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The AZM E-Letter is a publication of the American Zionist Movement, sent to registered voters in the Zionist elections and people who requested to be added to the AZM e-mail list. 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. |
Young adults can show Israel they care on her birthday by being a part of a global virtual birthday card. The American Zionist Movement is co-sponsoring the Jewish Agency for Israel's initiative with the goal of connecting 60,000 young people around the world in support of Israel on her 60th birthday.
Participants can choose to donate to youth at risk, education in Israel, new immigrants, or to support Sderot, select a message in a language of their choosing, and view a map of fellow Zionists in other countries who have also signed the card.
This special exhibit - a joint venture of the Department for Zionist Activities (WZO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel - contrasts early scenes of the State of Israel with modern scenes using a hologram form of printing.
For more information, please visit: www.azm.org/exhibit.shtml
On May 4, 2008, 60 college students and birthright alum participated in the Amazing Israel Race, sponsored by the American Zionist Movement, USD Hagshama and the Jewish National Fund. Following a string of cryptic clues, the 12 teams of participants raced through Manhattan, using their knowledge of Zionist history and their city smarts to identify and visit sites with Zionist significance.
The teams represented a diversity of schools including Columbia University, Barnard College, New York University, Queens College, as well as Taglit-Birthright Israel Alumni young professionals. The winning team, from Brooklyn College, earned $500 towards the next flight of each team member to Israel. This is the second spring that the Amazing Israel Race has taken young Zionists on a fun and educational adventure through New York.
Professor Gil Troy, a dynamic professor of history at McGill University and author of "Why I Am A Zionist," spoke with Zionists in New York, Chicago and Baltimore. He engaged them in a dialogue on the significance of Israel and Zionism today - and how each of us can relate to Israel at 60 and beyond.
Professor Troy inspired young professionals at a Lunch and Learn session in downtown Chicago (co-sponsored by AZM and the ADL International Affairs Committee); dined and dialogued with AZM Or L'Dor - Chicago; was the keynote speaker at AZM - Chicago's Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration; led an interactive Professional's Roundtable lunch in New York; and gave a lecture in Baltimore on "Why I Am A Zionist - Israel as an Answer to our Jewish and Human Challenges Today."
This month, Hollywood's best and brightest will be saluting Israel in celebration of its 60th Anniversary, in a project initiated by the Consulate General of Israel in New York. Their personalized video greetings, wishing Israel a "Happy Birthday!" are being broadcast on both the Nasdaq and Reuters electronic billboards in Times Square (43rd St. and Broadway). The A-list celebrities include: Tom Cruise, Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Brooke Shields, Harrison Ford, Jason Alexander, Michael Douglas, Dakota Fanning, Sir Ben Kingsley, and many more.
The celebrity greetings will air throughout May, every hour at approximately 15 minutes and 45 minutes after the hour. If you are in Times Square, look up!
The Consulate General of Israel in New York, in partnership with the Salute to Israel Parade (being held on June 1, 2008), has initiated a banner campaign, "Faces of Israel," representing the diverse faces of Israel on New York's Fifth Avenue (from 46th to 97th streets).
Portraits include: Dao Rochvarger-Wong, a Vietnamese-born Israeli; Derrick Sharp, the American-born captain of the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team; Cabra Kasai, an Ethiopian-born musician; Rania Jubran, an Arab-Israeli diplomat in Israel's Foreign Ministry; and many more!
In honor of Israel's 60th anniversary, a FutureTense roundtable on May 4, sponsored by the American Zionist Movement and PresenTense, focused on Israel advocacy and education. Panelists discussed the core innovations they have successfully introduced to the field, as well as how the field has changed over time, the trends affecting it and how we expect it to develop in the future.
Panelists included Alicia Post, a founding member of Fuel for Truth, Ilan Wagner, North America Director of Makom, Michelle Lebowits, Director of Young Leadership, AIPAC, and Ariella Sidelsky, Director of Strategic Partnerships, and former director of New Generations for the New Israel Fund.
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.
| Bnai Zion Russian Division Celebration | |
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| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| Where: | Bnai Zion House |
| When: | Sunday, May 18 |
| Contact: | For more information and reservations, please call: 212-725-1211, ext. 246 or e-mail: ida.libkhen@bnaizion.org |
| Bnai Zion National Annual Award Dinner | |
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| In recognition of the Centennial of Bnai Zion | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| Where: | Roosevelt Hotel |
| When: | Sunday, May 18 |
| Contact: | For more information and reservations, please contact Jeff Goldfarb: 212-725-1211 x221 or jeff.goldfarb@bnaizion.org |
| The Kibbutz: The Reports of its Death are Greatly Exaggerated | |
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| Dinner and talk by Gavri Bargil, Secretary General of the Kibbutz Movement, on the renewal of the Kibbutz. | |
| Organizer: | Meretz USA |
| Where: | Beit Shalom - 114 West 26th St. 10th floor |
| When: | Monday, May 19 at 6pm |
| Contact: | To RSVP call 212-242-4500 or e-mail amy@meretzusa.org. |
| AMIT Annual Spring Luncheon | |
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| In celebration of Israel's 60th year. Woman of the Year is Ellen Koplow, long-time leader of AMIT and distinguished member of AMIT's President's Circle. Also honoring an intergenerational group of awardees. | |
| Organizer: | AMIT |
| Where: | Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway at 36 St.) |
| When: | Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. |
| Contact: | For more information and reservations, please contact Robin Rothbort at 212-477-4725 or robinr@amitchildren.org. |
| Reception and Discussion with Professor Guy Mundlak | |
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| Professor Guy Mundlak will join us to discuss Israel's reliance on 'foreign' workers-once predominantly Palestinian from the Palestinian Territories, now migrant workers from all over the world, and most recently asylum seekers from Eritrea, Darfur and other African countries | |
| Organizer: | Cornell University - ILR School, Labor and Employment Law Program |
| Where: | Cornell University ILR New York City Conference Center |
| When: | Monday, June 2, 2008 5:30-7:30pm |
| Contact: | For more information, please contact Opal Bablington at 212-340-2866, fax 212-340-7979, or send e-mail to odb2@cornell.edu |
| Bnai Zion Annual Dinner | |
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| In honor of Mark Nordenberg, Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| Where: | Pittsburgh, PA |
| When: | Thursday, May 15 |
| Contact: | For more information and reservations, please contact Ellen Primis at: 412-421-6789 or ellen.primis@bnaizion.org |
| Israel@60: A Capital Celebration | |
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| Community-wide festival honoring Israel@60. Featuring Regina Spektor, Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin, Israeli rock band Mashina, Sesame Street Muppets Oscar and Oofnik, theater, family activities and more. | |
| Organizer: | Jewish Federation of Greater Washington |
| Where: | National Mall, DC |
| When: | June 1, Noon - 5 p.m. |
| Contact: | For more information, visit www.Israel60DC.org |
| Professional Women's Luncheon | |
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| Luncheon of North Dade Professional Women with Bnai Zion presentation | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| Where: | TBA |
| When: | Friday, June 6 |
| Contact: | For reservations & information, please call: 305-949-0076 or e-mail: eileen.glastein@bnaizion.org |
| Israeli Movie & Food Night | |
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| Film screening with discussion to follow. | |
| Organizer: | AZM Or L'Dor - Chicago and Kehilla |
| Where: | TBA |
| When: | Tuesday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. |
| Contact: | For more information, contact Deborah Fishman at dfishman@azm.org |
| Yom Yerushalayim Reception | |
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| Reception with guest speaker Rabbi Michael Balinsky, Director of the Melton Center and incoming executive vice president of the Chicago Board of Rabbis. Including Shalom Shlichim and L'hitraot for departing shlichim. | |
| Organizer: | AZM-Chicago |
| Where: | Chicagoland Jewish High School (1095 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield) |
| When: | Monday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. |
| Contact: | For more information, call: 847-677-5949 or email: azmchicago@azm.org |
| Na'amat Caberet | |
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| In memory of Phyllis Sutker | |
| Organizer: | Na'amat |
| Where: | Highland Park Community House |
| When: | Sunday, June 29 at 7 p.m. |
| Contact: | For more information, call Na'amat: 847-675-7275 |
| Chicago Jewish Festival | |
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| AZM Chicago will have a booth at The Festival, an outdoor celebration highlighting Jewish talent, featuring continuous music and dance plus a separate children's stage, hands-on activities for children and adults, a juried art fair, and a kosher food court with cooking demonstrations. The largest Jewish cultural event in Chicago and one of the largest in the country. | |
| Organizer: | The Jewish POCET (all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to creating quality events for the Chicago Jewish community) |
| Where: | Forest Preserve on Oakton (8000 N) and Lehigh (6300 W) in Morton Grove. |
| When: | Sunday, June 15, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Contact: | For more information or to volunteer for the Festival, call: 847-933-3000, e-mail: ChiJewishFest@aol.com, or visit: www.JewishFestival.org |
| Israeli Film Festival | |
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| Israeli Film Festival in Dallas | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion, JCC of Dallas & Israeli Consulate |
| Where: | Dallas, TX |
| When: | May 13 - 19, 2008 |
| Contact: | For more information, contact Avrille Harris-Cohen at: 972-918-9200 or Avrille.harris-cohen@bnaizion.org |
| Bnai Zion Mission to Israel | |
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| 100th Anniversary Mission to Israel | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| Where: | Israel |
| When: | June 23 - July 3, 2008 |
| Contact: | For more information, contact Lisa Paule at: 212-725-1211 x234 or lisapaule@bnaizion.org. |