Israel Needs Help Now

At Shabbat services I spoke about Sderot and Ashkelon and the worsening state of affairs as Hamas-driven missile attacks rain on civilians in southern Israel (as if seven consecutive years of attacks on Sderot could get any worse). Here's what you can do:

1. LEARN: Know about the situation. You can learn more by watching these videos:

AJC's The Tragedy of Sderot

On YouTube: What Can You Do in 15 Seconds?

Sderot Awareness Film

Read URJ President Rabbi Eric Yoffie's statement on Sderot.

2. ACT
Keep Media Bias in check. Let TV, newspaper, and internet organizations know when you see errors or bias in their reports. HonestReporting.com is a good resource on this issue.

Advocate for passage of US laws and resolutions like HR 951. Let your Congressional representative know that you support the resolution and more like it. Ask them to co-sponsor th resolution if they have not done so already.

Go to Israel. We still have space on our temple trip. See for yourself what's happening in Israel (almost all peaceful, productive, and good people).

3. DONATE
During the war against Hezbollah (Summer 2006), American donations helped provide crucial social and support services for victims, soldiers, displaced people and their families. URJ, Jewish Federation, and the American Jewish Committee all have important projects underway to help Sderot.

4. EDUCATE
Make sure your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and relatives all know the truth about the situation. Remember these points:

*Israel seeks peace with security. Israel withdrew unilaterally from Gaza two and a half years ago in pursuit of a peaceful Gaza and southern Israel, Hamas responding with more rocket attacks, kidnappings, and suicide bombing.

*Israel never targets civilians. Palestinian terrorists purposely kill civilians. Palestinian civilians and children have been killed tragically in Israeli strikes against Gaza missile sites and operators. These deaths are terrible and Israel admits their horror. Hamas attacks have killed over a dozen Israeli civilians. These civilians were the targets. There is no apology or regret from Hamas or Islamic terrorists for them. For example, Hamas described the rocket attacks on Sderot's first day of school as a "welcome back to school present for the children of Sderot."

*Sderot is not a settlement, illegal outpost, or infringement on Palestinian territory. It is a town of 20,000 people inside the legal and established boundaries of Israel (by any measurement).

*Iran is supplying weapons and training to Hamas. Ahmadinajad's stated desire to kill Jews and destroy Israel gets put into practice in Sderot and Ashkelon.

This tragedy continues to unfold and worsen daily. We can not sit idly by while fellow Jews die simply because they live in southern Israel. Join me in fighting against this despicable assault on our people.