A Message from Doug Seserman, President and CEO

Dear Friends,

The news from Haiti is heart-wrenching.  The images of the destruction and the despair are beyond tragicthey are simply incomprehensible. 

As human beingsand as Jewsit is our natural inclination to want to help.  Within hours of the earthquake, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Federation's overseas partner, was on-the-ground, leveraging their existing relationships with local authorities and first responders to assess the situation and provide vital assistance where it was needed most. 

JDC is the official humanitarian assistance organization acting on behalf of the Jewish community and The Jewish Federations of North America. In this capacity, JDC has moved swiftly to coordinate relief efforts with its network of Israeli, American, and other local partners on the ground.

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Lone Soldier in Memory of Michael Levin

 

The Center for Lone Soldiers was established in May of 2009. The Center supports new Olim throughout their service in the Israeli Defense Forces, and provides them with the tools necessary to succeed upon their return to civilian life. The Center is dedicated in memory of Michael Levin, American-born Israeli paratrooper, who gave his life while defending Israel.

For years, founding a center like this was a dream of “the father of the lone soldier”, friend of Michael, and of all lone soldiers, Mr. Tziki Aud. Tziki worked at the Jewish Agency supporting olim (immigrants) for a period of over 20 years. His work there made him aware of the situation/conditions many lone soldiers faced. His experience led him to envision this center, where lone soldiers receive the support and advice they need to succeed in the army, and integrate into Israeli society.

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RAMAT HASHARON, Israel - Israel is on schedule to inaugurate a revolutionary electric car grid with dozens of recharge stations and thousands of cars on the road by next year, the project's developers said Sunday. The California-based company Better Place hopes Israel's model will lead a shift toward electric transportation worldwide.

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The Israel Teachers Corps Sends Young English Teachers to the Poorest Towns

By Nadja Spiegelman

Although visitors to Israel’s big cities see what appears to be a prosperous lifestyle, 40% of Israel’s children live below the poverty level, according to the Jewish Agency for Israel. Many of these underprivileged children live in the Negev region, where opportunities for a proper English education are sparse.

While native English-speaking language teachers flock to large cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa, poorer communities find themselves underserved.

A new program set to launch in September will send young Jewish Americans to teach English for 10-month sessions in schools in these areas.

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The 8 signs of terrorism: what to look for

KUSA

KUSA - It is the information and awareness that many believe can save lives in the future and could have possibly prevented Sept. 11. Terrorism - we have become keenly aware of potential threats. But do people really know what to look for?

The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI put together a list of eight signs of terrorism.

Denver-based Center for Empowered Living and Learning (The CELL) is working on a video that will educate citizens and police on what those eight signs are.

"As people become more educated on the subject matter, they understand what suspicious versus what is everyday, normal activity and that is something in which we strive," said Melanie Pearlman, The CELL's Executive Director. "We want to empower individuals to become active and engaged to ultimately mitigate the threat but not so much that they're afraid to go about their everyday lives and it's a fine balance."

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Allied Jewish Federation Receives Highest Rating from Charity Navigator

Allied Jewish Federation Receives Highest Rating from Charity Navigator

The Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado is proud to announce it has received Charity Navigator’s coveted four-star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances.  This is the highest rating awarded by Charity Navigator, America’s premier charity evaluator, and indicates that Federation not only executes its mission in a fiscally-responsible way, but also out-performs most other charities across the country.

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From Jewish Hero to Jewish Agency Leader

His name is synonymous with struggle and survival in the face of evil and hatred. Internationally recognized as a human rights activist, accomplished author, acclaimed statesman and esteemed politician, Nathan Sharansky's iconic history is now set to merge with the Jewish Agency: Following the Nomination Committee's approval, Natan Sharansky will be presented for election to Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency at our Board of Governor's Closing Plenary on Thursday June 25th.

20th century Jewish history is deeply intertwined with Sharansky's personal experience, from anti-semitism and persecution to aliyah and even government. Older generations of Jews and Christians around the world stood by Sharansky when he most needed our vocal outcries of support demanding his freedom. While younger generations know him as an enlightened politician and speaker, including number eleven on the list of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people of 2005 in the "Scientists and Thinkers" category.

As we look back on 80 years of the Jewish Agency's exciting, challenging and extraordinary accomplishments, Sharansky's appointment offers a new promise for our collective future. His personal experiences and professional achievements coincide directly with our central mission: from strengthening Jewish identity to rescuing Jews in distress, and from advancing aliyah to securing a strong Jewish peoplehood.

With great pride and deep respect in our hearts, we are proud to call upon Natan Sharansky as the Jewish Agency's Chairman of the Executive. May we go from strength to strength together in the coming years of our joint venture.




A Novel Way to Teach Torah

by Jerome M. Segal

Judaism is the world’s oldest and strangest book club. Essentially we Jews have one book, and when we finish reading it, we turn back to the beginning and read it again, and again and again. We do this throughout our book club’s thousands and thousands of chapters, and we’ve been doing so for over 2,000 years.
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Myths and Facts

Myth and Fact: Should East Jerusalem be part of a Palestinian state?

by Mitchell G. Bard

Before 1865, the entire population of Jerusalem lived behind the Old City walls (what today would be considered part of the eastern part of the city).

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University investigating assault on Jewish students

Ron Csillag

TORONTO -- York University in Toronto is investigating allegations of assault against two Jewish students during a pro-Israel program to raise awareness of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and terrorist acts committed by Hamas. Tyler Golden, co-president of Hasbara Fellowships, told JTA that about 50 activists and protesters surrounded the Jewish students and began chanting anti-Israel and anti-Semitic slurs. He said two Jewish students were slapped.

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The Jewish Federations of North America support The Jewish Agency's Aliyah and Absorption Department, which is working to help members of Ethiopia’s Falas Mura community immigrate to Israel. JAFI recently greeted the first flight of Falas Mura since August, 2008 and in the next year will help 2,600 immigrate. The immigrants will live in Jewish Agency absorption centers, where they will receive services to help them integrate into Israeli society. For details click here.
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