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February 22, 2002/Adar 10, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 23
Israel now opens up to community
BARRY COHEN
Editor
The culmination of the Israel Now campaign will be a communitywide fund-raising event, to fulfill its goal of $1 million in pledges.
The gathering will take place noon-2 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at Temple Beth Israel, 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale. The local Israel Now campaign is part of a national effort, sponsored by the United Jewish Communities, to raise $250 million for Israel's self-defense. The local event is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.
"I hope people understand their responsibility as Jews and attend the event and contribute," said Michael Greenbaum, Israel Now co-chairman.
All of the money raised locally through Israel Now will benefit federation's sister cities: Hof Ashkelon - a collection of 13 moshavim and kibbutzim - and Kiryat Malachi.
Participants will have the opportunity to fill out contribution forms and earmark the funds to supply Israel with armored vehicles, upgrade security systems and support crisis centers for victims of terrorist attacks.
Michael Bar-Zohar, adjunct professor and research fellow at Emory University in Atlanta, will be one of the featured speakers at the event. Bar-Zohar has served as a member of the Knesset and as a member of Israel's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee. He also is an author of fiction and nonfiction books, including a biography of David Ben-Gurion.
Cantor Mikhal Shiff-Matter of Temple Beth Israel, Cantor Julie Berlin of Temple Solel of Paradise Valley and Cantor Mark Philippe of Beth El Congregation of Phoenix, along with the choirs from The King David School and the Pardes Jewish Day School, will perform.
Since its Dec. 27 kick-off, Israel Now has raised $550,000 of its $1 million goal through parlor meetings, phone calls and unsolicited pledges, said Greenbaum.
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