The Greater Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Chapters of the Zionist Organization of America, the oldest pro-Israel organization in America, have asked Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to rescind a $5 million grant from commonwealth taxpayers to the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, a Philadelphia mosque, community center and school that has a history of anti-Jewish activity and that also misrepresents contemporary and historical facts to incite Jew-hatred among its community and beyond.

“We were saddened to learn that you have awarded a grant of $5 million in commonwealth taxpayer funds to an anti-Jewish mosque/community center/school in Philadelphia,” begins our letter.

We added: “Leaders of the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society in Philadelphia have literally erased Israel from the map; they promote lies about Jews so as to incite Jew-hatred; they promote events and speakers that are viciously anti-Jewish; they perpetuate the false narrative that the Palestinian-Arabs of the Gaza Strip are the victims of Israeli aggression when in fact it was the Gazans who perpetrated the massive slaughters, rapes and savagery against Israelis on Oct, 7, 2023 and who still hold captive dozens including an American citizen as well as the remains of dozens more Israelis.

“This mosque has additionally promoted the lies that the Jewish People committed ethnic cleansing of ‘Palestinian’-Arabs, occupy ‘Arab’ lands, destroyed hundreds of Arab communities, carried out genocide and commit ‘apartheid.’ The only reason for spreading such outrageous and demonstrably false claims is to incite Jew-hatred, and the reasons to incite Jew-hatred are to instigate violence against Jews and Jewish institutions and also to motivate political activity against those who support Jewish self-determination and the well-being of Jews.

…

“Five million dollars is a huge sum of money. It will enable such a mosque and its school to foment even more Jew-hatred throughout their community as well as throughout our region, and to indoctrinate even more young Muslims against Jews and Israel.

…

“Please rescind this grant. Please do your due diligence before considering funding an anti-Jewish entity. Please actively fight anti-Jewish activity in the commonwealth rather than support it.

“What the Jewish community and all decent Pennsylvanians need and deserve is less Jew-hatred and less promotion of lies rather than more of the same. We call on you to rescind this grant and to set a good example for all Pennsylvanians and all of America: that Jew-hatred will be punished, not rewarded.”

Shapiro awarded the mosque the grant to expand the mosque and its school in late March – despite it’s anti-Jewish and anti-fact record.

The Al-Aqsa Islamic Society has made false and outrageous claims including that Israel is a “colonial state” that destroyed “Palestine” in May of 1948; that “more than 78 percent of historic Palestine had been taken over by Zionist forces;” and praising “martyrs” killed by “the bullets of the occupation.”

Read our letter in its entirety at: https://tinyurl.com/zoashapiro

If that link is broken, see: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/letter-zoa-shapiro-philadelphia-pittsburgh-mk-with-screen-shots.pdf

We want to let you know about an action that we have taken in response to a vile anti-Jewish demonstration outside of Philadelphia City Hall and in surrounding streets this past Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. There were actually people praising the slaughtering, raping and hostage-taking of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, as well as people wearing Hamas paraphernalia. Such activity in a civil society is unacceptable, and we have asked Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to condemn what took place literally right beneath her office window.

In addition, we have asked to meet with the mayor to discuss this event and other anti-Jewish activity in the city – including by agencies that her office oversees – and we asked her to play an active role in remedying a city and a society where such slogans and symbols representing mass-murder, rape and violence are both displayed and acceptable.

In addition to the letter, which is excerpted below, we sent Mayor Parker a sample of photos from the anti-Jewish demonstration – a few of those images are below.

We encourage you to phone the mayor’s office – if you call, PLEASE be civil and concise – and support what Greater Philadelphia ZOA is calling for. The phone number for the mayor’s office is (215) 686-2181.

See a portion of our letter and a few images below. Please note that the images are disturbing and upsetting, and view with caution.

“Dear Mayor Parker,

“Philadelphians have much to celebrate – most recently that our Eagles are headed to the Superbowl once again. While the city eagerly anticipated the NFC conference championship on Sunday, Jan. 26, the previous day, other Philadelphians were celebrating mass-murder, mass-rape, massacres of civilians and the kidnapping of toddlers and the elderly for more than 15 months.

“Yes, just below your City Hall office window, a miscreant of the lowest magnitude waved a huge flag emblazoned with the message “Long live October 7th” as part of an anti-Jewish protest.

“On October 7, 2023, thousands of Palestinian-Arabs – led by Hamas though not exclusively Hamas members – invaded the Jewish state of Israel on a morning that was both the Jewish Sabbath and a significant Jewish holy day. They murdered everyone that they could –- overwhelmingly civilians — and in the most barbaric ways possible. Israeli Jews were burned alive, others were shot in the genitals to cause maximum pain before being murdered, and some were beheaded. They raped women and girls, and others they mutilated.

“The Palestinian-Arabs murdered some 1,200 individuals in all on that one day. They took an additional 250 captive including a nine-month-old infant. They physically injured thousands and traumatized millions of Israelis plus Jews the world over. Among those murdered, raped or taken captive were Americans. The Palestinian-Arabs in Gaza still hold captive three Americans.

“Something to celebrate?

“Others on Saturday who stood below your office window wore bandanas reflecting their support for Hamas, which is a United States designated terrorist organization that has murdered hundreds of Americans and calls for the murder of all Jews worldwide (plus members of Rotary Clubs and Masons). Still others on City Hall apron held signs and repeated chants calling for the total annihilation of the Jewish state of Israel. Many waved the flag of the terrorist group the Palestine Liberation Organization, which has also murdered hundreds of Americans and today financially incentivizes people to slaughter Jewish civilians. Others held signs claiming falsely that Zionism – the Jewish people’s movement for self-determination – is “racist” and “fascist.””

…

“We call on you to please condemn the evil that took place outside of City Hall on January 25. To be silent is to give it consent. Further, we ask you to work with our chapter to implement reforms where possible to prevent this evil from growing and spreading and becoming more acceptable.”

…

“As mayor, you are the leader of the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia cannot be the City of Brotherly Love when some Philadelphians support deliberate, pre-meditated murder, rape and hostage-taking of fellow Americans and of Jews.

Some of our chapter’s leadership would like to meet with you to discuss tangible ways to stop the evil that is Jew-hatred from being promoted in city agencies and taking root – before there is a catastrophic manifestation of Jew-hatred. Our nation’s 250th anniversary is coming up. Philadelphia will rightly be a focal point. We do not want the city’s reputation harmed or the city embarrassed as a haven for Jew-hatred and support of violence.”

…

 

 

 

It is worthwhile for Israel advocates to be in frequent contact with members of Congress and their staffs to discuss legislation, to give feedback and input on issues of importance, and to thank members of Congress for their pro-Israel statements and votes. Likewise, it is important for constituents to let their lawmakers know that they object to anti-Israel positions and votes.

When engaging in advocacy, always be civil, polite and concise. Accord aide and staff of lawmakers the same respect and deference you would give to lawmakers.

ZOA is a non-partisan organization and we believe that support for Israel should be a non-partisan issue.

See our guide (including new senators and House members) at: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/contacting-congress-updated-011425-a.pdf

With the elections having concluded and everyone’s focus no longer directed on their outcomes, Greater Philadelphia ZOA is compelled to once again Rescue the Truth from the anti-Jewish liars and dissemblers who turn the public against the Jewish state and the Jewish People.

Our “Information Ambulance” is needed on the university campuses, at school board meetings, at anti-Jewish events and wherever crowds gather. Please help us deliver the truth to the people and enable us to do what the media deliberately fails to do. Help us counter the propaganda and replace it with much-needed facts and context about Israel’s rights, Jewish history and the war against the Jewish People. Misinformation and disinformation are toxic to freedom, justice and Zionism.

Please make a targeted donation in support of our “Information Ambulance.” For each donation of $1,200, we can have the “Information Ambulance” at sites where it will make a difference for one week. Please see donation information below.

In addition: Please send us suggestions about locations where we should deploy our “Information Ambulance” in the region – city, suburbs near and far, and South Jersey.

We sincerely thank those of you who have supported our “Information Ambulance” in the past!

To donate by check:

ZOA

PO Box 56

Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Please write “ambulance” on the memo line.

To donate electronically:

Go to:
https://zoa.org/donate/philly/

and follow the multi-step process. We have had some glitches with the payment processor – especially those who do not have Paypal accounts. If you do not have or want a Paypal account and are having difficulty making a donation by credit card or debit card, please call our Office at 610-660-9466.

Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s Night of Appreciation is just over one week away – on September 18.

 

If you have been waiting to purchase a reserved table for the event or individual admissions, please do not wait any longer! To help ensure that everyone has a wonderful and positive experience, we will need the names of ALL attendees by Monday, Sept. 16. There will be no admissions sold at the door – NO EXCEPTIONS. Also, we are sorry, but there can be no substitutions. No one will be admitted if we do not have the person’s name in advance.

 

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.

 

We are anticipating a wonderful evening of warm camaraderie; inspiring remarks; ebullient support for Israel, America, Zionism, and Patriotism; and of course delicious kosher food and drink as we honor some of region’s most engaged advocates on behalf of the Jewish community and Israel – and the truth:

 

Businesswoman and philanthropist Judith M. Krupnick, president of Cherry Hill Volvo, will receive our Pillar of the Community Award;

 

United States Senator John Fetterman, D-PA, will receive our Defender of Israel Award (he will deliver remarks via video);

 

Rabbi Ira Flax, of Har Zion Temple’s clergy team, will receive our Guardian of Israel Award;

 

University of Pennsylvania senior Noah Rubin will receive our The Future Is Now Award and he will also be our keynote speaker;

 

WPHT Radio talk-show hosts Dom Giordano and Rich Zeoli will each receive our Ben Hecht Award for Outstanding Journalism – and they will share master-of-ceremonies duties.

 

In addition: ZOA National President Morton A. Klein will deliver his annual Philadelphia remarks.

 

Also: The Jerusalem Israeli Gift Shop will present a pop-up boutique for you to purchase last-minute items for the upcoming Yom Tovim and Chagim, plus early Chanukah items and gifts, as well as assorted exceptional Judaica and jewelry.

 

We are looking forward to an exceptional evening after what has been a deadly and trying year.

 

Reserved tables are only $2,600 each. Individual admissions are only $240 each. There are deep discounts for young professionals ages 30 and younger (only $125 each) and for full-time students (only $50 each). Please note: if you take advantage of these discounts, you will be asked to show proof of age or proof that you are a full-time student, respectfully. No exceptions.

 

See the invitation at: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/08/gala-2024-invitation-for-email-web.pdf

 

To pay with credit or debit card, please visit our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/greater-philadelphia-zoas-night-of-appreciation-tickets-936619452997?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

You may also pay by check – although you must call our office to reserve as the US Mail is not always reliable. Phone us at 610-660-9466 to reserve.

Send checks to:

ZOA

PO Box 56

Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

 

If you would like to get in a last-minute congratulatory notice or business ad, we will accommodate you though you must call us ASAP.

See our Tribute Book/Ad Journal brochure at: https://philly.zoa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/gala-2024-ad-blank-form-for-web-email.pdf

 

Valet parking will be complimentary.

 

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you!