New Year 2002/5763

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Help Israel Now 
This section was compiled from a variety of emails that have been floating through virtual reality. Don’t leave these ideas there. Take them to the next level — true reality. Do something each day for Israel — say a prayer, write a soldier, write your elected officials, buy something manufactured in Israel. It doesn’t have to be something huge — you can save those for the weekends. 

You can do these things for Israel right now: 

Lobby on behalf of Israel
 Get involved with the American Israel Public Affairs Commitee (www.AIPAC.org).  AIPAC exist to work with the US Congress and Administration to strengthen the relationship between the US and Israel.  AIPAC is one of the most influential Jewish organizations in the world.
 

Help Israeli  victims of terror 

There are thousands of people in Israel who have had their lives torn apart because family members that have been killed or injured in terror attacks.  NAVAH was established to assure that these victims of terror are not alone, that there is a place in our heart that feels their pain, and shares their suffering. The volunteers of NAVAH spend hours visiting victims after each attack, sitting by their bedsides, listening to them and encouraging them.  NAVAH also provides monetary support, care packages, holiday get togethers and legal aid to victims and their families.  They need our support, go to www.NAVAH.org to learn how you can help.

Send Some Soldiers a Pizza or a Burger 
No,we’re not kidding. If you haven’t already heard about these programs, visit www.pizzidf.org and www.burgeridf.org to see for yourself. According to their home pages, these sites allow supporters of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to send soldiers an edible token of their appreciation — pizza and Pepsi, and ice cream or burgers. All deliveries are coordinated with the security forces so they pose no security risk.What a great way to say thank you. 

Write Letters of Thanks and Support to IDF Soldiers 
You can also support IDF soldiers with letters of thanks. As seems to be true with many IDF initiatives, Israeli soldiers will, no doubt, again hear a chorus of condemnation from around the globe. Help ease the tension by taking the time to write a letter of thanks and support. You can send it as an email to izzy@actcom.co.il with "message for soldiers" written in the subject bar. 

Educate Yourself on Current Events 
If you aren’t already, you should be checking with an online Israeli newspaper at least once a day. That way you can be sure you get the news directly and not sifted through the lenses of biased networks and conglomerates. 

Because Israel is a democracy, and there are opinions from both the left and the right, reading Israeli papers ought to give you a very broad perspective.You can read the Jerusalem Post at www.jpost.com. You can read Ha’aretz at www.haaretzdaily.com. You can also read Arutz7 at www.israelnationalnews.com

The editorials on these sites will give you a broad spectrum of the various theories, politics, opinions, and obstacles to peace. 

Visit the Israeli Defense Forces website at www.idf.il. This is the official site of the IDF. It is full of information: details about IDF security forces, types of attacks, daily statistics and casualties, and the history of the IDF. Of special note is the section of false Palestinian claims. This section truthfully refutes accusations leveled at the IDF by the Palestinian media. 

Connect With Israel 
Buy a map of Israel and put it up. When there is a terrorist attack, find its location on the map. Familiarize yourself with the Green line, and what is inside and outside it. Learn where the settlements are. Learn the cities of Israel. Learn the proximity of Palestinian villages to Israeli ones. Use the scale to appreciate the short distances and vulnerability of Israel’s borders.Show this to and discuss it with friends and family. 

The teen-to-teen website www.ttt.org.il links young teenagers in Israel to teens outside of Israel. It is a non-profit website for teens to write about,educate,and promote awareness of Israel as well as the plight of Jews all over the world. Send condolence cards to the families who have lost loved ones to terror. Go to the website www.walk4israel.com and get a list of who to send the notes to. 

Donate English books to Israeli public schools 
The Books for Israel Project is a volunteer effort to help Israel's children learn English in public schools despite the economic, emotional, and psychological hardships imposed by the constant threat of terror. As of February 2004, over 18 tons of books have been delivered to Israel's Jewish, Moslem, Druze, Bedouin, Christian and Bahai schools from book drives launched by synagogues, churches, schools, youth groups, community centers,  and individuals throughout North America.  Click on www.booksforisrael.org now and join them!

Pray 
If you go to synagogue, pay close attention when they say the prayer for the state of Israel and its soldiers. If you don’t understand the Hebrew, read the English. The act of prayer is also an act of connecting with the Jewish community here and in Israel. 

Give Your Money 
Give to your local Federation. To find your local Federation go to www.ujc.org. Now more than ever, when Israel needs to spend more on defense, the funds that you give go towards social services and the poor and immigrants, things that fall out of the limelight in times when Israel’s security takes precedence. 

Neutralize Boycotts of Israeli Goods 
We can focus our purchasing power on the many products on the boycott list. To view a partial list, visit www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-israel.html

You can also visit www.usaisrael.org to review and research various Israel companies that do business with American ones. This is a very detailed and thorough website and contains a lot of information. Support those who support Israel. 

Fight Media Bias 
Subscribe to any of the media watch organizations. Join Camera at www.camera.org, or subscribe to Palestinian Media Watch at pmw@pmw.org.il,Memri at www.memri.org, or Honest reporting at www.honestreporting.com. You will be amazed at the journalism mistakes, misinformation, lies, and omissions that these various publications point out.Camera recently put out a wonderful little paperback called A Record of Bias:National Public Radio’s Coverage of the Arab-Israeli Conflict: September 26– November 26 2000. Call them and order one, then pass it along to others.  

To see an example of what ordinary citizens can do to fight media bias, go to www.minnesotansagainstterrorism.com

When you hear an incorrect news story or an example of unfair coverage, don’t rant and rave. DO something. Deluge the TV station or radio station with letters of protest. Send faxes. Make phone calls. When you hear someone fairly defending Israel, DO something. Write that person (or senator or congressman) a note of praise or thanks.

 

Buy Israeli Products

The crisis in Israel has caused severe economic hardship.You can help by buying online. If we all bought just $50 worth of gifts we could generate hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for Israel.

TreesToIsrael.org
www.buyisraelgoods.org — Find Israeli products in stores near you.
www.israelshop1.com
— flags, cosmetics, jewelry

www.israel-music.com — music

www.aleidafna.co.il — plants and flowers
www.DeadSeaMineral.com  - Care & Beauty Cosmetic Products
www.deadseaonline.com - Dead Sea Skin care
www.hillsofgalilee.com
— soap gifts
www.israelcraft.com — tallit

www.israelbooks.com — books
www.rotem.net/mis.html — Judaica
www.jerusalemgifts.com — miscellaneous

www.thesourceisrael.com/current — gifts

www.jpoststore.com — gifts, books
www.heaven-land.virtualave.net.il — candles, scents, oils

www.israeldirect.co.il
www.israelvisit.co.il — miscellaneous

www.jerusalemgifts.com
www.esek.com/tradition
www.israelwishes.com — misc
www.shneiderman.com - stone Judaica pieces

www.shorashim.net
www.shopinisrael.com — crafts
www.smallsigns.net
www.jewishbabynames.net
www.mizrach.net
www.barmitzvahgift.com
www.smalljudaica.com

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