FALL 2017 www.zoa.org

ZOA D.C. Mission 2017

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY)

ZOA Delegate with Cong. Dr. , Brad Sherman (D-CA) Dep. Asst. to Pres.; Frank Gaffney, Ctr. Sec. Policy

IRIS AND SHALOM MAIDENBAUM, ESQ. THE LOUIS D. BRANDEIS AWARD U.S. SENATOR TOM COTTON JUSTICE DR. MIRIAM AND SHELDON ADELSON DEFENDER OF AWARD LOUIS D. BRANDEIS AMBASSADOR DAVID FRIEDMAN AWARD DINNER DR. BOB SHILLMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DIPLOMACY SUNDAY, U.S. SENATOR JOE LIEBERMAN NOVEMBER 12, 2017 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Grand Hyatt Hotel, NYC CHRISTOPHER RUDDY Tickets at zoa.org/dinner2017 Call 212.481.1500 MORTIMER ZUCKERMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING JOURNALISM Email [email protected] SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY AND AMB. DANNY DANON LIZ CLAMAN - FOX TV STAR - EMCEE Table of Contents

15 3 5 ZOA President’s Capitol Hill People: Message Mission Isaac Abraham

20 Government Relations 16 Department Center for Law and Justice 22 Purim Mission

33 Around the Country 29 25 +UTCGN1HƂEG ZOA Campus

Dr. Michael Goldblatt, Bart Blatstein, Dan Pollak and Published by the Chairman Associate Treasurer Josh London, Zionist Organization of America Co-Directors, Morton A. Klein, John Rosen, Government Relations Telephone: 212-481-1500 President Executive Vice President Daniel Mandel, PhD., Email: [email protected] Irwin Hochberg, Director, Center for Vice Chair, Board Howard Katzoff, Websites: www.zoa.org Mideast Policy Deputy Director www.campus.zoa.org Dr. Alan Mazurek, Liz Berney, Esq., www.zoa-hebrew.org Vice Chair, Board David Drimer, Director, Special Projects Deputy Director Design: Simone Weissman Henry Schwartz, Debra Benjamin, Esq., Jackie Shafer National Treasurer Susan Tuchman, Esq., Director, Director, Center for Mark Levenson, Esq., ZOA Compliance OfÀcer Law and Justice National Secretary Jeff Daube, Leore Ben-David, Director, ,srael OfÀce Director, ZOA Campus President’s Message

JERUSALEM WAS NEVER HOLY TO MUSLIMS

It’s time to end the propaganda myth that The commands the Jewish people to make is holy to Muslims. pilgrimages to the three Jerusalem was the capital of the Jewish na- times each year, on ’s three pilgrimage tion under King David and other Jewish kings festivals (Passover, and Sukkot). for hundreds of years. The Jerusalem Embassy have lived in Jerusalem throughout the Act of 1995 stated: “In 1996, the State of Israel millennia. Since at least the mid-1800s, the ma- will celebrate the 3,000th anniversary of the Jew- jority of the people living in Jerusalem have been ish presence in Jerusalem since King David’s entry.” Jews. Theodore Herzl wrote in his diary about Jerusalem was never the capital of any other his arrival in Jerusalem on the evening of Oc- MORTON A. KLEIN nation. After the Arab conquest of Israel in 716 tober 31, 1898: “The streets were alive with Jews National CE, the Arabs made Ramla their capital—not sauntering in the moonlight.” The 1907 presti- President, Jerusalem. gious Baedeker Travel Guide reported that at Zionist Jerusalem is the Jewish people’s holiest city. that time, Jerusalem had 40,000 Jews; 13,000 Organization of America Jerusalem’s (in the eastern portion of Christians and 7,000 Muslims. Jerusalem, the real Jerusalem) contains the mil- In an attempt to create an Islamic religious lennia old Jewish quarter and Judaism’s holiest connection to Jerusalem, Muslims point to site, the where the First and Sec- Koran and hadith passages referring to Mu- ond Jewish Temples stood, long before the birth hammad’s dream (not an actual event) of jour- of . And eastern Jerusalem also contains the neying to heaven on his steed Buraq from “Al world’s oldest (3,000 years old) and largest Jew- Aqsa”—the “farthest mosque.” However, the ish cemetery on the Mount of Olives. (Eastern “farthest mosque” could not possibly have Jerusalem is the real Jerusalem throughout Bibli- meant Jerusalem because the Koran refers to cal and human history; western Jerusalem was Palestine as the “nearest” place, and Jerusalem built in recent years.) was a central crossroads in the Middle East— Jerusalem is mentioned almost 700 times in not a “farthest” place. Moreover, Jerusalem’s the Torah, the Jewish holy books. Jerusalem is eventual “Al Aqsa Mosque” was built long after never mentioned in the Koran—not even once. the Koran and the Hadith were written. The Throughout the millennia, Jews always pray mosque was named “Al Aqsa” after the fact, for Jerusalem 20 times each day, remember Je- to create a myth about the location of Mu- rusalem in holiday and wedding ceremonies, hammad’s dream. During Muhammad’s day, and pray facing Jerusalem. By contrast, Muslims Jerusalem was ruled by Byzantine Christians, pray facing Mecca. There areno Muslim prayers and a Byzantine Christian church stood on the for Jerusalem. Temple Mount. Muslims make their pilgrimages to Mecca; So little did Jerusalem mean to the Muslim Ot- while Jewish pilgrimages are to Jerusalem. One tomans that, during the First World War, they of the five pillars of Islam (the five obligatory abandoned it to the British without a fight and fundamental Muslim practices) is the “Hajj” pil- even contemplated destroying the city entirely grimage to the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. before leaving it.

3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

In 1948, six Arab nations invaded Israel, and The same Muslim publication notes on page Significantly, Jordan captured and illegally occupied the eastern 16: “In the west wall of the chamber, a door opens neither the portion of Jerusalem for 19 years (1948-1967). into a staircase descending to Solomon’s stables. This During Jordan’s illegal occupation, Jordan demol- is a vast subterranean chamber…. It dates probably Palestine ished 58-centuries-old Jewish synagogues, killed as far back as the construction of Solomon’s Temple. Liberation or expelled the Jews, pillaged tombstones of the According to Josephus, it was in existence and was 3,000-year-old Mount of Olives Jewish cemetery used as a place of refuge by the Jews at the time of Organization’s to line latrines and build roads, denied Jews ac- the conquest of Jerusalem by Titus in the year 70 (PLO) cess to their holiest religious sites, and harshly A.D.” (After 1954, all such references to the bib- discriminated against Christians and churches. lical Temples were excised from this publication.) original Jordan prohibited Christian churches and com- Mideast scholar Prof. Francis Peters of NYU National munities from buying land or opening new said that Muslims have always regarded Jerusa- schools, required Christian schools to teach the lem “with careless indifference.” There has never Charter Koran, and refused to allow Christian holidays. even been an important place of Muslim learn- (drafted in Under Jordanian Arab Muslim rule, Jerusalem ing built or established there. became a small isolated town. Arabs abandoned Leon Uris, famed author of “Exodus” wrote, 1964, during Jerusalem and moved to Amman. “Jerusalem has known only two periods of true Jordanian Significantly, neither the Palestine Liberation greatness and these have been separated by 2000 Organization’s (PLO) original National Char- years. Greatness has only happened under Jewish Muslim rule), ter (drafted in 1964, during Jordanian Muslim rule…. Jews have remained constant in their love nor the PLO’s rule), nor the PLO’s 1968 National Charter, nor throughout the centuries. It is the longest and deep- the Fatah (Arafat’s terrorist group) Constitution est love affair in the history of the world.” 1968 even mention Jerusalem, let alone call for its es- It is only by the reunification of Jerusalem un- National tablishment as a Palestinian Arab capital. der Israeli rule since 1967 that the city has been During Jordan’s 19-year illegal occupation of revitalized, enjoyed stunning growth, and finally Charter, nor Jerusalem, Jordan kept its capital in Amman, enjoys full freedom of religion and access to holy the Fatah built Jordan’s first university in Amman, as well sites for people of every faith. This would be as the King’s numerous residences, and made its threatened by its redivision, as is already obvious (Arafat’s Friday prayer radio broadcasts from Amman— in the massive Christian exodus from Palestin- terrorist not from Jerusalem. Arab leaders did not even ian-Arab-controlled Gaza and Bethlehem. bother visiting Jerusalem (with the brief excep- Whatever form a final peace deal may one day group) tion of King Hussein). Jordan allowed eastern Je- take, there is no morally just, religiously or factu- Constitution rusalem to fall into disrepair—to become a slum, ally based, or legally sound reason to dignify the with virtually no water or plumbing or electric- falsified, fabricated Muslim claims to Jerusalem. even mention ity. This is of course not how an Islamic nation The fabrication that Jerusalem is holy to Islam Jerusalem, would treat a city that was really holy to Islam. impedes peace, instigates bloodshed, promotes Tellingly, in the not-so-distant past, Muslims a historic lie, and denies Judaism’s religious, his- let alone recognized the Temple Mount as the site of the toric and legal rights. It’s time to set the record call for its biblical Jewish temples. Thus, the Jerusalem straight. Muslim Supreme Council’s publication, “A Brief establishment Guide to the Haram Al-Sharif” (1925 edition, page as a 4), states about Jerusalem’s Temple Mount; “Its iden- tity with the site of Solomon’s Temple is beyond dis- Palestinian pute. This, too, is the spot, according to the universal Morton A. Klein Arab belief, on which ‘David built there an altar unto the National President Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offer- capital. ings.’” (The quotation is from 2 Samuel 24:25.) Follow Morton Klein on @mortonaklein7

4 Capitol Hill Pro-Israel Mission

HUNDREDS OF ZOA PRO-ISRAEL ACTIVISTS LOBBY CONGRESS

“G-d bless ZOA. I’m here to say thank you. There is no organization in America like ZOA… People here speak truth to lies, bring light to darkness.” —Sen. Ted Cruz

SUPPORT FOR MISSION SPEAKERS: CONGRESSIONAL BILLS ZOA National Hundreds of activists from across the country President Morton Klein participated in the ZOA’s Pro-Israel Capitol Hill Mission on June 6, 2017. Meeting with ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, almost 100 members of Congress or their “This is an extraordinary and remarkable time staffers, ZOA activists urged Congress to: for the Jewish people. Israel controls Jerusalem 1) Support the Taylor Force Act, which would and most of Judea and Samaria, we have a pow- stop all aid to Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian erful army, and a friend in the in Authority (PA) unless it ends all pensions to ter- President . The Senate voted yes- rorists and their families. terday 90 to 0 that Jerusalem is the undivided 2) Support House and Senate bills that would capital of Israel.” impose new sanctions and strengthen existing Turning to an oft-repeated fiction about Jeru- financial sanctions against Iran. salem, Klein observed: “Jerusalem is not holy to 3) Support House and Senate bills to eliminate Muslims; we are the only ones stating that truth. the president’s waiver authority and withhold It’s a complete falsehood. The Temple Mount certain funds from the State Dept. until the U.S. is called the Temple Mount, not the Mosque embassy is moved to Jerusalem. Mount…the majority of people living in Jerusa- 4) Support House and Senate bills that would lem since the 1850s have been Jews.” prohibit U.S. funding of any UN agency until the Klein described the claim that Israel is il- UN ends its bias against and demonization of Israel. legally occupying Palestinian Arab lands as At the ZOA’s packed congressional luncheon, an “Orwellian falsehood. Occupation means held in the Russell Senate Office Building, ZOA one country seizing the sovereign land of an- activists were addressed by many Democratic other country. Israel was the sovereign land of and Republican senators and House members, the Jewish people… Until the 1960s, every- an official from the Trump administration, one knew that the term ‘Palestinian’ meant and other pro-Israel leaders. A sampling of the Jew… Arabs use the term to de- speeches follows: Judaize Judea and sever our millennia-long

5 CAPITOL HILL PRO-ISRAEL MISSION

connection with it…. Ninety-eight percent of “I don’t know how you can make peace with Palestinian Arabs live in areas under Palestinian those who want to murder you. Here’s what I’ve Arab control. Israel’s ongoing security presence told the administration: No one wants peace more in parts of Judea and Samaria is the primary rea- than Israel. But if you want peace, what will fur- son there is far less terrorism in Israel.” ther peace is moving the embassy. The only thing Turning to misleading terminology, Klein the terrorists respect is strength. If the embassy is observed: “This is an Arab-Islamic war against moved, Egypt, the Saudis, Jordan will make noise, Israel…. Don’t use the term ‘Arab-Israeli but privately, they’ll breathe sighs of relief, because conflict.’ Don’t just say that Mahmoud Abbas’s they will know that if the administration has the Palestinian Authority is not a partner for peace. backbone to do that, then the administration will That’s too weak. Tell the truth: that they are an have the backbone to deal with Iran. enemy regime. Stop using the term ‘two-state “I wish that on January 20, the Iran deal had solution.’ Israel is already a state. No one is talk- been ripped to shreds. But at a minimum, what ing of creating two states, but of creating one I would suggest to ZOA is that you use your state, a Palestinian Arab state. Call it what it is: collective voice to submit the Iran deal to the the Palestinian State solution. Calling this a two- Senate as a treaty, where we will vote it down. state solution diminishes Israel’s sovereignty…. It’s amazing how following the Constitution re- Don’t use the term ‘West Bank.’ It was called solves things. Judea/Samaria for thousands of years until the “[UN Security Council Resolution 2334 is] 1960s. Calling Judea/Samaria the West Bank blatantly, nakedly anti-Israel. The UN declared de-Judaizes it. Don’t use the term ‘settlements.’ that much of Israel is illegal and illegitimate, They are Jewish communities in Judea and the Jewish control of the , and the Samaria, the biblical Jewish heartland, not for- Jewish Quarter, and the Temple Mount, and eign colonies in another country. Stop using the the Mt. of Olives Cemetery is illegal and ille- term ‘occupation,’ because there is no occupa- gitimate. When running for president, Obama tion. Our political, religious, and legal right is circulated widely a picture of himself wearing much greater than that of the Arabs.” a yarmulke, standing at the Western Wall, which Klein concluded with the words of Bob he now has allowed the UN to declare is illegally Dylan’s song, “Neighborhood Bully,” which ex- and illegitimately in Israel’s hands. presses the absurdity of Israel being depicted as “When Abbas came to Washington, D.C., “I am not just a regional bully. I wish that Abbas had agreed to stop writ- honored. ing checks to pay terrorists. We have much to Sen. Ted Cruz celebrate with the new administration, but I am grateful there’s more to do. I thank you for your courage for what Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): “G-d bless ZOA. I’m and dedication.” here in the spirit of celebration and to say thank this room you. There is no organization in America like Sen. Tom Cotton represents. ZOA. There is no pro-Israel leader in America with the clarity and ferocity of Morton Klein. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK) said: “We need to I am grateful I’m glad that the people here speak truth to lies, move our embassy to Jerusalem from …. to fighters bring light to darkness. What characterizes ZOA [It would be] an important reminder to the is a relentless commitment to the truth. Palestinian people that there are certain issues like “We have a lot to celebrate, in that Barack that are just not open to negotiation. The sim- Mort Klein.” Obama is no longer president…. We no lon- ple fact of the matter is that Jerusalem is and ger have an executive branch that is relentlessly will be the capital of Israel. Israel should not re- —Dr. hostile to Israel…. What a relief it is to have turn to the lines from over 50 years ago that are Sebastian Nikki Haley at the UN. Isn’t it nice to have a UN simply indefensible…. I support the Taylor ambassador who knows the difference between Force Act…. We are simply saying that you need Gorka the IDF and Hamas? to cease paying terrorists to kill.

6 CAPITOL HILL PRO-ISRAEL MISSION

“The UN’s Security Council Resolution 2334 in December was the worst resolution at the UN since the Zionism is Racism Resolution. We are not trying to remake the world, just to get the UN to renounce anti-Semitism. I support the Iran Sanctions Act. The Iran deal was a terrible deal, and Iran is violating it. Tell your congress- persons to bring the Act to the floor and to vote for it…. ZOA’s advocacy efforts are important. You couldn’t be here during a better week.” Dr. Sebastian Gorka Dr. Sebastian Gorka, former deputy assistant to President Trump, received a standing ovation and was introduced by Mort Klein as “one of the staunchest allies in support of Israel and in the fight against Islamic terrorism.” Dr. Gorka remarked: “I am not just honored. I am grateful for what this room represents. I am grateful to fighters like Mort Klein. I would like to thank everyone who supported the administration, and individuals in the administration, against the Editor Mollie Hemingway speaking at D.C. Mission smear campaign by those who seek to undermine the relationship between the administration and “You need Israel. Manchester, the knife intifada, Al Qaeda, willing ISIS, and so on are all the new totalitarianisms. It is an existential fight for our existence…. It was actually a fence…. I hope you understand partners for is absurd to say that terrorism is the result of that terrorists are manipulating and exploiting peace… lack of education and poverty. That can be ex- the media and using it to their advantage all the ploited by terrorists, but that’s not the center of time.… ZOA, continue to take time with report- When you gravity. The issue is the terrorists’ ideology…. The ers and journalists in doing the work you do.” have president understands that we are in a war with totalitarianism and is in it to win it…. We will Rep. Louie Gohmert Abbas support those Muslims who want to defeat those naming like ISIS.... Just as Reagan delegitimized commu- Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) quipped about nism, we must delegitimize the ideology of the a compromise on the U.S. embassy issue: schools after jihadists. We will have won when the black flag “Instead of moving the embassy directly from terrorists of ISIS is reviled across the globe as much as the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, first move it to King black and red and white flag of the Third Reich.” David’s first capital, in Hebron. The tomb of and paying David is in Hebron.” Regarding President terrorists, Editor Mollie Hemingway Trump’s proposed travel ban, Rep. Gohmert observed, “We are going to have to get realistic that is not Mollie Hemingway, senior editor at The Fed- at some point. There will be some nations that a partner eralist and a contributor, said: “My have refugees that are a danger to this country. understanding of Israel has been greatly increased When judges give constitutional rights to people for peace.” by discussions with ZOA’s Josh London. My who are not citizens and have no standing, and —Rep. Matt understanding was nothing until I visited Israel are going to share U.S. constitutional rights with first-hand and saw that the so-called security wall the whole world, with people who hate us, this Gaetz

7 CAPITOL HILL PRO-ISRAEL MISSION

is insane.” Turning to President Trump’s efforts to produce an Arab/Israeli peace, he said, “Israel gave away land to try to get peace, and the land was used as a staging ground to attack Israel.” Sen. Sherrod Brown Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said: “I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, ‘I know you’re hap- py with the new president and standing up for Israel. I grew up in a Lutheran family in which my faith is important to me. I am familiar with the Jewish faith’s fight for social justice.” Rep. Ron DeSantis Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL): “Fifty years ago, we saw an improbable victory, in a war that could have ended Israel’s existence…. We hear all about not upsetting the peace process, delaying the embassy move. Well, if you want to improve “We can’t their [Palestinian Arabs’] behavior, moving the embassy is the best thing you can do…. We can’t keep paying keep paying the Palestinian Authority when they the give money to terrorists. Israel is what’s right about the Middle East…. I appreciate you guys Rep. Ron DeSantis speaking at D.C. Mission Palestinian here at ZOA because you have moral clarity Authority about the issues that Israel is facing…. We have to finally designate the Muslim Brotherhood when they a terrorist organization.” give money to Rep. Claudia Tenney in Congress is not just to grill members of the terrorists.… Department of Justice to enforce the Koby Man- I appreci- Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) said: “I spent dell Act that ZOA introduced and got passed, six years in the New York State Assembly. That’s not just to see if people in government are do- ate you guys where I was introduced to Jewish issues…. My ing their jobs. When my wife and I came here, here at ZOA son attended the Jewish Community Center in we asked ourselves, ‘What can I do for the Jew- Utica, NY… [which] wanted to reach out to help ish people and the nation of Israel today?’ It’s because you the Bosnian Muslims and bring them to Utica in my heart, and it’s my passion…. I was in the have moral for safe haven. It made me realize how strong the Egyptian embassy about four or five years ago Jewish faith is and how far Jews are willing to go when President Morsi from the Muslim Broth- clarity about to help…. We support your initiatives and Is- erhood was in power, speaking about what we the issues rael. I’m looking forward to legislation that will can do about the Israeli-Egyptian relationship. assist you, so please reach out to me.” There were six members of the Muslim Brother- that Israel hood there. I shared very firmly that unless they is facing.” Rep. Mark Meadows got their attitude right about Israel, there would be no money coming from the U.S. If we can’t —Rep. Ron Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), chairman of the make them see the light, we can at least make DeSantis Freedom Caucus: “One of the reasons that I’m them feel the heat.”

8 CAPITOL HILL PRO-ISRAEL MISSION

provide intensive care units for Arab neighbors, CUFI’s Gary Bauer and Arabs refused to even put a small plaque Gary Bauer, former Republican presidential saying that this was donated by the generosity candidate and leader of Christians United for of the Israeli people…. You need willing part- Israel (CUFI), said: “It’s a real pleasure to be in ners for peace, and Abbas is no such partner. a room of who are at least as pro- When you have Abbas naming schools after ter- Israel as I am. In this city, most people, at the rorists and paying terrorists, that is not a partner first sight of trouble, run for the tall grass, but for peace. Mort Klein runs for the front lines…. When “The UN is transferring cash to the PA with no I felt bad that our embassy did not get moved, oversight, and we end up with Palestinian school I spent some time reflecting on the last eight textbooks that glorify terror…. Abbas will nev- years. We were living in a time when a U.S. er follow the requirements, the commitments administration was more upset about Jews under Oslo, which he signed.” building homes in Jerusalem than about Iran building nuclear bombs. December’s UN Secu- Frank Gaffney rity Council Resolution 2334 was a shameful vote, a parting present to Israel from the Obama Frank Gaffney, president of the Washington- administration…. Obama secretly negotiated based Center for Security Policy, said: “I’m hon- with Iran for two years. Then he gave them bil- ored to be here with Mort Klein, who received “In this city, lions of dollars, some in cash. We released Ira- our Keeper of the Flame Award.” Noting the most people, nian agents. And this is a country that was di- 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War, he said, rectly responsible for manufacturing the IEDs “During those memorable six days…those at the first (improvised explosive devices) that killed Amer- lands were recovered by Israel, putting to an end sight of ican soldiers in Iraq. In the new administration, threats Israel faced during its first couple of defending Israel is in, ZOA and CUFI are in. J decades of existence. Now, once again, Israel is trouble, run Street is out.” being told it must give up the high ground…. for the tall But there can be no peace if the high ground Rep. David Brat between Israel and the Palestinians is in the grass, but latter’s hands. So, whether it’s trying to divide Mort Klein Rep. David Brat (R-VA): “I wrote the book, Jerusalem or make a Palestinian state in Judea/ ‘American Underdog: Proof That Principles Samaria, no good will come of this, for Israelis runs for the Matter’, which, among others things, explains or Palestinians. We tried this in Gaza, we tried front lines.… the three pillars of America’s greatness—the Ju- this in Lebanon, and what followed in both deo-Christian tradition, the rule of law, and free cases was an unmitigated disaster. Israel is on In the new markets…. Countries that have the three pil- the front line for us in the very dangerous Mid- administra- lars I’ve described have the most human rights, dle East.” women’s rights, and so on. You fight hard for the tion, US/Israel relationship. Keep doing G-d’s work.” THANKS TO ZOA STAFF definding Mort Klein thanked Howard Katzoff and the Rep. Matt Gaetz entire ZOA staff for their work in making the Israel is in, ZOA’s Pro-Israel Capitol Hill Mission such ZOA and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R–FL) said: “I just returned a success. Mort gave special thanks to Josh from my first trip to Israel…[and] there were London and Dan Pollak, co-directors of the CUFI are in. a few takeaways. Israel is doing a tremendous ZOA’s Government Relations Department, who J Street is amount of work to improve the quality of life for were masters of ceremonies at the congressional her people and her Arab neighbors, including luncheon and led the discussion of issues, and out.” in agriculture, medicine, education, energy…. who worked so hard to bring such an impres- —Gary Nations who get these benefits need to acknowl- sive array of members of Congress to address edge this. Israel invested millions of dollars to ZOA activists. Bauer

9 DC MISSION PICTORIAL

1 2 3

4

1 ZOA members Roberta Dzubow and Brenda Schlenger and Greater Philadelphia ZOA Board Member Judith Taylor

2 Co-Director, Government Relations Josh London

3 Mort Klein and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) 5 4 Kennedy Caucus room in the U.S. Senate with ZOA delegates

5 Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Mort Klein

6 Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) thanking Co-Director, Government Relations Dan Pollak

7 A speaker addressing the ZOA delegates

8 ZOA delegates including Dr. Eugene Greenstein of Michigan

6 7 8

10 DC MISSION PICTORIAL

1 2 3

1 ZOA delegates 4 5 2 Steve Feldman, Philadelphia Executive Director, and Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA) 3 Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) 4 Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) 5 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 6 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 7 Mort Klein and Frank Gaffney, President of Center for Security Policy, with Josh London in the background 8 ZOA NY Exec. Director Zach Stern (center) with ZOA delegates

6 7 8

11 DC MISSION PICTORIAL

1 2 3

4 5 1 John Rosen, ZOA Executive VP 2 Daniel Mandel, Director of ZOA’s Center for Middle East Policy, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

3 ZOA’s Zach Stern, Paul Basisty, Nancy Hollander, and Enid Roman

4 ZOA delegate

5 Mort Klein and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)

6 ZOA delegates including Dr. Alan Mazurek

7 ZOA delegate

8 Event speakers Gary Bauer, CUFI Action fund, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to President Trump, and Frank Gaffney, President of Center for Security Policy 6 7 8

12 DC MISSION PICTORIAL

1 2 3

4

1 Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to President Trump, and Mort Klein 2 Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and his aide, Derek Silver, former student activist and ZOA pro-Israel student activism honoree 3 ZOA Philly Co-President Lee Bender and Philadelphia area delegates 4 Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA) and Gary Bauer of CUFI 5 ZOA delegates meet with Congressional staffer 5 6 Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) 7 Mid-Atlantic ZOA Campus Coordinator Or Taylor and Michael Bender 8 Ken Abramowitz speaking, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in foreground

6 7

8

13 DC MISSION PICTORIAL

1 2 3

1 Greater Philadelphia ZOA Board Member 4 Judith Taylor

2 Mid-Atlantic ZOA Campus Coordinator Or Taylor and Michael Bender

3 ZOA delegate

4 Gary Bauer, CUFI Action fund

5 ZOA delegate

6 Mort Klein

7 ZOA delegate Patti Klein and Pittsburgh Executive Director Stuart Pavilack

5 6 7

14 ZOA People

“It is the responsibility of the world to support Israel,” says Isaac Abraham, a New York City real estate entre- PROFILE: preneur and member of ZOA’s national board. Given the Jewish people’s history and what the world has done to WU QXGT OKNNGPPKC JG DGNKGXGU KV KU QPN[ ƂVVKPI p9J[ KU there so much pushback?” he asks, rhetorically. One can rightly say that Isaac Abraham is pushing back against that “pushback.” For the New-York-City-bred and based son of an Argen- tinian mother and Afghani father, with family that has lived throughout the Middle East, it was natural to be a Zionist, Isaac says, although he notes that it was not until an inci- dent in college that a spark was ignited. Isaac was spending a study year abroad at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, when a Palestinian Arab suicide bombing occurred two blocks from the campus. While he had always been pro-Israel, he says, “my perspective changed,” and he became an activist. Then he attended a talk by ZOA National President Morton Klein. ISAAC “I met Morton Klein at a Passover event in upstate New York,” he recalls. “I’ve never connected with anyone who speaks about ABRAHAM Israel [the way he connected with Mort]. Mort’s lecture was on a par with my logic. It was the first time I heard the truth.” After their meeting, Isaac began helping ZOA with the orga- Generally, notes Isaac, the attitude on America’s campuses nization’s real estate matters, pro bono. Three years ago, he says, is, “whatever Israel does is wrong.” That must change, he “Mort asked me to join the board,” and Isaac accepted. “It’s says, and ZOA is doing it. However, he says, “more funds are a pleasure to help Israel and ZOA.” needed to deploy [ZOA’s message] on campuses.” Isaac, 31, is a co-founder of Witnick Real Estate Partners, Isaac completed his undergraduate studies at Queens College a boutique private-equity company started three years ago. CUNY and obtained his MBA degree from the University of The firm acquires, develops, and manages mixed-use and Rochester. While there, he and another student co-founded multi-family buildings, concentrating on North Brooklyn a chapter of JAMBA (Jewish Association of MBAs). He earned and Manhattan. “We make improvements enhancing the another master’s degree, in real estate, at Columbia University. quality of life for tenants,” he says. Ironically, Columbia, based in the heart of New York City, As for his work with ZOA, Isaac tries to spread the has for years been one of the most anti-Israel campuses. Isaac is word about our organization among his peers and others optimistic that this will change. “There are some young people with whom he interacts. He tells them that ZOA “sends going against the norm,” he says. “We hope the tide will turn.” the right message” about Israel, the Middle East, and the Isaac recognizes that “people need to be informed about Arab war against Israel. “It’s not sugar-coated. ZOA gets what’s going on,” which ZOA is doing as part of its mission. right down to business.” The organization’s leadership, But, he says, “we need better education, more [social media].” he says, is “taking the right steps. It makes me excited to While education and social media have played a role in his own be a part of ZOA.” growth as a pro-Israel advocate and young leader, “a big factor is Isaac’s view of the ZOA’s work may differ from the views the stories that I heard growing up,” he says. Isaac’s family from of others. “I don’t consider it [simply] a pro-Zionist agenda; Iran, Lebanon, and elsewhere in the Middle East helped shape I regard it as spreading the truth,” he says. his outlook from an early age. “I’ve gotten a holistic perspective,” And that truth is most sorely needed, he says, at Amer- he says. On his mother’s side, many relatives were murdered in ica’s universities and colleges. The University of California the Holocaust. “That also impacted my experience.” (UC) statewide system, in particular, “is very tainted.” (The “Being a Zionist is part of my fiber,” Isaac states proudly. “My ZOA, especially through our Center for Law and Justice, has parents never needed to force me to love Israel and care about Is- aggressively pursued problems at UC campuses.) rael. Being involved with ZOA helps me fulfill that passion.”

15 Center for Law and Justice

If implemented, the Student Senate’s BDS amendment would prevent students and student groups from exercising their right to affiliate with and support Israel. It also would make Pitzer the first campus in North America to carry out a boycott against Israel.

PITZER COLLEGE to comply with the First Amendment. Pitzer is RESCINDS ITS a private institution, but the ZOA argued that BDS INITIATIVE, since the college represents itself as upholding SUSAN TUCHMAN the First Amendment, it would likely be held to Director, Center for EMBRACING ZOA’S the same standards under the Constitution as a Law and Justice LEGAL ARGUMENT public university. The ZOA informed the trust- FOR REPEAL ees that if the Student Senate were permitted to Last April, the Student Senate of California’s implement its amendment, and thereby prevent Based on the Pitzer College amended its bylaws to support student fees from being allocated in a way that a boycott of Israel. The amendment prohib- supports Israel, the college would be violating statement ited using Student Activities Funds for “pay- the viewpoint-neutrality requirement mandated Pitzer’s ments on goods or services” from certain by the Supreme Court. “corporations and organizations associated Based on the statement Pitzer’s Board of Trust- Board of with the illegal occupation of Palestinian ter- ees issued last June rescinding the amendment, Trustees ritories.” Student Activities Funds come from the trustees were plainly persuaded by the ZOA’s mandatory fees imposed on all students to legal argument: issued last support extracurricular activities. Student Activities Funds are derived June If implemented, the amendment would pre- from mandatory fees the College levies on vent students and student groups, such as Hillel, all students. Consequently, the Board ex- rescinding from exercising their right to affiliate with and pects the Student Senate to remain neutral the support Israel. It also would make Pitzer the first in determining the organizations it recog- campus in North America to carry out a boycott nizes and funds, the amount of funding amendment, against Israel. allocated to each organization, and any the trustees The ZOA and other groups urged Pitzer’s restrictions imposed on such funds. leadership to rescind the amendment. In a let- The trustees decided that the amendment was were plainly ter last May, the ZOA informed the leadership invalid because it “applies a particular point persuaded that rescinding the amendment was a legal im- of view on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in perative, based on a U.S. Supreme Court de- restricting the use of Student Activities Funds by the ZOA’s cision in 2000. The court decided that when by all Student Senate-approved student groups.” legal universities impose mandatory student activi- It thus “inappropriately curtails the funds usage ties fees—as Pitzer does—the fees have to be rights of all such groups, including those that argument. allocated in a viewpoint-neutral basis, in order may have a different perspective.”

16 CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE

Hours after receiving the ZOA’s emailed letter, CCNY Dani Dayan, Israel’s Consul General in New York Pitzer College (courtesy of www.campusgrotto. (courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) com) President Boudreau Pitzer College reached the right result under the dent, and sanctioning wrongdoers in accordance issued an law and for the good of the campus. The trustees with CCNY’s rules. excellent rejected the Student Senate’s divisive, anti-Semit- Hours after receiving the ZOA’s emailed letter, ic tactics and prevented an initiative that surely President Boudreau issued an excellent state- statement would have poisoned the campus climate, par- ment to the CCNY community. It included an to the CCNY ticularly for Jewish and pro-Israel students. apology to Mr. Dayan and notified the com- munity that a committee had been established community. AFTER ISRAELI to investigate the incident and to recommend It included DIPLOMAT’S PROGRAM a course of action, including discipline. Hope- IS DISRUPTED, CITY fully, these steps will discourage future disrup- an apology tions and ensure that invited guests can express to Dani Day- COLLEGE APOLOGIZES their pro-Israel views unimpeded. AND INVESTIGATES an and noti- Last May, at the invitation of the ZOA and oth- fied the com- ers, Dani Dayan, Israel’s Consul General in New ZOA RAISES PUBLIC York, was a featured speaker at the City College AWARENESS OF ISRAEL- munity that of New York (CCNY). However, members and HATER LINDA SARSOUR a committee supporters of the hate group Students for Jus- Last spring, the School of Public Health at the tice in Palestine (SJP) disrupted Mr. Dayan’s City University of New York (CUNY) named had been presentation—a common SJP tactic on many Linda Sarsour as its commencement speaker. established campuses to stifle Jewish and pro-Israel voices. Sarsour, an organizer of last January’s Women’s The ZOA wrote to Dr. Vincent Boudreau, March on Washington, has been touted by some to investigate CCNY’s interim president, identifying several as an activist and feminist. However, as the ZOA the incident SJP violations of CCNY’s Henderson Rules of demonstrated in public statements and in let- Student Conduct. The rules prohibit obstruct- ters to Chancellor James Milliken, Mayor Bill de and ing others from the exercise of their rights and Blasio, and Governor Andrew Cuomo, Sarsour’s recommend interfering with an invited guest’s right to advo- record made her a terrible choice for commence- cate his or her views without fearing abuse from ment speaker. Sarsour has tweeted that “nothing is a course those with conflicting viewpoints. The ZOA creepier than Zionism” and that Israeli Prime Min- of action, urged President Boudreau to take several reme- ister “is a waste of a human dial steps, which included issuing a written apol- being.” She opposes the existence of the Jewish including ogy to Mr. Dayan, fully investigating the inci- state and supports the anti-Israel BDS movement. discipline.

17 CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE

When it comes to anti-Semitism, CUNY should be extra-vigilant. The ZOA recently documented harassment and intimidation endured by Jewish students on four CUNY campuses, including crowds shouting “Jews out of CUNY” and “Death to Jews.”

As the ZOA demonstrat- ed in public statements and in

letters to Even Sarsour’s feminism is bigoted. She claims CUNY that Zionists cannot be feminists, and she has Chancellor condemned and demeaned a genuine feminist, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Ms. Hirsi Ali was subjected to James genital cutting as a young Muslim girl and op- Milliken, posed her family’s efforts to force her to marry against her wishes. In the face of death threats, Mayor Bill she has spoken out courageously against the role de Blasio, Islam plays in perpetuating the abuse of girls and and women. Yet Sarsour is contemptuous of Hirsi Ali, tweeting that her “vagina should be taken away” Governor and that she doesn’t “deserve” to be a woman. Andrew Sarsour does speak positively about terror- ism and violence against Jews and Israelis. She Cuomo, praised a photo of an Arab child holding rocks in both hands and walking toward Israeli soldiers Sarsour’s Linda Sarsour embraces convicted terrorist as “the definition of courage.” When criticized Rasmea Odeh (courtesy of Legal Insurrection) hateful for this tweet, Sarsour responded: “The Zionist record made trolls are out to play. Bring it.” She also praised her a terrible the intifada—the term for the Palestinian Arab terror war against Jews in Israel—calling it choice for “invaluable on many fronts.” commence- Last April, Sarsour shared a stage with Rasmea was able to immigrate to the U.S. by concealing Odeh, who served time in an Israeli prison for her criminal record. Now, her U.S. citizenship ment her role in a supermarket bombing that killed is being revoked, and she is being deported to speaker. two college students. After Odeh’s release, she Jordan. Sarsour nonetheless publicly praised

18 CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE

Odeh, stating that she was “honored to be on this stage with Rasmea.” Given Sarsour’s record, it’s hard to fathom how Milliken, CUNY’s trustees, Cuomo, and de Blasio failed to stop this documented bigot and hater from being given a prestigious podium at New York’s public university. CUNY would not have tolerated a commence- ment speaker with a history of bigotry toward African Americans, Hispanics, or LGBTQ in- dividuals—nor should it.When it comes to an- ti-Semitism, CUNY should be extra-vigilant. Just a short time ago, the ZOA documented the harassment and intimidation that Jew- ish students were enduring on four CUNY campuses, including crowds chanting “Jews out of CUNY” and “Death to Jews.” By honoring Sarsour, CUNY let down the UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman new graduates and their families, who were entitled to a commencement speaker who mod- eled CUNY’s values of mutual respect, tolerance, In a letter to and civility. CUNY also sent a terrible message Chancellor to the university community: that anti-Semitic bigotry is acceptable and that those who have Last November, the ZOA’s Susan Tuchman Howard the power and authority to oppose it won’t. met with Haynes at Hillel International’s offices Gillman, in Washington, D.C. They discussed the long- the ZOA standing harassment and intimidation of Jewish ZOA CONTINUES ITS students at UCI and how it could be effectively documented FIGHT AGAINST ANTI- addressed. SJP’s serial SEMITISM AT UCI Given these positive developments, it was Since 2004, the ZOA has been fighting for disappointing when, last May, UCI failed to violations of a safe and welcoming learning environment for take any action after SJP disrupted a campus UCI’s rules, Jewish students at the University of California, program featuring veter- its role in Irvine (UCI). In that year, ZOA filed a student- ans, in violation of UCI rules. backed civil rights complaint, alleging that the In a letter to UCI Chancellor Howard creating a administration had failed to rectify anti-Semit- Gillman, the ZOA documented SJP’s serial vio- hostile, ic hostility in violation of Title VI of the Civil lations of UCI’s rules, its role in creating a hos- Rights Act. Recently, there were glimmers of tile anti-Semitic environment, and its repeated anti-Semitic hope that UCI was finally serious about address- disruption of Jewish and pro-Israel speakers environment, ing campus anti-Semitism. and programs. The ZOA argued that after such In October 2016, Vice Provost Douglas a long pattern of egregious behavior, SJP’s reg- and its Haynes issued a report entitled “Higher Ground: istered status should be revoked—especially repeated The Alignment of UCI’s Policies, Principles, if UCI is committed to addressing the fear and disruption of and Practices with the UC Regents’ Principles feelings of ostracism that Jewish students have Against Intolerance.” The report acknowledged endured. Jewish and the fear and feelings of ostracism that some Jew- To date, there is no evidence that UCI has pro-Israel ish students experienced at UCI, particularly imposed any consequences on SJP. Thus, UCI regarding anti-Israel rhetoric on campus, and remains a campus where Jewish and pro-Israel speakers and recommended steps to remedy these problems. students may feel neither safe nor welcome. programs.

19 Government Relations

ZOA remains one of the only Jewish organizations not in denial—and perhaps the only one that never pretended otherwise—about the actual state of partisan reality on issues relating to Israel.

As Washington continues its preoccupation with health care poli- cy and the alleged Russia scandal, important foreign policy is suf- fering from some inattention. The Trump administration still has the potential to make game-changing impacts to Iran policy, the Arab war against Israel, and other areas where ZOA is heavily en- gaged, but it appears some additional patience may be required to allow the administration to make a difference in each of these areas. Congress still has an important role to play at driving poli- cy, as well. We’ve noted in the past the increasingly partisan envi- ronment in Congress and the impact this has had on our policy issues. Unfortunately, this divide has increased and gotten much worse. The pro-Israel consensus within the Democratic Party was already un- der siege by political and ideological forces within the party’s big tent. President Obama actively enabled those forces and encouraged the ongoing fraying of the pro-Israel consensus in exchange for short-term political gain to, among other things, smash resistance to the Iran deal. The situation today has deteriorated, as anti-Israel elements have grown more emboldened. The larger context of opposition to all things related to President Trump has added yet another layer of difficulty, standing in the way of efforts to find common ground. Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. ZOA remains one of the only Jewish organizations not in denial—and perhaps the only one that never pretended otherwise—about the actual state of partisan reality on issues relating to Israel. ZOA remains firmly in favor of strong bipartisan pro-Israel policies, but when we encounter the reality of partisan hostility, we do not pretend it is not present and so never allow good actions to be held hostage to such niceties. THE TAYLOR FORCE ACT Taylor Force was a U.S. citizen, Army veteran, and West Point graduate who was killed by Palestinian Arab terrorists while on a graduate school trip to Israel in 2016. The Taylor Force Act currently working its way through Congress will limit or eliminate U.S. funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as long as the PA continues to make payments to terrorists and their families. It turns out that these payments, made on a sliding scale depending on how heinous the original crimes were, amount to a signifi- DAN POLLAK JOSH LONDON cant portion of the $500 million dollars the U.S. pays annually to the PA. Co-Director, Co-Director, Government Government ZOA has been a champion of this bill, which was the main focus of Relations Department Relations Department our successful June 2017 mission. The next step is the elimination of all

20 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

aid to the PA until it begins to fulfill its many of the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act and using interim peace-accord obligations, such as end- a national security exception intended to be ing the promotion of hatred and violence against temporary to neuter the bill completely. Presi- Jews and Israel in its schools, media, speeches, dent Trump’s staff, including Dr. Sebastian Gor- and children’s camps. A related matter is the ka, have told the ZOA and other Jewish groups misuse of U.S. aid to UNRWA, the UN orga- that the president intends to keep his campaign nization established to provide humanitarian aid promise to move the embassy before his term is only to Palestinian Arab “refugees.” Right now, over. ZOA continues to believe this act will have as actual refugees from the conflicts in Syria and more than symbolic significance, thereby en- Iraq tax the resources of countries in the region, hancing the chances of real peace in the region. there may be an opportunity to redirect some The ZOA’s Government Relations Department of the wasted funds to true humanitarian needs also continues to focus on our other regular leg- under the UN High Commissioner for Refu- islative priorities, including fighting BDS, with gees, which cares for all refugees in the world some activity at the federal level, but notable suc- except Palestinian Arabs. cesses having been achieved in state legislatures. We continue to be vigilant in educating IRAN Congress about the ongoing Arab war against The disastrous 2015 Iran deal, aka the Joint Israel, and communicating ZOA’s insights and Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reactions to the news of the day. The almost looms large as President Trump decides how daily Arab stabbing attacks, car attacks against Since the best to mitigate and reverse the damage caused pedestrians, and shootings in Israel are directly by this catastrophic blunder. So far, the Trump attributable to PA incitement. The U.S. has agreement’s administration has moved cautiously. In the ad- done little to hold Mahmoud Abbas, now enjoy- implementa- ministration’s first six months, Secretary of State ing the 12th year of his four-year term, account- has twice certified that Iran is ob- able for his barbaric statements encouraging vio- tion, serving the letter of the agreement while violat- lence and murder. Iran has ing its spirit. In fact, the ZOA has pointed out In addition to dealing with our elected officials, that there have been numerous violations of the Government Relations interacts with Jewish and embarked agreement’s actual terms, and we look forward Christian pro-Israel organizations in Washing- on a series of to the administration making the case to our ton, as well as other American Jewish groups. allies that the agreement is not aiding the cause For example, in conjunction with ZOA’s Cen- actions that of keeping Iran constrained. Unless something ter for Law and Justice, we continue to pursue show utter changes, Iran is cruising under the deal to opportunities to team with other Jewish groups a full military nuclear capability, even without to combat BDS, to make certain that Title VI contempt cheating, in just a few years. Since the agree- Department of Education grants to Middle for the ment’s implementation, Iran has embarked on Eastern Studies departments are appropriately a series of actions that show utter contempt for used, and to ensure that the Department of international the international community, and the U.S. in Education enforces its policy protecting Jewish community, particular. This agreement must be officially students from discrimination at universities. terminated. We work closely with our regional directors and the U.S. and with Jeff Daube, ZOA Israel’s director. in particular. We also participate in meetings, public forums, U.S. EMBASSY and policy discussions with foreign policy and This IN JERUSALEM AND political professionals, and we continue to agreement OTHER PRIORITIES engage in print and broadcast media opportuni- ZOA also remains committed to moving the ties to spread the word on ZOA’s issues. Gov- must be U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. The Trump admin- ernment Relations co-directors have also visited officially istration has continued the abysmal bipartisan ZOA chapters to give talks and educate our presidential tradition of ignoring the intent members on the situation in Washington. terminated.

21 Purim Mission

ZOA’S EXCITING 2017 PURIM MISSION TO ISRAEL

THE MISSION TO ISRAEL OFFERS INSIGHTS ON BORDER POLICE, ARAB NEIGHBORS, KIBBUTZ GUARDS AND MORE

I have been to Israel many times, but never has my life changed in the way it changed this year during the ZOA’s 10-day Purim Mission to Israel. Howard Katzoff, ZOA’s deputy executive director, called my sister in Ohio and me in Goldie Kopmor (co-author with Harriet Cortell Atlanta to ask us to join the mission he was of the article in the Atlanta and Dayton newspapers), with soldiers planning with Jeff Daube, director of ZOA’s Israel office. Little did I know that by the end of the trip, I would be a different person. ZOA’s Purim shalach manot mission was created to bring the joy of Purim to the Magav, No one seems to show these brave border the Israeli border police who patrol the area be- guards how much we care about them, how tween Israel and Samaria (part of the so-called much we appreciate their protection, and how West Bank). In these tense places, soldiers are much we pray for them, even in the U.S. not allowed to leave their posts for Purim. The elite units at the border bases in Tulkarem So, we loaded our bulletproof bus with big and Qalqilya are made up of Christians, Jews, plastic bags filled with candy and other good- Druze, and Muslims, all of whom are fluent in ies, as well as letters to the soldiers written by Arabic and Hebrew. “Do you think we want children at Jewish day schools across the U.S., to live under the oppressive PLO or Hamas or including Atlanta’s Epstein School and Torah sharia law?” one soldier said. “In Israel, we are Day School. free people.” Our first stop was at the most dangerous On Shabbat afternoon, an Arab Muslim news- post, Tzomet Patuach in Samaria. The soldiers paper reporter, Khaled Abu Toameh, talked to there have faced shootings, stabbings, car ram- us about the facts on the ground. mings and other incidents. They were thrilled “There will never be a two-state solution,” he to see us. The unit’s commander, an Israeli Arab said. “There will never be a political peace be- Muslim, talked to us, and we sang and danced tween Israel and the PLO. Even if you give them with the soldiers. 99 percent of all they want, they will not take it. When we learned that it was the birthday of Why? Because their goal is the complete destruc- a soldier in the watchtower, we formed a semi- tion of Israel and the complete dominance of the circle and sang to wish him a happy birthday. entire Mideast” and then the world. One of our mission members ran up the stairs We were told that children are being taught in to hand him a letter and goodies, and the sol- Palestinian Arab schools to hate anyone differ- dier put his hand over his heart, read the letter ent from themselves and to embrace martyrdom and wiped tears from his eyes. as the path to greatness.

22 PURIM MISSION

From left: Jeff Daube, Rubin Margules, Dr. Alan Mazurek, and Howard Katzoff with IDF soldiers

commandos, called Yatar Israel. This ATV (all- EFRAT, SDEROT, AND terrain vehicle) unit patrols the area and reacts KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ quickly to capture terrorists in areas that security Visiting the “settlement” of Efrat, which is locat- vehicles cannot reach, such as narrow alleys and ed 20 minutes outside Jerusalem, and Sderot, on dirt roads in the hills and fields. Many of these the Gaza border, was truly a life-changing experi- volunteers work day jobs, then patrol at night, ence. These are beautiful, bustling towns of some leaving only a couple of hours for sleep. “My 10,000 and 20,000 people, respectively, with wife and children live here. Of course, I am go- modern buildings and homes with bomb shelters. ing to be a Yatar volunteer to protect them,” one Sderot has two bomb shelters on every street commando said. “Why do we live here? Because because the city gets only a 15-second warn- this is our home, and Israel needs us.” ing when rockets are fired from Gaza. We were impressed by the residents’ bravery, their faith in G-d, and their joy in Torah. BUILDING THE BORDER As our bus drove into Sderot, Rabbi David FENCE Fendel—who serves both the city and a yeshiva Thanks to the ZOA mission, we came to re- where students spend half the year learning To- alize how deeply biased the media is and how rah and half serving in the military—greeted us naive Western thinking is. The misconceptions with dance and song. We followed as he led a pa- include Israel’s border barrier. In fact, only five rade of dancing, singing yeshiva boys, accompa- percent of it is a cement wall; the rest is a wire nied by a horn-blaring, Purim-decorated truck. fence with 24-hour video monitoring and elec- The most lasting impression occurred at tronic touch sensors. Dan Tirza, the retired Is- Kibbutz Nahal Oz, a five-minute drive from rael Defense Forces colonel who planned the Sderot and a half-mile and three fields (under 451-mile-long fence, told us that plotting the which Hamas could be digging tunnels) from route was one of his biggest responsibilities. He Gaza. We stood at the wire fence separating the explained that he zigzagged it in order to try and kibbutz from the fields and could hear a truck keep Arab houses and agricultural land together. we saw moving along the border road in Gaza. After witnessing the unbelievable bravery of The brave kibbutz families are protected by our people in Israel, who are risking their lives to a group of trained men and women volunteer keep Israel safe and strong, we realized that those

23 PURIM MISSION

Participants in the ZOA’s Purim Mission to Israel of us who are not living in Israel must do more to help the soldiers and border police and show them we care. We are an eternal people, bound to each other through our Torah covenant with G-d, responsible to those who came before us to continue the holy work of ensuring that this sacred gift of the land of Israel will be there for those who come after us.

MOUNT OF OLIVES CEMETERY One holy moment came during our visit to the 3,000-year-old Jewish cemetery on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, which contains more than 200,000 graves, including those of prophets and May Long with IDF soldier revered rabbis. Without the protection of an armed guard, it has been dangerous for Jews to hold burials, visit graves, or even to travel the streets, through ments of our Jewish people, I realized even more a heavily Arab area, leading to the cemetery. strongly how connected we Jews are to one Today, thanks to the ZOA and the efforts of another, to Torah, and to the land of Israel. Jeff Daube, there are 147 monitored surveillance That was made more poignant when Howard cameras and an extra police presence on nearby Katzoff showed my sister and me the burial site of roads and in the cemetery. our great-grandmother, Sima, who immigrated to Standing among those graves, I felt Jewish Israel around 1904 to escape pogroms in Poland history come alive. At the burial site of Prime and was buried on the Mount of Olives in 1914. Minister Menachem Begin and his wife, and For a brief moment, time stopped. My soul was looking over the countless white burial monu- part of hers and part of every soul buried there.

24 ZOA Campus

Throughout the spring semester, we co-sponsored a variety of events that proudly displayed Zionist values and educated both students and faculty about the importance of Israel advocacy.

Managing Direc- tor & West Coast Campus Coor- dinator LEORE BEN-DAVID, Los Angeles, CA

ZOA CAMPUS: Associate Direc- tor and North- THE MOST east Campus Coordinator JONATHAN UNAPOLOGETIC GINSBURG, ZIONIST VOICE ON Boston, MA Krav Maga AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Educator and Ohio/Michigan Campus CAMPUSES Coordinator PANDIT MAMI Detroit, MI ONWARD AND UPWARD Southeast AROUND THE COUNTRY Campus ZOA Campus achieved new heights, both on campuses and within Coordinator our department, in the 2016-17 academic year. Campus coordina- ANNIE COHEN Miami, FL tors helped to plan and execute 206 meaningful pro-Israel and Zionist events on 123 campuses across the nation, with over 155 pro-Israel student groups. Leore Ben-David, formerly associate director of ZOA Campus and the Mid-Atlantic Campus West Coast Campus Coordinator, has been promoted to managing director Coordinator of ZOA Campus. New England Campus Coordinator Jonathan Ginsburg OR TAYLOR also rose in the ranks, to his new role as associate director of ZOA Campus. Washington, D.C. Southeast Campus Coordinator Annie Cohen joined the team in the fall of 2016, and has been engaging college students in her region in pro- Israel activities while promoting Zionism on campus. ZOA Campus was Midwest honored to host Mark Halawa, a Kuwaiti-born Muslim who discov- Campus Coordinator ered and reclaimed his Jewish roots, at Florida Atlantic University. ZOA LIORA LEVICH Campus also co-sponsored a tour of campuses throughout Florida with Chicago, IL writer and activist Hen Mazzig. Midwest Campus Coordinator Liora Chaya Levich, who grew up in Ma’ale Adumim, is the department’s newest addition [at the time of writ- Tri-State Campus ing]. Based in Chicago, she began working at the ZOA in early 2017. Coordinator ZOA Campus continues to have strong relationships with key schools SETH in the Midwest region. Throughout the spring semester, we co-sponsored GREENWALD New York, NY a variety of events that proudly displayed Zionist values and educated both students and faculty about the importance of Israel advocacy.

25 ZOA CAMPUS

Three ZOA Israel trip alumni with ZOA Campus Associate Director Jonathan Ginsburg at an Artists for Israel event at Brandeis University

SodaStream has been a target of the BDS ZOA Campus in New England and upstate New secutive years. Due to the popularity of and high York continued its strong work, engaging regional demand for his Krav Maga education program, movement, students and professionals while championing Pandit now tours the country teaching Jewish even though the spirit of Zionism. In April, ZOA Campus self-defense to campus student groups. Working was especially proud and grateful to host Sharren with our dedicated Campus Fellow at Western it has been Haskel, the party’s youngest female mem- Washington University, we hosted a Krav Maga a model of ber of . MK Haskel had speaking engage- tour of universities in the Pacific Northwest, ments at Harvard and Brandeis universities. including Oregon and Washington. peaceful In the Mid-Atlantic region, Or Taylor built and Across the country, ZOA’s campus coordina- Jewish-Arab maintained connections with seven new schools tors and their Campus Fellows conducted over and introduced them to all that ZOA Campus 50 SodaStream Root Beer Float events. These coexistence… has to offer. At Muhlenberg College, a small lib- events were inspired by Leore Ben-David’s [students] eral arts college in Allentown, Pennsylvania, ZOA work in the West Coast region. She equipped Campus hosted Neil Lazarus, an expert in Middle her Campus Fellows with SodaStream sparkling are getting East policy, diplomacy, and communications. We water machines to use as interactive tools while a quick les- also were extremely proud to celebrate the State they tabled and engaged with students about of Israel’s 69th Independence Day by co-sponsor- Israel. SodaStream has been a target of the BDS son on why ing Yom Ha’atzmaut festivals at the University of movement, even though it has been a model BDS hurts Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg College, East Carolina of peaceful Jewish-Arab co-existence. As stu- University, Temple University, and other cam- dents are having fun carbonating and custom- Palestinian puses. ZOA Campus also helped defeat a BDS flavoring their fizzy water from the SodaStream Arabs more resolution at George Washington University and machines, they are getting a quick lesson on will continue this fight in the semesters to come. why BDS hurts Palestinian Arabs more than it than it will Pandit Mami, former Midwest Campus Coor- will ever affect Israel’s economy. To top it off, ever affect dinator, is now the campus coordinator covering they get to take home their bubbly beverages Ohio and Michigan. In March, we collaborated in a special ZOA 120th anniversary reusable Israel’s with the Ohio State University Hillel to defeat a mood cup. (It changes color to blue if you are economy. BDS referendum for the third time in three con- a true Zionist.)

26 ZOA CAMPUS

a foundation for meaningful connections with ON- AND OFF-CAMPUS student leaders from the Armenian, Assyrian, STRATEGIC Coptic, and Native American communities. PARTNERSHIPS The goal is to reverse the anti-Israel bias that ZOA Campus was invited to contribute as groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine a partner organization at numerous national (SJP) are fueling on campus. student conferences across the country. In This year marked the 50-year anniversary of February, ZOA Campus was invited to run Jerusalem’s reunification after the Six-Day War. a SodaStream tabling event at the International ZOA Campus saw this as an educational oppor- Anti-BDS Conference in Los Angeles. The event tunity to expand on why the ZOA supports an was a huge success, and the ZOA Campus table eternal and undivided capital for the Jewish peo- drew a disproportionately large crowd due to its ple in Jerusalem. ZOA Campus participated in unique interactive nature. commemorative events at Israeli consulates, Jew- In March, ZOA Campus hosted a large, ish Federations, and Hillels throughout the U.S. well-attended gathering in Washington, D.C. We had secured a stylish venue across the street from the Convention Center where the AIPAC SUMMER STUDENT Policy Conference takes place. ZOA Campus has LEADERSHIP MISSION hosted a student gathering for years, and other TO ISRAEL organizations do the same. But the day before In June and July, more than 30 students—about the event—because we had generated extreme a third from West Coast universities, mostly in buzz via word of mouth and a strong social me- Southern California—participated in our sec- We packed dia presence—we understood that a partial rent- ond annual ZOA Summer Mission to Israel. We out of the venue would not suffice. hand-picked the travelers to participate in a jour- the place We packed the place with over 900 attendees, ney that, as one student remarked, “transformed with over including young professionals, students, ZOA my life and opened my eyes to the privileges I Israel trip alumni, Campus Fellows, national took for granted as an American Jew in the U.S.” 900 board members, and longtime ZOA support- The Mission to Israel is a fun, intense two attendees, ers. Our event was the talk of the town, and we weeks of immersive and experiential education have big shoes to fill for next year, as people are and advocacy training in Israel. Students travel including already asking how they can secure a place on throughout the Jewish state, including Jerusa- young the ZOA’s invitation list. lem, Judea/Samaria, and strategic border regions In June, ZOA Campus led a seminar on Zi- (the Western Negev, Galilee, Jordan Valley, and profession- onism and hosted a large-scale Krav Maga ses- Golan Heights). They meet with Knesset mem- als, students, sion at the largest conservative women’s student bers from different political parties, Jewish and conference in Dallas, Texas. Arab Israeli journalists, policy and military ZOA Israel experts, and much more. trip alumni, This trip is designed to engage in a meaning- ZOA FELLOWSHIP: ful way Israel activists and those committed Campus BUILDING BRIDGES to becoming Israel activists on their college Fellows, BASED ON SHARED campuses. In preparation for the trip, ZOA national VALUES Campus encouraged the students to arm them- Focusing on the indigenous rights of Jews to selves with all of the falsehoods about Israel that board the land of Judea, ZOA Campus co-sponsored they are often exposed to on campus. We then events ranging from guest speakers and panel challenged them to dispel each and every one members, discussions to cooking classes and film screen- through facts on the ground, personal experi- and long- ings. These events not only attracted and ences, and first-hand accounts. engaged students who would not normally On the trip, students heard from Itamar Mar- time ZOA attend pro-Israel or Jewish events; they also built cus, founder and director of Palestinian Media supporters.

27 ZOA CAMPUS

ZOA’s Jonathan Ginsburg (right) and students with MK Sharren Haskel after her talk on Zionism and feminism at Harvard Hillel

Watch (PMW), which monitors Palestinian Au- culture, and social status of this non-Jewish, thority (PA)- and Hamas-run news outlets, and but Zionist, minority in Israel. social and other media, such as TV, radio, and We thank the MZ Foundation and the Falic film. Students watched in disbelief as Mr. Mar- family for their generous support of our Student cus showed them clip after clip of PA- and Fatah- Leadership Mission to Israel, which helps build sponsored children’s TV shows that openly spew informed, strong and effective advocates for Israel. hateful incitement against Jews and indoctrinate youth against the people and state of Israel. The Jewish struggle for independence and sur- ZOA CAMPUS SUMMER vival was another common theme throughout INTERNSHIP the trip. Students visited the Palmach Museum ZOA’s Campus Summer Internship is an eight- and understood what it was like for young men week program that we host at both our national and women—many of whom were Holocaust office in New York and our office in Southern survivors, no older than the students them- California. Heather Alper—a former intern, selves—to step out of concentration camps and ZOA Fellow, and Israel trip alumna—managed onto the battlefield in Palestine. four interns in New York City, with the assis- In Gush Etzion, ZOA campus coordinators tance of Elliot Frumkin, another former intern and student participants stood together to and Israel trip alumus. Leore Ben-David man- honor the brave men and women who held aged two interns in Los Angeles. down Jerusalem’s last line of defense, only to Interns researched, monitored, and reported be massacred by the Jordanian legion hours on anti-Semitism and anti-Zionist activities before the declaration of the independence of on campus and on social media. Additionally, the State of Israel. students were exposed to the ZOA’s day-to-day In Dalyat El-Carmel, participants dined at operations, so that they could get a sense of the home of a local Israeli Druze family and the Israel advocacy field, both on campus and learned about the Druze religion, customs, within our organization.

28 +UTCGN1HƂEG

(R-L) Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and Gush Etzion leader Shlomo Ne’eman oppose demolition of Jewish homes caused by one meter overlap with disputed land in Elazar

TRANSFORMATIVE NEW ADVOCACY DIRECTIONS

The ever-dynamic political landscapes in requiring that Israel’s civil laws be applied over Israel, the U.S., and Europe have kept the the Green Line as they are within it. A promising +UTCGN 1HƂEG JQRRKPI GXGP OQTG VJCP WUWCN first move toward ending discrimination based In addition, after nearly ten years of ground- on residence, yes, but the June 1 Shaked-Levin work and relationship-building, many pieces directive is not retroactive. And it pertains only to are now coming together, in important new government bills, not to private bills introduced ways. This report will focus on three areas of independently by Knesset members. ZOA Israel engagement that signal particular So, at an unusually well-attended Knesset transformative, if not outright game-chang- hearing on the golden anniversary of the Six- JEFF DAUBE ing, potential for the road forward. Day War, we announced our intention to ad- Director, vance measures ensuring that new private bills, ZOA Israel KNESSET LAW INITIATIVE and select bills enacted into law before June 1, Approached by influential interests in the from now on would include Judea/Samaria. Knesset, the Legal Grounds Campaign (largely After all, as we reminded the plenum, the popu- supported by ZOA and co-chaired by ZOA lation in these communities pay their taxes like Israel Director Jeff Daube) was asked to help all other Israeli residents; they also serve dispro- spearhead what may turn into a historic en- portionately and with distinction in the IDF. deavor. The state of inequality under the law, In a letter to Knesset members, we further experienced for decades by the 450,000 Israeli described our agenda to support and widely re- citizens living in Judea and Samaria, finally is being port on the legislative activities of MKs ready examined and challenged. to take the lead. In particular, we are looking Our collaboration with Orit Struk, administra- at laws concerning the disabled, environmental tive head of the Knesset Land of Israel Caucus and quality, worker entitlements, sexual harassment, a former member of Knesset, began in reaction to maternity rights, and animal rights, as well as a landmark June directive, from Justice Minister laws that prohibit businesses and stores from Ayelet Shaked and Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, denying services to uniformed Israeli soldiers.

29 ISRAEL OFFICE

The state of inequality under the law, experienced for decades by the 450,000 Israeli citizens living in Judea and Samaria, finally is being examined Roughly and challenged. a dozen rational alternatives to an irreversible and ZOA Israel later pointed out to a number of existentially dangerous Palestinian Arab sov- MKs that leveling the civil-law playing field ereign state are presently on the table, but the existentially could help additionally with our struggle against understanding of their respective benefits and dangerous the USAID boycott of Jewish Judea/Samaria. ramifications—especially inside the Beltway— The State Department’s oft-proffered claim to still is seriously limited. Palestinian justify this policy is that Israel itself treats citi- Spring 2009 is the last time the Knesset con- sovereign zens in the territories differently. The MKs im- ducted forums to explore two-state alternatives mediately grasped the irony of Israel inadver- (hosted in quick succession by Danny Danon, state are tently fostering discriminatory U.S. policy, for now Israel’s UN ambassador, and Tzipi Hoto- presently on example, via the recently threatened disman- vely, now Israel’s deputy foreign minister) before tling of Netiv Ha’avot homes in Elazar, not to this past June’s back-to-back forums, also held the table, mention the large-scale destructions, over past with our encouragement and participation. The but the months and years, in Migron, Beit El’s Ulpana, Legal Grounds team concurrently stepped up its Amona, and Ofra. All are the result of a non- cross-continental inter-parliamentary activities, understand- transparent, biased adjudication process used which had begun in November 2015 with a let- ing of their solely for Judea/Samaria land disputes. Whether ter delivered by ZOA Israel to Capitol Hill in our initiative to address these longstanding in- coordination with MK Bezalel Smotrich (Bayit respective justices ultimately succeeds or not, we can fore- Yehudi, Land of Israel Caucus co-chair). For our benefits and see many fresh opportunities along the way to fix July 2017 Washington run, we solicited and fa- the misperceptions about Judea/Samaria’s legal cilitated proposal letters from four MKs: Yoav ramifica- status that underlie Israeli diffidence. Kisch (Likud, Land of Israel Caucus co-chair), tions— Yehudah Glick (Likud), Miki Zohar (Likud), and Shuli Mualem-Refaeli in her capacity as the especially “TWO-STATE” Bayit Yehudi faction chair. Addressed to fellow inside the ALTERNATIVES legislators in Congress, the letters described fa- In the face of Palestinian Arab , vored alternatives ranging from autonomy and Beltway— bolstered by political correctness and ubiquitous federation plans to full Area C . still is narrow thinking, helping to steer the conversa- ZOA Israel’s prefacing letter added a request tion away from the disastrous two-state para- that congressional leaders consider working co- seriously digm remains a ZOA Israel priority. Roughly a operatively, both with us and with the Knesset, limited. dozen rational alternatives to an irreversible and on creating platforms for scrutinizing the vari-

30 ISRAEL OFFICE

Protests against unequal treatment of Judea/ (L-R) MK Yehudah Glick, strong advocate for Samaria residents no longer would be needed if Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, one of four the Legal Grounds Knesset law initiative succeeds Knesset writers of letters for Washington delivery by Jeff Daube

ous options represented, and on sharing these Continuing to act as an intermediary be- with their colleagues and constituencies as well tween Israeli and U.S. leadership, ZOA Israel/ as the executive branch. We also asked legislators Legal Grounds is assembling the next set of let- to revisit the seminal, yet underutilized, Levy ters from MKs to members of Congress, which Report—having successfully lobbied in 2014 will include, among others, another from MK ZOA Israel for its entry in the Congressional Record—to Smotrich, and from former Israeli Ambassador emphasize that contemplated alternatives must to the U.S. Michael Oren, now a Kulanu MK has be based on recognition of Israel’s superior claim and deputy minister. It should be noted that, expanded to Judea/Samaria. The 90-page report, commis- while ZOA has long advocated breaking out of sioned by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the untenable two-state box, it does not endorse its reach to researched by three prominent Israeli jurists, in- any specific alternative plan. parts of cluding Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy, substantiates the rightfulness of this and related EUROPEAN Europe in its claims under international law. fight against While on past trips to the Hill, ZOA Israel ANTI-SEMITISM Director Daube had observed a modicum of ZOA Israel has expanded its reach to parts of the dissemi- interest in investigating the alternatives raised, Europe in its fight against the disseminated lie nated lie of the insertion of individual MK plans into this of illegal Israeli occupation and other manifesta- latest iteration catalyzed a very definite “Let’s tions of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. For 23 illegal Israeli hear more about this” attitude. Congress- years, ZOA has maintained a laser-sharp focus occupation men Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Bill Johnson on Palestinian/Islamic incitement as a root cause (R-OH), co-chairs of the new Israel Victory for these spiking phenomena. Pursuing a bolder and other Caucus (IVC)—in which ZOA Israel has been response, ZOA Israel also is now spotlighting the manifesta- separately asked to lend a hand—believe that need for a tripartite—Israel, the U.S., and Eu- IVC could be an appropriate sponsor for the rope—coordinated assessment and action plan. tions of anti- in-person or live simulcast briefings we are ZOA Israel’s more direct engagement with Semitism requesting. We also are consulting with MKs European matters began on the heels of several Oded Forer () and Yaakov Peri meetings and events attended in close proximity and Israel (Yesh Atid), co-chairs of IVC on the Israel side, in Israel: with the European Union’s Coordina- de-legitimi- on the complex logistics involved in getting tor for Combating Anti-Semitism, Katharina this underway. von Schnurbein, concerning the dangers of so- zation.

31 ISRAEL OFFICE

(L-R) MK Shuli Mualem-Refaeli and Middle East Legal Grounds presents paper at Hague scholar Dr. Mordechai Kedar push different conference on advancing Israel’s rights under two-state alternatives at community event international law

cial media; with the Knesset Diaspora commit- Apprised by Dr. Gerstenfeld about the wor- Dutch tee chair, MK Avraham Neguise (Likud), in ries of the Dutch Jewish community after an Ambassador hearings featuring European Members of Parlia- April Rotterdam conference was scheduled by ment; at two conferences of the Israeli Ministry a Hamas-Muslim Brotherhood front group, to Israel Plug of Foreign Affairs; and in ongoing consultations the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC), ZOA agreed requested of us by leading anti-Semitism ex- Israel sent a letter to Rep. Smith, asking him to perts, including Dutch Israeli Dr. Manfred Ger- reach out to the Dutch authorities. We also met that a tri- stenfeld. At the same time, we found ourselves subsequently with Dutch Ambassador to Israel continental closely following the U.S. hearings on multi- Gilles Beschoor Plug to discuss prevention, at lateral approaches to European anti-Semitism least, of future such hate fests. Ambassador Plug discourse led by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), who agreed that a tri-continental discourse could could be chairs the Global Human Rights Subcommittee. be helpful in this regard and assured us that he We decided to prioritize the Netherlands, par- would bring our proposal to the attention of his helpful for ticularly, after meetings with its sympathetic government. preventing Jerusalem consulate attaché, who was working The PRC conference could not be stopped, in tandem for the since-discredited, anti-Israel but our letter to Rep. Smith may have been future hate NGO, World Vision, and for EU Ambassador responsible for a different step in the right fests, and to Israel Lars Faaborg-Andersen. Having been direction. After encouraging him to urge Sec- solicited as well by a strongly pro-Israel Dutch retary of State Rex Tillerson to fill the vacant assured us he group looking for guidance in its quest to defend Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism posi- would bring Israel by means of international law, ZOA Israel’s tion—ZOA Israel had worked on Jerusalem is- Legal Grounds sent attorney Karen Stahl-Don sues with former officeholder Ira Forman—we our proposal to their Hague Peace Palace conference in June. saw that Smith had sponsored the H.R. 1191 to the Stahl-Don, a former student of ZOA national bill for that purpose days later. As part of our board member Prof. Malvina Halberstam, pre- summer Washington rounds, we continued to attention sented an outstanding paper on the relevance of advocate for 1191 with the additional request of his UN General Assembly Resolution 181, which that the position be upgraded to the more au- she also summarized at our Legal Grounds Law thoritative one of ambassador-at-large. government. Course certificate-award ceremony.

32 ZOA Around the Country

New York has hundreds of organizations dedicated to fostering a community for Jews in general, but none that focus on Israel advocacy and Zionist community-building. ZOA New York is now the only major organization in the area that focuses on strong Zionist education and community-building for young professionals. ZOA's Zach Stern and Jackie Shafer with speaker Dr. Mordechai Kedar ZOA NEW YORK NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR We are building an initiative, with custom pro- The ZOA’s New York chapter is proud to an- gramming, to engage this demographic after col- nounce the appointment of Zach Stern as its lege and keep them involved throughout their new executive director. Zach has been with the 20s and 30s. This initiative will create lifelong ZOA for almost four years and is excited to take ZOA members and position the ZOA as a pri- on this new role. Before starting this position, he mary resource for young Zionist professionals. served as managing director of ZOA Campus for The initiative is especially beneficial for the more than two years. While leading ZOA Cam- ZOA because it allows the organization to fill a pus, he expanded ZOA’s reach at universities to large gap in New York’s pro-Israel market. While unprecedented levels and oversaw the expansion there are currently many pro-Israel organizations of the department. He aims to see similar success geared toward students and older adults, there are for ZOA New York as its executive director. no organizations dedicated to fostering a commu- Before working at the ZOA, Zach lived in Tel nity for young Zionists in their 20s and early 30s. Aviv and worked for a small nonprofit dedicated Moreover, New York has hundreds of organiza- to fighting anti-Semitism. He is a graduate of tions dedicated to fostering a community for Jews the University of Minnesota’s School of Journal- in general, but none that focus on Israel advocacy The young ism and Mass Communication, where he ma- and Zionist community-building. ZOA New jored in public relations and advertising. He has York is now the only major organization in the professionals used his background to spread the ZOA’s brand area that focuses on strong Zionist education and initiative will on campus and hopes to do the same in the New community-building for young professionals. York community. In order to build this community and educate create lifelong young professionals, ZOA New York will hold ZOA members monthly—and even bi-weekly—events to en- NEW YOUNG gage this demographic. Following are some ex- and position PROFESSIONALS amples of events the chapter will run: the ZOA as INITIATIVE • Social and educational event series, such as ZOA New York is excited to announce the Sunday brunches, movie screenings, and Israel- a primary launch of its young professionals initiative. The themed Shabbat dinners; resource ZOA has had a major presence on local cam- • Educational and social events, such as wine puses and has engaged hundreds of students tastings from Judea/Samaria and Zionist-themed for young throughout New York. However, when these bar trivia; Zionist students graduated, there was little in the way • Educational speakers, such as IDF soldiers of programming to draw them to the ZOA. and journalists; professionals.

33 ZOA AROUND THE COUNTRY

The ZOA is • Advocacy-training workshops to help young professionals turn their passion into effective GET INVOLVED IN ZOA an event- messaging. Topics will include social media, po- NEW YORK! based, litical engagement, effective pro-Israel messag- Interested in getting involved in this growing grassroots ing, and more; chapter? Please email Zach Stern at zstern@zoa. • Larger Zionist-themed parties to welcome in org to learn more. Zach is more than happy to organization new people and spread the ZOA brand to a new meet with anyone to discuss potential involve- dedicated to audience. ment and the growth of the ZOA. Building this initiative will require help from providing numerous young professional leaders. To this opportuni- end, ZOA New York has formed a young profes- ZOA FLORIDA sionals board to help launch these programs. The ties for board had its first meeting over the summer and Zionists to DISCUSSIONS, plans to meet regularly during the year. A PREMIERE, BUENOS learn about AIRES MEMORIALS, and EXPANSION OF AND A WINE TASTING advocate for EVENTS AND In response to UN Security Council Resolu- ACTIVITIES tion 2334, ZOA Florida hosted a panel discus- Israel. ZOA ZOA New York is also excited to announce the sion moderated by best-selling author and in- New York’s expansion of our general community activities. vestigative journalist Edwin Black on the topic expansion We plan to run events roughly once a month of defunding and replacing the United Na- for community members ranging from educa- tions. ZOA Florida Executive Director Sharona aims to tional speakers to social galas and everything in Whisler introduced the program at the packed accomplish between. Additionally, the chapter has already Palm Beach Synagogue. taken advantage of the beautiful event space in The panelists included Irving Berkowitz, aca- exactly that. the ZOA’s new midtown Manhattan national demic affairs dean at Palm Beach College; Law- headquarters. In July, we hosted Dr. Mordechai rence Muscant, vice-president of Washington Kedar there, with more than 70 people attend- (D.C.)-based Foundation for Defense of De- ing, and we plan to hold similar events through- mocracies; Mark Langfan, a New York-based Whisler out the year. attorney and lecturer on Israel; Zionist activist encouraged The ZOA is an event-based, grassroots organi- David Shimon; and international law attorney the audience zation dedicated to providing opportunities for Laurie Regan. At the discussion, Ms. Whisler Zionists to learn about and advocate for Israel. encouraged the audience to take an active role in to take active ZOA New York’s event expansion aims to ac- advocating for Israel, combatting anti-Zionism, roles in complish exactly that. and responding to the lies spread about Israel. advocating ZOA Florida’s Jacksonville supporters hosted BUILDING NEW an inaugural event with a presentation by Susan for Israel, PARTNERSHIPS Tuchman, director of ZOA’s Center for Law and combatting Justice, about anti-Semitism and the Boycott, ZOA New York has started to expand its part- Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement anti-Zionism, nership network with the goal of bringing more against Israel. Program organizer Sam Rogozin- and people into the ZOA. Over the summer, New ski and ZOA Florida board member Dr. Mark York Executive Director Zach Stern met with Fleisher introduced the program, praising ZOA responding numerous heads of other pro-Israel organiza- for combating these problems. The well-received to the lies tions to create the foundation for more events presentation was followed by a dinner sponsored with more partners. He has many events in the by Rhonda and Dr. Mark Fleisher. spread about works with these organizations, which will be Filmmaker Avi Goldwasser premiered his new Israel. posted on nyc.zoa.org. film, “Hate Spaces: The Politics of Intolerance on

34 ZOA AROUND THE COUNTRY

Whisler: “Zionism is an essential part of the Jewish nation reclaiming Expert panel on the topic of defunding and Jerusalem. replacing the UN, with ZOA’s Sharona Whisler (second from right) In the face ZOA Florida Executive Director Sharona Whisler (right) with graduating ZOA High of seemingly School Fellows Avi Bryan and Abigail Winograd insurmount- ZOA PREPS HIGH- able odds SCHOOLERS FOR COLLEGE AND HONORS against us, Campus,” in North Miami. The documentary ex- the Jewish poses the tolerance on college campuses for hate GRADUATING FELLOWS and hatred of Jews. One of the experts featured in Students from Brauser Maimonides Academy people came the film is ZOA’s Susan Tuchman. ZOA Florida in Hollywood, Scheck Hillel Community School together to was a proud sponsor of the sold-out event. in North Miami Beach, and Hebrew Academy ZOA Florida co-sponsored the Israeli Consul- in Miami Beach were recruited by ZOA Florida declare that ate’s memorial event commemorating the ter- to participate in ZOA’s annual mishloach manot the solution rorist attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Purim Mission to Israel by writing personal Aires. In addition, our chapter joined with sev- notes of support to Israeli soldiers. In addition to for us is eral other organizations in the annual commem- the letters, students at the Scheck Hillel School freedom and oration of the AMIA Jewish Community Center sent a poster to the city of Sderot inscribed with terrorist attack, also in Buenos Aires. ZOA was messages of support. prosperity honored to light a candle in memory of the At the end of the school year, ZOA Florida par- in our holy victims of these tragedies. ticipated in the Scheck Hillel School’s College ZOA’s annual wine tasting at Young Israel of Readiness Week, preparing high-school seniors land. We will Hollywood was a sold-out event featuring wines for possible anti-Zionist campus environments. not be denied from Judea/Samaria, generously donated by the Introduced by three of ZOA’s High School Fel- Israeli Wine Producers Association. Sharona lows from Scheck, ZOA’s Susan Tuchman dis- our right to Whisler introduced the program with a review cussed students’ legal rights, how to recognize practice of UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and anti-Semitism, and what students should do its lies about Israel. She applauded the guests if they experience campus anti-Semitism. She G-d’s Torah, for standing up to BDS simply by attending the shared footage from campuses and provided ex- and we will event and supporting the wineries and ZOA’s amples of actual incidents to help lead the discus- important work. sion. Later that day, Ms. Tuchman gave the same not walk like Joshua London, ZOA’s co-director of govern- presentation to high-school juniors and seniors sheep to ment relations and an expert on Israeli wines, at Katz Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton. offered descriptions of each wine, including the This past spring, Florida Director Whisler con- slaughter. historical significance of the land where the vine- gratulated the first class of ZOA High School That is yards are located. Guests had the opportunity to Fellows—Abigail Winograd, Jordan Zackon, order cases of wine. Avi Bryan, Malka Shuster, Aliza Posner, and Zionism.”

35 ZOA AROUND THE COUNTRY

Rico, Lior Hiat; and a special presentation for high-school students by activist Joe Zevuloni and rapper Ari Lesser. Mr. Zevuloni encour- aged students to stand up against the hate and lies that are spread about Israel and to always be proud Zionists. Hebrew Academy’s ZOA High School Fellows introduced the student program and shared their experiences. The 50th anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunifica- tion was marked by an event at of Aven- Attendees at the Young Israel of Hollywood tura organized by congregant Daniel Kahane. Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut event Sharona Whisler joined a series of speakers and discussed the spiritual significance of Jerusalem to the Jewish people, including historical con- Gabriel A.—on their graduation. The ZOA’s text and Jordan’s complete disregard for the city fellowship program for high-school seniors, while it was under Jordan’s control. which was launched in the fall of 2016 at the “Zionism is an essential part of the Jewish na- Scheck Hillel Community School and Hebrew tion reclaiming Jerusalem. In the face of seem- Academy, is a pilot program to empower young ingly insurmountable odds against us, the Jewish leaders in their roles as Zionist advocates and ac- people came together to declare that the solu- tivists. The program was praised by Rep. Ileana tion for us is freedom and prosperity in our holy Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), who wrote that it would land,” Whisler said. “We will not be denied our The fellow- “undoubtedly equip high school students with right to practice G-d’s Torah, and we will not the tools they need to become leaders and activ- walk like sheep to slaughter. That is Zionism. ship for high- ists in their communities.” The miracles we witness in our time are not un- school The graduating fellows each were awarded a like the miracles we read in the Torah. They have commemorative stamp issued by the State of Is- come to pass because of our faith and our action. seniors was rael in honor of ZOA’s 120th anniversary. The Our future prosperity in the land of Israel is launched in four symbols on the limited-quantity stamp rep- written. But we must never take it for granted.” resent the four areas in which ZOA directs its fall 2016 at activities: Congress, the justice system, higher COLLABORATION WITH Scheck Hillel education, and media. CHRISTIAN FRIENDS Community YOM HAZIKARON, ZOA Florida met with the Hispanic Israel School and Leadership Coalition for a Heal Our Campus YOM HA’ATZMAUT, breakfast. Youth pastors and Christian leaders Hebrew YOM YERUSHALAYIM were invited to a breakfast panel of campus Is- Academy to ZOA Florida was the main sponsor of the rael advocacy experts from ZOA, Turning Point Young Israel of Hollywood’s Yom Hazikaron and USA, and StandWithUs. Each panelist described empower Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration. Our chapter also a specific challenge facing pro-Israel students on young participated in Miami Beach’s Yom Hazikaron campus. Southeast Campus Coordinator Annie and Yom Ha’atzmaut events at Hebrew Acad- Cohen represented ZOA on this panel. leaders in emy, organized by the Falic family. their roles as The program powerfully commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Entebbe raid, featur- LOBBYING ON Zionist ing accounts by two of the youngest survivors CAPITOL HILL advocates of the rescue, Shay Gross and Benny Davidson. Florida members once again participated in The event also featured Rabbi Shmuley Bote- ZOA’s one-day pro-Israel lobbying mission to and activists. ach; Israel’s consul general to Florida and Puerto Capitol Hill, meeting with the offices of Rep.

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Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). ZOA GREATER All three pledged their support for bills calling for increased sanctions on Iran, and we thanked PHILADELPHIA them for this. We would have liked Wasserman Schultz and Frankel to pledge their support for ANNUAL PHILADELPHIA the three other serious bills we discussed: the GALA GETS UNDERWAY Taylor Force Act, aimed at cutting U.S. funding As this report goes to press, the ZOA’s Greater to the Palestinian Authority so long as incite- Philadelphia chapter is gearing up for its an- ment continues and pensions are being paid to nual Gala—the region’s biggest pro-Israel so- terrorists and their families; the Recognition of cial event—on September 12. Honorees this Jerusalem as the Capital of the State of Israel Act, year include Allen Rothenberg, who will receive which would remove the presidential security the Pillar of the Community Award; Jonathan waiver; and a series of bills aimed at reforming Tobin, the Ben Hecht Award for Outstanding the UN’s anti-Israel bias by withholding funding Journalism; Rabbi Yaacov Orimland, Guardian to the UN. At the time of writing, we still hope of Israel Award; and Jim and Diane Showers, for their support of these vital bills. Friends of Zion Award. In addition to recognizing the work and dedi- cation of our honorees, we also spend the eve- ZOA CONDEMNS ning celebrating America and Israel, and the re- ROGER WATERS lationship between the two nations. It is a night National ZOA issued a press release condemn- filled with patriotism and Zionism. We expect ing musician Roger Waters and the performance some 300 guests. arenas and concert facilities that are giving him a platform. The ZOA stated in the press release “Reject that stadiums hosting Waters’ concerts “are tar- anti- nishing their reputations by allowing their names to be associated with a vicious anti-Semite who Semitism promotes lies about Israel and the Jewish people.” in all its Miami’s American Airlines Arena was among the venues that ZOA urged to “reject and con- forms, demn Waters and his hateful attacks against Jews” not only and Israel. The community also spoke up. The Greater Miami Jewish Federation issued a state- because it ment entitled “Anti-Semitism and Hatred Are will offend Not Welcome in Miami.” In addition, Miami- Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez urged resi- our Jewish dents to “reject anti-Semitism in all its forms, not residents, only because it will offend our Jewish residents, but because it would offend all Miamians.” but because it would If you would like to learn about upcoming ZOA Florida events and opportunities or get offend all more involved, please contact fl[email protected]. Miamians.” —Mayor Carlos Greater Philadelphia ZOA Gala invitation, highlighting ZOA’s 120th anniversary Gimenez

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Honoree Allen Rothenberg has promulgated legislation and achieved

record- Greater Philadelphia ZOA Washington Mission At a recent quarterly meeting (from left), Trea- delegates, from one of our two buses to the surer Len Getz, guest speakers Ira Gelman and breaking event Itzhak Nissim, and co-Presidents Lee Bender awards and Kevin Ross on behalf of victims of Allen L. Rothenberg is the founder of one of ANNIVERSARY the nation’s leading multi-state personal-injury CELEBRATIONS state- law firms. He has promulgated legislation and In honor of ZOA’s 120th anniversary, we cre- sponsored achieved record-breaking awards on behalf of ated what we are calling The 120 Club. The focal victims of state-sponsored terrorism. For 35 point is a banner that will feature the names of terrorism. years, he has served as president of the National 120 local Zionists who have made a contribution Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs. to The 120 Club. The banner will be displayed He is a staunch supporter of Jewish day school at our meetings, and an electronic version will education in Philadelphia. appear on our website and be included in emails. Jonathan S. Tobin is the opinion editor of the Speaking of ZOA’s 120th anniversary, ZOA’s Jewish News Service (jns.org) and a contributing roots began in Philadelphia on Oct. 16, 1897, We are writer for the . He is a columnist at Kesher Israel Synagogue, with a meeting of for the New York Post, , Haaretz, American Zionists. Kesher Israel still exists in that planning to Israel Hayom, and other papers. He was formerly same building as an active congregation. We plan commemo- executive editor, senior online editor, and chief to meet there in November to commemorate the political blogger for Commentary. anniversary. We are considering having actors rate the Rabbi Orimland is the religious leader of perform readings from Theodor Herzl, Justice historic first Young Israel of Margate. He lived in Israel for 15 Louis Brandeis, and other prominent Zionists. years, where he ran a yeshiva for American youth Also in November, we are planning a com- American who abused drugs, encouraging them to join the memoration of the 100th anniversary of the Zionist IDF once they were clean. He still owns a home , with British and Israeli in Tsfat and visits Israel at least twice a year. government representatives in attendance. meeting in Jim Showers is executive director and president the of the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry (FOI), founded in 1938 by Christians determined to MEETINGS, MISSION, synagogue help Europe’s Jewish population. He has been MEDIA where it took with FOI since 2002. Jim authors “Inside View,” We have had two quarterly meetings. The first a regular column in FOI’s magazine, Israel My featured Iran expert Omri Ceren of The Israel place. Glory. An office professional, Diane Showers Project, who discussed “Iran: What You Need has served in churches and evangelical Christian to Know.” The second featured three speakers organizations. A committed Christian Zionist, on the theme of self-defense: Mireia Pons of the she is involved in numerous efforts in support Israeli group Yatar, Six-Day War veteran Itzhak of Israel. Nissim, and self-defense expert Ira Gelman.

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More than 60 members from our region at- Jewish organizations, volunteerism in the com- tended ZOA’s Annual Washington Advocacy munity, and an essay about Israel. This year we Mission last June, including 14 first-timers. had so many qualified applicants, we only wish More than 50 made the trip on the two buses we could give a scholarship to each one.” we chartered. Based on feedback we received, all ZOA Pittsburgh is deeply grateful to the follow- had positive experiences. ing families, whose vision has allowed for the es- Greater Philadelphia ZOA leaders have had tablishment of endowments that fund ZOA’s Israel a number of letters and articles published re- Scholarship Program: Avraham and Patti Anouchi; cently and quite a few speaking engagements. Bernard and the late Esther Klionsky, z”l; Harold Publications and online media in which we and Marla Scheinman; Thelma Esman, z”l; and have appeared include: The Philadelphia Inquir- the family of the late Natalie and Ivan Novick, z”l, er, Philadelphia Daily News, Jewish Exponent, who served as ZOA National President. Algemeiner, Jerusalem Post, American Thinker, This year’s awardees are listed below, with Philadelphia Jewish Voice, Times of Israel, and quotes from their essays: FrontPage Mag. We have also done radio inter- views on “The Dom Giordano Show,” “Cindy’s JASON LEVY Corner,” and “HebrewNation.” Jason is a junior at Upper St. Clair High School. We have spoken before the Jewish War Veter- He visited Israel with the Emma Kaufman Camp ans, Hadassah, Parents of North American Is- CIT program. Jason wrote: “[A negative experi- raelis, and Barrack Hebrew Academy, and have ence] was very important to my understanding addressed a number of synagogues and Christian of how important Zionism is to the Jewish peo- groups. In addition, we have tabled at various ple. Every young Jew needs to learn how impor- community events. tant a safe homeland is for Jews, and I can’t wait In a first for Greater Philadelphia ZOA, we to experience that homeland myself.” had a conference call for our members. National ZOA Deputy Executive Director Howard Kat- MALKA RINGLER zoff, who spearheaded ZOA’s Purim Mission to Malka is a junior at Yeshiva High School. She Israel, was our guest speaker. He reviewed the attended Camp Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow. trip and answered questions. Two local members Malka wrote: “I love Israel because, although I who also were on the trip, Ruth and Mort Gleit, have as yet not had the distinct privilege to ex- discussed the mission from their perspective. perience it, I know it is my home. I love Israel because it is mine. I want to protect that bond, that inherent love and connection that just is.” ZOA PITTSBURGH MOSHE LUZER ZOA PITTSBURGH’S Moshe is a senior at Hillel Academy of Pitts- burgh. He traveled to Israel with a NCSY Camp. ISRAEL SCHOLARSHIP Moshe said in his essay: “My only idea of what WINNERS Israel life is like is from my friends, who always ZOA Pittsburgh is proud to continue its Israel come back with the biggest smiles, happiest atti- Scholarship Program, a tradition that began in tudes, and amazing stories. I can only hope that 1962. Recognizing Israel’s centrality to Jewish life, my experiences are similar to others’ and [that I] ZOA works tirelessly to reach out to the youth of internalize my trip as a catalyst I can use for the Pittsburgh in an effort to engage the next genera- rest of my life.” tion of Israel supporters. Each year, three $1,000 scholarships are awarded to students participating TEACHING TOLERANCE in structured trips to Israel. Julie Paris, chairwom- Dedicated to helping eradicate religious, eth- an of the scholarship committee, said: “Students nic, and racial intolerance, ZOA Pittsburgh in- are judged on three criteria: their involvement in stituted a Tolerance Education Program in order

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A survivor shows students his tattooed arm at the National Holocaust Memorial Museum

Pittsburgh students at the National Holocaust to combat hatred. The program is carried out in Memorial Museum cooperation with the Board of Education of the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the city of Pitts- burgh. The program focuses on the events of the Holocaust to teach young people, during their inception in 1999, ZOA Pittsburgh has taken most impressionable years, about the horrific 6,000 students to the USHMM. consequences of hatred and examples of man’s inhumanity to man. Teaching students to reject These are the 2017 essay winners, with excerpts intolerance and those who foment it, the pro- from their essays. gram also fosters an attitude of understanding and respect for those whose beliefs may differ FIRST PLACE: from their own. JADA WOOD, CREATIVE The Tolerance Education Program was created by Dr. Zalman Shapiro, z”l, and is directed pri- AND PERFORMING ARTS marily at 10th grade students who are learning HIGH SCHOOL (CAPA) about the Holocaust in their social studies and/ “Walking through the museum made the big- Since the or history classes. Though the students learn gest impact on my thoughts and views on the about the Holocaust as part of the regular school Holocaust. I realized that the Holocaust was program’s curriculum, what they hear in class is generally even worse than it was ever portrayed in any inception in presented as just another historical event and sources that I previously viewed.” soon fades from their memories. 1999, ZOA But when they go through the U.S. Holocaust Pittsburgh Memorial Museum (USHMM)—where they SECOND PLACE: see the actual consequences of religious, ethnic, SEAD NIKSIC, has taken and racial hatred in videos, photos, and other ex- OBAMA ACADEMY 6,000 hibits—most students are left with an indelible “While the surrounding politics were necessary realization of the dangers of bigotry. Each year, to understand, the third floor down captured students 11 motor coaches transport over 500 students to the true suffering of the Jewish people in all of to the the USHMM in Washington, D.C. After they its twisted, heartbreaking agony…. Nor will my return, students participate in an essay contest, memory erase the countless other inhumane Holocaust and modest monetary prizes are awarded to stu- monstrous actions of the Nazis at the expense of Museum. dents with winning essays. Since the program’s an innocent people.”

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THIRD PLACE (TIE): HOLLY FREUND, CARRICK HIGH SCHOOL “The museum not only touched my heart and made me think about all the things these poor people endured. The sights I saw at the muse- um…really touched my emotions and made me feel how I never have before.” THIRD PLACE (TIE): Charlene (Kandy) Reidbord Rabbi Mark Staitman PRECIOUS JACKSON, Ehrenwerth BRASHEAR HIGH SCHOOL “Before my expedition to the Holocaust Me- and declining synagogue affiliation. He detailed morial Museum, I thought because I was not the high cost of community involvement, in- Jewish, the only standing reason as to why it was cluding synagogue and JCC dues, Jewish educa- beneficial was to soak in information and add tion, and support for Jewish organizations. He it onto the things I know…The Holocaust Mu- also discussed the need to more effectively utilize seum led me to a conclusion that every group of human, infrastructure, and financial resources. people has a story and telling it is only one of the Rabbi Staitman said that numerous congrega- steps to having it live on forever.” tions, whose time has passed, may need to merge and/or utilize shared spaces. He said a new funding structure is needed and ANNUAL EHRENWERTH suggested the system used in pre-war Europe, LECTURE AT PITTSBURGH where individuals paid an annual levy or com- MEMBERSHIP MEETING munity tax. Once paid, individuals could attend Charlene “Kandy” Reidbord Ehrenwerth was the synagogue of their choice, Jewish schools, and a prominent Pittsburgh trial lawyer, known for Jewish community centers, and be active in other her aggressive protection of human and civil organizations without additional contributions. rights. She served as the first female assistant Rabbi Staitman said that to increase affiliation, district attorney in Allegheny County, where she two things are needed that build commitment to developed a reputation as a highly talented and Judaism and Israel: speaking Hebrew and find- fair prosecutor, and subsequently as an assistant ing ways to send people to Israel for extended attorney general for Pennsylvania. periods of time and work there. Kandy also served as an officer for the Ameri- can Jewish Committee and the ZOA, and she ELECTION OF THE BOARD was engaged in efforts to free Jews from the Following the lecture, Ira M. Frank, past presi- former Soviet Union. Kandy died tragically in dent and nominating committee chairman, pre- a car accident in 1992. To perpetuate Kandy’s sented the committee’s slate to the membership. memory, her loving family created an endow- The following were elected to serve two-year terms: ment for an annual lecture that is held at the Jeffrey L. Pollock, Esq., President ZOA Pittsburgh membership meeting. Stephen Neustein, Esq., First Vice-President This year, Rabbi Mark Staitman was scholar- Lawrence N. Paper, Esq., Vice-President in-residence for the program, held on June 19. Andrea Chester, Vice-President His presentation was entitled “The Rapidly Jason Small, Treasurer Evolving Jewish Community: Big Challenges Julie Paris, Assistant Treasurer and Creative Solutions.” Rabbi Staitman dis- Judy Kobell, Recording Secretary cussed dwindling populations, intermarriage, Lyn Silverman, Corresponding Secretary

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Elected to the board were: Jeanne Bair, Dr. Marshall Balk, Hirsh Dlinn, Julian Elbling, Alexandra Greenberg, Rhonda Horvitz, Linda Hurwitz, Gerald Kobell, Esq., Debra Levy, Cha- ya Pollack, Linda Safyan, Charles Saul, Esq., Seth Schanwald, Dee Selekman, Joe Titlebaum, Sibyl Treblow, Cheryl Weisberg, and Helene Wishnev.

Executive Director Kobi Erez addresses high Over 200 “HATE SPACES” schoolers at Farber Hebrew Day School DOCUMENTARY people SCREENS AT attended PITTSBURGH JCC a screening of The ZOA, through its Center for Law and Jus- tice, has been at the forefront of fighting for the RAISING AWARENESS “Faithkeep- rights of Jewish students on U.S. college campus- OF GENOCIDE IN THE ers,” which es. ZOA Pittsburgh worked with the Jewish Na- tional Fund to build a coalition of 21 synagogues MIDDLE EAST details the and local and national Jewish organizations to On July 24, ZOA Michigan hosted a screen- humanitar- sponsor the Pittsburgh premiere of “Hate Spaces: ing of Clarion Project’s powerful new documen- The Politics of Intolerance on Campus.” tary, “Faithkeepers.” Over 200 people attended. ian crisis and The documentary was shown on July 18 in the “Faithkeepers” puts a face and a voice to the hu- genocide of Katz Theater at the JCC, with more than 170 in at- manitarian crisis and genocide of Christians and tendance. A post-viewing Q&A was held with Avi minorities in the Middle East today and traces Christians Goldwasser, who wrote, directed, and produced the past century of persecution and devastation and the film for Americans for Peace and Tolerance. of the region’s Chaldean, Armenian, Assyrian, Jewish, and Coptic communities. minorities in The program included special guest speak- the Middle ZOA DETROIT ers, including co-producer Richard Green, who discussed the making of the film. Clarion’s na- East today ZOA MICHIGAN tional security analyst, Ryan Mauro, described and traces the EDUCATES STUDENTS the present geopolitical situation in the area, and Nahren Anweya detailed the horrific experiences past century This spring, ZOA Michigan Executive Direc- her family endured in Iraq. of persecution tor Kobi Erez gave a presentation to high school ZOA urged the community to get in touch students at the Farber Hebrew Day School. He with U.S. officials and ask them to take action and devasta- focused on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanc- on the issue. tion of the tions (BDS) movement and its similarity to Nazi Germany’s policies of boycotting Jewish stores, region’s products, and literature. Students also heard facts ISRAEL ADVOCACY FOR YOUNG ADULTS, Chaldean, about the Israeli-Arab conflict and were present- ed with anti-Israel scenarios they might encoun- CAMPUS DEBATE Armenian, ter on their future college campuses, as well as At this year’s Israel Education Workshop, Assyrian, some tactics to handle these kinds of situations. students learned about the Israeli-Arab con- This presentation is part of ZOA’s ongoing mis- flict, Jewish history and heritage, Zionism, and Jewish, and sion to educate, train, and motivate students to serving in the IDF. We also discussed how to Coptic become passionate, dedicated, and effective pro- answer tough questions about Israel that stu- Israel advocates. ZOA Michigan provides support dents might be asked on college campuses. As communities. to students who advocate for Israel on campus. part of the program, some students plan to host

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ZOA Michigan Executive Director Kobi Erez ZOA Michigan’s annual young adult barbecue debating J Street on campus

ZOA-sponsored Israel events on their campuses. ZOA WEST The program’s purpose is to educate, train, and motivate students to become passionate, dedi- COAST cated, and effective pro-Israel advocates, and to The ZOA’s West Coast chapter pursued an ag- provide scholarship assistance to students partic- gressive, two-fold mission in the spring of 2017: ipating in an organized educational trip to Israel. to engage a wider segment of the community and This spring, Kobi Erez debated a representative expose them to ZOA educational initiatives, and of J Street before an audience of college students to empower Jewish youth and combat the rising at an event hosted by Hillel of Metro Detroit. trend of anti-Semitism that California students Key issues discussed included the so-called two- are experiencing. The chapter accomplished this state solution, Palestinian Arab terrorist culture, two-fold mission and is now working to build the right of the Jewish people to live anywhere in on its achievements. Israel, international pressure on Israel and how J Street lobbied for it, the war with Gaza, and ZOA IN THE COMMUNITY anti-Israel bias worldwide. ZOA West Coast ran two large events with veteran Israeli diplomat Ambassador Dore ZOA YOUNG ADULT Gold, in San Francisco and Palo Alto. Ambas- sador Gold highlighted Israel’s diplomatic ini- ZOA BARBECUE, OP-EDS tiatives, which he spearheaded on behalf of the ZOA Michigan had a successful barbecue Foreign Ministry, to build relationships with Michigan event, with over 70 young adults from a variety Sunni Arab and African countries while main- had a of backgrounds. We saw many previous attend- taining and strengthening Israel’s historic ties. ees and some new faces as well, and everyone The first event was held at Temple Emanu-El, successful had the chance to learn about ZOA and Israel the largest synagogue in San Francisco and a barbecue advocacy in a fun atmosphere. new community for ZOA. The second event This is part of our ongoing efforts to promote was held at the Palo Alto JCC and was preced- event, with education, awareness, and support for Israel and ed by a VIP reception and meet-and-greet for over 70 Jewish causes among future generations. ZOA members. Over 350 people attended the Opinion pieces by our members concerning two programs. young adults the Iran deal, the Israeli-Palestinian Arab con- On the heels of the outgoing Obama admin- from flict, anti-Semitism, and BDS have been pub- istration’s backstabbing of Israel at the United lished in local and national print and online me- Nations via its orchestration of, and subse- a variety dia, including the Detroit Jewish News and the quent abstention from, UN Security Council of back- Times of Israel, reaching thousands of people and Resolution 2334, the pro-Israel community in educating them on current events. Northern California was searching for a means grounds.

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to undermine U.S. complicity in the regular UN assaults on Israel. ZOA West Coast organized an event in Montara (CA) with author Edwin Black, who introduced Mr. Pollak his plan to defund and replace the UN with a more accountable world body, called the Cov- noted ZOA’s enant of Democratic Nations. Mr. Black spoke careful of the history of the UN’s founding, out of the ashes of the no-longer-relevant , analysis and and drew the conclusion that the UN has also out- balanced lived its effectiveness to achieve its stated goal of promoting world peace through diplomacy. The Joel Pollak, chief editor of Breitbart News, approach UN has not been able to prevent or cease conflicts addresses Nob Hill Republican Women in to President since its establishment and has demonstrated a San Francisco warped approach to confronting world problems. Trump’s Every year, the UN General Assembly and Hu- victory and man Rights Council issue countless resolutions against Israel’s democracy while ignoring the real Mr. Pollak noted ZOA’s careful analysis and subsequent human rights violations of Israel’s Arab neighbors balanced approach to President Trump’s victory political ap- and rogue states like Iran and North Korea. and subsequent political appointments. ZOA ex- The solution Mr. Black proposed would see the pressed concern where justified, yet also defended pointments. UN defunded and a new world body established appointees in the face of baseless charges of anti- ZOA with strict criteria for admission: adherence to Semitism from politicized Jewish organizations. democratic values, protection of human rights He praised ZOA National President Morton expressed for all citizens, and respect for the rule of law. Klein for his political astuteness to seek engage- concern The program featuring Mr. Black was graciously ment with the new administration, while many hosted by the Pellegrini family and also helped Jewish community leaders preferred to sow po- where expose ZOA to many non-Jews who are con- litical discord to satisfy their partisan donor base. justified, cerned about UN overreach. ZOA’s West Coast chapter exhibited a larger ZOA West Coast also organized two events presence in the Jewish community in the spring yet also with Joel Pollak, senior editor of Breitbart News. of 2017. ZOA was represented at the official defended After the 2016 election of President Donald welcome reception for Jerusalem Mayor Nir Trump, many falsehoods were perpetuated by Barkat, a year after he was prevented from speak- appointees Jewish community leaders against the president ing at San Francisco State University by anti- in the face and his cabinet appointees, including the former Israel protestors. ZOA West Coast also arranged executive chair of Breitbart News, Stephen Ban- a tour of San Francisco Jewish landmarks for Israel of baseless non, who was appointed as White House chief Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development charges of strategist, a senior advisor to the president. Uri Ariel and his delegation. The ADL, San Francisco JCRC, and Anne Additionally, the West Coast chapter was rep- anti- Frank Center for Mutual Respect displayed un- resented at the Friends of the Israel Defense Semitism precedented partisanship and leveled charges of Forces’ commemoration of the 50-year anniver- anti-Semitism against Bannon and other Trump sary of the Six-Day War. The event honored the from nominees. In his presentation, Mr. Pollak cleared three Israeli soldiers immortalized in the famous politicized up many misconceptions about Breitbart News photograph depicting their liberation of the and Bannon, his former boss. He spoke to ZOA Kotel (Western Wall) in the Old City of Jerusa- Jewish members in Menlo Park and to a group called lem. In Los Angeles, ZOA West Coast operated organiza- Nob Hill Republican Women in San Francisco, a booth at the Celebrate Israel Festival, the larg- sharing excerpts and experiences from his latest est Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) tions. book, “How Trump Won.” celebration on the West Coast.

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1 2 3 1 Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat (left) with ZOA Director David Kadosh 2 Palo Alto premiere of the “Hate Spaces” documentary 3 ZOA West Coast Executive Director David Kadosh speaks to students at the Turning Point USA conference of San Francisco Jewish landmarks conference

EMPOWERING JEWISH out the conference and collected hundreds of YOUTH new student contacts, in addition to running In addition to ZOA’s community engagement two breakout sessions. efforts, the West Coast chapter devoted signifi- David Kadosh led a session on “The Progres- cant attention to the empowerment and educa- sive Abandonment of Israel,” which highlighted tion of Jewish youth and the combatting of sys- the mainstream acceptance of anti-Israel policy temic anti-Semitism. and rhetoric among American progressives. He ZOA organized three screenings of the new warned that this trend is gaining momentum, documentary “Hate Spaces” with the film’s thanks to leading figures in the Democratic Par- ZOA was writer, director, and producer, Avi Goldwasser. ty such as , Bernie Sanders, and well received This important film exposes the pervasive anti- Keith Ellison. Semitism that Jewish students face on American Mr. Kadosh also worked with ZOA Midwest at the college campuses. The premiere was held at the Campus Coordinator Pandit Mami to lead the conference, Palo Alto JCC, followed by screenings at the largest Krav Maga session in ZOA Campus his- Rossmoor community in Walnut Creek and the tory, with over 120 participants. They taught with many UC Berkeley Chabad house. practical applications of this effective Israeli student ZOA’s West Coast executive director, David self-defense style and spoke about the history Kadosh, was invited to serve on a panel to pres- of Krav Maga as a response to anti-Semitism leaders ent ZOA’s Israel advocacy approach to visiting and modern Zionism’s reclamation of the Jew- eager to Israeli teenagers at the San Francisco Jewish Fed- ish fighting spirit. The program also discussed eration. The panel was comprised of representa- the threat from stabbings and vehicular assaults, work with tives from AIPAC, StandWithUs, J Street, and which have been occurring in Israel since 2015 their ZOA. Kadosh explained ZOA’s unique position and replicated in Islamist terrorist attacks in Eu- in the American Israel advocacy world and dis- rope and the U.S. ZOA was well received at the respective tinguished ZOA from each of the other organi- conference, with many student leaders eager to regional zations on the panel. work with their respective regional campus coor- ZOA had a significant presence at the Turning dinators upon their return to school. campus Point USA Young Women’s Leadership Sum- In addition, Mr. Kadosh led workshops on coordinators mit in Dallas, Texas. Turning Point USA is an the importance of Jewish self-defense, with in- organization that has popularized the conserva- troductory Krav Maga demonstrations at UC upon their tive movement through chapters on over 1,000 Berkeley, Chico State University, San Joaquin return to American college campuses and high schools. Delta College, and California State University, ZOA operated an informational table through- Northridge. He ran a ZOA table during the so- school.

45 ZOA AROUND THE COUNTRY

1 2 3 1 ZOA Booth at the Celebrate Israel Festival in Los Angeles 2 ZOA hosts Edwin Black (second from left) at the home of Nina and Mario Pellegrini to unveil his plan to defund and replace the UN 3 ZOA hosts Uri Ariel (center), Israel’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, for a tour of San Francisco Jewish landmarks

called Israel Apartheid Week at UC Berkeley and Semitism and the harm it causes. Some of the at Cal State Northridge’s annual Israel festival anti-Semitic bullying took place in the presence for Yom Ha’atzmaut. of teachers who typically failed to intervene as is For the second year in a row, Mr. Kadosh in- their duty under the law. structed members of Club Z, a local Bay Area The ZOA Center for Law and Justice, led by Zionist youth group, on the fundamentals of Susan Tuchman, was called upon to address the safe firearm handling with a practical shooting grave, systemic problem of anti-Semitism facing course. Zionist high-school students and their Jewish students throughout the district. With families were taught the principles of Zionism support from parents, the ZOA described the that seek internal responsibility for the col- problems in detail to district officials and rec- lective Jewish defense and learned responsible ommended reasonable and doable solutions, in- ZOA is the techniques to better defend themselves and their cluding (1) punishing the anti-Semitic bullies; community. (2) educating students with age-appropriate organiza- programs on the dangers of anti-Semitism, in- cluding when it is expressed as anti-Israelism; tion the COMBATTING (3) training for teachers, staff, and administra- ANTI-SEMITISM tors to recognize and respond to anti-Semitic community ZOA’s West Coast chapter was contacted by incidents when they occur; (4) creating pro- parents of students attending Alameda High grams to educate parents about anti-Semitism; can count School, who had suffered through a year of anti- (5) issuing strong statements identifying and Semitic harassment and intimidation. Upon condemning anti-Semitic incidents in the dis- on to further investigation and speaking with other trict; (6) hosting educational programs during families, it became apparent that the problem Jewish American History Month; and (7) spon- defend was district-wide, even in the elementary and soring age-appropriate programs for Holocaust middle schools. Remembrance Day. Jewish Parents had raised their concerns with school ZOA West Coast and the Center for Law and officials and provided them with evidence of Justice are maintaining pressure on district of- pride and threats to Jewish students and district-wide an- ficials to ensure that they afford to Jewish stu- ti-Semitic vandalism. Yet school officials never dents the same protections they afford to other Jewish took sufficient action against the perpetrators, minorities. ZOA is the organization the commu- never publicly condemned these actions as anti- nity can count on to defend Jewish pride and lives. Semitic, and never educated students about anti- Jewish lives.

46 ZOA’S EXCITING 2018 PURIM MISSION TO ISRAEL

ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA 633 THIRD AVENUE, SUITE 31-B, NEW YORK, NY 10017 FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT HOWARD KATZOFF: 212.481.1500 ZOA.ORG/MISSION-EVENTS/PURIM-MISSION

ZOA NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Isaac Abraham Eli Hertz Cherna Moskowitz Dr. Stanley Benzel Irwin Hochberg Michael Orbach Bart Blatstein Robert Jacobs James L. Pollack Dr. Ben Chouake Daniel Katz, Esq. Dr. Rosalie Reich Gary Erlbaum, Esq. Morton A. Klein, President Clifford A. Rieders, Esq. Congressman Jon D. Fox Jay Knopf Dr. Judith Friedman Rosen Sylvia Freyer Dr. Arthur Kook Stanley Rosenberg, Esq. Harvey Friedman Tyler Korn, Esq. Kevin Ross Leonard Getz Joshua Landes David Schoen, Esq. Morton Gleit Mark Levenson, Esq. Henry Schwartz Dr. Michael Goldblatt, Chairman Shira Lewis Edward M. Siegel, Esq. Taffy Gould Joseph Loshinsky Henry Silverman, Esq. Robert Guzzardi, Esq. Rubin Margules Martin Sokol Prof. Malvina Halberstam Dr. Alan A. Mazurek Myron Zimmerman Jay P. Miller Founded 1897

Zionist Organization of America 633 Third Avenue, Suite 31-B New York, NY 10017

Remember ZOA in Your Will. Ensure ZOA’s Future. Many people include some of their favorite charitable causes and organizations in their wills. The ZOA leadership is planning for a future of activism, commitment and devotion to Zionist ideals. By remembering the ZOA in your list of bequests, you can help plan for that future. For more information on the procedure for including the ZOA in your will, call the ZOA National Office at 212.481.1500.

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