EBulletin for July 29, 2022
Special Statement on Jew-Hatred By An Associate of Gubernatorial Candidate — Plus, Our Newsletter
Shalom ZOA Members, Friends and Supporters of Israel,
We hope that our newsletter this week finds you and your loved ones well. For those who are not feeling well, we wish for you or them a complete and speedy recovery.
The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Zionist Organization of America takes Jew-hatred and the incitement of Jew-hatred seriously. No matter who or what the source of the Jew-hatred or incitement is, we will call it out, demand that it be rejected and condemned, and assert that it must be unwelcomed by all decent people. This includes any and all forms of Jew-hatred – including anti-Zionist and anti-Israel rhetoric and activity.
Depending on your sources of news or information, you may or may not be aware that a candidate for governor of Pennsylvania has had an association with the founder and CEO of a social media platform who has made a litany of virulently anti-Jewish statements and accusations.
The situation has received quite a lot of attention in some media outlets, other web sites and on social media. Much of this attention has had political and/or partisan overtones. In weighing in on this situation, it is not our purpose to contribute to efforts to turn Jew-hatred into a political weapon nor for it to be used as a partisan tool. Our purpose is to let you — our members, supporters and friends – and frankly the entire community know the facts, assert that there is no excuse for Jew-hatred, demand that those who participate in it be repudiated and insist that Jew-hatred in all its forms be universally rejected.
In a joint effort with ZOA’s Pittsburgh Chapter, together we have issued a statement/news release on this serious and dangerous matter. See an excerpt of our joint statement below as well as a link to read the full statement in its entirety on the Web. The full statement includes many specific examples of the anti-Jewish statements that were made by a supporter of one of the candidates. We strongly encourage you to share our statement in its entirety as widely as possible. Thank you.
ZOA: Mastriano’s Statement Falls Short – He Must Repudiate Torba; Not Enough to Say Antisemite “Doesn’t Speak” for Him
The Zionist Organization of America’s Greater Philadelphia Chapter and Pittsburgh Chapter call on Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano to unequivocally and immediately specifically repudiate the anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist rhetoric and attacks made by Gab social media platform founder and CEO Andrew Torba, who is a vocal Mastriano supporter. Further, Mastriano must reject Torba’s endorsement and support.
Mastriano’s statement on the matter that he issued on July 28 (see it below) does not go far enough, and his minimizing of Jew-hatred by conflating it with economic issues and matters related to government policy in response to COVID are disturbing and insulting.
Greater Philadelphia ZOA and Pittsburgh ZOA together represent and serve the Jewish people, advance Zionism and support the pro-Israel community throughout the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Mastriano is the Republican Party’s nominee for governor of Pennsylvania for the general election in November. On Thursday, July 28, Sen. Mastriano posted a terse statement on the matter of Jew-hatred to his twitter feed – though not on his campaign web site. The statement (see below) neglects to repudiate Torba or any of his anti-Jewish claims, accusations and demands, and it lacks any apology for any discomfort his association with Torba and Gab may have caused Jewish Pennsylvanians.
Were he to become governor, Mastriano would represent nearly 13 million Pennsylvanians and among these are hundreds of thousands of Jewish Americans. Pennsylvania is America’s fifth most populous state.
Please see our entire statement at:
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Teachers Helping Teachers:
Greater Philadelphia ZOA is looking for retired or current schoolteachers, principals, professors and others who have worked in education to speak with teachers throughout our region. We are trying to prevent anti-Jewish curriculum and materials from being used in K-12 classrooms. The NEA has approved an initiative to emphasize teaching a narrative that denigrates, deceives and delegitimizes Jewish history and heritage.
Teachings that are not factually correct would not be acceptable in other disciplines such as mathematics and science – they should not be acceptable in world history or social studies.
If you would like to participate – to provide facts and to explain what is behind the NEA measure to other educators, please call our Greater Philadelphia ZOA Office: 610-660-9466. Thank you.
Greater Philadelphia ZOA Needs Your Financial Support
No other organization is doing the valuable work that ZOA is doing to expose and combat Jew-hatred, educate the community and to boldly promote and defend Zionism and Israel!
To donate electronically, go to: https://zoa.org/donate/philly/
To donate by check, send to:
ZOA
PO Box 56
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
We are grateful to those of you who have made donations to our chapter this week. We appreciate each and every donation!
Please make your donation today while you are thinking about it.
Greater Philadelphia ZOA is looking for volunteers to help with three projects:
We are looking for someone to edit segments from existing digital videos.
We are also looking for people to do internet research projects.
We are looking for volunteers to make calls.
If you are able to help with any of these, please contact executive director Steve Feldman at 610-660-9466.
Thank you in advance.
We are grateful to volunteers Sharon and Andy for their invaluable help!
Let’s Talk About Zionism, Israel and ZOA
– Over Coffee or Another Beverage:
Your questions answered about ZOA, advocacy, Middle East history, Zionism, the peace process, media bias and related topics that interest you in a one-on-one conversation.
Call our office at 610-660-9466 to make an appointment for Coffee with Executive Director Steve Feldman. Your first cup is on us!
Newsletter for October 15, 2021
Shalom ZOA members, friends, and supporters of Israel and Zionism,
We hope that our newsletter this week finds you and your loved ones well. For those who are not, we wish for you or them a complete and speedy recovery.
Be Part of Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s Leadership
Greater Philadelphia ZOA plans to have elections later this year both for officers and for members of our Board of Directors. Your wisdom, experience, know-how and commitment to Israel and the Jewish People can help our chapter succeed and accomplish more as a part of our inner circle. Brainstorm and work closely with some of our region’s most dedicated Zionists to promote Israel and Zionism, strengthen the US-Israel relationship in our region and defend the Jewish community.
All members in good standing are eligible for consideration. To learn more, please call Executive Director Steve Feldman at 610-660-9466.
Advocacy:
“…If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget [its skill].
May my tongue cling to my palate, if I do not remember you, if I do not bring up Jerusalem at the beginning of my joy. … “
These verses from Psalm 137 illustrate how central and sacred the city of Jerusalem is to the Jewish People. Imagine not being able to speak, or for your right hand to not function well (even if you happen to be a southpaw). For those of you who remember when the Israel Defense Forces liberated the eastern sections of the city including Har Habayit, the Kotel and the Mt. of Olives cemetery (and other holy and integral sites) in 1967, the rejoicing at having the city reunified is a memory that you still hold dear. For those too young to remember: Imagine the Temple Mount and Western Wall and other places could again be off-limits to Jews. We never want Jerusalem to be torn apart again.
Were the United States government to reopen a Consulate in Jerusalem to serve only Palestinian-Arabs, it would be a de facto Embassy and confer legitimacy on their claim that Jerusalem should be the capital of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority is headquartered in Ramallah while Hamas is headquartered in Gaza City. No Arab or Muslim nation or group that has controlled Jerusalem in the past has ever made Jerusalem its capital.
There is no good reason for the U.S. to have a Consulate in Jerusalem today. The United States does not have a separate Consulate in any city where the U.S. has its Embassy. A U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem would be the first step in dividing the city, the eternal capital of Israel and the Jewish People.
The Biden administration announced it will reopen the Consulate earlier this year (It was closed when President Trump moved the U.S. Embassy to its rightful place in Jerusalem as per U.S. law and thus to have a Consulate there was a redundancy.) and Secretary of State Blinken announced this week that the administration is moving forward despite strong objections from the new Israeli government.
We must work to try to prevent this from happening.
What each of us can do is:
Email the White House: Contact form at https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Call the chairs of the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committee:
Senate: (202) 224-4651 (Chairman is Sen. Robert Menendez D-NJ)
House Foreign Affairs: (202) 225-5021 (Chairman is Congressman Gregory Meeks D-NY)
Pro-actively post on social media and on blogs.
Submit pro-active letters to the editor of local and national media.
Ask clergy to speak about this matter from the pulpit and to put notices in congregation bulletins and emails.
All of these steps must happen ASAP if they are to have an impact.
Remember to be concise and polite. Use some of the points in the paragraph above to help make your case against reopening of the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem.
Friends: If you have not yet made a contribution in 2021 in support of Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s vital work in our region, please do so – we promise to put your donation to good use.
If you have already donated this year and are able to do so again, please consider another donation at this time. See details about how to donate below.
Thank you.
Please consider making a donation today or at your earliest convenience. You can donate electronically or by check, and you can also set up a regular monthly donation to Greater Philadelphia via Paypal.
To donate electronically, go to: https://zoa.org/donate/philly/
To donate by check, send to:
ZOA
PO Box 56
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
We appreciate each and every donation! Please make your donation today while you are thinking about it.
Help Greater Philadelphia ZOA Have a Successful Virtual Gala!
Greater Philadelphia ZOA is looking for members to serve on our Gala Committee. Our Gala is our biggest fundraising event of the year and an upbeat occasion to celebrate Israel and America, Zionism and Patriotism. We will have wonderful honorees both local and national this year who are deserved of recognition for their love and dedication to the Jewish state and the United States. To serve on this committee, please call Steve Feldman at 610-660-9466.
Greater Philadelphia ZOA is looking for part-time help (15 hours per week) to assist our staff in our Bala Cynwyd office. Position entails general office work including answering phones, typing letters, photocopying, getting us ready for meetings and events, etc., plus internet research. If you have bookkeeping skills, that is a plus! Some evening or Sunday work may be required when we have events.
Must have full competence in Microsoft Office software (especially Excel and Word) and internet research .
Must have excellent communication skills and a commitment to accuracy and professionalism.
Knowledge about Israel and related issues, and familiarity with the Jewish community is helpful.
Position is on an independent contractor basis.
Position available immediately.
If you are interested or know of a suitable candidate, please reply to: [email protected] with “Position Available” in the subject line. For questions about the position, call 610-660-9466.
Let’s Talk About Zionism, Israel and ZOA – Over Coffee or Another Beverage:
Your questions answered about advocacy, Middle East history, Zionism, the peace process, media bias and ZOA in a one-on-one conversation.
Call our office at 610-660-9466 to make an appointment for Coffee with Executive Director Steve Feldman.
If you are able to lend us some of your time and talent, please call Executive Director Steve Feldman at 610-660-9466. We are looking for volunteers to do some or all of the following: Web research, phone calls, advertising solicitation, help with mailings. We thank Sharon for her help this week.
Newsletter for June 18, 2021
Shalom ZOA Members, Friends and Supporters of Israel,
We hope that this week’s Greater Philadelphia ZOA newsletter finds you and your loved ones well.
We are excited to announce that our 2021 Gala is scheduled for October 21 at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue. G-d willing we will see many of you for our celebration of America and Israel, and honor leading pro-Israel advocates from our region. Come out to share the evening with hundreds of fellow Zionists and Patriots as we enjoy delicious kosher food, hear inspiring remarks from our honorees and guest speakers, and enjoy each other’s camaraderie!
While tickets are not on sale just yet, we are taking space reservations for our Gala Ad Journal and Tribute Book to promote businesses and services, congratulate our honorees, express your support for Israel or thank ZOA. Proceeds support ZOA’s vital work throughout the Philadelphia area and beyond. For details, please call or email us at 610-660-9466 or [email protected].
Help make our Gala and even bigger success by volunteering as a part of our Gala Team. To learn how you can play an important role in our grand event, please contact us. Thank you!
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Please see our latest op-ed in the Jewish Exponent elsewhere in our newsletter.
Greater Philadelphia ZOA is looking for volunteers to make phone calls (no soliciting!) and to do internet research.
If you can donate your time, talents and skills, please contact us at 610-660-9466. Thank you!
Please join Zionists from throughout America for the 2021 Zionist Organization of America Leadership Mission to Israel, scheduled for August 8 to 15. Registration is open now. See all details elsewhere in this newsletter. Meanwhile, watch a brief video featuring highlights of the 2020 ZOA Israel Mission (it took place just before the pandemic closures!) at the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND-az_VEX0Q
Advocacy
Just because some “authority” makes a claim, that does not make the claim a fact – and when we hear or read such a false claim or propaganda and know that the claim is false, it is incumbent upon supporters of Israel, Zionism and the Jewish People to act. We act in the hope that there will be a correction, we act to educate the offender and we act to make sure the transgression is not repeated. Earlier this week a ZOA member phoned the Greater Philadelphia ZOA Office to let us know that a KYW News Radio anchorwoman was telling listeners that Jerusalem was “occupied.” A check of a recording of the broadcast found that specifically she was labeling part of the undivided capital of Israel as “occupied East Jerusalem.” We called the station, spoke with an editor at the station who informed us that the anchorwoman was reading from a report that came from a network. We explained the facts to him and now we are awaiting a callback from the station’s news director to seek a correction and to make certain that this error is not repeated.
If you reach out to the media when something is misreported, ask to speak with the highest-ranking person available. Be polite and concise, and explain the error and offer the facts when possible. If you need help with this, please call our Office at 610-660-9466. Also: Please let us know by phone or email about the reporting error that you saw or heard. Thank you for your advocacy
Don’t Wait for War to Defend Israel
Please see our latest op-ed: “Don’t Wait for War to Defend Israel,” a call for pro-active advocacy, in the Jewish Exponent. Please send the link for the article to your email lists and post it on social media to encourage others to engage in advocacy.
https://www.jewishexponent.com/2021/06/18/dont-wait-for-war-to-defend-israel/
Participate in National ZOA’s Leadership Mission to Israel
This August!
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein and his wife Rita will lead this memorable mission, and you will experience people and places that only ZOA can provide.
See Tentative itinerary and details: https://zoa.org/mission-events/zoa-israel-mission-2020/
Pre-register now at: https://keshetisrael.formstack.com/forms/keshet_zoa_leadership_2021_registration
To learn more, email Mission coordinator Howard Katzoff at [email protected]
As a valued leader of the Jewish community, we invite you to be part of a ZOA VIP leadership delegation on a trip to see Israel like you’ve never seen it before.
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Let’s Talk About Zionism, Israel and ZOA – Over Coffee or Another Beverage:
Your questions answered about advocacy, Middle East history, Zionism, the peace process, media bias and ZOA in a one-on-one conversation.
Call our office at 610-660-9466 to make an appointment for Coffee with Executive Director Steve Feldman.
The Iranian Threat:
Because a nuclear-armed Iran poses a truly existential threat to both the United States and Israel, ZOA along with Iranian Americans for Liberty has created a special website to draw attention to the danger. It includes a highly impactful video, an opportunity to engage in advocacy with your members of Congress including a sample letter to send them, and plenty of information. Please visit the site at https://nonuclearholocaust.com/ and be sure to let others know about it!
Remember: Iran supplies deadly rockets, training and millions in cash to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad murderers and terrorists as well as to Hezb’allah. Any sanctions relief or efforts that do not inhibit Iran’s state sponsorship of murder and terrorism will lead to more murder and terrorism!
Greater Philadelphia ZOA Newsletter for June 11, 2021
Shalom ZOA Members, Friends and Supporters of Israel,
We hope our newsletter this week finds you and your loved ones well.
If you have been following our local ZOA emails, National ZOA emails or peruse news media regularly you are aware 
that American Jewry, Diaspora Jewry and Israel have an enormously consequential battle on our hands. Battles need fighters and fighters fill many roles. There is no fighter for Zionism, Israel and the well-being of Jewry that is more active than the Zionist Organization of America both locally and nationally. As hard as we fight and as strong as we are, we need you to help us to be stronger and more effective. If you are already active, please try to be more active; if you are not active at this time, please consider becoming active in our chapter – we need your involvement on our specialized committees so that we can do more and do it more efficiently, and we are often also in need of volunteers to help with research and making calls.
Whether you participate in our organization or are not able to at this time, we need your generous charitable donations. We thank those of you who do support our work financially. Financial support is our fuel. Please consider making a donation today or at your earliest convenience. You can donate electronically or by check and you can also set up a regular monthly donation to Greater Philadelphia via Paypal.
If you would like to get involved in our chapter or more involved, please contact Executive Director Steve Feldman at 610-660-9466 or [email protected]. To donate, see the graphic for more information or go to https://zoa.org/donate/philly
If you are a member of an organization or congregation: Please invite a Greater Philadelphia ZOA speaker for an advocacy workshop, or a Middle East Update or a presentation on a variety of subjects. Consider hosting a “parlor meeting” with your neighbors and friends. Use the contact information above to reach us.
Thank you in advance for your help, your participation and your support.
Advocacy
Do you have good writing skills? Do you think about advocacy or activism frequently?
This is an important time to skillfully share your thoughts, ideas, observations about Israel, Zionism and the state of American Jewry – or related topics — through a blog, on social-media, or via articles and op-eds, or a podcast.
The Web and apps afford more opportunities and avenues to communicate and reach others than ever before — which means more eyes or ears to see and hear about Zionism, Israel and support for both; to point out media bias; or to educate others about Israel’s and the Jewish People’s enemies.
There are many websites where you have an opportunity to publish, or you can start a blog at the Times of Israel or elsewhere. There are a variety of social media sites, and also platforms where you can create a free-standing blog or website. Take advantage of these opportunities to be pro-active or to respond to other activity. If you need guidance, contact Greater Philadelphia ZOA.
For more about ADVOCACY, go to www.philly.zoa.org and use our “Take Action” tab.
Let’s Talk About Zionism, Israel and ZOA – Over Coffee or Another Beverage:
Your questions answered about advocacy, Middle East history, Zionism, the peace process, media bias and ZOA in a one-on-one conversation.
Call our office at 610-660-9466 to make an appointment for Coffee with Executive Director Steve Feldman.
Participate in National ZOA’s Leadership Mission to Israel This August!
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein and his wife Rita will lead this memorable mission, and you will experience people and places that only ZOA can provide.
See Tentative itinerary and details: https://zoa.org/mission-events/zoa-israel-mission-2020/
Pre-register now at: https://keshetisrael.formstack.com/forms/keshet_zoa_leadership_2021_registration
To learn more, email Mission coordinator Howard Katzoff at [email protected]
The Iranian Threat:
Because a nuclear-armed Iran poses a truly existential threat to both the United States and Israel, ZOA along with Iranian Americans for Liberty has created a special website to draw attention to the danger. It includes a highly impactful video, an opportunity to engage in advocacy with your members of Congress including a sample letter to send them, and plenty of information. Please visit the site at https://nonuclearholocaust.com/ and be sure to let others know about it!
Remember: Iran supplies deadly rockets, training and millions in cash to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad murderers and terrorists as well as to Hezb’allah. Any sanctions relief or efforts that do not inhibit Iran’s state sponsorship of murder and terrorism will lead to more murder and terrorism!
April 23, 2021 Newsletter
Shalom ZOA Members, Friends and Supporters of Israel.
We hope that each of you are doing well, and for those who are not we wish you a complete and speedy recovery.
One of the constant, nearly universal challenges that Israel, Jewry and the pro-Israel community face is media bias in all of its forms and in every aspect of media – including entertainment media.
For those who see it so clearly, it is demeaning and disturbing and hard to read, watch or listen to.
But the masses who do not know the facts or the history, the context or current events have no idea that they are being lied to, having their perceptions distorted (whether apparent or subliminal) or otherwise. Sometimes, those who commit media bias may even be unaware that they are engaging in it because they themselves are uninformed, or just a cog in a media/propaganda machine.
It does matter. It can effect foreign policy; it can effect corporate decisions; it can effect Israel’s economy; it can impact the standing of Jews in the world; it can even incite violence against Jews in America – and has.
Yesterday, Greater Philadelphia ZOA presented a webinar about media bias including how to identify it and how to combat it. We urge you to watch it; to listen to it intensely; to share it with as many people as is possible; and for you to engage in identifying and combatting the bias — and encourage your friends to do likewise. There is also a rare glimpse into the Gaza Strip that the media never shows us. See the YouTube link below.
Watch It For the First Time or Again – and Be Sure to Share the Link:
Yesterday’s webinar was sponsored by a donor who has asked to remain anonymous. All of Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s webinars are made possible through the generosity of our sponsoring supporters. To sponsor an upcoming Greater Philadelphia ZOA webinar, call Steve Feldman at 610-660-9466.
https://zoa.org/donate/philly/
Send checks payable to ZOA to: ZOA, PO Box 56, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.
Thank you in advance!
Let’s Talk About Zionism, Israel and ZOA – Over Coffee or Another Beverage:
Your questions answered about advocacy, Middle East history, Zionism, the peace process, media bias and ZOA in a one-on-one conversation.
Call our office at 610-660-9466 to make an appointment for Coffee with Executive Director Steve Feldman.
The Iranian Threat:
Because a nuclear-armed Iran poses a truly existential threat to both the United States and Israel, ZOA along with Iranian Americans for Liberty has created a special website to focus on the danger. It includes a highly impactful video, an opportunity to engage in advocacy with your members of Congress including a sample letter to send them, and plenty of information. Please visit the site at https://nonuclearholocaust.com/ and be sure to let others know about it!
Have You Tried Our Latest Israel Knowledge Quiz?
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V6ZBQT9
In honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, which took place earlier this month, we created another of Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s Israel Quizzes.
If you have not already done so, take a few minutes to test your knowledge, and enjoy and learn.
Click the link above. Send the link to a friend as well.
