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June 22, 2001/Tamuz 1, 5761, Vol. 53, No.38
UJC launches new solidarity campaign
MICHAEL J. JORDAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
NEW YORK - The umbrella of North American federations is set to unveil a multi-pronged, $4 million solidarity campaign titled "Israel NOW - and Forever."
The United Jewish Communities project - which should receive final approval by late July - combines various advocacy, education and fund-raising activities and will last until winter, said Gail Hyman, UJC's vice president for marketing and public affairs.
"We understand there's a great desire for a national program," Hyman said. "We have a responsibility to listen to our community and to offer the kind of program that will resonate from coast to coast.
The first step will be this weekend's "Solidarity Shabbat" of UJC leadership in Jerusalem, where they will meet with Israeli leaders and hammer out final details of the campaign.
Among the other campaign highlights:
- Heavy promotion of solidarity missions to Israel.
- Advocacy- and media-training for campus and community activists, in conjunction with local Hillels and Jewish community relations councils, "to train their leadership to become strong advocates on behalf of Israel," Hyman said.
- A major mission to Israel, called "Journey to Solidarity I," to be held Sept. 9-14.
- Production of one million leaflets, to be distributed Sept. 17 in all synagogues during Rosh Hashanah, to remind Jews of the need for solidarity.
- A Solidarity Shabbat on Sept. 22-23 that will reach out to synagogues, churches and university campuses to show that "support for Israel extends beyond the Jewish community," Hyman said.
The intensified UJC campaign comes on the heels of a slew of pro- Israel rallies organized nationwide at the grassroots level.
An Israel Unity Gathering, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and the Jewish Community Relations Council, took place June 20 at Temple Beth Israel, Scottsdale. It featured remarks by Yuval Rotem, Israel Consul General.
One turning point for activists was the June 1 terrorist bombing of a Tel Aviv disco that killed 20 Israeli youngsters. The massacre seemed to fuel the passion at a June 4 rally in New York that was organized by an inter-denominational coalition of rabbis and drew some 10,000 participants.
In addition, smaller demonstrations have been held in cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, Boston and Denver.
After initial hesitations, the local Jewish federations threw their weight behind the rally with finances and other resources, said Rabbi Kenneth Brander, who co-chaired a rally June 17 that drew upward of 3,000 participants in Miami.
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