The AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AIPAC. high holiday. Resource Guide

Transcription

1 The AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AIPAC high holiday 5775 Resource Guide

2 2 High Holiday Resource Guide AIPAC Leadership Robert A. Cohen, President Howard Kohr, Chief Executive Officer Richard Fishman, Vice Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Missner, Managing Director for National Affairs Brian Shankman, Director of Regional Affairs and Development AIPAC Synagogue Initiative Mark Waldman, National Director Eric Stark, National Deputy Director Ashley Abramowicz, Midwest Region Deputy Director Michael Anderson, Midwest Region Director Michelle Goldberg, Synagogue Initiative Associate Sammy Kalmowicz, Florida Region Director Judah Lindemann, Southern Pacific Region Director Jennie Loev, Southwest Region Director Benjamin Meisel, Diamond Summer Intern Yitz Novak, Northeast Region Director Jeremy Pappas, Northeast Region Deputy Director and National Director of Rabbinic Student Program Rachael Ripps, Southern Pacific Region Deputy Director Elon Stricker, New England Region Director Todd Young, Southeast Region Director Morris Zimbalist, Mid-Atlantic Region Director Contact us at

3 High Holiday Resource Guide 3 Contents Welcome 6 About AIPAC 7 Contents Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil 7-33 Background 7 Touring the Region: A Confluence of Concerns 8 Trouble in Tehran: The Iranian Threat 10 Iran s Radical Leadership 10 Assessing the Atomic Threat 13 Preventing a Nuclear-Capable Iran 14 Overcoming Iran Fatigue: Why We Must Keep Making the Case 15 Iran Suppresses Religious Freedoms and Minority Rights 16 Israel and the Palestinians: Where Are We? 17 Unilateral Actions at the U.N. 17 U.S. Aid to the Palestinians: Suspension vs. Termination 18 Key Principles: Peace Process 19 Timeline: Israel s Quest for Peace 20 Settlements: Understanding the Issues 22 Final Status Issues: Challenges and Complexities 24 What Should We Do Moving Forward? 28 Operation Protective Edge 29 Iron Dome: Saving Countless Lives 31 What is Hamas? 32 BDS: The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement 33

4 4 High Holiday Resource Guide Contents A Light Unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World Background 34 Helping Beyond its Borders 35 People to People : How Israel Saves Syrian Lives 35 Women in Israel s Growing High-Tech Industry 36 Innovation Nation 38 Human Innovation 39 The Importance of Activism Responsibility in the New Year 41 The Changing U.S. Political Landscape 42 Key Constituencies: Expanding the Pro-Israel Movement 43 African-American Outreach 43 Christian Outreach 44 Hispanic Outreach 44 Getting Involved: How to Make a Real Difference 45 Sermon Suggestions Praying for a Better World 48 Making Painful Sacrifices for Peace 50 Hard Work: A Jewish Value 53 Mixing Fire and Water: Remaining United in Our Differences 55 The Message of Shemittah: Respecting the Earth 58 The People of the Sharon 61

5 High Holiday Resource Guide 5 Welcome Welcome to AIPAC s High Holiday Resource Guide. These materials are designed to help you craft sermons that address the most important issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship. The information in this guide provides background to help you understand and convey three major themes, as well as a collection of liturgical supplements for sermons: about AIPAC Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil The Middle East is undergoing dramatic changes, with terrorist groups on the attack, instability mounting, and emerging threats on each of Israel s borders. American and Israeli interests have become increasingly challenged, making the U.S.-Israel relationship more vital than ever. A Light Unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World Despite unprecedented threats on each of its borders, the state of Israel has emerged as a global innovation leader, whose humanitarian assistance efforts, environmental know-how and medical achievements are improving life in countries around the world. The Importance of Activism As U.S. citizens, we have been given the precious freedoms to voice our opinions and help shape our country s policies. The changing political landscape has created unique challenges to the pro-israel community. Our collective involvement in the American political process will prove critical for the future safety and security of the Jewish state. Sermon Suggestions We have compiled a number of sermon suggestions intended to supplement the information provided in the previous three sections. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE ANY OF THE MATERIAL IN THIS GUIDE, EXCEPT FOR Direct QUOTES, WITHOUT ATTRIBUTION.

6 6 High Holiday Resource Guide welcome About AIPAC The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is the only American organization whose principal mission is to lobby the U.S. government about legislation that strengthens the relationship between the United States and Israel. Every day, AIPAC s professional staff and citizen activists are hard at work educating members of Congress, candidates for public office, policymakers, media professionals, student activists and key leaders of the Jewish, African-American, Hispanic and Christian communities about the importance of the U.S.-Israel friendship. Today, AIPAC is broadening and deepening the U.S.-Israel bond by working to secure vital aid for Israel and helping ensure that the Jewish state remains strong and secure. AIPAC is working to promote robust strategic cooperation between the two nations, develop sound U.S. counter-terrorism policies and stop rogue nations such as Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. AIPAC is a registered domestic lobby supported financially by private donations. The organization does not receive financial assistance from Israel, any national organization or any foreign group. AIPAC is not a political action committee. It does not rate, endorse or contribute to candidates. Click here to find an AIPAC office near you.

7 High Holiday Resource Guide 7 Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Background T he Middle East has undergone tremendous unrest in 2014, with dangers on Israel s borders currently posing unprecedented threats to the security of the Jewish state. Take a tour of Israel s neighborhood, and you ll find the dissolution of many traditional nation-states. Filling the void in most instances are radical Islamist organizations some embattled in a sectarian war against each other, but all committed to the end of Western hegemony and the annihilation of Israel. As these groups proliferate, conquest and redraw national lines, the Middle East as we ve known it for decades may be all-but history. Israel, all the while, remains in the crosshairs of the world s most dangerous and rapidly growing terrorist organizations. As the United States and Israel work to combat these challenges, it is vital for America to maintain its unequivocal support for its strongest ally, Israel a champion of peace, democracy and stability in a sea of terror, hate and intolerance.

8 8 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Touring the Region: A Confluence of Concerns Lebanon Dominated by the Iranian-backed terrorist group,hezbollah Hezbollah possesses more than 100,000 short- and long-range rockets and missiles aimed at Israel Hezbollah has killed more Americans than any terror group other than al-qaeda Turkey Turkey NATO member with a strained relationship with Israel Prime Minister Erdogan declared no normalization with Israel in 2014 With Iranian support, Hezbollah aided in Assad s massacre of 170,000 people in Syria PALESTINIANS Hamas-Fatah unity government derailed American-led peace efforts in 2014 Egypt Syria Lebanon Israel West Bank Gaza Jordan President Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority refuses to recognize Israel as a sovereign Jewish state Hamas brutally kidnapped and murdered three innocent Israeli teenagers in June 2014 More than 2,500 rockets were fired at Israel in July 2014 from terrorists in the Gaza Strip This map is for illustrative purposes of current and potential threats. It does not imply any view regarding the durability of agreements between Israel and its neighbors. EGYPT Abdel Fattah al-sisi becomes fourth president since 2011 Sisi s military works to destroy terrorist smuggling tunnels to Gaza Government orders mass execution of opposition groups Al-Qaeda affiliates spread jihad through Sinai Peninsula tunnels to Gaza

9 High Holiday Resource Guide 9 SyRia President Bashar Assad continues to relentlessly murder his own civilians Death toll in civil war rises above 170,000 Instability spilling over into Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey Sectarian violence continues to attract thousands of al-qaeda affiliates Jordan Syrian and Iraqi refugees destabilizing the country Islamic State of Iraq and al-sham (ISIS) threatens to assassinate King Abdullah Traditional pro-western rule increasingly challenged IraQ Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil ISIS captures major cities in deadly conquest Government forces struggle to maintain control Iraq Iran Conduit for Iranian arms to Syria ISIS declares establishment of new Islamist Caliphate Saudi Arabia SAUDI ARABIA Aging leadership faces domestic challenges Uncertain succession and future orientation Iran Continues its quest for a nuclear weapons capability Possesses advanced missiles that can hit Israel, American forces, and U.S. allies Financing and arming Hezbollah, Hamas and Assad s forces Supreme Leader openly denied the Holocaust in 2014

10 10 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Trouble in Tehran: The Iranian Threat Despite the immense challenges facing Western security interests in the Middle East, Iran remains the central threat posed to the United States and Israel. Iran s radical leadership speaks vehemently against the two nations, decrying the values of freedom and democracy that they both proudly stand for. Iran s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei frequently chastises Western nations, encouraging chants of Death to America, Death to England and Death to Israel at mass rallies. While Iran s leaders outwardly incite the West and profess virulent anti-semitism, Tehran backs its scathing rhetoric with even more troubling actions. The Islamic Republic remains the foremost state sponsor of terrorism in the world, supplying groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Assad s Syria with significant funding and military support. In doing so, Iran carries out its absolutist and genocidal agenda through its proxy armies around the world which together have the blood of thousands of Westerners and Jews on their hands. Iran s domestic policies reflect similar extremism and intolerance toward its own civilians. The first two weeks of 2014 saw 40 Iranian citizens publicly hanged, while executions continued to surge in successive months. U.N. reports assailed Iran for persecuting religious minorities, and Christian citizens throughout the country faced escalated oppression. All the while, and despite claims of moderation with the election of President Hassan Rouhani, the Islamic Republic has continued its long, consistent pursuit of nuclear weapons. Even as it has engaged with the West through diplomatic channels, the regime in Tehran has maintained its historically stated intent to keep the international community at bay by using negotiations as a stalling tactic to advance its atomic ambitions. Iran s Radical Leadership Despite painting a picture of moderation and reform, Iran s leadership is continuing on the radical, anti-western course set by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini 35 years ago. In 2014, Tehran has remained firmly committed to its revolutionary Islamist ethos, its support of terrorism, and its nuclear pursuit, even as it has engaged with international powers in nuclear negotiations.

11 High Holiday Resource Guide 11 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Iran s Nuclear Arbiter He also maintaines a long history of blatant incitements and caustic rhetoric toward Israel, taking to social media to chastise Jews and referring to the Jewish state as the sinister, unclean, rabid dog of the region. This is the leader behind the world s leading terror empire the individual seeking to back his incendiary rhetoric with a nuclear weapon. President Hassan Rouhani: No Moderation Despite Overtures Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Iran s current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, served as a chief lieutenant during the Islamic Revolution under his predecessor, Ayatollah Khomeini. Khamenei maintains control over most aspects of Iranian life, oversees the Islamic Republic s military strategy and operations, and is the ultimate arbiter of all matters concerning Iran s illicit nuclear weapons program. Khamenei boasts a consistent history of vitriol toward Israel, the United States and the West. He has demonstrated no signs of flexibility or cooperation with the international community over Iran s nuclear program, persistently vowing to continue illegal atomic activities despite violating six U.N. Security Council resolutions. In February 2014, Khamenei insisted that he would not allow the dismantlement of Iran s nuclear infrastructure a critical end game for the United States and Western negotiators and declared that all nuclear negotiations will lead nowhere. Along with his insistent rebukes of the West and consistent vows to continue Iran s nuclear program, the supreme leader is a public denier of the Holocaust. Iran s president, Hassan Rouhani, is a cleric who has expressed unwavering support and commitment to the regime s Islamist ideology. He was one of only eight candidates, out of 700, permitted to run for president in Rouhani has dedicated more than two decades of his career to advancing Iran s nuclear program. He previously served as Tehran s lead nuclear negotiator, boasting of his ability to deceive the West by continuing to make nuclear progress under the cover of diplomacy. With respect to negotiations, the Iranian president has consistently maintained a hard line, pushing for the current talks as a means of obtaining sanctions relief while simultaneously vowing not to dismantle any components of the nuclear program.

12 12 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil When asked by CNN s Fareed Zakaria this past January whether Iran would destroy any existing centrifuges, Rouhani replied, Not under any circumstances. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif: Iran s Hard-Line Diplomat Zarif has remained unapologetic in his support for terrorism. In January, the foreign minister laid a wreath at the grave of Imad Mughniyeh the Hezbollah mastermind behind the murder of hundreds of Americans. Zarif also praised the Gaza-based terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad for its resistance against Israel. Other Notable Figures Committed to Iran s Nuclear Program The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, has added his voice to Tehran s unyielding stance regarding its nuclear program. Salehi has boasted of the Islamic Republic s ability to overcome sanctions, telling Iranian state television that, The iceberg of sanctions is melting while our centrifuges are also still working. This is our greatest achievement, he added. Salehi, like his counterparts in Tehran, has issued virulent comments towards Israel. The Israeli ruling clan, who are war drum beaters, use the pretext of the Iranian nuclear threat for all political gains, he said in Salehi also called Israel the most significant source of instability and insecurity in the region and, indeed, a liability for American Middle Eastern policy. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has spent his career serving in the Islamic Republic s diplomatic corps. He previously served as Iran s ambassador to the United Nations, and as a member of Iran s nuclear negotiating team. In March 2014, Zarif said that Iran s heavy water reactor at Arak (see p.15) was a critical component for the Islamic Republic s peaceful scientific pursuits, and denied that the plant would be dismantled in any scenario. Zarif added that the West cannot entertain any illusions of Iran ending its uranium enrichment activities. In addition to Salehi, Iran s chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi has said that Tehran will continue its nuclear program and that limitations placed on it by the interim agreement can be easily reversed. The structure of our nuclear program will be exactly preserved. Nothing will be put aside, dismantled or halted. Everything will continue, enrichment will continue, Araqchi said. For more information about Iran, please visit

13 High Holiday Resource Guide 13 Assessing the Atomic Threat Despite engaging with the West in numerous rounds of negotiations, Iran maintains substantial nuclear infrastructure and remains on a path toward achieving an atomic weapons capability. produce 7 nuclear bombs if its uranium is further enriched to the requisite 90 percent. What should we do about it? In order to block Iran s nuclear weapons pursuit, the regime must be forced to dismantle centrifuges so that it cannot maintain a path to an atomic bomb. Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil The Uranium Path One of the ways in which Iran is progressing toward a nuclear weapons capability is by enriching uranium. Uranium is a naturally occurring element that Iran mines and has imported. Within uranium is an isotope called uranium-235, which composes less than 1 percent of the natural element and is an essential building block for an atomic bomb. In order for uranium to be used for nuclear weapons, the percentage of this isotope must be increased to 90 percent, or weapons grade uranium. This process is not necessary, however, for nuclear energy that is used for civilian purposes despite Iranian claims to the contrary. Iran is developing the infrastructure to enrich uranium to nuclear weapons-grade if it so chooses, also known as breaking out to a bomb. The regime has installed approximately 20,000 centrifuges to carry out this enrichment process. 9,000 of these centrifuges are operating, while, at the same time, Tehran is also developing advanced centrifuges to speed enrichment. When uranium is enriched to include 3.5 to 5 percent of its isotope form, the element is considered low-enriched, while 90 percent enriched uranium is considered weapons grade. As of July, 2014, Tehran has enough low-enriched uranium to The Plutonium Path A second means by which Iran is progressing its nuclear program is through the production of plutonium another key building block for atomic weapons. One grapefruit-sized sphere of plutonium is enough to devastate a small city with an atomic blast. Plutonium for a nuclear bomb is produced with heavy water, a requisite composition different than the chemical compound of standard H 20. Iran is pursuing heavy water production at its facility at Arak. The plant is currently in the midst of construction, in direct violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions mandating that the plutonium track be suspended along with the uranium track. Once completed, Iran s reactor at Arak will be able to produce two nuclear weapons every year. What should we do about it? In order to block Iran s path to a plutonium bomb, the regime must be forced to dismantle the Arak facility or convert it to a light water reactor that cannot produce a nuclear weapon.

14 14 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Preventing a Nuclear-Capable Iran An Iranian nuclear weapons capability would pose a direct threat to American interests and an existential threat to Israel. It could lead to nuclear proliferation elsewhere in the region and around the globe while fundamentally altering the strategic balance of the Middle East, a vital region for U.S. national security interests. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other countries have hinted at developing a nuclear weapons capability should Iran build a bomb. Economic Pressure In order to leverage America s diplomatic position and pressure the regime to relinquish its nuclear quest, the United States has imposed progressively escalating rounds of sanctions on Iran since the early 1990s. Initial efforts focused on preventing the transfer to Iran of components that might be used in its nuclear or ballistic missile programs. More recent sanctions have focused directly on Iran s ability to conduct international business and generate revenue from its vast energy resources. Since 2007, America has worked with the U.N. Security Council to pass four sets of increasingly tougher sanctions on Iran. These measures mandatory for all U.N. members target Iranian entities involved in Tehran s various weapons programs. The combination of U.S. and international sanctions has exerted a dramatic impact on Iran s economy. As a result of this economic hardship, Iran is now engaged in serious negotiations with the international community. Possessing a nuclear weapons capability, let alone an actual nuclear weapon, would embolden the Iranian regime, allowing it to extend its influence throughout the region as part of its hegemonic ambitions. A nuclear-capable Iran would feel confident in further intensifying its support for terrorist allies like Hamas and Hezbollah. For 20 years, AIPAC has advocated for U.S. policies that prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. Pro-Israel Americans have contributed to this effort by lobbying their members of Congress in support of a three-pronged approach to this goal: economic pressure, diplomacy, and a credible military threat. Together, these channels represent the most effective means of ensuring that Iran cannot attain the capability to develop nuclear arms. Sanctions have effectively ensured that the situation in Iran does not escalate to warfare. Pushing forward with additional pressure ensures that Iran takes the United States, Israel and their partners in the West seriously the sanctions will not stop until the nuclear weapons program does. Diplomacy The United States and its partners in the P5+1 (the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council the U.S., Russia, France, China, and the U.K., plus Germany) have engaged in a series of diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem. An interim agreement ( Joint Plan of Action ) reached in November 2013, which the parties began implementing in January 2014, capped parts of Iran s nuclear program and provided inspectors greater access to nuclear sites. However, the agreement also allowed Iran to continue key parts of its program in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions while gaining some sanctions relief.

15 High Holiday Resource Guide 15 Following the termination of the initial six-month deadline for negotiations, the P5+1 announced a four-month extension of talks to continue through November, It is important to note that throughout the initial timetable established under the Joint Plan of Action, and even as negotiations continue, Tehran has failed to indicate a willingness to dismantle any element of its nuclear infrastructure. The West concerned that, rather than complying with U.N. Security Council resolutions, Iran will try to use the extension to break the international coalition and advance its nuclear weapons program. The P5+1 s provision of increased economic relief to Iran during the continued diplomatic timetable is likewise very troubling. Economic pressure is what brought Tehran to the negotiating table, and increased pressure is critical to any reasonable prospect for reaching a favorable end deal. Moreover, we are faced with the disturbing reality that the P5+1 is providing Iran access to increased economic benefits at the very moment when Hamas is using arms supplied by Tehran to attack Israeli civilians. The administration and Congress must make clear to Iran that America s patience with diplomacy is not infinite. Furthermore, the administration should engage in substantive consultations with Congress concerning what an acceptable final nuclear agreement must include. The United States should make clear that Iran can expect no further extension of the talks. We must find new means to step up pressure on Tehran. And Iran must verifiably dismantle its nuclear weapons program or face harsh consequences for its ongoing violations of treaty commitments and international law. Credible Threat of Force The United States has made clear that should all other options fail to stop Iran s nuclear drive, the use of military force remains a viable option. In May 2013, a Senate resolution, which passed by a resounding 99-0 vote, stated that preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon is U.S. policy, that it is essential to step up enforcement of sanctions against Iran, and that America will stand by Israel should it feel compelled to use force in its own legitimate self-defense. President Barack Obama has likewise affirmed his support for a credible military threat as an effective means of supplementing diplomacy to achieve a good deal with Iran. My view is that if you have both a credible threat of force, combined with a rigorous diplomatic effort, that, in fact, you can strike a deal, the president said in In order to successfully prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability, we must continue to advance this three-pronged approach. Maintaining a diplomatic course that is bolstered by economic pressure and a credible military threat is the most effective strategy to ensure that Tehran cannot fulfill its atomic ambitions. Overcoming Iran Fatigue: Why We Must Keep Making the Case AIPAC, along with pro-israel Americans throughout the United States, has been passionately spreading this message for more than two decades. There are those who have lost sight of the Iranian threat, or who no longer believe in the urgency of Iran s nuclear quest. This is a dangerous course to follow, with potentially devastating repercussions. As a community, we must not just continue espousing the truth about Iran s dangerous mission, but join our voices with renewed vigor to ensure that this genocidal clan of clerics cannot attain the world s most dangerous weapons. We cannot allow the rest of the world to become distracted from this critical issue by neglecting to speak up. We will not let our nightmare, and Israel s nightmare, become a reality. Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil

16 16 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil IN FOCUS IRAN SUPPRESSES RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS AND MINORITY RIGHTS The Iranian government under President Hassan Rouhani has continued to restrict religious freedom and suppress minority groups. PERSECUTION OF MUSLIMS Tehran imposes harsh prison sentences and orders the executions of Sunni Muslims and other religious reformers for insulting Islam. Leaders from minority branches of Islam have been denied rights to build mosques, openly practice religion, and teach rituals in schools. Since 2013, numerous Sunni, Sufi and other Muslim places of worship have been destroyed by the Iranian regime. SUPPRESSING THE RIGHTS OF CHRISTIANS During the past year, Iranian authorities raided Christian services, arrested church members, and imprisioned Christian worshippers. As of February 2014, at least 40 Christians were either jailed, detained, or awaiting trial on the basis of their religious beliefs and activities. In January 2013, American pastor Saeed Abedini was sentenced without due process to eight years in jail for threatening the national security of Iran. He has since endured physical and psychological abuse. Since 2010, Iranian officials have arbitrarily arrested about 400 Christian citizens. VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF JEWS The Iranian government continues to promote anti-semitism and target Jews for perceived ties to Israel. Arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions and confiscations of property continue to plague the approximately 20,000 Jews living in Iran, the largest Jewish population in the Middle East outside of Israel. Numerous anti-semitic programs continue to be broadcast on staterun television. Speeches delivered by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei call for the annihilation of Israel and deny the certainty of the Holocaust. Since his election in June 2013, President Hassan Rouhani has failed to deliver on his campaign promises of strengthening civil liberties and freedoms of expression. INFRINGING THE RIGHTS OF BAHA IS, ZOROASTRIANS AND OTHER MINORITIES The Baha i community, Iran s largest non-muslim religious minority numbering more than 300,000, is viewed as heretical and is repressed by the government. As of February 2014, at least 135 Baha is remain imprisoned solely because of their religious beliefs, nearly double the number in More than 200 Baha is have been killed, at least 10,000 have been removed from government and university jobs, and more than 700 have been arbitrarily arrested since The Zoroastrian community, totalling more than 30,000 people and observing Iran s oldest faith, has faced increased discrimination in recent years. At least four Zoroastrians convicted in 2011 for propagating their faith remain in jail. Zoroastrians and other religious minorities are harassed, intimidated and executed in public for waging war against God. Over the past year, dissidents and human rights defenders have been increasingly tortured, abused and sentenced to death.

17 High Holiday Resource Guide 17 Israel and the Palestinians: Where Are We? Time and again, the Jewish state has demonstrated its willingness to make tough sacrifices for peace. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Israel withdrew its forces and uprooted Jewish settlers in the Sinai Peninsula to achieve peace with Egypt. Israel has also left its positions in the Gaza Strip, parts of the West Bank, and South Lebanon in unilateral attempts to live peacefully with its neighbors actions its neighbors too often took advantage of, not for peace, but for increased violence. Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Over the last year, Israel engaged in negotiations backed by the United States to reach a final agreement with the Palestinians. However, the talks broke down after Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas formed a unity government with Hamas, the terror group s murder of three Israeli teens, and its ensuing campaign of incessant rocket fire upon the Jewish state. The Unity Government On June 2, 2014, Abbas and the PA announced the formation of a Palestinian Authority unity government backed by Hamas. The embrace of this notorious and widely recognized terrorist organization by the PA was an alarming and disturbing setback to the peace process. President Abbas could have continued to pursue peace with his willing partner, Israel which had already made numerous concessions during the talks. Instead, he chose to align with a group that represents the antithesis of peaceful reconciliation and coexistence. Hamas played a central role in the formation of the new government. Its leaders were instrumental in approving ministerial appointments, and positioned themselves to help determine policy including the pathway forward to elections. By aligning with the PA, Hamas circumvented international law and manipulated its way into a new Palestinian government without adhering to the requisite benchmarks set forth by the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations (Quartet Principles). Unilateral Actions at the U.N. The Palestinian Authority s reconciliation with Hamas is one of many troubling actions that have hindered the peace process. Among the other instances of Palestinian intransigence is Mahmoud Abbas continued appeal to international forums through unilateral actions, and attempts to achieve

18 18 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil statehood without negotiating with Israel. Amid U.S.-brokered peace negotiations this past April, Abbas signed official appeals to join 15 international organizations and treaties. This move was a blatant breach of the understandings agreed upon by Abbas, Israel and the United States during the negotiating period. Unilateral efforts such as these damage trust between the parties, derail the negotiating process, and ultimately set back the peace process altogether. U.S. Aid to the Palestinians: Suspension vs. Termination In addition to the principles set forth by the Quartet, U.S. law is clear about the requisite conditions for foreign aid to be granted to the Palestinians: No funds can be provided to a Palestinian government in which Hamas participates or has undue influence. Many analysts, journalists and even a number of politicians, however, have suggested that the best way to combat Palestinian recalcitrance is to completely cut off access to American foreign aid. For years, AIPAC has lobbied Congress to ensure that all aid to the Palestinian Authority is dependent on strict adherence measures that help maintain American influence, keep Israel secure, and advance the peace process. In the wake of Abbas alignment with Hamas, AIPAC has urged Congress to conduct a thorough review of continued U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority, to ensure that current law is completely followed and implemented. It is important to understand both the conditions for aid to the Palestinians ensconced in law, and ways in which this financial support benefits the United States and Israel. What Does Current U.S. Law Require? v To receive direct aid, the PA president must report on steps taken to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, counter incitement against Israelis, promote peace, and collaborate with Israel on security. v Aid is prohibited to Hamas and Hamas-controlled entities. It may not be used to promote or recognize individuals engaged in terrorism. Quartet Principles A Palestinian government must: Recognize the state of Israel without prejudging what various grievances or claims are appropriate Abide by previous diplomatic agreements Renounce violence as a means of achieving goals

19 High Holiday Resource Guide 19 v Funds will be withheld to any PA government that shares power with Hamas, or fails to accept the Jewish state of Israel along with all previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. v Funding will not support a PA that obtains full membership as a state at the United Nations or any specialized U.N. agency. v Aid is contingent upon the U.S. secretary of state affirming that a future Palestinian state is committed to peaceful coexistence with Israel, working to counter terrorism, and promoting regional peace. v Funds are subject to stricter conditions and audits than virtually any other U.S. aid program. How Does Aid to the Palestinians Benefit American and Israeli Interests? v Since 2004, the U.S. has worked effectively with Israel to professionalize, reform and train the Palestinian security forces, which, under Yasser Arafat, were disorganized, corrupt and heavily involved in politicized terrorism. Key Principles: Peace Process The clear path to resolving this generations-old struggle is a two-state solution that establishes a Jewish state of Israel living in peace with a demilitarized Palestinian state. Direct negotiations between the parties offer the only avenue for a real and lasting peace. The Palestinians have repeatedly undermined peace talks by refusing to make meaningful compromises, bypassing negotiations with unilateral actions in international bodies, and forming a unity government with Hamas an Islamist terror group backed by Iran. Any Palestinian government that includes an unreformed Hamas will not be considered a legitimate negotiating partner. Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil v American aid has been critical to providing non-lethal equipment to civil security forces in the West Bank. These forces work to combat violent groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and collaborate with Israel to prevent terror attacks. v The emergence of jihadist cells in the West Bank is of great concern for American, Israeli and Palestinian security. The administration should not move forward with aid to the Palestinian Authority until it is clear that the new government is not under the undue influence of Hamas, and is in full compliance with the restrictions contained in U.S. law. v The Palestinian security forces are much more professional than in the past, and they are not political...this is the best security cooperation we ve had in years. - Shlomo Brom, Institute for National Security Studies. v Annual assistance helps the peace process by preparing the PA for self-governance, meeting humanitarian needs, and preventing further destabilization. For more information about the peace process, visit

20 20 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Jews Accept U.N. Partition Plan The Jewish community of Palestine, and Zionists worldwide, accept the partition plan approved by the United Nations that would create a Jewish state alongside an Arab state. The Arab states reject the U.N. resolution and prepare for war. ISRAEL S QUEST FOR PEACE Even before the establishment of Israel in 1948, the Jewish community in then-british Mandatory Palestine expressed its desire to live in peace with its Arab neighbors. Since its founding amid the ashes of war, Israel has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to make bold, painful concessions, such as withdrawing from land and forcibly removing its citizens, in order to reach peace. Early Zionists Reach Out to Arabs Chaim Weizmann, who was to become the first president of Israel, leads a mission to Cairo in 1918 to express the Jewish people s desire to live in harmony with the Arabs Jews Accept Peel Commission Report Israel s future prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, accepts the recommendations of the official British Peel Commission report, which allocated a very small percentage of Palestine to a Jewish state. The Arab governments reject the plan. A State is Born Declaring independence, Ben-Gurion says Israel will extend the hand of peace to all its neighbors as well as grant full and equal citizenship and due representation for the non-jewish population. In response, the armies of five Arab states invade. Israel Signs Camp David Accords with Egypt Israel agrees to return the entire Sinai Peninsula, an area almost three times the size of Israel, to Egypt. In 1979, Egypt and Israel sign a peace treaty the first between Israel and an Arab country Israel s Offer to Withdraw is Rejected Days after successfully defending itself in the Six-Day War, Israel offers to return captured territories in return for peace treaties. The Arab states reject the offer Israel Inks Oslo Agreement Israel grants the Palestinians unprecedented authority over Gaza and parts of the West Bank and starts talks aimed at ending the conflict with the Palestinians.

21 High Holiday Resource Guide 21 Israel Establishes Peace with Jordan Jordan s King Hussein and Israel s Yitzhak Rabin sign a peace treaty, making Jordan the second Arab state to recognize Israel. Israel Removes All Soldiers, Citizens from Gaza With U.S. support, Israel takes a historic step and unilaterally withdraws from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, providing the Palestinians with an unprecedented chance to prove their intention to fight terrorism and govern effectively. Israel Endorses Demilitarized Palestinian State; Implements Settlement Moratorium Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally endorses the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state and implements a 10-month moratorium on the construction of new homes in the West Bank. Palestinians refuse to hold serious talks despite these gestures. Peace Talks Break Down Following Formation of Palestinian Unity Government with Hamas Israel made painful sacrifices to secure the resumption of peace talks, releasing 78 Palestinian prisoners convicted of terrorism offenses. Ultimately, the talks failed to yield any tangible results, and broke down when PA President Mahmoud Abbas entered into a unity government backed by the terrorist group Hamas Israel Unilaterally Withdraws from Lebanon With backing from the United States, Israel unilaterally withdraws from southern Lebanon after 18 years of maintaining a security zone to prevent attacks on its northern communities. Israel s step is met with a massive military buildup by Hezbollah. Israel Makes Historic Offer for Peace Israel agrees to President Clinton s proposals for peace between Israel and the Palestinians: Israel would cede all of Gaza, 96 percent of the West Bank and additional territory from within pre-1967 Israel, recognize an independent Palestinian state and cede parts of eastern Jerusalem to serve as the Palestinian capital. Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat rejects the offer and launches the worst wave of terrorism in Israel s history. Israel Extends Hand in Peace at Annapolis Conference At the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference, Israel reiterates its commitment to peaceful negotiations with the Palestinians and Arab states. Israel Repeatedly Calls for Direct Talks with Palestinians Prime Minister Netanyahu repeatedly calls for the Palestinians to return to direct peace talks. Palestinian leaders rebuff Israeli entreaties, set preconditions for talks and turn to the United Nations for recognition of statehood. Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil

22 22 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Settlements: Understanding the Issues The peace process is one of the most divisive issues of our time. While many argue that Israel has done everything it can do to advance the peace process, others maintain that the Jewish state must be more aggressive in its efforts. In this context, settlements constitute a key point of contention, and some consider them the central hindrance to attaining peace. In fact, settlements are but one in a series of final-status issues that all parties will have to consider during negotiations. Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, granted the Palestinians unprecedented authority over Gaza and parts of the West Bank and formally commenced negotiations designed to end the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. In 1994, as part of the peace treaty with Jordan, Israel ceded land in the Arava Valley the eastern part of the Negev to Jordan. In 1997, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) signed an accord that gave the Palestinian Authority control over most of the city of Hebron, historically a major Jewish religious center. In 1998, Netanyahu signed the Wye River Memorandum, under which Israel gave the PA control of large portions of the West Bank. Historical Context Israeli governments from across the political spectrum have dismantled settlements and withdrawn from territory as part of efforts to reach peace. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has relinquished more than 23,000 square miles for peace, including 90 percent of the land it gained in the 1967 Six Day War. It has withdrawn from land in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, and completely disengaged from the Gaza Strip. In 1979, Israel, led by the Likud Prime Minister Menachem Begin, initiated the complete withdrawal of the more than 7,000 Jewish residents living in the Sinai Peninsula in exchange for a peace treaty with Egypt. Israel also relinquished productive oil fields and abandoned strategic air force bases. With the Oslo agreement in 1993, Israel, under the Labor-led government of Prime Minister In 2000, Prime Minister Ehud Barak (Labor) at Camp David offered to cede all of Gaza, 96 percent of the West Bank, recognize an independent Palestinian state, and renounce parts of eastern Jerusalem to serve as the Palestinian capital. The offer was rejected by Yasser Arafat. Israel in 2005, under Ariel Sharon (Likud), initiated the difficult and painful process of withdrawing from all of the Gaza Strip and an even larger geographic area of the West Bank, evacuating 8,000 Jewish residents and destroying their homes. This provided the Palestinians an historic opportunity to govern additional territory, demonstrate legitimacy as a negotiating partner and lead the Palestinian people toward the establishment of a state. Despite the takeover of Gaza by Hamas after Israel s withdrawal, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Kadima) continued to seek a peace deal with the Palestinians. Near the end of his premiership in 2008, Olmert offered to withdraw from 98 percent of the West Bank and the vast majority of the settlements. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed to the Washington Post that he rejected the offer, saying, The gaps were wide.

23 High Holiday Resource Guide 23 Learning the Terminology: Q: What are the consensus settlements, or consensus blocs? A: The term settlement blocs was used by President Clinton in defining his December 2000 parameters for Israeli-Palestinian peace. These consensus blocs settlements are largely located in areas near the Green Line that both Israel and the United States expect will remain part of Israel in any peace agreement with the Palestinians. These blocs cover 4-6 percent of the West Bank, but include approximately 80 percent of the Jewish population in the West Bank. Q: What/Where is E-1? A: Israel has previously announced plans for construction in the area known as E-1, linking Ma ale Adumim a consensus settlement to Jerusalem. Israel has not, however, conducted housing construction in this area. The E-1 site covers an area of largely uninhabited, state-owned land and falls within Area C, where, according to Oslo II, Israel retains the powers of zoning and planning. Q: What are illegal or unauthorized outposts? A: Outposts usually refer to small, makeshift structures constructed by Jewish settlers in the West Bank territory without the approval of the Israeli government. More than 100 outposts have been built since the 1990s. Moreover, successive Israeli governments have committed to dismantling the two-dozen outposts built since Ariel Sharon became prime minister in Q: What is the definition of East Jerusalem within the context of settlements? A: East Jerusalem is the area within Jerusalem s current municipal boundaries that Israel captured from Jordan in 1967 and annexed to its own territory. The international community largely considers building in these areas settlement activity. Israel, however, does not. The Jewish state considers Jerusalem to be its undivided capital, as the city has served as the Jewish people s spiritual and religious capital for more than 3,000 years. During that span, Jerusalem was only divided from 1949 to Q: What is the legal process surrounding the approval and building of settlements? A: There are multiple steps that must be undertaken and approvals granted before a new building can be constructed in a settlement. The process can often take multiple years and many plans are ultimately not approved or otherwise never come to fruition. The Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Housing and Construction, Regional Councils, and the Jerusalem City Council all play a role at various stages in the approval process. Plans: Plans for settlement construction in the West Bank must be submitted and approved by Israel s Civil Administration. If approved, the plans must be published so that the public can voice objections. Based on these objections, the plans may be accepted, rejected or a recommendation may be issued to change the plan. Tenders: The tendering process involves the government s solicitation of proposals to buy the rights to actually build a project. Tenders are one of the last steps before new construction can take place. Construction Permits: Once a plan has been approved and tenders have been issued and accepted, a construction permit must be obtained before building can commence. The permit ensures all safety, building codes, environmental and other regulations are adhered too. Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil

24 24 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Final Status Issues: Challenges and Complexities Israel is committed to peace negotiations with the Palestinians and hopes they are successful. The issues confronting them, however, get at the heart of Israel s security concerns. Any successful effort will require direct negotiations between the two parties without outside coercion, in order to address a number of critical areas. The Oslo Accords outlined a series of key areas that are considered final status issues. They are: security arrangements, borders, refugees, Jerusalem, settlements, relations and cooperation with other neighbors, and other issues of common interest. 1 Israel s security primary concern is ensuring that any agreement preserves its ability to defend itself. Terrorism and rocket fire: Palestinians have launched more than 17,000 rockets into Israel since Israel will seek to ensure that any West Bank withdrawal will not lead to similar attacks. Security against conventional and asymmetrical attack: Historically, the West Bank has provided Israel strategic depth i.e., a territorial buffer. Border adjustments and special security arrangements are critical to ensuring that the Israel Defense Forces maintain its ability to counter such threats. Requirement for self-defense: Self-reliance is an Israeli core strategic value, reinforced by the historic unreliability of outside forces, such as U.N. peacekeepers. Israel will insist that any agreement enables Israel to provide for its own defense. 17,000 Rockets into Israel

25 High Holiday Resource Guide 25 Less Than 10 Miles Gaza West Bank Borders 2 Israel seeks secure, defensible borders that also take into account changing demographic realities. Security adjustments: What security arrangements will be required to enable Israel to withdraw from additional parts of the West Bank? It is important to understand the severe problems that Israel will face. For example, Ben Gurion International Airport is less than three miles from the West Bank, and will need assured mechanisms to prevent terrorists from attacking aircraft. Another key security issue is control over the Jordan River Valley, which will be critical to ensuring Israel can defend itself to its east. Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Demographic realities: Nearly 80 percent of Israelis living in the West Bank live in communities adjacent to the pre-1967 line that constitute about 5 percent of the West Bank. Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have recognized that demographic realities preclude a return to the pre- 67 lines. Israelis have previously examined the possibility of ceding land within pre-1967 Israel to compensate for land in the West Bank that could be incorporated into Israel under a peace deal. 3 Palestinian Refugees negotiators have demanded Israel accept the right of return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to Israel. Return to a Palestinian state: The goal of the peace process is the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two state solution Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and the state of Palestine as the demilitarized homeland for the Palestinians. As such, the Palestinian refugee issue should be resolved through compensation and the right of return of Palestinians to the state of Palestine, not Israel.

26 26 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Jerusalem 4 The united city of Jerusalem is Israel s capital. Jerusalem is a complex issue for practical, security, religious and historical reasons. It arguably remains the most emotional and difficult issue to resolve. The capital city: Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Israel and the spiritual capital of the Jewish people. Freedom of access to the holy places has been guaranteed by Israel to members of different religions Freedom of access to the holy places: Jerusalem is not only Judaism s holiest city, but also the third holiest city in Islam and the birthplace of Christianity. Freedom of access to the holy places has been guaranteed by Israel to members of different religions ever since the reunification of the city in 1967, and must be preserved in any final agreement. East Jerusalem: The Palestinians demand a capital in what they refer to as East Jerusalem, which they define as the parts of the city occupied by Jordan from 1948 to This encompasses the entire Old City, including the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall, as well as other Jewish neighborhoods.

27 High Holiday Resource Guide 27 5 Settlements Settlements are often portrayed as one of the most contentious issues in the peace process. In the previous section, we have included a variety of resources, facts and tools to further discuss this challenging issue. Mutual Recognition, End of Conflict and Claims The recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and the recognition of an independent Palestinian state are fundamental to any peace agreement. 6 Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Mutual recognition: President Obama has stated that mutual recognition is critical to ending the conflict. It will be very clear what the nature of that agreement is: There will be a sovereign Palestinian state, [and] a sovereign Jewish state of Israel - President Barack Obama Jewish state: Israeli leaders are demanding Palestinian recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people in order to demonstrate that the Palestinians goal is no longer to challenge Israel s existence or its Jewish character. End of conflict and claims: The conclusion of a peace agreement must result in a formal end of conflict and end of all claims that Israel, the Palestinians and the international community accept. It cannot result in unending attempts to undermine Israel, its legitimacy, or its security. Final Status Issues: Challenges and Complexities

28 28 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil WHAT SHOULD WE DO MOVING FORWARD? What Should We Do Moving Forward? 1. The United States and Israel must continue working together America and Israel must continue close cooperation in order to reach a sustainable peace with the Palestinians, even if the two allies are not in full agreement on every issue. Israel can be more flexible when it completely trusts American negotiators, and maintaining collaboration ensures this trust. 2. U.S. leaders must promote direct talks, not imposed solutions An enduring solution to the conflict must arise from the parties negotiating themselves, and cannot be imposed by the United States or any outside entity. A deal will only work through bilateral negotiations supported by a mutual willingness to implement it on the part of the leadership and both publics they represent. 3. America should ensure the Palestinians promote peace, not hate With respect to Palestinian leadership, the U.S. should seek to support moderate leaders without abandoning its insistence that the PA must act decisively to halt violence, incitement and terror. 4. The U.S. should strengthen its partnership with Israel With the Middle East in turmoil, it has never been more important for the U.S. to strengthen ties with its closest ally in the region. The United States should continue to advocate for Israel s bests interests, promoting the need for secure, recognized and defensible borders with the understanding that Israel must determine its own security requirements. American efforts should also ensure that a future Palestinian state would lead to an end to all claims between the parties, and that the two parties would be assured of peaceful sovereignty.

29 High Holiday Resource Guide 29 Operation Protective Edge Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil On July 8, 2014, following weeks of incessant rocket fire from Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge. The IDF s military response had a clear objective: destroy the capability of terrorists to kill and maim innocent Israelis. In the days that followed, Hamas continued raining rockets down on Israel s cities more than 1,000 in one week. In Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ashdod and Ashkelon, air raid sirens sent millions of Israelis into the closest bomb shelters they could find. In Hadera, Rishon Lezion, Beer Sheva and Eshkol, families were forced to reconfigure their daily routines and remain on constant alert. It was just the latest in a long history of violence from Gaza, but once again, innocent Israelis everywhere were the targets of terror. The Israeli military responded as any sovereign nation would while under attack by protecting its people. The IDF carried out hundreds of pinpoint strikes against Hamas terror targets, and after numerous rejected attempts at a ceasefire, launched a ground operation to destroy Hamas terror infrastructure and attack tunnels. Notably, Israel continued its humanitarian wartime procedures of dropping leaflets, making phone calls, and issuing warning communiques to Palestinian civilians before striking militant locations. The IDF also treated wounded terrorists in Israeli hospitals. Hundreds of truckloads of essential supplies, food and goods were likewise transferred to citizens in Gaza. Unlike most sovereign nations, however, the Israeli military was yet again forced to deal with an enemy employing inhumane war tactics: using civilians as human shields. Human Dignity vs. Human Shields For years, Hamas has used a morally deplorable tactic human shields to protect its weapons stockpiles and accrue international sympathy. This strategy was on full display during Operation Protective Edge. For more information about Operation Protective Edge, visit

30 30 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Israeli goods transferred to the Gaza Strip in the first three weeks of Operation Protective Edge: 1,248 truckloads of humanitarian supplies and goods 4.78 million liters of diesel for power 2.81 million liters of fuel and 693,000 liters of benzene for transportation 37,178 tons of food products entered Gaza since start of Operation Protective Edge* For more information on Israel s humanitarian aid to Gaza during the Hamas offensive in July, click here. * Updated 08/25/2014 Hamas seeks to deter IDF attacks on legitimate military targets and exploit incidental harm by intentionally embedding military infrastructure inside densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip. Hamas likewise fires missiles from civilian buildings and encourages its people to act as human shields against Israeli air strikes. These abhorrent practices are blatant violations of international law, which explicitly forbids civilian shielding. Hamas has long known that the IDF does all it can to avoid civilian casualties, and as such, continues to place its people in harm s way. We call on our Palestinian people, particularly the residents of northwest Gaza, not to obey what is written in the pamphlets distributed by the Israeli occupation army, Hamas announced through official media channels on July 13. We call on them to remain in their homes and disregard the demands to leave, however serious the threat may be. For years, pro-israel activists across the country have lobbied their members of Congress to provide annual funding for the Iron Dome system and other critical missile defense programs. As of this summer, the United States has allocated more than $700 million towards Iron Dome with Congress considering an additional $576 million in fiscal year 2015.

31 High Holiday Resource Guide 31 Iron Dome Saving Countless Lives In stark contrast to Hamas egregious use of civilians to protect its missiles, Israel has employed remarkable tactics to use missiles in order to protect its civilians. As the deluge of rockets from Gaza endangered millions of Israeli lives last July, the Jewish state was able to rely on a remarkable technology to protect its most populated areas with the Iron Dome missile defense system. Thanks to this groundbreaking, U.S.-backed technology, most of the rockets destined for Israeli schools, buildings and neighborhoods were shot down out of the sky. Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Iron Dome is unique in its capabilities and is one of the most tangible manifestations of American aid to Israel. Designed by Israel s Advanced Defense Systems LTD., it was first introduced in 2011, after successfully intercepting several Grad rockets that were fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel. Since then, Iron Dome has undergone numerous improvements and has become a critical component to Israeli deterrence against terrorist rocket fire. The system provides robust, selective defense and can discriminate between threats headed toward population centers and those that will land in open fields or in the ocean. It is effective at destroying incoming rockets in all weather conditions, including low clouds, rain, or fog. U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, has joined a chorus of praise from both Israeli and American officials regarding the United States funding for this life-saving device. If there has been a more substantial contribution than the aid and funding for [Iron] Dome, that saves lives, I can t imagine what it is, he said in For years, pro-israel activists across the country have lobbied their members of Congress to provide annual funding for the Iron Dome system and other critical missile defense programs. As of this summer, the United States has allocated more than $700 million towards Iron Dome with Congress considering an additional $576 million in fiscal year Additionally, American lawmakers have so far contributed nearly $2 billion for Israel s mid-range and long-range missile defense programs including David s Sling and the Arrow II and III systems. The United States played an essential role in helping Israel protect its people from its enemies and eliminate the possibility of mass casualties during the Hamas offensive this past summer. The work of AIPAC and the pro-israel community to lobby our legislators in support of these vital security subsidies will remain an indispensable facet of the robust U.S.-Israel partnership.

32 32 High Holiday Resource Guide Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil HAMAS WHAT IS HAMAS? Founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas is an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that seeks the destruction of Israel and has killed Americans. Below are ten facts to note about Hamas. 1. HAMAS IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION The United States, along with Israel, Canada, Japan and the European Union has declared Hamas a foreign terrorist organization. 2. HAMAS HAS KILLED AMERICANS Hamas is responsible for the deaths of more than two dozen Americans, including five students. 3. HAMAS IS ANTI-ISRAEL AND ANTI-SEMITIC The Hamas charter, published in 1988, details the guiding principles of the Islamist terrorist group. Laced with anti-semitism, the document calls for the destruction of the State of Israel though jihad, or holy war. Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, the charter states. Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious. It needs all sincere efforts.... [Hamas] is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the enemy is vanquished and Allah s victory is realised. 4. HAMAS TARGETS INNOCENT CIVILIANS Hamas has killed more than 500 civilians in suicide bombings and other attacks inside Israel. Since 2001, Hamas has fired more than 17,000 rockets into Israel. Hamas has orchestrated more than 100 suicide bombings and shooting attacks. 5. HAMAS REJECTS THE QUARTET S CORE PRINCIPLES The United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations have agreed that the Palestinians must: recognize Israel, renounce violence, and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Hamas has rejected all three of these principles. 6. HAMAS HAS A LARGE WEAPONS ARSENAL The terror group has thousands of rockets, including some that can strike Tel Aviv. More than 6 million Israelis live within Hamas rocket range. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah party reached an agreement on April 23 to form a Palestinian unity government with the terrorist organization Hamas. 7. HAMAS IS BACKED BY IRAN The Islamic Republic of Iran provides financial and military support to Hamas. In March 2014, an Iranian ship was seized by Israel carrying rockets, anti-ship missiles and more than 400,000 bullets. These munitions were reportedly destined for Hamas in Gaza. 8. HAMAS IMPOSES STRICT ISLAMIC LAW Hamas has abolished freedoms that Gazans previously enjoyed. It has restricted content in movies, music and television, and has imposed draconian punishments against perceived offenders in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law. 9. HAMAS CELEBRATES TERRORISTS Hamas hosts parades and mass rallies to honor terrorists who have killed Americans and Israelis. The group celebrated the 9/11 attacks and mourned Bin Laden s death. 10. HAMAS TEACHES ITS CHILDREN TERROR AND HATE More than 100,000 children in Gaza attend Hamas summer camps, where many participate in semi-military training that includes use of live ammunition and simulated kidnappings of IDF soldiers. Hamas uses cartoons and other television shows to teach children to murder and kill Jews.

33 High Holiday Resource Guide 33 BDS: The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is an international, decentralized campaign that seeks to stigmatize, isolate and delegitimize the state of Israel. BDS espouses a moral position and seeks to create a global campaign of economic and political pressure on behalf of its cause. It considers the international treatment of apartheid South Africa as its model, and tells the world that Israel should be the next target for people of conscience. Key Principles: BDS Though far from perfect, Israel is a vibrant democracy that provides the rule of law for all its citizens. In Israel, all citizens, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual preference, enjoy full rights and complete integration into the fabric of society. Israeli Arabs not only have the right to vote, but are active participants and leaders in their democracy, serving in the Knesset and on the Supreme Court. Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil Comparing Israel to a systematic, legislated apartheid government is ridiculous and could not be further from the truth. What should we do about it? AIPAC has long been engaged in combatting economic campaigns against Israel, leveraging the mechanisms of government to preclude business from participating in the Arab League boycott and leveraging the weight of our economy against the boycotters. We continue to promote Israel s inclusion at international bodies, confident that the best antidote to isolation is integration. Our work in Washington creates new mechanisms to allow more cooperation in new sectors, from homeland security and energy to water, issues of critical concern not only to Israel and the United States, but to the world. The United States should continue to invest in Israel s future well-being, and reject international calls to divest from it. We must continue this work to ensure the strong support of the United States Congress for a robust and growing partnership with Israel, and to put the United States firmly on record in opposition to BDS. BDS activists seek to deny Israel the fundamental right to defend her citizens from terror, and then accuse Israel of war crimes when she engages in that defense. The BDS movement attempts to maintain criteria that apply to Israel alone and no one else; to force companies to leave Israel and investors to divest from it; to make Israel a pariah and treat it as such; and to press Israel into a corner from which it cannot emerge. BDS, by its own admission, exists to remove any Israeli presence from Palestine, and in doing so makes the realization of a two-state solution far more difficult. BDS initiatives on the college campus are futile in practically every instance, in large part because AIPAC-trained student activists educate student leaders and the larger campus community about the destructive and malicious nature of the BDS movement.

34 34 High Holiday Resource Guide A Light unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World A Light Unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World Background E quipped with firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by resource-poor countries, Israel works assiduously to provide other nations with the assistance they need to develop and grow. Before it had even established embassies in many world capitals, Israel sent experts abroad to teach developing nations such skills as how to upgrade medical facilities, improve schools and coax crops from arid land. Today, Israel has one of the most extensive foreign assistance programs in the world for a nation of its size. Similarly, Israel s high-tech civil innovations have left an important mark. From cell phones and groundbreaking Internet software to key environmental and medical innovations, Israel s reach has extended to nearly every corner of the globe, helping to revolutionize many important aspects of human life. Israel has also provided critical on-the-ground assistance after numerous natural disasters, including the recent typhoon in the Philippines and the earthquake in Haiti.

35 High Holiday Resource Guide 35 Helping Beyond its Borders Although Israel is faced with the constant challenge of combating terrorist organizations and rogue regimes throughout its neighborhood, the Jewish state remains committed to helping those in need, wherever they may be. Among the numerous organizations working to support global disaster relief efforts and embodying the Israeli spirit of humanitarian advancement is IsraAID. IsraAID was created in 2001 with the goal of utilizing Israeli expertise in relief efforts to assist other nations in the wake of disasters. IsraAID has responded to crises in 22 countries and distributed more than 1,000 tons of relief and medical supplies. In Japan, IsraAID provided relief after a devastating earthquake hit in March Volunteer workers arrived initially to distribute supplies, clean out houses, and rebuild schools. But over the course of their mission, they saw an increasing need for lasting post-traumatic care. This led to the creation of the Japan IsraAID Support Program (JISP). Today, JISP helps survivors with a particular focus on children and the elderly from 10 cities. In Haiti, IsraAID arrived four days after an earthquake devastated the capital in In the initial relief effort, 22 volunteers treated 3,700 people in 27 days. Since then, IsraAID has maintained a presence in what is still a devastated country, opening youth agriculture training and performance theater programs. IsraAID likewise maintains a growing presence in South Sudan, where it conducts gender-based violence prevention programs. The group prides itself on its large volunteer pool, with hundreds of Israelis lining up to carry out this noble relief work around the world. In response to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, IsraAID is personifying the Israeli spirit by improving the world and assisting others wherever people are in need. A Light unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, IsraAID worked for nearly three months in New York City, providing more than 330 volunteers and rehabilitating 61 houses. IsraAID has responded to numerous other American crises by assisting tornado victims in Oklahoma and flood victims in Colorado. IsraAID has likewise dramatically grown its international relief efforts in the last few years. In Jordan, where the number of Syrian refugees has surpassed 600,000, IsraAID has played a crucial role in providing emergency supplies, helping with individual trauma recovery, and developing child-friendly spaces and shelters for Syrian women. People to People : How Israel Saves Syrian Lives Despite years of discordant relations and the proliferation of jihadist forces in Syria, Israel continues to treat injured civilians from the brutal civil war waging across its northern border. Among those leading

36 36 High Holiday Resource Guide A Light unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World the medical treatment of Syrian men, women and children is Dr. Masad Barhoum, Director General of Israel s Western Galilee Hospital. Dr. Barhoum delivered remarks at the 2014 AIPAC Policy Conference, in which he reflected on his moral obligation to provide for the injured, irrespective of geopolitical tensions or strife. Below are some highlights from his story: At our hospital, it is our duty to serve the 600,000 Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze who make up the tapestry of the Galilee. Just six miles from Lebanon, we are the closest hospital to any foreign border in the state of Israel. Having come under fire many times in our history, we are no strangers to war or terror. To date, Western Galilee Medical Center has treated more than 200 Syrians...Yet, when they pass through the gates of my hospital, they cease to be Syrian They are patients. We are caregivers. And nothing else matters. people to people.,אדם לאדם say: In our medical center, we Women in Israel s Growing High-Tech Industry Israel is recognized worldwide for its elite high-tech industry and startup culture and, as in the United States, women are playing an increasingly prominent role in this emerging sector. According to Israel s Central Bureau of Statistics, women currently comprise approximately 35 percent of the nation s high-tech workforce, with nearly 10 percent representing founders of tech startups. While the percentage of female tech founders in Israel is almost identical to that in the U.S., technology makes up almost half of Israel s industrial exports and contributes one-third of the nation s economic growth. In dealing with these wounded, we are not treating an enemy, a fighter, a foreigner. We are treating human beings. What responsibility does the Jewish state have to the Arab neighbors who call Israel their enemy? Honestly, none. But still, we help. Click here to watch Dr. Masad Barhoum s full speech. As a result, Israel has launched a series of initiatives aimed at placing more women at the forefront of this critical sector of the economy. In one example, Google s Tel Aviv branch has launched Campus for Moms, a startup program geared for new mothers hoping to advance in the tech industry while raising a family. Through a series of nine weekly classes, Campus for Moms empowers women on maternity leave to open their own ventures in a country whose economy is dependent on innovation. The program offers instruction on effective business management strategies, as well as opportunities to share experiences and best practices. Industry

37 High Holiday Resource Guide 37 leaders also teach participants how to win investors and develop a market. Google s Campus for Moms project is revolutionary in its focus on mothers within the startup world, while other organizations are simultaneously creating infrastructure to support women already working in the tech industry. Yazamiyot is one such group. Yazamiyot facilitates business partnerships by hosting dozens of networking events and partnering with American organizations such as Microsoft and Ernst & Young. Israel, however, is not only striving to increase the number of women in tech, but is also aiming to ensure that their ventures are backed by adequate funding. According to Eva Ventures a Tel Aviv-based micro-venture capital fund dedicated to promoting female entrepreneurship as little as 4 percent of global venture capital flows into female-led startups. Moreover, only 3-to-5 percent of women-driven companies receive any venture capital funding at all. Microsoft is another American company getting involved. In an effort to combat the lack of mentorship women often experience, Microsoft hosts its annual Women in Technology conference in Israel. The event brings together more than 500 women from dozens of global companies to discuss career management and skills to advance in the tech industry. Last May, Microsoft Israel s research-and-development center released groundbreaking new maternity leave policies in order to increase the retention rates of female employees. While the United States and Israel continue to expand their business partnerships, the Jewish state is providing unique solutions to the advancement of women in the tech industry. A Light unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World Michal Michaeli, the group s founder and managing partner, explained that Eva Ventures hopes to raise $30 million to invest in female owned or led startups, in addition to providing mentorship, networking, and consulting services. Other American Companies Taking Part Mor Birnholtz, an Israeli woman working at Intel, reported that her software working group is 50 percent female, which she believes is a reflection of the generous maternity leave that Intel offers to mothers and the company s refusal to discriminate against women in the workplace. Intel Israel s policies complement the goals of the Intel Global Girls and Women Initiative a campaign to empower millions of young women worldwide to become elite tech innovators. Innovation Nation The Jewish state remains at the forefront of groundbreaking innovations that help making the world a safer, healthier place. Cancer Detection: After eight years of painstaking research, Israeli life-sciences company Eventus Diagnostics (EventusDx) has produced a blood test for the early detection of breast cancer. The Octavia Pink test is the first blood test that can reveal cancer, not merely markers that might indicate cancer or something else.

38 38 High Holiday Resource Guide A Light unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World Seeing-Eye Car: Mobileye advances driver safety through collision prevention. This vision-based platform, developed in Israel, works as a third eye in the car. The program analyzes the various driving risks and issues audible and visual alerts to help drivers avoid accidents. Mobileye is available in vehicles manufactured by Ford, GM, Volvo, BMW, Hyundai and Nissan, among others. Digital Security: Israel is a world leader in cyber-security. Israeli startup NSO is helping protect governments by selling intelligence collection tools that give users the ability to combat perceived security threats coming from smartphones. The device uses software that allows officials to gain access to encrypted data transmitted through a user s smartphone, tablet or mobile device. Friendly Skies: The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) uses Israeli methods to ensure safe traveling conditions in and out of U.S. airports. The Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program trains officers to detect behaviors that a person exhibits in response to the fear of being discovered. SPOT has helped to identify illegal activities that have resulted in thousands of arrests at airports and other transportation hubs around the United States. the risk of HIV infection by more than 70 percent in men in sub-saharan Africa. Israel company Circ MedTech has developed a device called PrePex, which enables virtually painless, adult male circumcision in a safe and easy-to-administer procedure, to help conquer the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Over two brief appointments, men can receive the simple procedure that can help protect them against contracting HIV. Listen Up: An Israeli system called EyeMusic is teaching the blind to see with their ears. This sensory-substitution device scans an object or image and transforms the visual into musical notes, which creates a new sensory language that teaches the brain to convert sound into images. PillCam: Israel-based company, Given Imaging developed a camera in a pill, aptly named the PillCam, which is useful in diagnosing gastrointestinal ailments. Patients using the PillCam simply swallow the pill, and as it travels through the digestive track, it will snap up to 870,000 images. Eight hours later, doctors can view a high-resolution video of the intestines, thanks to this inexpensive and painless innovation. Brain Waves: The FDA has approved a magnetic helmet for treating depression, created by the Israeli company Brainsway. Patients apply the helmet for fifteen to thirty minutes, repeated over several weeks, for a more comfortable, noninvasive treatment that targets the brain directly. The helmet has already been approved in Europe to treat clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson s disease and PTSD. Brainsway is implementing its groundbreaking technology to treat a range of other brain disorders as well. Preventing HIV: Research has shown that circumcision can reduce Human Innovation Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East, offering equal rights to citizens of every race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. In addition to creating opportunities for individuals of these

39 High Holiday Resource Guide 39 differing backgrounds, Israel has also paved the way for entry into society for children and adults with special needs. Note: This information is also highlighted in AIPAC s High Holidays edition of Israel Connection. Great in Uniform In 2001, IDF Major Colonel (Res.) Ariel Almog was wounded in battle and spent months in a hospital recuperating from a head injury. His time in the hospital recovering alongside other injured people with disabilities inspired the Great in Uniform project. For most Israelis, service in the IDF is a foundational experience, giving them a platform to enter into society as productive citizens. But for young people with special needs, reaching the age of 18 can bring increased marginalization and exclusion, while their peers prepare to begin their military service. Great in Uniform is helping to address this challenge by integrating young people with disabilities into the army for a three year period, with the ultimate goal of preparing them for an independent life in Israeli society. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya alon recently said that Great in Uniform is, a worthy cause, socially, educationally, as well as in terms of national security. By giving these special needs young adults a strong start in the IDF, Great in Uniform has paved the way for them to build better lives after their military service, helping with smoother integration into society, the community and the workforce. Great in Uniform is just one of many programs aimed at integrating youth with special needs into the IDF. Teamwork Healing Wounds Last November, Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, devastating the region, killing at least 6,000 people, leaving more than 600,000 homeless, and millions of others without basic supplies. In the wake of the destruction, Filipino children struggled to handle the trauma. That s where the Israeli organization Mifalot came in. Mifalot uses soccer programs to teach life skills to children with special needs, promote the integration and inclusion of newly arrived immigrants, create bonds of friendship between Israelis and Palestinians, and provide assistance to children living in at-risk, disadvantaged or isolated communities. The organization reaches out to around 20,000 kids a year. A Light unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World The program begins with a week-long army boot camp. For many participants, this basic training marks the first time they have ever been away from home. During the boot camp, IDF special needs soldiers tour Israel and learn the values of the Israel Defense Forces. At the end of basic training, they receive their own berets like every other IDF soldier. Once they are serving, IDF special needs soldiers play an integral role by helping to prepare protective kits, along with working in military storehouses, print shops and kitchens. In March, Mifalot traveled to the island of Bantayan with a newly developed program to treat children in disaster stricken areas. While most aid efforts concentrate on rebuilding infrastructure and homes, the Israeli group aims to put the well-being of local children in focus, using soccer as a type of therapy. In partnership with Futkal & Friends, Mifalot led a seminar on managing post-traumatic stress disorder through soccer, and met with over fifty coaches and Physical Education teachers in Cebu and Bantayan Island. With Israeli expertise in post-traumatic stress disorder, the coaches and teachers

40 40 High Holiday Resource Guide A Light unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World developed yearlong plans to implement soccer as an engagement tool in their communities. In addition to the seminar, Mifalot activists coached almost 600 kids throughout recovering neighborhoods in the basics of soccer. Yishai Yagol, a Mifalot activist, explained that their methodology is simple. I just came with a ball, broken English and that s enough children are children anywhere. And we just have to reach them. Standing Tall Israeli mother Debby Elnatan was devastated to learn that her son, Rotem, was born with cerebral palsy. But rather than sit in sadness, she decided to find a way for Rotem to explore the world on two feet. I wanted to be standing upright while Rotem was upright, she said, and I wanted Rotem s hands free for play and exploration. So, Debby invented a walking harness that changes the way these children navigate the world. The Firefly UpSee is a harness that allows children to stand upright, attached to their parents by a series of straps, with their feet fastened into rubber shoes. As the parent walks, the child is able to move along with them. Elnatan used the device with her son until he was 7 years old, refining it as he grew. With practice, she was able to walk with her son at home and on outings. For the past several years, Elnatan has been working on bringing her invention to market in order to help other parents. It is now being produced by Leckey, a company in Northern Ireland and sold online worldwide. Short-term, the Upsee improves special needs family participation and quality of life, while research suggests it has the potential to help with physical and emotional development in the longer term, said Firefly s clinical research manager and occupational therapist, Clare Canale. The Firefly Upsee is just one example of Israeli ingenuity in solving worldwide challenges. This latest invention is providing a better childhood to countless children across the globe. Breaking Down Barriers with Art For children with autism, communicating thoughts and feelings can be difficult. The Israeli Society for Autistic Children, known by its Hebrew acronym ALUT, is one of several organizations across the world now focused on using art therapy for these children. On June 10th, the Speaking Colors exhibition opened at the United Nations in New York City, marking the first day of a conference on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This year, the special focus is on youth, and the exhibition showcases 25 paintings by Israeli children with autism. ALUT has revolutionized support for children with autism and their families through a range of programs, from occupational centers to educational activities in schools. Traditionally, the only treatment available to autistic children and adults in Israel was admission into psychiatric hospitals, said Rachel Rosenman, ALUT s director of resource development. Today, we are working to advance the rights of autistic people and to improve the services available to them and their families, she added. ALUT was recently awarded consultative status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), allowing their representatives to contribute to the deliberations at the meeting of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other UN bodies throughout the year.

41 High Holiday Resource Guide 41 The Importance of activism The Importance of Activism Responsibility in the New Year A s American citizens, we have a sacred right and responsibility to participate in the political life of our country. Because we in the Jewish community care so deeply about the safety and security of the state of Israel, we have a special obligation, to educate our elected officials, policy makers, and opinion leaders to help them better understand the U.S.-Israel relationship. In fact, it is imperative that individuals who care about the endurance of America s alliance with the Jewish state become involved in pro-israel political activism. Although becoming a political activist may feel intimidating, our involvement is essential. Most members of Congress aren t thinking about the safety and security of the Jewish state. Rather, they are generally elected based on their views about social and economic policy. Because American foreign policy does not always dominate the discourse, it is up to us to focus our leaders attention on the issues that affect our relationship with Israel.

42 42 High Holiday Resource Guide The Importance of activism We must be the ones to remind members of Congress that U.S. support for Israel is not just an act of friendship; it is an act of national self-interest, a key component of our broader efforts to secure the region and a wider world. And, while Congress has traditionally been very supportive of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, that support does not occur in a vacuum. It requires the pro-israel community individuals who care about the future of America and the Jewish state to constantly educate policymakers about the issues that move us. Active involvement in pro-israel politics is the most effective way that we can advocate for something we already care so deeply about. This process must be ongoing, because in Washington, D.C., battles never stay won. Each new vote that affects Israel, each new piece of legislation relating to Israel that Congress approves, requires pro-israel activists to reach out to members of Congress and explain the significance. This is more important than ever because of recent trends affecting congressional turnover, shifting populations and demographics, and diffuse political concerns. At the same time, congressional turnover has never been higher. Since election night in 2008, 46 percent of the seats in the U.S. Senate and 48 percent in the House of Representatives have turned-over. Following the 2014 mid-term elections, at a minimum, 7 members of the Senate and 45 members of the House will be freshmen, many with limited knowledge of the issues surrounding the U.S.-Israel relationship. This high turnover rate presents a huge educational challenge for the pro-israel community, as many of the members of Congress with whom we have worked hard to establish strong relationships may no longer be the decision makers next year. What is more, most freshmen enter Congress with little or no background in foreign affairs or a deep understanding of the U.S-Israel relationship. Increased pro-israel activism is essential to beginning the process of educating new members of Congress. At the same time, as new representatives come to Washington there is also an opportunity for new pro-israel supporters to get involved in the political process. In addition to congressional turnover, shifting populations and demographics require increased involvement in pro-israel activism. Seventy years ago, the Jewish community comprised nearly 4 percent of the U.S. population. As growth rates among many other American demographic groups surpass those of the Jewish community, our voices are becoming increasingly more difficult to hear as a percentage of the electorate. The Changing U.S. Political Landscape The make-up of Congress has changed, and is continuing to change at an astounding rate. As populations have shifted and the Jewish community has shrunk in relative terms, most members of Congress come from districts with few to no Jews. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we exercise our fundamental rights as Americans to fully engage in the political process, including supporting and voting for pro-israel candidates of our choice.

43 High Holiday Resource Guide 43 The Importance of activism Key Constituencies: Expanding the Pro-Israel Movement America s declining Jewish population as a percentage of the broader U.S. population poses a challenge to the pro-israel movement, but fortunately, support for Israel spans far beyond the Jewish community. successful entrepreneurs and other community leaders have traveled to Israel with AIPAC s charitable affiliate, the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), and have become important voices in the growing African-American pro-israel community. AIPAC is expanding the pro-israel community well beyond this sphere of influence, including numerous constituencies that are critical to the endurance of the U.S.-Israel relationship. African-American Outreach African-Americans play a vital and growing role in carrying out AIPAC s critical mission, and make up 13 percent of the U.S. population. The Congressional Black Caucus consists of 44 members in the 113th Congress. AIPAC s African-American Outreach activists are leaders in their communities, comprising important religious, political, business and civic leaders in congressional districts with a large number of African-American constituents. Pastors, state and local elected officials, leaders from major organizations, I believe that we all need a thriving AIPAC to empower us to lift up our voices to Capitol Hill and the corridors of the White House. - Rev. Dr. Dee Dee Coleman

44 44 High Holiday Resource Guide The Importance of activism Christian Outreach Religiously-motivated pro-israel Christians, those whose affinity for Israel reflects their theology and faith, represent a diverse cross-section of American Christianity. Pastors and other significant community leaders have amplified their voices by inviting elected officials to speak about the U.S.-Israel relationship in church, organizing parlor meetings with members of Congress to lobby them on pro-israel legislation and participating in AIPAC s annual Policy Conference. Hispanic Outreach Latinos in the United States represents the largest and fastest growing population group in the country, today making up roughly 15 percent of the U.S. population. The 113th Congress has 35 Hispanic members 26 Democrats and 9 Republicans the largest number of Hispanics to have seats in Congress, and that number is expected to grow in the future. As the Hispanic community grows both in numbers and political activism, its leadership plays an increasingly prominent role in shaping national foreign policy. As a pro-israel Christian woman who is a pastor, I know how important the U.S.- Israel relationship is and I want to educate colleagues, friends and congregants on this issue. AIPAC s proven record of establishing relationships and educating lawmakers on the issues pertaining to the U.S. and Israel produces positive results that make us safer. - Rev. Becky Keenan Today, thanks to AIPAC, when I hear the topic of Israel I am compelled to speak up and correct the misinformation about Israel. As a representative of Labor and a Latina, I can honestly share with all of you that Israel has become one of my causas, Spanish for causes. - Olga Miranda For more information about AIPAC s National Outreach program, please visit

45 High Holiday Resource Guide 45 The Importance of activism Getting Involved: How to Make a Real Difference Given the challenges to ensuring strong continuing support for Israel s safety and security, each of us must do our part to get involved. Unfortunately, we are often times at a loss for how to act. Many people get angry, sad or upset about the media portrayal of the Jewish state, and at times can feel overwhelmed by the political process. However, we cannot just sit idly and bear witness to the threats facing Israel.

46 46 High Holiday Resource Guide The Importance of activism As Americans, we have countless opportunities to influence our political leaders and gain their support for the state of Israel. If we forget about the power and influence that we can have, or if we let our representatives who speak on our behalf believe that Israel is not of the utmost importance, we compromise our voices as American Jews. Regardless of the size of our community, we must get involved in the political process. Large Jewish communities can generate mass numbers and a large pro-israel voice to support local representatives, while in smaller Jewish communities, synagogues might be the only voices for pro-israel activism in their congressional districts. We must become active in political campaigns of our choice so that we can help candidates understand the importance of Israel to American interests, and see the growing challenges facing Israel. In addition, we should make it a priority to meet and stay in touch with our local members of Congress, and to organize regular office visits to build new relationships and strengthen pre-existing ones. Ultimately, our representatives look to us to offer up-to-date and reliable information to share with them and their staffs. We must remind our representatives that there is no better way to understand the challenges facing the state of Israel than to see them in person. Our community can play a vital role in encouraging members of Congress and their staffers to visit Israel. After their trips, we can capitalize on the momentum by inviting returnees to speak about their experiences and share their stories. Finally, we must speak up for Israel. By writing letters and regularly calling our legislators to garner their support for the Jewish state, we can ensure that the delegitimization of Israel will never go unchallenged. Moreover, we have numerous opportunities as a congregation. Whether by traveling to Washington, D.C. to lobby members of Congress, participating in synagogue letter writing campaigns, or distributing educational information on our synagogue s website and bulletins, we have numerous avenues to help shape American policy and strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance. We should not lose sight of our ability to influence the decision makers in our nation s capital. Members of Congress are receptive and appreciative of the information that we share with them, and so we must continue to do so.

47 High Holiday Resource Guide 47 As individual American Jews, we care deeply about Israel. But when we become politically active as a group, our voices are amplified. Together, let us enter this new year with a renewed pledge to exercise our First Amendment rights as Americans, and stand up for Israel by lobbying our elected leaders to enhance the security of the Jewish state. Pro-Israel political activism achieves results. It ensures that the U.S.-Israel relationship has overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress from backing Israel s right to self-defense, to securing billions of dollars for critical security programs like Iron Dome and encouraging joint U.S.-Israel initiatives in business, energy, high-tech, medicine and more. The Importance of activism Given the results we achieve when we get involved politically, each of us should redouble our commitment this year to be active in the political process and do our part to advance the U.S.-Israel relationship. To learn more about how to get involved, visit

48 48 High Holiday Resource Guide Sermon Suggestions Sermon Suggestions Praying for a Better World The following sermon suggestion discusses the universal message of the High Holidays, and the importance of striving to better both ourselves, and the entire world, in the year to come. We recommend including the themes below with those found in the third section of the Resource Guide, A Light Unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World (p. 34). Contrary to popular belief, Rosh Hashanah doesn t revolve solely around the Jewish people. The liturgy of the High Holidays emphasizes that our concern, far from being about only ourselves, extends to the entire world. When we think about it, Rosh Hashanah isn t at the right time of year. Of course, Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Jewish New Year only it s really not. That distinction goes to the month of Nissan universally known as the first month of the Jewish year. The Torah consistently refers to Nissan as the First month. Tishrei the month in which Rosh Hashanah falls is actually the seventh month of the Jewish year. In addition, Rosh Hashanah itself isn t called Rosh Hashanah The Beginning of the Year at all. The biblical text refers to the holiday as תרועה a זכרון memorial proclaimed with the יום תרועה blast of horns (Leviticus 23:24) and as a day of blowing the horn (Numbers 29:1).

49 High Holiday Resource Guide 49 Why then do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah now, and not in Nissan? Tradition teaches us that according to most opinions, while the Exodus and the birth of the Jewish nation took place in Nissan, the בתשרי world was created in נברא העולם Tishrei. The Israeli scholar Matia Kam writes that the reason we celebrate Rosh Hashanah during the seventh month is: לפי המסורת היהודית ראש השנה אינו נוגע רק לעם ישראל: זהו יום הדין לאדם ולעולם כולו, ובו האל מעמיד למשפט את "כל באי עולם"... ראש השנה, בניגוד לחגי ישראל האחרים, אינו נוגע לעם ישראל לבדו. ראש השנה הוא חג אוניברסלי, כלל אנושי, הנוגע לכל העולם ולכל בני האדם... Because according to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah doesn t just address the nation of Israel. It is the Day of Judgment for mankind and the entire world, the day on which God presents for judgment all mankind. Rosh Hashanah as opposed to the other Jewish holidays does not just relate to the Jewish nation alone. Rosh Hashanah is a universal holiday [relating to] all of humanity, that affects the entire world and all of humankind... On Rosh Hashanah all of mankind pass before [God] like members of the flock, as it is written, He that fashions the hearts of them all, that considers all their doings. (Psalms 33:15) From our earliest rabbinic tradition, Rosh Hashanah was never just about the Jewish people. Rather, the holiday represents the powerful expression of our concern for not only our own well-being, but for the well-being and prosperity of the entire world. Moreover, our concern for the world extends not just to individuals, but to countries and governments as well. In the Zichronot (Remembrances) section of the traditional Rosh Hashanah Mussaf, in a section quoted directly from the Jerusalem Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 1:3) as we note God s eternal, infinite memory and the sacred, solemn judgment of the world, we also add, ועל המדינות בו יאמר: איזו לחרב, ואיזו לשלום, איזו לרעב ואיזו לשבע. Regarding countries it is said on this day: Which is destined for the sword and which for peace, which for hunger and which for abundance? Sermon Suggestions This phrase באי עולם all כל mankind appears in the chilling Unetaneh Tokef prayer in which we say, וכל באי עולם יעברון לפניך כבני מרון. כבקרת רועה עדרו, מעביר צאנו תחת שבטו, כן תעביר ותספור ותמנה ותפקוד נפש כל חי... All mankind will pass before You like members of the flock, like a shepherd pasturing his flock, making sheep pass under his staff, so shall You cause to pass, count, calculate and consider the soul of all the living The anonymous author of this haunting prayer, borrowed this notion from none other than the Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah 1:2) which states, בראש השנה, כל באי עולם עוברין לפניו כבני מרון, שנאמר היוצר יחד, ליבם; המבין, אל כל מעשיהם )תהילים לג:טו( On Rosh Hashanah we worry not only about the people of the world, but appreciate that the fate of humankind rests not in the hands of individuals, but in the fate of the countries and governments of the world. Who will prosper? Those that promote peace, democracy and individual rights? Or, will we witness over the coming year the continued prosperity of countries and governments that trample on their own citizens, support terrorism and murder, and utterly disregard basic human rights? During the High Holidays, we gather to pray on behalf of the entire world. But while we understand and recognize the critical role and importance of prayer, we are also people of action. We pray for divine guidance, inspiration and blessing, but also realize that we too must act to realize the values of peace and benevolence in the world.

50 50 High Holiday Resource Guide Sermon Suggestions Making Painful Sacrifices for Peace The following sermon suggestion focuses on the theme of peace and the difficult sacrifices we must make to attain this goal. Peace is a core Jewish value that has guided our people throughout the ages. We recommend tying the messages from this sermon to the messages found in the Israel s Quest for Peace timeline (p. 20) and the Settlements section (p. 22). We all recognize the phrase, Sacrifice for Peace. We ve heard the phrase in the news, from politicians, political pundits, and even from religious leaders. We make sacrifices for peace for two reasons: First and foremost, we make these sacrifices because peace is an ultimate Jewish value. As Shimon Peres once said, Peace is not a political event. It is a basic, historic moral choice. Secondly, we sacrifice for peace because tradition teaches us that this is the proper and correct choice a choice made by God. Peace as a Jewish Value Jewish tradition teaches us that peace is an ultimate Jewish value. The tractate Derech Eretz devotes the entire final chapter to the value of peace. In it we find numerous teachings about the great importance of peace. אמר רבי יהושע: גדול הוא השלום ששמו של הקב"ה נקרא שלום שנאמר: "ויקרא לו ה' שלום" )שופטים ו(...אמר רבי יהושע: גדול הוא השלום שישראל נקראים שלום. שנאמר: "כי זרע השלום" )זכריה ח( למי השלום? לזרע השלום. Rabbi Yehoshua said: It is great when God is referred to by the name The One who makes peace as it is written (Judges 6:24), And he [Gideon] called God Hashem Shalom. Rabbi Yehoshua [further] said: It is even better when Israel is referred to as The one who makes peace as it is written (Zechariah 8:12), Because of the generation of peace. Who is The one who makes peace? [The one who makes peace is] the generation committed to peace. The priestly blessing concludes with the prayer, The Eternal ישא ה' פניו אליך וישם לך שלום bestow [divine] favor upon you and grant you peace. (Numbers 6:26)

51 High Holiday Resource Guide 51 On this verse the Midrash comments: ר' מני דשאב ור' יהושע דסכנין בשם ר' לוי גדול שלום שכל הברכות וטובות ונחמות שהקב"ה מביאן על ישראל חותמין בשלום )ויקרא רבה פט:ט( Rav Mani of She ab and Rabbi Yehoshua of Siknin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Great is peace, for all the blessings, goodness and consolation that the Holy One brings to Israel are all signed with peace. (Leviticus Rabbah 89:9) The Midrash teaches us that no less than God also expressed both a willingness and a desire to sacrifice for the sake of peace. Divine Sacrifice for the Sake of Peace A challenging chapter in the Book of Numbers describes the ordeal of the sotah a woman who shatters the trust inherent in her marriage and secludes herself with another man despite her husband s objections. Her husband suspects infidelity, and without the trust crucial for a successful marriage, how can they return to a marriage of harmony and peace? Did she remain faithful, or had she sinned and destroyed the sanctity of the marriage? How can he possibly learn the truth? the name of God an act that is normally prohibited by Jewish law inside the holy Temple. Aside from the powerful message that discord within a family banishes the divine presence from that home, the Talmud derives another important lesson. אמר מר גדול שלום שבין איש לאשתו שהרי אמרה תורה שמו של הקב"ה שנכתב בקדושה ימחה על המים )חולין קמ"א עמוד א( Said the Master: So great is peace between husband and wife that the Torah instructs that the name of the Holy One, written in holiness, should be erased into the [sotah] water. (Hullin 141a) Peace within the home between husband and wife is so fundamental that God is willing to suffer the erasure of God s name and sacrifice divine dignity for the sake of peace. Suppose for a moment that a good friend sinned against you, causing you great pain and anguish. It has happened to us all. And then, on the eve of Yom Kippur, he or she approaches you, takes you aside to somewhere private and offers his or her sincere apology. He or she truly means it, and begs your forgiveness. Sermon Suggestions The Torah outlines a ceremony where the husband brings his wife to the Temple where she offers a sacrifice and then must drink the bitter waters of the sotah. Yet, before she drinks the water, they write out a scroll describing the punishment that would befall her had she indeed sinned: וכתב את-האלת האלה הכהן בספר; ומחה אל-מי המרים. )במדבר ה:כג( And the priest shall write these curses in a scroll, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness. (Numbers 5:23) The Sages note that the scroll, which included the text from Numbers chapter five, also includes the holy name of God. In other words, as part of the ritual of the sotah, the priest was instructed to erase How do you feel at that moment? Are you ready to absolve her right then and there to just wipe the slate clean? Most normal people would still feel the bitterness of the pain, and may not readily forgive immediately. Yet, Rambam writes that not only should we forgive; we must forgive. אסור לאדם שיהיה אכזרי ולא יתפייס, אלא יהיה נוח לרצות וקשה לכעוס, ובשעה שמבקש ממנו החוטא למחול, מוחל בלבב שלם ובנפש חפצה; ואפילו הצר לו הרבה וחטא לו הרבה, לא ייקום וייטור. וזה הוא דרכם של זרע ישראל, וליבם הנכון. )הלכות תשובה ב:י( It is forbidden for a person to be cruel and refuse to be appeased. Rather, he should be easily pacified, but hard to anger. When the person who wronged him asks for forgiveness, he

52 52 High Holiday Resource Guide Sermon Suggestions should forgive him with a complete heart and a willing spirit. Even if he aggravated and wronged him severely, he should not seek revenge or bear a grudge. This is the path of the seed of Israel and their upright spirit. (Laws of Repentance 2:10) When we forgive despite our anger and despite our pain, are we not sacrificing for peace? We are, in essence, sacrificing our dignity and pride for the sake of peace and harmony. It s a sacrifice worth making but let us not forget for a moment that it is indeed a sacrifice that s never easy. Feeling the Pain of Peace While we agree that sacrifice is an essential element of peace-making, have we allowed ourselves, in our desire and zeal for peace, to forget that the sacrifices really are painful? We don t make peace at all costs. And we don t make peace on the backs of others. When we speak of painful compromises, do we share in that pain and try in some way to minimize it, or at least understand and appreciate it? Or, having made the correct calculation that the peace is worth the pain, simply put it out of our minds, and forget that someone really is making sacrifices? For decades, Israel has expressed and demonstrated its readiness to make painful sacrifices for peace. It remains ready to make peace today. Our job is twofold: we must work to minimize the pain of those people taking the risks, and at the same time, continue to do everything in our power to help bring peace to a region embroiled in generations-old conflict. Ultimately, if this goal is achieved, it will make the pain and the sacrifices worthwhile. Rabbi S.R. Hirsch writes: Peace is something highly precious for which everything, all one s own rights and possessions may be sacrificed, but never the rights of others and never what God has declared to be right and good. (Commentary to Numbers 25:12)

53 High Holiday Resource Guide 53 Sermon Suggestions Hard Work: A Jewish Value The following sermon suggestion centers on the theme of hard work, and its inherent value within the context of Jewish tradition. While we have grown accustomed to instant gratification in our daily lives, the efforts that bring us the greatest satisfaction and accomplishment are those that demand effort and resolve. We recommend considering the messages from this sermon in concert with the The Importance of Activism section of the Resource Guide. Notably, these themes relate well to the subsections on Responsibility in the New Year (p. 41) and Getting Involved: How to Make a Real Difference (p. 45). Hard work, in and of itself, represents a core Jewish value. The commandment to remember the Shabbat to rest on the seventh day is a fundamental Jewish ideal as important as the hard work during the rest of the week. Shabbat is mentioned immediately following the creation of the world (see Genesis 2:1-3), and also appears in the Ten Commandments. Yet, in order for one to rest, one must first engage in work a fact explicit in the Biblical text. זכור את-יום השבת, לקדשו. ששת ימים תעבד, ועשית כל-מלאכתך. ויום השביעי שבת לה אלקיך )שמות כ: ח-י( Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. (Exodus 20:8-10) One can only rest if one has worked. If you don t work, what then is the value of rest? If every day is Shabbat, then what meaning can Shabbat have? The Mishnah in Avot states this point clearly, "שמעיה אומר אהוב את המלאכה" us, teaching Shemaya taught: love work. It s not enough to work. Rather, one must love work as well. What does this mean? Avot D rabbi Natan (Nusach 2: 21) elaborates. מלמד שיהא אדם אוהב את המלאכה ואל אדם יהי שונא את המלאכה. כשם שהתורה נתנה בברית, כך המלאכה נתנה בברית, שנאמר: )שמות כ( "ששת ימים תעבוד ועשית כל מלאכתך, ויום השביעי שבת לה' אלקיך". This teaches that one should love working and not hate working. Just as the Torah was given in a covenant, so too was work given as

54 54 High Holiday Resource Guide Sermon Suggestions a covenant, as it is written, Six days shall you labor, and do all your work. Other authorities take this idea even further, explaining that the six days of work isn t a mere suggestion, but a commandment. ועוד היה רבי אליעזר אומר, גדולה היא מלאכה שכשם שנצטוו ישראל על השבת, כך נצטוו על המלאכה, שנאמר ששת ימים תעבוד ועשית כל מלאכתך" It is a great value for someone to derive his livelihood from the work of his own hands it is a characteristic of the pious ones of early generations. Through this, he merits all honor and good in this world and in the World to Come, as it is written: If you eat of the toil of your hands, you will be happy and it will be good for you, (Psalms 128:2). [In Avot 4:1, the Rabbis explained:] You will be happy meaning in this world ; And it will be good for you meaning in the World to Come, where all is good. Rabbi Eliezer also said, greater is [the value of] work, for just as Israel was commanded [to keep] the Sabbath, so too were they commanded about work, as it is written, Six days shall you labor, and do all your work. (ibid) Moreover, the Midrash goes so far as to say that someone who doesn t need to work should seek out work anyway. רבי יהודה בן בתירא אומר: מי שאין לו מלאכה לעשות, מה יעשה? אם יש לו חצר חרבה או שדה חרבה, ילך ויתעסק בה... Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteirah said: Someone who does not have work to do what should he do? If he has a barren courtyard or field he should go and find work to do in it (ibid) Later sages, having inculcated the value of work from the Talmud, strongly advocated the value of work and self-sufficiency. Rambam (Laws of the Study of Torah 3:11) writes: מעלה גדולה היא למי שהוא מתפרנס ממעשה ידיו, ומידת חסידים הראשונים היא; ובזה זוכה לכל כבוד וטובה שבעולם הזה, ולעולם הבא: שנאמר "יגיע כפיך, כי תאכל; אשריך, וטוב לך" )תהילים קכח,ב( "אשריך" בעולם הזה, "וטוב לך" לעולם הבא שכולו טוב. Yet, we all know intuitively that hard work while often difficult and challenging does offer a sense of personal satisfaction. There s no better feeling than immersing oneself in a project or endeavor, working hard at it, and seeing success from it. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, in his Ein Ayah commentary to the Talmud (on Brachot 8a) writes: The exalted feeling of pleasure that one derives from the toil of his hands is the best and most complete of all the ethical human feelings. Thus, being that this good feeling [deriving from hard work] is hewed into the nature of man, as he is free to choose his actions, and can, through his diligence complete himself in every aspect, it is not worthy that he should sit with his hands clasped wishing for others to work on his behalf. The greatest pleasures in life come not from sitting on a beach sipping cool drinks although that does have value. Rather, the greatest pleasure comes from knowing that our hard work was productive, useful, and creative. It makes us better, more complete people, and allows us to improve the world.

55 High Holiday Resource Guide 55 Sermon Suggestions Mixing Fire and Water: Remaining United in Our Differences The following sermon suggestion underscores the importance of finding common ground in our differences. Jewish tradition has much to say about the importance of argument for the sake of compromise, and how we can strive to prosper and grow despite our seemingly incompatible viewpoints and perspectives. We recommend including these themes in a discussion that includes information from the section on The Importance of Activism, (p. 41). The notion of attaining a common goal despite differences aptly applies to the imperative of bipartisanship, as well as diversity, when it comes to the American pro-israel community. Indeed, our movement relies on the unification of our various backgrounds, and the shedding of partisan gridlock, in our pursuit of a stronger America and a more secure Israel. As we read through the story of creation in Genesis chapter 1, after each day of creation, we learn: And וירא God saw that it was אלקים כי טוב good. Yet, after the creation had been completed on the second day the day that God separates the heavens from the earth we don t find this phrase. This is the only day of creation that the Torah doesn t say that it was good. Why not? What s wrong with separating heaven and earth? למה לא נאמר ביום שני כי טוב? רבי חנינא אומר: שבו נבראה מחלוקת, שנאמר "ויהי מבדיל בין מים למים". אמר רב טביומי: אם מחלוקת שהיא לתיקונו של עולם ולישובו אין בה "כי טוב", מחלוקת שהיא לערבובו על אחת כמה וכמה. )בראשית רבה( Why doesn t the text say about the second day that it was good? Rabbi Chanina says: For on that day argument and division was created, as it is written, And let it divide the waters from the waters (Genesis 1:6). Said Rabbi Tavyomi: If about division which is for the establishment and settlement of the world it cannot be said that it was good, regarding argument that confounds the world how much more so is this true! (Bereishit Rabbah) Even though this separation was beneficial to the creation of the world, God can never look at division and argument and call it objectively good. These might eventually lead to a greater good in the end, but the division in and of itself is painful. The

56 56 High Holiday Resource Guide Sermon Suggestions verse notes that the split took place between two of the same element between water and water. That type of division, while perhaps necessary, is not considered fundamentally good. It is only because we stand together in purpose and mission that the arguments between us can be so dangerous. We are like the water whose splitting is difficult and painful. Even when we argue for what we consider to be constructive purposes, we should never fool ourselves into thinking that division is good. It might be necessary, but God would never look at it and say, It is good. And yet, we still argue about issues related to politics and our synagogue, and perhaps most passionately, about Israel. We re all passionate, committed people with strong ideas and ideals. It s inevitable that we re going to fight at one time or another. If so, how are we supposed to disagree with one-another in a constructive, productive manner? Rashi provides us with some insight. In the very next verse we read: And God called the ויקרא אלקים לרקיע שמים firmament Heaven (Genesis 1:8). On this verse Rashi comments: שא מים,שם מים, אש ומים, שערבן זה בזה ועשה מהם שמים The famous Mishnah in Chapters of Our Fathers teaches us: כל מחלוקת שהיא לשם שמים סופה להתקיים, ושאין לשם שמים אין סופה להתקיים. )אבות ה:טז( Any argument that is for the sake of heaven will endure in the end, and any argument that is not for the sake of heaven will not endure in the end. (Avot 5:17) Normally, we translate the term לשם שמים to mean, for the sake of heaven, meaning that any argument that s for the greater good for the sake of God will endure. Yet, in light of Rashi s comment, we can interpret this Mishnah in a new way. If the shamayim the heavens, represent the melding of fire and water and the bridging of the chasm between the void of space and the earth below then means for the sake of shamayim for לשם שמים the sake of compromise. The Mishnah teaches us a crucial rule for dispute especially among such a tight-knit and homogeneous group. When arguing, especially among friends, we must be willing to compromise. We must be willing to see and accept that the other side has validity, and we must be willing to move to a place where both sides can work together even as they disagree. [The word shamayim is a combination of ] carry water, this is water [and] fire and water which God mixed with each other to create the heavens. According to Rashi, the heavens are the mix of water and fire; the combination of the unmixable. While we might have thought that the two could never coexist, God creates a new medium shamayim, where they both reside together. Shamayim teaches us that we need to create a place where each of the two opposites can coexist and live together harmoniously. This issue how we argue and disagree has become very significant in the Jewish community. We worry about the future of the Jewish state, and the future of the Jewish people. The issues that divide us strike at the core of our identities and enflame passions. Even as we disagree, we must learn to work together nonetheless. At the end of every Kaddish we say: עושה שלום במרומיו הוא יעשה שלום עלינו ועל כל ישראל... The One who makes peace in the heavens should make peace among us, and among all of Israel

57 High Holiday Resource Guide 57 God makes peace in the heavens between fire and water between angels of destruction and angels of peace between the necessary elements that can and sometimes work against each other but must also coexist. The world needs both fire and water to survive, and yet, each cannot coexist with the other. Therefore, God adds the element of peace, so that each element can perform its positive, necessary function without negatively affecting the other..עושה שלום במרומיו That is the meaning of And, if God can bring that peace to the heavens, then יעשה שלום עלינו God הוא can certainly bring that same peace within our midst as well. At times, we may disagree with one-another. Yet, as long as we represent ideals and values essential to our existence as a people, we can argue and disagree with each other and still remain united, in harmony, and in peace. We are all like the heavenly water we have the same mission and we re here to worship and work together. At the same time, sometimes there are splits in the water. We must try to remember that our disputes and disagreements must be for the sake of Shamayim disagreeing, yes, but always finding that place where the fire and water can live together, and create an atmosphere of growth in which each of us, our community, and the entire Jewish community, can prosper and grow. If we can find עלינו peace שלום among us that unity will surely strengthen, galvanize and empower us to do the important work that we must do and can only do together. Then, and only then, will there be על כל ישראל Peace שלום upon all of Israel. Sermon Suggestions

58 58 High Holiday Resource Guide Sermon Suggestions The Message of Shemittah: Respecting the Earth The following sermon suggestion reinforces the Jewish value of respect for the planet and taking care of the earth. We recommend utilizing this content in a discussion of Israel s myriad contributions to making the world a better place, which may be found in the third section of the Resource Guide entitled A Light Unto the Nations: Israel Improving the World, (p. 34). Let us imagine for a moment that the story of Akeidat Yitzchak the Binding of Isaac took place not 3,000 years ago, but that our forefather, Abraham, lived fifty years from today. God appears to Abraham and tells him, Take your son Isaac and go to the land of Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice to me. It is safe to assume that our modern Abraham would follow the same script, yet this time instead of loading Isaac onto the donkey, he s probably going to load the team into his minivan. Here is where we might run into problems. Because, while three millennia ago, On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar (Genesis 22:4), what will the future Abraham see when he lifts up his eyes to see the great mountain? Will he see anything at all? Or will Jerusalem of the future be, like so many cities are today, so clogged with pollution, smog, dust and dirt that future Abraham not only won t see any mountains in the distance, but won t even be able to see the ram stuck in the thicket a few feet away? This biblical nightmare isn t that great of an exaggeration it s already become reality in some cities in the United States (on bad days), and in many cities around the world every day. If we want to ensure that this nightmare doesn t become a reality around the world, we must begin to take the issue of caring for the world with utter and utmost seriousness. We all know that the world is judged on Rosh Hashanah, and that judgment is sealed on Yom Kippur. Yet, the Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah 1:2) teaches us that the judgment of mankind is only one of four Days of Judgment that occur throughout the year.

59 High Holiday Resource Guide 59 בארבעה פרקים העולם נידון: בפסח, על התבואה. בעצרת, על פירות האילן. בראש השנה, כל באי עולם עוברין לפניו כבני מרון, שנאמר היוצר יחד, ליבם; המבין, אל כל מעשיהם. )תהילים לג:טו(. ובחג, נידונים על המים. At four times the world is judged: On Pesach, for the crops. On Shavuot, for the fruits of the tree. On Rosh Hashanah, all the world passes before Him like sheep, as it says, He that fashions the hearts of them all, that considers all their doings. (Psalms 33:15) And on Sukkot, they are judged for the water. ובשנה השביעת, שבת שבתון יהיה לארץ שבת לה': שדך לא תזרע, וכרמך לא תזמר. את ספיח קצירך לא תקצור, ואת-ענבי נזירך לא תבצר: שנת שבתון, יהיה לארץ )ויקרא כה: ד-ה( But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord; you shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. That which grows by itself of your harvest you shalt not reap and the grapes of your undressed vine you shalt not gather; it shall be a year of solemn rest for the land. (Leviticus 25:4-5) Sermon Suggestions Only one of the times listed in the Mishnah relates to humanity. The other three crops, trees and water, all relate to the critical functioning of nature as we rely on the earth to provide sustenance to us. On Rosh Hashanah, the middle section of the traditional Mussaf focuses on memories and זכרונות the fact that an infinite God remembers everything and everyone. Interestingly, the first biblical story that focuses on divine memory is the story of Noah, and the destruction of mankind by a great flood. In the course of Mussaf we note that: וגם את נח באהבה זכרת ותפקדהו בדבר ישועה ורחמים בהביאך את מי המבול לשחת כל בשר מפני רע מעלליהם. You lovingly remembered Noah and You recalled him with words of salvation and mercy, when You brought the waters of the flood to destroy all living flesh because of the evil of their deeds. On Rosh Hashanah, the day of eternal memory, we invoke not just the memory of the redemption and the salvation of Noah, we also remember that human behavior prompted a tragedy which nearly destroyed mankind. This Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Shemittah year the seventh year of the seven-year cycle. During this year, Jews living in the Land of Israel are commanded to leave the land unplanted, allowing it a year of rest. Commenting on the critical message of the Shemittah year, Rabbi Dr. Daniel Sperber writes: Of course, the most important but also the simplest lesson this teaches is that we do not own the lands we think we own. We work it. We re its stewards. We re its guardians. We use it for six years and we come to think of it as our own land. We have absolute rights over it. We can do with what we want with it. But the seventh year teaches us that this is not so. Suddenly the land becomes no longer ours. Anybody can come and take from it as much as he wishes, (subject only to some limitations). Hence the concept that the land on which we live, Eretz Yisrael, is a place given to us le-ovdah u-leshomrah, to work and preserve. We are guardians over it, not masters over it. The agricultural aspect of the Shemittah year draws a direct connection between our role as guardians over the earth and our connection to the land of Israel. While the economic aspects of Shemittah, including the requirement to annul outstanding debts apply around the globe, the obligation to leave land fallow in order to literally allow the land to rest, applies only in the Holy Land. This explicit connection emphasizes the great strides and advancements that the people of Israel have made in global efforts to guard the earth. Agriculture: Israel, is of course famous for its incredible advancements in agricultural science,

60 60 High Holiday Resource Guide Sermon Suggestions including drip irrigation, bug-resistant plants, natural pesticides, greenhouse technology (some of which is actually utilized during Shemittah), seed and plant development. Alternative fuels: Left with little choice and even less oil, Israel developed methods to harness different forms of energy, from the sun, the wind, and even the sea. These technologies, and the electronic systems crucial to storing energy over extended periods of time, continue to be a primary focus of Israeli industries. Water: The absence of clean, abundant water sources presents a significant challenge to those hoping to preserve natural reserves. Israel, however, has developed effective and innovative solutions to this global problem. Today, Israel leads the world by a far margin in the percentage of reclaimed waste-water used for agricultural purposes. Israeli water preservation technologies are already being implemented in the United States, including in drought-stricken California. These technologies will undoubtedly continue to spread across the globe. These advances should serve as a tremendous source of pride for the Jewish and pro-israel community. On Rosh Hashanah, even before we note the היום יעמיד במשפט כל יצורי עולמים fact that on this day all of the world s creations will stand and be judged we begin the prayer by noting that, היום הרת עולם on this day the world was created. And, on this day, we must rededicate ourselves to our role as guardians, to ensure that we pass on a better world to our children.

61 High Holiday Resource Guide 61 Sermon Suggestions The People of the Sharon The following Yom Kippur sermon suggestion focuses on the theme of danger in the face of the appearance of peace and well-being. Though we celebrate the many miracles of the state of Israel, danger is never far away. We recommend tying the message from this sermon to the themes found in the Today s Middle East: A Region in Turmoil (p. 7) and The Importance of Activism (p. 41) sections. It was the most joyous moment of the holiest time of the year. The Kohen HaGadol had just emerged unscathed from the Holy of Holies, assured that the people had been forgiven for their sins and blessed with another year. In fact, it was such a special time that the liturgy of the traditional Mussaf includes a poetic prayer about the Kohen HaGadol s joy: אמת מה נהדר היה כהן גדול בצאתו מבית קדשי הקדשים בשלום בלי פגע. True! How majestic was the Kohen HaGadol as he left the Holy of Holies in peace without injury. And yet, right as he emerged, he recited a prayer for the well-being of the people. It is a beautiful prayer one of hope and excitement, looking to a new year full of promise and opportunity. His prayer, which followed the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, asked for many things: a year of abundance, blessing, affordable prices and good life a powerful articulation of his high hopes for the coming year (See the end of the traditional Avodah liturgy during the Mussaf service on Yom Kippur). But then, at the conclusion of this prayer, the Kohen HaGadol added an additional phrase: ועל אנשי השרון היה אומר: יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלקנו ואלקי אבותנו, שלא יעשו בתיהם קבריהם. And concerning the inhabitants of the Sharon he would say: May it be Your will, O God and the God of our forefathers, that their homes not become their graves. This phrase, which actually appears in the Jerusalem Talmud (Yoma 5:2), is in stark contrast with the rest of the prayer. Suddenly, the Kohen HaGadol shifted gears, focusing not on the abundant future, but instead on the possibly dangerous days ahead for the people of the Sharon. Who were these people, and why did the Kohen HaGadol pray specifically for them?