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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. |
On Rosh Hashana, it is traditional to send greetings and best wishes for the New Year to our family and friends. In parallel with a campaign begun in London, the American Zionist Movement is reaching out across the US to bring Rosh Hashana greetings to Gilad Shalit. Help us show Gilad that we have not forgotten. Send us your greetings and we will work with the Red Cross to get the cards delivered to Gilad.
Please address the cards to Gilad Shalit, and include your own personal message of your hopes for his imminent release in the coming new year. Help make this ambitious and meaningful initiative a reality for Gilad Shalit. Urge your synagogue and community to join in this crucial effort - your action will make a difference.
Cards must be received by October 1. Please send all cards to:
American Zionist Movement
633 3rd Ave., 21st fl.
New York, NY 10017
On August 25th, AZM brought 200 Sha'ar HaNegev residents to Jerusalem for a second Yom Kef. Participants were treated to a full day of a day of family enrichment and fun, featuring a visit to the City of David.
In addition, there was a barbeque, Israeli dancing and a singer in the courtyard of the JAFI/WZO building, where Dr. David Breakstone, head of the Department for Zionist Activity of the WZO, addressed the group.
This was the second Yom Kef of the summer - on July 23, a Yom Kef allowed six buses full of Sderot residents to briefly leave the sirens, rockets and bomb shelters behind.
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, the Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Foundation and the New Orleans Israel@60 Committee for their generous contributions.
AZM would like to announce the retirement of Linda Harth, who served for 24 years as Executive Director of AZM, Chicago Region. We thank her for her many years of dedication to the cause of spreading Zionism throughout the Midwest.
We are pleased to welcome Becky Adelberg as incoming Chicago Executive Director and wish her b'hatzlacha.
AZM Chicago is reaching out to the younger generation with some exciting Zionist programming beginning this month.
FutureTense: Monthly roundtables bringing together Jewish innovators from different fields. Sponsored by AZM and PresenTense.
Israeli Movie Night: Monthly screening of an Israeli movie, followed by discussion from the AZM Israeli Movie discussion guide. Co-sponsored by the Israeli Aliyah Center and JCC Kehilla.
Israeli Book Club: Every other month we read a book or a short story by an Israeli author (in English) and come together to discuss.
AZM Chicago also has a facebook group now and is offering young adult rate tickets for their Annual Benefit Concert on November 30th.
At the ImpactAliyah summer 2008 leadership retreat, young Zionists came together to learn to use the Impact Aliyah model fusing social justice ("impact") with practical issues of life in Israel ("aliyah") to create new Israel groups on their campuses. Students worked closely with ImpactAliyah alumni and organizers, brainstormed ideas, discussed effective team-building, and learned to use the ImpactAliyah trip to engage the aliyah community at their university.
ImpactAliyah enables students to become agents of positive change in Israeli society, the global jewish community and the world, using Israel as a platform. For more information, visit www.impactaliyah.com
In war-torn Georgia, the Jewish Agency is reaching out and providing aid for Georgian children and families.
One major service of the Jewish Agency is expediting the aliyah approval process for applicants from Georgia. In addition, it offers special Family Absorption for extended families (3 generations), including housing in an absorption center, and counseling and education as a family unit.
Also through the Jewish Agency, Georgian children have been able to participate summer camp in Israel. For high school students, the Sela program allows study in Israel, with a choice after graduation to serve in the IDF, continue in university in Israel, or return to their native country.
Members of the Bnai Zion Foundations' 100th Anniversary Mission gathered for a dedication ceremony at the Bnai Zion auditorium of Beth Hatefutsoth (the Diaspora Museum). Natan Sharansky was the guest speaker as a new plaque was unveiled, honoring Helen Fox and in memory of her beloved husband, David. The Bnai Zion Auditorium was established by the Foundation over 30 years earlier. A grant from Helen Fox, along with the support of the Israeli Friends of Beth Hatefutsoth, paid for the refurbishment of this important auditorium, site of many educational and cultural programs at the institution.
The 24th Haifa International Film Festival will be in full swing soon. The film making the most commotion is Ari Folman's animated film Waltz with Bashir. It is an unconventional and experimental animated film about the journey of the filmmaker and his friend into their past while serving as soldiers in the First Lebanon War. This film will make the circuit of international film festivals around the globe and it has gotten rave reviews. Also be on the lookout for other stellar films, including Amos Gitai's latest film, Plus tard, tu comprendras, which depicts a French woman who has hidden her family's struggles during the Holocaust from her adult children, and Dani Rosenberg's Homeland, which is a short drama about a Yiddish-speaking Holocaust survivor sent to fight in the War of Independence.
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.
| BZ Halloween Party | |
|---|---|
| A Halloween Party hosted by the Endeavor Group to benefit the Emergency Preparedness Campaign at the Bnai Zion Medical Center | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| Where: | To be held at a premier NYC nightclub |
| When: | Thursday, October 30 |
| Contact: | For more information please call 212 725 1211, ext. 221 |
| Faith Weinstein Book & Author Program | |
|---|---|
| Bnai Zion is organizing its next Faith Weinstein Book & Author Program with guest speaker Ellen Litman, author of The Last Chicken | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| Where: | Bnai Zion in Pittsburgh |
| When: | Tuesday, November 11 |
| Contact: | For information call 412-421-6789 |
| 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 |
| AZM Young Leadership Film Series | |
|---|---|
| The series opens on September 16 with a brief discussion facilitated by Dr. Yael Munk, Israeli guest artist, followed by the screening of Syrian Bride. | |
| Organizer: | AZM Chicago and Kehilla |
| Where: | TBA |
| When: | Tuesday, September 16 at 7pm. |
| Contact: | For more information call Becky Adelberg at 847-677-5949 or email her at badelberg@azm.org |
| AZM Young Leadership Zionist Book Club | |
|---|---|
| Every other month we read a book/ creative writing/ short story by an Israeli author (in English) and come together to discuss. For our kick-off event, we will read poems by Yehuda Amichai and other Israeli authors. The following book club meeting will be on November 3. | |
| Organizer: | AZM Chicago |
| Where: | TBA |
| When: | Tuesday, September 23 |
| Contact: | For more information call Becky Adelberg at 847-677-5949 or email her at badelberg@azm.org |
| "The Elections - Things you should know" | |
|---|---|
| Presenter Paul Green, Ph.D. who is the Director of the Institute for Politics, Professor of Policy Studies at Roosevelt University Political and Analyst for WGN Radio will discuss political issues you should know | |
| Organizer: | NA'AMAT USA |
| When: | Monday, October 6, 7:30 PM |
| Where: | Beth Hillel Congregation of Bnai Emunah, 3220 Big Tree Lane, Wilmette |
| Contact: | Please RSVP before October 2nd by calling: 847-675-7275 or E-mail |
| Welcoming Reception for the Honorable Orli Gil | |
|---|---|
| NA'AMAT USA, Greater Chicago Council cordially invites you to attend a reception to welcome the honorable Orli Gil Consul General of Israel to the Midwest and Mr. Amos Gil | |
| Organizer: | NA'AMAT USA |
| When: | Sunday, October 26, 7:00 PM |
| Where: | At the home of Deborah & Dale Strauss, 1810 Balsam Road, Highland Park |
| Contact: | Please RSVP before October 17th by calling: 847-675-7275 or E-mail |
| Cruise recruitment with Shomrim Society | |
|---|---|
| Bnai Zion's Cruise recruitment with the Shomrim Society | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| When: | Wednesday, September 24 |
| Contact: | For information call 305-949-0076 |
| Open Speaker Meeting | |
|---|---|
| Open Speaker Meeting featuring author Diana Spechler | |
| Organizer: | Bnai Zion |
| Where: | Dallas JCC, Texas |
| When: | Thursday, September 25, 7pm |
| Contact: | For more information please call 972-918-9200 |
| Bike Trips | |
|---|---|
| Featuring 5 days of riding nearly 300 miles via Ashqelon and the Mediterranean Sea, Shabbat experience in Mitzpe Ramon, visit to the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and Kibbutz Ketura, off-road option to a desert spring, and on-route education on environmental issues, history, and geography. | |
| Organizer: | Hazon / Arava Institute |
| Where: | From Jerusalem to Eilat |
| When: | November 11-18, 2008 |
| Contact: | For more information, visit www.israelride.org. |
| AMIT's 2008 Annual Dinner | |
|---|---|
| AMIT's Annual Dinner will be in honor of Anne Bernstein, Trudy and Stanley Stern and John F. Fullerton III. Tribute will be paid to Shulamith Cohn and the inaugural class of Midreshet AMIT and special recognition will be given to all Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning participants | |
| Organizer: | AMIT |
| Where: | At the Grand Hyatt New York. Park Avenue at Grand Central in New York City |
| When: | Sunday, November 16th |
| Contact: | For further information and reservations, please contact Robin Rothbort at 212-477-4725 or via E-mail |
