’t miss any of it, and instead we got to host families from the  south.

From your articles I see that there are at least 20 young Winnipeggers living in Israel.  (young is anything below 50).   K’ayneh Horra.   We have room for another 12,000, so tell all your friends.

Barry Silverberg, Kiriat Shmoana (JWC class of ‘69).

Ms. Cannon,

The Muslims of Calgary organization, who advertises Friday prayers at the University of Calgary, has posted false information which has lead to comments such as "Jew pigs - avenge them". They posted a picture of dead babies claiming it was Israel who killed them. The picture is from a chemical attack in Syria (http://www.demotix.com/photo/2482767/victims-ghouta-chemical-attack-syria). The group also rents University of Calgary space to host their speakers.

May I remind you that the current president of the Palestinian club on campus, Ala'a Hamdan has been quoted saying 'I will soak a koffiyah in your blood...I will become the mother of a martyr'. She has also been quoted saying 'Most CEOs are Zionists'. This club organized 5 protests in Calgary this month - 2 have been violent (yesterday, one of their protestors was arrested). In addition, Saima Jamal, another one of the protest organizers, is a UofC staff member. She apologized to the media about the violence, and then laughed online about the violence against Jews and Christians (see attached picture). The campus club "SPHR", which was awarded "Advocacy Club of the Year 2013", also brought speakers last year who have said "The IDF systematically kills Arabs" and "Jews put feces in the drinking water of Palestinians". One of their club members has told us "It's too bad the nazis didn't finish off your family".

We strongly feel that this incitement to hate has led to the violent attack on Jews and Christian Israel supporters at city hall on July 18, 2014. 

Jewish university students and Israel supporters are afraid to come back to campus this September. Please advise. Our emails have been thus far ignored.

Sarah Bernamoff | MBA | P: (403) 860-9331

President & Founder,

Calgary United with Israel (CUWI) 

Canadians for Human Rights in the Middle East (CHRME)

www.cuwi.ca

Hello Ms Spivak,

I am writing because I wanted to let you know about the local shul, Shaarey Zedek, and their participation in a Canadian campaign to coincide with the 70th anniversary of D-Day this week. They will be saying Kaddish for the Jewish servicemen from Winnipeg (there were 13) who were killed in France and are buried in cemeteries across Normandy, as a result of their service in the Second World War.

Bill Weissman was my contact there.

 I attach a list of their names, hometowns, and brief bios. You can find more on the Kaddish For DDay Facebook page, on the blog, and in the Canadian Jewish News which ran a front page story on this today.

Would you consider covering this story, in honour of the Winnipeggers who gave their lives to help liberate Europe from the Nazis?

Feel free to use the information, or don't hesitate to contact me for further details. 

--
Ellin Bessner

Founder, Kaddish for D-Day
[email protected]
[email protected]

416 822-1503

Israel Freedman, Yude Brownstone , David Charles Cramer (son of Oscar and Becky Cramer, of Winnipeg, he was 23.), Harry Segal (Son of Charles and Sarah Segal, he was married), Abram H. Arbour (Son of Nathan and Etta Arbour; husband of Clarice May Arbour, of Newhaven, Sussex, England. Had one daughter.), Louis H. Blatt (Blattin), Lawrence Cohen (Son of Isaac and Anne Cohen, of Winnipeg, Manitoba), William Harvey Dubinsky (Son of Son of Shiyah Dubinsky, and of Reva Dubinsky), Harry L. Marantz (Son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Marantz. He was a doctor.), Mortimer Samuel Max Sucharov (Son of Harry and Sophie Sucharov), Louis Paul (Son of Mr and Mrs Isaac/Irving and Sarah Paul), Joseph Shore (Son of Abraham and Rebecca Shore), Morris Marvin Soronow (Son of Max and Riva Soronow, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO — B'nai Brith Canada is appealing to Pope Francis not to succumb to Palestinian attempts to rewrite history with propaganda.

"Lacking their own national narrative, some Palestinians are now attempting to rewrite history by appropriating the person of Jesus," said Frank Dimant, CEO, B'nai Brith Canada. "Manipulating Christian art and portraying Jesus as a Palestinian spreads anti-Israel hatred — the new antisemitism — and is also an offense to Christianity. This is their attempt to erase the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel — a connection dating back to G-d's covenant with Abraham in which He promised the land to the Jewish people.

"The Jewish people have suffered from the misuse of Christian theology for over a thousand years. This is why it is vital that His Holiness the Pope speak out publicly against the appropriation of any Christian symbols for propaganda purposes and ensure that none of his remarks give aid and comfort to those seeking to destroy the Jewish people and the Jewish homeland.

"The Pope has the ability to influence the Palestinian leadership to abandon the use of antisemitic propaganda and fully recognize Israel as the Jewish Homeland once and for all."

For Immediate Release

Toronto – Today, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the lower court's decision to extradite Hassan Diab to France, where he is suspected of having been involved in a deadly attack on a Paris synagogue in 1980.

In reaction to the Ontario Court’s decision, David Koschitzky, Chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), issued the following statement:

“We applaud the decision rendered today by the Ontario Court of Appeal upholding the extradition order issued in 2011. The fact that the main suspect in this hateful terrorist attack will indeed face the justice system gives hope to the survivors and to the families of the innocent victims. The upholding of the extradition order does not assume Diab’s culpability. Diab will be able to defend himself before France’s judicial system, which is just as impartial as Canada’s.”

Winnipeg, MB -  Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, invites local organizations to propose projects that will empower women in the region – particularly entrepreneurs and professionals – to succeed. 

The Government of Canada will fund these new projects through a Status of Women Canada Call for Proposals entitled Economic Prosperity: Positioning Women for Success. Projects funded under this call will support women by increasing their access to economic and mentoring opportunities, as well as advancing their financial preparedness.

This latest Call by Status of Women Canada is in line with the commitment made by the Government in Economic Action Plan 2014 to support women entrepreneurs by increasing mentorship among women business owners.

The deadline for applications under this Call for Proposals is June 13, 2014.

Quick Facts

·         Economic Prosperity: Positioning Women for Success will support projects in three thematic areas, namely: Increasing or strengthening economic opportunities for entrepreneurial and professional women; advancing women in various sectors through mentorship/sponsorship; and collaborating to advance the financial preparedness of women.

·         Statistics Canada reports that women represented 47.3% of the labour force in 2013.

·         Women accounted for 35.5% of all self-employed workers in 2009, up from 31.2% in 1990 and 26.3% in 1976.

·         A 2012 BMO Financial Group study reports that, 71% of Canadian women indicated that they would like to start their own business and 83% of them said having access to role models or mentors would be important to their success.

·         Since 2007, the Harper Government has funded more than $54 million for projects that promote women’s economic security and prosperity through the Women’s Program at Status of Women Canada. This includes more than $9 million for projects that help women entrepreneurs. Government of Canada support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, supporting more than 720 projects across the country.

The Danger of a Short Iranian Breakout Time

Perhaps the most contentious issue of the P5+1 negotiations with Iran is the fate of Tehran’s uranium enrichment program. Any final agreement must require the dismantlement of Iran’s centrifuge capacity such that it does not have a uranium path to a nuclear weapon.

What is “Breakout Time”?

The term “breakout time” refers to the time period Iran requires to produce enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon. Breakout time can vary depending on the number and type of centrifuges and the quality of the uranium feedstock.
 

What is Iran’s Current Breakout Time?
Iran could break out in about two months if it used the 9,000 centrifuges it is currently operating. Iran could shorten that time frame by employing 11,000 additional centrifuges that it has installed but is not operating today. Some in Washington have spoken about the possibility of the U.S. accepting an Iranian capacity to break out in 6-12 months.
Has the Interim Agreement Lengthened Iran’s Breakout Time?
Under the Joint Plan of Action, Iran has diluted half its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium to lower levels and agreed to convert the remaining half into a form less readily accessible for nuclear weapons.

This step will only slightly increase Iran’s breakout time, because Iran has installed more than a thousand advanced centrifuges that can enrich at a pace 3-5 times faster than first generation models.
Why is a 6-12 Month Breakout Time Dangerous?
Any agreement that would accept Tehran’s ability to breakout in as little as 6-12 months poses serious dangers. These include:

• Uncertainty of detection: Such an agreement would require the international community to rapidly detect an Iranian attempt to break out. History is replete with cases of states that have successfully concealed their nuclear intentions, and Iran has a long track record of lying and concealing with respect to its nuclear program.
   
• Unrealistic expectation of rapid response: Successful international response to an Iranian breakout attempt would require quick detection, rapid decision-making, and the will to employ all necessary measures to stop Iran’s program. This would be a difficult combination to guarantee.
   
• The irrelevance of new sanctions: Such a limited breakout timeframe would leave insufficient time to implement stringent new sanctions, forcing the international community to choose between accommodation and the use of force.

Given these pitfalls, any agreement must include dismantlement of Iran’s enrichment infrastructure if it is to offer hope to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Quotes To Note

• “…our bottom line is that we will only accept a deal that effectively constrains Iran’s ability to break out and produce a nuclear weapon. That means real curbs on all elements of the program and a verification regime that gives confidence Iran isn’t conducting activities in secret.”
  - National Security Advisor to the Vice President Jake Sullivan, May 1, 2014.
   
• “I don’t think that we did everything that we’ve done [in imposing sanctions on Iran] to only get a six or a 12 months lead time. Because a deal that would ultimately unravel the entire sanctions regime for a six-to-12 month lead time is not far from where we are today.”
  - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, April 8, 2014.
   

April 28, 2014
 
OTTAWA AND AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day:
 
“Today, on Yom HaShoah, all Canadians stand with the Jewish community in remembering the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the millions of innocent people who lost their lives.
 
“Our determination to never again allow such evil to occur remains resolute. We must never forget this dark period in human history.
 
“On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary Caucus, I join in honouring the memories of the millions who lost their lives in the Holocaust and paying tribute to the survivors amongst us.”
 
Liberal Rights, Freedoms, and International Justice Critic, Irwin Cotler, continued:
 
“Today is an historic moment of remembrance and reminder – the 70th anniversary of the Shoah of Hungarian Jews – of horrors too terrible to be believed but not too terrible to have happened. Some 500,000 Hungarian Jews were deported in cattle trains to the death camps in Auschwitz in six weeks.

“This Yom HaShoah here in Auschwitz, I have the honour to light a memorial torch with the great-niece of Canada's first honourary citizen, Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who showed how one person with the compassion to care and the courage to act can transform history.

“Never again will we be silent in the face of evil; never again will we be indifferent to racism and anti-Semitism; never again will we be bystanders to hate or to the pain of the vulnerable.”
 

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