Newsletter for November 3, 2023
Shalom ZOA Members, Friends and Supporters of Israel,
We hope that our newsletter this week finds you and your loved ones well – all things considered.
For those of you who are in Israel, or who have loved ones in Israel: We hope you are safe and/or your loved ones are safe there. You remain in our prayers – as does all of Israel and particularly those defending and protecting Israelis – and the focus of all of our efforts at ZOA. We hope you will soon at least have some solace.
As you are likely aware, the anti-Jewish activity nationwide is at unprecedented levels. The Philadelphia region is one of the epicenters or hives of it all: Massive daily marches and protests in the streets – sometimes several a day; Arab students intimidating and harassing Jewish students in school as young as third grade!; walkouts on campuses; incessant anti-Israel media bias.
Please remember to be vigilant at this time. Practice situational awareness at all times and treat any suspicious activity seriously. On Wednesday evening at a coffee shop in Southampton, domestic terrorists shouting “Free Palestine” entered the eatery, made a beeline for an Israeli flag on display, tore it off of the wall and walked out with it. See the report at:
https://6abc.com/cafe-ole-in-the-valley-israeli-flag-israel-masked-men/14003636/
A reminder that the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht is on Nov. 9-10. Please be especially vigilant about safety and security on those days.
See below:
- We are promoting a BUYcott to counter a local anti-Jewish boycott orchestrated by supporters of genocide against Jews that targets specific Jewish-owned businesses.
- There is rampant anti-Israel media bias on local TV news, KYW Newsradio, the Inquirer and other outlets. See an example as well as our Media Action Guide.
- Local vicious anti-Jewish activities and groups are not new to our region, and they run the gamut of the ideological spectrum and cross religious and racial lines. Learn who is working against Israel and Jewry and what we can do about it in Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s new audio/visual presentation exposing the many sources of Jew-hatred.
- See details about the National ZOA Justice Louis D. Brandeis Dinner on Dec. 3, and buy your tickets to attend!
- Marc Lamont Hill launches another anti-Jewish tirade – and Wednesday he will lead an event at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Tirade and details below.
- See many advocacy suggestions and links to fact-sheets, maps and other resources. Please take the time to read through this entire newsletter when time permits.
Now-former Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill – who now is a tenured professor in the Graduate School at CUNY, goes off on a menacing, lie-filled, anti-Jewish tirade at a rally in Philadelphia this past Sunday. See it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-zXf0GjBOU
On Wednesday, the Free Library of Philadelphia is hosting another event featuring Hill at its Central Branch. He will essentially be leading a discussion with author Tanisha Ford. The Free Library and staff have committed a litany of attacks against the Jewish People in recent years, demonizing Zionism and Israel while promoting false narratives about the Middle East.
Greater Philadelphia ZOA has reached out to the head of the Library to express our concern that it is giving a platform to such an aggressive, outspoken inciter of Jew-hatred. It would seem that to do so is harmful to the Jewish community as well as to the confidence Philadelphians can place in the Library system, which should be a safe space for all. We have sent numerous examples of Hill’s anti-Jewish activities including praise for terrorists who attempted to mass-murder Jews – including one who attempted to murder more Jews than Hamas did on Oct. 7. Kelly Richards is president and director of the Library. The phone number for his office is 215-686-5300. If you call, please be civil and concise in your comments.
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, promote Zionism, and to boldly promote and defend Zionism and Israel!
We encourage advocacy and activism like no one else — so that together, ZOA and you can help Israel, the Jewish community, the Zionist movement and the mutually beneficial U.S.-Israel relationship.
Please support our work as generously as you can.
To donate electronically, go to: https://zoa.org/donate/philly/ and follow the multi-step process.
To donate by check, send to:
ZOA
PO Box 56
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
We are grateful to those of you who have already donated. We appreciate each and every donation!
To purchase tickets and/or ads and for all details, visit:
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E12503&id=57
ADVOCACY
Media bias
The news media can either inform the community or misinform the community. The choice lies with the leadership of the news outlet be it print, TV, radio, or web-based. Anti-Jewish/anti-Israel bias is perhaps more insidious and dangerous in local news outlets, where people largely look at or listen to for weather, sports and a summary of news in the area. Unfortunately there has been a fair share of extremely misleading and false broadcasts, articles and reports both from the Middle East and local reactions to events in the Middle East as Israel defends itself against genocidal attacks. For example, see this particularly egregious report from CBS 3 at the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoLVo_PVU0s
You will notice that in that report, not only was there no mention of the slaughter of 1,400 Israelis and the wounding of more than 5,000 additional Israelis on Oct 7 – no mention of 8,000 rockets fired by Arabs on Israeli communities since Oct. 7, no mention of the more than 25,000 rockets Palestinian-Arabs have fired at Israeli communities for the past 22 years, and no mention of the PLO’s “pay-to-slay” murders of Jews and the nearly incessant terrorism and slaughter waged against Jews in the land dating back to at least 1929. The report is an entirely one-sided propaganda piece for the Palestinian-Arab war against the Jewish People.
It is important that those concerned about the well-being of Israel and the Jewish People respond to bad reporting and also engage in pro-active advocacy BEFORE there is a misleading or hatred-inciting report. Phone calls are more effective than emails or letters. You can also attempt to comment on a local news outlet’s social media page. If you call or email: For broadcast news (TV, radio) try to reach the news director or station manager. For print: Try to reach the news editor, executive editor or publisher. Please be mindful to always be civil and to try to be as concise as possible. Remember: The goal is to get the outlet to correct and improve.
See our media guide for contact information and names: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/MEDIA-ACTION-GUIDE-march-2023-update-032123.pdf
* * *
Counter a vile boycott targeting local Jewish-owned businesses with a BUYcott!
Something called the Philly Palestine Coalition, an intersectional collective that has in common hatred of the Jewish People and Israel, has called for BDS – in this case a boycott of businesses that seem to have in common the fact that they are owned by Jewish people – the coalition labels them as “Zionists.”
It is always good to support fellow Zionists, and it is especially important to do so when they are under attack. See the Coalition’s anti-Jewish screed and the names of the businesses in the three social-media screenshots below. Locations and other information about these businesses can easily be found on the Web. If you participate in patronizing these businesses, please let management know that you are there because of a notice from Greater Philadelphia ZOA. Thank you!
* * *
Large anti-Jewish/anti-Zionist/anti-Israel demonstrations, rallies and marches are taking place regularly throughout our region – not only in Philadelphia. If you are interested in seeing and hearing the vitriolic, hateful, and false information spewed in speeches/rants and on signs, watch video at the link from a recent such event in Center City:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc53FjGkj70
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOXxZofGnCI
* * *
Each of us must remain vigilant and we must participate in pro-Israel and pro-Jewish advocacy and activism – whether something simple such as buying goods from Israel or helping to keep a friend informed, to donating money to those directly in Israel or who are buying and sending urgently needed supplies to IDF reservists; to grand efforts including going to Israel to volunteer.
Greater Philadelphia ZOA is encouraging advocacy, monitoring the anti-Jewish activities, responding when we can and trying to be pro-active in getting out in front of problems as much as possible. Some of our work is in the public eye such as counter-demonstrations and letters-to-the-editor. Other work we are engaged in is behind the scenes – speaking with school-board members, university presidents and editors and news directors and other officials.
Please see a number of pro-Israel advocacy items below. Now more than ever – for Israel and for American and world Jewry – advocacy and activism is vitally important. There are many advocacy options. Please partake and encourage others to participate. While the needs are great in Israel, if you can: Please also support our fight in the information war.
In addition, accurate information and public opinion are vitally important. If we at Greater Philadelphia ZOA can be of help to you – or if you want to help us at this time – please reach out at 610-660-9466 or [email protected]
See more advocacy items below!
Host an Event Featuring Our New Presentation about Identifying and Combating Jew-hatred
Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s new presentation, “Jew-Hatred: It’s Many Sources and What You Can Do About It,” is an audio-visual presentation that concentrates on the groups, entities and individuals who are endangering Jewish people, Jewish institutions and Israel in our region. You will hear some of them in their own words; you will see what they have written; you will see what they have been doing and are planning. Our presentation also offers remedies and action items.
Following the presentation, there is time for a lively question-and-answer period and discussion.
To schedule an in-person presentation for a congregation, a group or in a home or office for a “parlor” meeting, please call Executive Director Steve Feldman at 610-660-9466.
Greater Philadelphia ZOA Executive Director Steve Feldman was a guest on “The Dom Giordano Show” on Thursday, Nov. 2 to discuss the Palestinian-Arab war against the Jewish People and local anti-Jewish activity including the latest anti-Jewish rant by Marc Lamont Hill, and related matters. See below:
It’s Time That You Had A Coffee With Steve!
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!
More Advocacy:
See more at: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/02/buy-israel-flyer-revised-january-2016-p.pdf
Fact Sheets:
https://zoa.org/biblical-history/
Facts about the U.S.-Israel relationship: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/06/america-and-israel-allies-and-san-remo-updated-063023.pdf
Advocacy resources:
Media Action Guide: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/MEDIA-ACTION-GUIDE-march-2023-update-032123.pdf
Contacting Congress: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/07/contacting-congress-and-leaders-updated-032023.pdf
For state officials:
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/
https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/
Consult your city, municipality or township for local officials.
Sources of accurate news and information: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/01/web-internet-sites-updated-090120.pdf
Advocacy How-To information:
Advocacy how-to: https://philly.zoa.org/join-zoa-philly/advocacyactivism-how-to/
Advocacy Checklist: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/advocacy-checklist.pdf
Advocacy Pro-Active and Reactive: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/advocacy-suggestions-strategy-flyer.pdf
Advocacy/Activism Chart: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/advocacy-activism-strategy-graphic-webinar.pdf
Newsletter for September 9, 2022
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.
ADVOCACY for “Back to School”
With the exception of locations where there are labor disputes, America’s K through 12 schools are back in session – which means that in classrooms, schools and entire school districts, young Americans are vulnerable to being taught propaganda and lies about the Muslim and Arab war against the Jewish People and the Jewish state – euphemistically known as “The Israel-Palestine Conflict.”
We know, for example that in July, the National Education Association: America’s largest union, approved an initiative to emphasize “Palestinian” history, geography and culture in America’s schools; that during the summer, the Democratic Socialists of America’s BDS and Palestine Solidarity Working Group held training workshops for teachers under the guise of “Educators for Palestine;” that a national initiative called “the National Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Our Schools” was promoting those training workshops for schoolteachers; and that the national organization “BLM at School” is in a partnership with the NEA’s “edJustice” program.
But the effort to demonize Israel, Zionism and the Jewish community before young Americans need not be part of a national campaign. It can happen merely through the initiative of a single anti-Israel educator.
It is therefore vitally important to pay attention to what is happing in your local school district, in individual schools and in the classroom. If you have school-age children, grandchildren, and/or nieces and nephews, ask to see their textbooks so that you can scan through them to see if there are errors or deliberate misinformation; find out if other supplementary books are being used, or if a newspaper or websites are used as supplementary materials or are suggested for students to turn to as resources.
Some classes or schools may use or suggest the anti-Israel New York Times or Philadelphia Inquirer; teachers might suggest students look at the websites of the anti-Israel Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International or other problematic websites or organizations; younger students might be asked to read “A Little Piece of Ground,” an anti-Israel book that the publisher describes as “explores the human cost of the occupation of Palestinian lands through the eyes of a young boy” that is recommended to be used in classrooms for children as young as third grade or other propaganda materials presented as children’s literature.
Please reference and use Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s Textbook Survey Form: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/06/textbook-survey-form-updated-012819.pdf
If you see any problematic materials being used or suspect that there might be, please contact Greater Philadelphia ZOA at [email protected] or at 610-660-9466.
‘The Philadelphia Inquirer’ continues its campaign against Israel
A pro-Palestinian reporter puts her finger on the scale.
By Steve Feldman
(September 8, 2022 / JNS) Anti-Israel “news” reports, analyses and op-eds have been routine at The Philadelphia Inquirer for more than a generation.
An Aug. 23 staff-written news article about an anti-Jewish extremist who lost a job at a local school a year ago was especially egregious in its efforts to solicit sympathy for an avowed Jew-hater, and itself incited resentment and hatred of Jews. In addition, it violated multiple journalism ethics standards, including failure to offer even a shred of objectivity or balance.
Moreover, reporter Massarah Mikati had signed an online manifesto laced with demonstrably false accusations against Israel that called on journalists to slant the news in favor of the Palestinian Arabs. Inquirer editors never should have allowed her to report on that subject.
Read the article in its entirety at: https://www.jns.org/opinion/the-philadelphia-inquirer-continues-its-campaign-against-israel/
What ‘CNN’ left out of its special on anti-Semitism
Why did the network ignore left-wing, black nationalist and Islamist Jew-hatred?
By Morton A. Klein
(August 29, 2022 / JNS) There were some good points in CNN’s recent special on anti-Semitism, such as a discussion of the importance of the Secure Community Network’s synagogue security training, a description of the harassment and death threats against a pro-Israel college student, and the general acknowledgment that anti-Semitism is a serious, growing problem.
Unfortunately, however, the special grossly downplayed left-wing and Islamist anti-Semitism, and didn’t even mention black nationalists and other major sources of Jew-hatred. This seems in large part due to CNN’s reliance on the left-wing Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and its CEO, former Obama administration official Jonathan Greenblatt, as well as U.S. State Department anti-Semitism envoy Deborah Lipstadt, who has compared pro-Jewish former President Donald Trump to the Nazis, and the far-left group T’ruah’s Jill Jacobs.
The ADL, for example, recently stated that boycotts of Israel alone do not count as anti-Semitic; praised anti-Semitic congresswoman Ilhan Omar as “committed to a more just world”; defended anti-Semitic NGOs like Amnesty International, along with the extremist anti-Israel philanthropist George Soros; and tried to defund and remove the tax exemption from three pro-Israel groups, including Christian Zionists; among numerous other dangerous positions.
Read the article in its entirety at: https://www.jns.org/opinion/what-cnn-left-out-of-its-special-on-anti-semitism/
ZOA National President Morton Klein was the sole guest on Israeli journalist Avi Abelow’s show “Pulse of Israel” to discuss the above JNS article and related issues. Watch the show in its entirety at:
Interview with Mort Klein:
https://pulseofisrael.com/2022/09/07/mort-klein-cnn-jewish-leadership/
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, Andy and Bruce for their invaluable help!
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:
* * *
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!
* * *
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.
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
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!
