Dear Friends,

With summer in full-swing, the time of family vacations is upon us – when we can be with our loved ones, and have the opportunity to recharge ourselves both physically and mentally.

This summer marks four years since Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas. He is believed to be held in Gaza, away from his family. This issue crosses all political and religious boundaries, and touches the hearts of all. Whatever your opinion regarding the price Israel should or should not pay to secure Gilad’s release, there is no disputing that Gilad, as well as his family, are suffering greatly. We hope and pray for his safe return each day.

So, what can you do to help and to express your sympathy with Gilad and his loved ones? If your family vacation should take you to Israel over the summer, or for the upcoming holidays, AZM would like propose the following opportunities available to you to show your solidarity with the Shalit family: Read more

Thousands of Israelis joined Noam and Aviva Shalit as they began their 12-day march from Mitzpe Hila to the Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem.  The march was organized to mark the fourth anniversary of their son Gilad’s abduction from sovereign Israeli territory.  Gilad now sits in solitary confinement, held by Hamas operatives, awaiting liberation.

Estimates of around 10,000 marchers far surpassed the numbers expected to join the family, demonstrating the depth of connection that  the Israeli public feels for Shalit family and, of course, their son, who sits and waits.

Outside of Israel the American Zionist Movement pledges to keep the issue of Gilad Shalit on the “front burner,” so that he will not be forgotten.  Visit this page for program ideas

To see a news report on the march please click the screen image below:

Noam Shalit still awaits the return of his beloved son, Gilad.  Held by Hamas for more than 1,400 days, Gilad awaits his rescue.  An ordinary teenager in June of 2006, Gilad found himself in extraordinary circumstances when he was abducted by the terrorist organization Hamas and taken from sovereign Israeli territory near Kerem Shalom to the Gaza Strip.    He has been held ever since; there have been occasional signals and messages showing the world that he is alive.  His father, a soft-spoken man, who with his wife has run a bed-and-breakfast in Israel’s north, has campaigned and pled for his son’s freedom.  Watch and listen to his message message made on the 62nd anniversary of Israel’s establishment.

Purim 2010 — Another AZM Success

This year AZM’s Purim Connection focused on Israel’s “Lone Soldiers,” soldiers serving in the IDF who are living in Israel without their parents. Demanding as army service is, imagine how much more difficult it is when you lack the ongoing support of a family.

In addition, AZM brought Purim Goodies to children in hospital in Afula. This mitzvah was carried out with the help of youth movement activists from a nearby moshav. Also benefiting form this year’s program was schoolchildren in Afula, and needy families in Yokneam.

See photos from all of these programs.

Proceed to Purim Payment Page immediately

Dear AZM Friend,

Imagine a soldier standing guard. It’s dark and silent. Alexsey is thinking about his parents, but they are far away in Smolensk. It’s Purim and others in the unit are receiving gifts from family, or getting leave to travel home, but this soldier remains alone. Alexsey knew he was Jewish while growing up, but his

family never spoke of it. At 14 a friend brought him to a Jewish Agency youth club; at 19 he made aliyah to Israel, and today Alexsey is serving as a Lone Soldier in the IDF. Similar stories can be told about Daria from the Ukraine, Avi from LA or Roman from Kazakhstan.

But imagine the smile on the lips of any one of these soldiers when handed a package from a stranger from America, a mishloach manot Purim gift basket filled with goodies. There are some 2,500 Lone Soldiers serving in the IDF, soldiers who have made Israel their home without their families.
For more than two decades The American Zionist Movement (AZM) has sought to touch these Lone Soldiers and others with its Purim Connection—an opportunity for American Jews to demonstrate their solidarity with Israelis who serve on the frontline in defense of Israel and young Israelis living in stressful situations.
The Purim Connection is making a special effort this year to reach Lone Soldiers with Purim cheer. AZM is working closely with the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Lone Soldier Outreach Program to reach as many soldiers as possible. The Purim Connection will also bring baskets to disadvantaged children living in

the North of Israel—children in a hospital in Afula, or studying in Tzfat, Rosh Pinna and other communities on the northern border.
Wouldn’t you like to do something special this Purim? Even a small donation will help a young child or a lonely soldier feel cared for and remembered.  Not only will these gifts improve the spirits of the receivers, it will also help support the Israeli economy, as all products used are made in Israel. In addition, in Israel, the mishloach manot packages will be delivered by young Jews: members of Zionist youth movements and students on year programs. This is one more tangible way in which we are building the connections between our young people and our homeland.

Your mishloach manot gift will tell an Israeli soldier or child that you care. It’s a gesture that will long be remembered. But the deadline is coming up quickly. We ask that donations be received no later than February 19, 2010.  Please don’t delay! Scroll down and please your payment today.

We thank you; and Alexsey, Daria, Avi, Roman and all of Israel thanks you as well.

With Zion greetings,

Evelyn Blachor,  Chair Janet Tobin and Joan Wachstein, Co-Chair

William D. Hess, AZM  President

Please make your contribution by visiting our payment page.

View Photo Gallery from Last Year’s AZM Purim Connection

“Reclaiming Zionism- What’s YOURS?”

Thursday, March 18th, in Chicago
@ Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Avenue

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Doors open at 6:30pm

Tickets: $10 in advance: ADVANCED TICKET SALES CLOSED

$15 at the door

Israel Photography Exhibit: Israel Land of Contrast & Faith
(featuring photos of Oded Fromovitz & Michael Steinberg

Drink specials, Open Israeli wine bar 7-9pm, cheese, appetizers
Israeli DJ, T-shirts, Video presentation

Israel photo submissions encouraged:
due March 11

RSVP to Becky at: badelberg@azm.org or 847-677-5949 for submission information

Co-sponsored by:
B’nai B’rith International
Stand With Us

See Gilad Shalit’s Video Message

We wait and wonder. We send postcards, sign petitions, march in the streets — in front of the United Nations and in public squares across America.

When will Gilad Shalit be brought home to his family and his nation?

News reports say a resolution is near.  We pray for his return.

See the videotaped message from Gilad Shalit

AZM’s Sderot “Yom Kef”

Bringing Zionist Cheer to Sderot’s Children

For the second year, AZM is organizing Yomei Kef to reach out to families in Israel’s south. These Israelis have suffered greatly from living under an unyielding barrage of Qassam rocket fire for the last five years. Working through the WZO Department for Zionist Activities, AZM’s Yomei Kef – days of fun – provide a reprieve from the constant tension, with an itinerary featuring enrichment as well as fun.

On July 23, 2008, six buses full of Sderot residents briefly left the sirens, rockets and bomb shelters behind thanks to AZM’s Yom Kef. The program enabled 300 Sderot residents – including single-parent families, new immigrants and Ethiopians, all living in unimaginable fear – to experience some rest and peace. They visited the Shfayim water park and participated in an arts and crafts session, where they drew pictures on fabric reflecting their lives in Sderot.

On August 25th, a second Yom Kef brought 200 Shaar Negev residents to Jerusalem for a day of family enrichment at the City of David, Time Elevator, and the Herzl Museum. Participants were also treated to a barbeque, Israeli dancing and a singer in the courtyard of the JAFI/WZO building, and Dr. David Breakstone, head of the Department for Zionist Activity of the WZO, addressed the group.

AZM’s Yomei Kef are especially meaningful to the children, who have not even been able to go outside to play, a constant tension which has caused post-traumatic stress, trauma, and other long-term problems.

AZM thanks all the generous supporters who helped make this happen, and would like to recognize AMIT, Baltimore Zionist District, Australian Zionist Federation, Mercaz, B’nai B’rith, Westchester (NY) Reform Temple, the New Orleans Israel@60 Committee, the Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Foundation, and all the individual donors for their generous contributions.

• Read about last summer’s Yom Kef
• Read a press release about AZM’s Yom Kef 2007.

Visit the Purim Connection 2009 Photo Gallery

AZM BRINGS PURIM JOY
TO OVER 3,000 IN ISRAEL’S SOUTH

22nd Purim Connection: Another Success

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karen Rubinstein, American Zionist Movement
For more information, please call: 212.318.6100

(New York, NY March 9, 2009) This winter AZM launched its 22nd Purim Connection with a focus on the hard struck communities of southern Israel. Recalling the phrase from the Megillah “For the Jews there was Light, Gladness, Joy and Honor – so may it be for us,” AZM called on Jews to bring light to communities, homes and institutions that were enshrouded in darkness over the past weeks and months.

Despite the difficult economic times AZM Purim Connection was able to bring lots of light and joy to thousands of individuals in Ashkelon, Sderot and other locations in southern Israel. AZM worked closely with the WZO Department for Zionist Activities to identify thousands of children, single parent families, Ethiopian olim and others to receive mishloach manot and a special, ecologically friendly flashlight from the American Zionist Movement. The flashlight, which requires no batteries, will ensure that these homes will always have some light even in the darkest of times.

Baskets of goodies were delivered to four NA’AMAT kindergartens, two AMIT elementary schools in Beersheva, a TALI kindergarten, and the Neve Hanna Youth Village. The almost 200 students of the AMIT Technological High School in AShkelon, which suffered tremendous damage after being hit by a Grad missile less than two weeks ago, were also beneficiaries of the Purim Connection. The AMIT school is a “last chance” school for students who have not met academic requirements or have been expelled from their schools. The students, 30 % of whom are new immigrants, are given the chance to learn skills and get bagrut technology credits so that they can improve their lives.

Goodies will also be distributed to the thousand children in Sderot who will participate in a Purim Festival at the newly opened indoor playground, built by the Jewish National Fund.

For more information about the AZM, its Purim Connection and other programs, please visit the AZM website www.azm.org.

Many of the projects mentioned above are part of the ongoing work of the Zionist Movement in the United States. The American Zionist Movement is a coalition of groups and individuals committed to Zionism: the idea that the Jewish people is one people with a shared history, values and language with Israel at its center. AZM is the American affiliate of the World Zionist Organization, the Zionist Federation in the United States. Its members span the political spectrum from right to left, and includes all of the major streams of Judaism.

Campaign for Israel’s Abducted Soldiers

There are things you can do:

Take A Moment for Gilad Shalit | Learn More

Take Action

• Don’t let Gilad Be Forgotten
• Plan a rally for your local community or campus
• Download and distribute a petition in your community or school (Click to open as a PDF)
• Pass a resolution in your organization, community or school on the abducted soldiers
• Wear a Gilad Shalit Dog Tag

Write

• Write to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
• Write to the Knesset and P.M. Netanyahu
• Write to President Obama and to your Representatives
• Materials

Remember

• Learn about Israel’s abducted and missing soldiers
• Listen to songs written about the soldiers
• Remember the soldiers on Chanukah

–NEW IDEA!– Plan a Bar or Bat Mitzvah using the theme of working to bring back Israel’s abducted soldiers.
Your bar or bat mitzvah marks your acceptance of responsibility as a Jewish adult. What better way to underscore the significance of this special day than by using it to advocate for the release of fellow Jews, captured by terrorists while fighting to keep Israel safe? Here are some party ideas.
* Use AZM Dog Tags at events or parties to help get the word out.
* Hand out Postcards which your guests can fill out and send to UN, Red Cross and US Department of State officials, demanding that they take action.
* Print out and hang Posters that broadcast the message:
“Bring Gilad Home Now!”