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The AZM E-Letter is a publication of the American Zionist Movement. The E-Letter updates readers about the activities of the American Zionist Movement and its members, the World Zionist Organization and important trends in Israel and world Jewry. To subscribe to the AZM E-Letter, click here. To inform us of a change in your e-mail address, to update your contact information, or to unsubscribe, click here. |
More than two years since his abduction, Gilad Shalit remains in terrorist custody, denied his rights under international law. AZM has been a tireless advocate on his behalf, and that of all of Israel's abducted and missing soldiers. Recognizing the urgency of Shalit's deplorable situation, AZM is stepping up its efforts, initiating a new community campaign demanding Shalit's immediate and unconditional release.
Since the Shabbat before Tish'a B'Av and continuing each and every Shabbat until Gilad comes home, AZM is calling upon community leaders and rabbis to raise awareness through prayer, remembrance and solidarity on behalf of Shalit and Israel's other missing and fallen sons.
AZM calls upon all communities to remember the fallen soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, whose return to Israel in coffins on July 16 was a national tragedy for Israelis and Zionists everywhere.
As part of this campaign, AZM is providing tools and resources crucial for prayer, remembrance, and action. Many materials are available right on the AZM website. Gilad Shalit dog tags can be ordered at www.azm.org/shalit_dogtag.shtml. Readings, prayers, and poems are available for download, as are posters, which can be used for public display. All of these can be found at www.azm.org/shalit.shtml.
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 - a day of fun for Sderot children and their families.
The six buses 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.
This is the second year that AZM has organized Yomei Kef to reach out to families in Israel's south. AZM continues its efforts on August 25th, when a second Yom Kef will bring 200 Shaar Negev residents to Jerusalem for a day of family enrichment at David's Citadel and the Herzl Museum.
AZM thanks all the generous supporters who helped make this happen, and would like to recognize AMIT, the Australian Zionist Federation, Mercaz, B'nai B'rith, Westchester (NY) Reform Temple, and the New Orleans Israel@60 Committee for their generous contributions.
The times they are a changing and to help the Zionist movement move with the times, AZM is working with the young professionals in Jewish Communal service. There is consensus among the founding members of the group that as members of a new generation there is much to be shared - challenges as well as successes. Among the issues on the agenda: strategies for outreach, methods of improved cooperation among our organizations and the meaning of Zionism in the 21st century. It is hoped that developing a network among the younger professionals will prove to be an be an asset to all of the participating organizations, facilitating further collaboration and joint action, and demonstrating, as the saying goes "out of many, there is one." For more information about this new network, email dcipriani at azm.org.
The PresenTense Institute for Creative Zionism brings young, socially-minded entrepreneurs to Jerusalem for a six-week Fellowship program. AZM was a proud supporter of the Institute for the second year running in recognition of PresenTense's important role in fostering the next generation of young Zionists.
Fellows include innovators on the cutting edge of Jewish creativity: programmers and designers, informal educators and rappers, nonprofit managers and biotech visionaries - pioneers with a vision and a portfolio of innovation.
They all came together in Jerusalem to be inspired by the vision of Zionist thinkers across the ideological spectrum and to give birth to a new network of Zionist thinkers and doers: Chalutz 2.0.
At the Institute's closing event, "Windows Into the Future," on July 31, the summer 2008 fellows of PresenTense pitched their ventures to the community. AZM's support of the Institute has extended to ImpactAliyah, a project of 2007 Institute Fellows Avi Bass and Jason Lustig.
For more information, including videos of speakers and details about the Fellows and their projects, please visit the PresenTense Institute website: www.presentense.org/institute
Press coverage of the PresenTense Institute 2008:
"Love and Israel" would like to thank the American Zionist Movement for its support, including last year's performances at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York City. Now that Ilana and her husband Ahron have returned to Melbourne, Australia, co-directors Sissy Block and Ilana Lipski have decided to close this chapter of "Love and Israel."
A professionally edited DVD of "Love and Israel," including a musical introduction, credits, and title slides for each monologue, is now available. If you would like to order a copy, please email azm@azm.org.
It's Beijing or bust for the Israeli Olympics team, which was recently introduced to the Israeli public and the world. The team has an array of talent spanning from seasoned veterans to the younger prospects, ready to win the gold for Israel. The team is extremely diverse with a total of 42 athletes, consisting of 22 men and 20 women. These 42 strong and resolute athletes will compete in 12 events throughout the Games.
The most notable medal prospects are Israel's top ranked tennis stars. Shahar Pe'er, who is ranked 25th in the world, will play in the women's singles and in the doubles. Tennis doubles duo Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich are expected to win a medal or two due to their winning the 2008 Australian Open. It's been a long journey since Israel's first Olympic Games in 1952, which took place in Helsinki, Finland. Israel won its first medal in 1992 in the Barcelona games and kept the momentum going ever since. Go team Israel!
Links for further information:
A continuously updated events calendar is always available at www.azm.org/events.shtml.
If you would like to submit an event to be posted on this calendar, please email eletter@azm.org.
| Young Leadership Event | |
|---|---|
| Meet up with pro-Israel 20s and 30s for a Happy Hour event. Get Updated on the ZOA's latest political lobbying efforts, the situation in Sderot, and current affairs in Israel. Special Membership Offer: Become a Member of the ZOA at this event ($50) and receive a free drink, as well as discounts on all future ZOA Young Leadership Events | |
| Organizer: | Zionist Organization of America |
| Where: | Bar 12 (34th St. between 2nd & 3rd Aves.)Manhattan |
| When: | Thursday, Aug. 28th, 6:30-9:30pm |
| Contact: | For more information contact Josh Nason, ZOA Campus Coordinator, at 212-481-1500 ext. 225 or E-mail |
| 65th Annual Brandeis Gala | |
|---|---|
| The Baltimore Zionist District will celebrate it's 65th Annual Gala, honoring Israeli Speaker of the Knesset Dalia Itzik and humanitarian Arnold G. Cohen, with greetings on behalf of the State of Israel by the Ambassador of Israel Sallai Meridor | |
| Organizer: | Baltimore Zionist District |
| Where: | Beth Tfiloh Congregation |
| When: | Wednesday, September 17th, 6pm |
| Contact: | For more information call 410-356-1140 or visit the website: http://www.bzdisrael.org/media/brandeis_gala_2208.pdf |
| Drilling for Oil in Israel | |
|---|---|
| 'Drilling for Oil in Israel' - discussion with guest speaker Martin Van Brauman, Senior Vice President & CFO of Zion Oil & Gas | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| Where: | Dallas, TX |
| When: | Thursday, August 28, 7pm |
| Contact: | For more information please call 972-918-9200 |
| JNF National Conference | |
|---|---|
| JNF National Conference | |
| Organizer: | JNF |
| Where: | Phoenix, Arizona |
| When: | Sunday, September 14 and Monday, September 15, 2008 |
| Contact: | For more information and to register, visit www.jnf.org/nc. |
| AFLikud Young Professionals' Mission to Israel | |
|---|---|
| Meet: Benjamin Netanyahu, Chairman of the Likud Party; Leading Members of Knesset; security officials and policy makers; Israeli journalists and business leaders and more. Experience: Shabbat in the Old City, trial of Hamas terrorists in IDF military court; tour of army base and Israel Service Organization concert for IDF soldiers, visit to Sderot, VIP tour of newly renovated Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum, and more! | |
| Organizer: | American Friends of Likud |
| Where: | Accommodations at the Dan Panorama Jerusalem Hotel |
| When: | August 27 - September 1, 2008 |
| Contact: | For more information, call Rebecca Langer at 212-308-5595 or email rlanger@thelikud.org. |
