There are many ways Americans can support Israel, our ally, and the only democracy in the Middle East. Below please find a list of suggestions. We welcome other ideas from you for future editions. Please send them to Joseph Varon at: jvaron613@aim.com. 

I. COME TO THE SALUTE TO ISRAEL PARADE – Mark your calendars! This year’s parade will take place on Sunday, June 1, 2008. Once again our council has formed a committee to plan our participation in the parade. Buses will be leaving from various synagogues and organizations in the council. Your synagogue and or organization are welcome to join with us. Come march or cheer on those who are marching. Show the world we continue our unwavering support for Israel. For participation information, contact Corinne Steel, Steering Committee Chairperson at (718) 224-6468.

II. VISIT ISRAEL – Happy 60th Birthday Israel! Join Hillcrest Jewish Center’s Intergenerational Tour. SOUTHERN EXPOSURE (FEB.14-22, 2008). JERUSALEM SHABBAT EXTENSION (FEB. 21-25, 2008). Highlights: Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Eilat, Patra, Tel Aviv, Plant a tree, Experience Masada, Swim in the Dead Sea, Experience desert life and people, Shabbat in Jerusalem, Jewish Meditation, Pick the fields, Modern Israel, Heroes and more! Updated details available at www.HillcrestJC.org. For information, please contact Mindy Radler at DearMindela@aol.com. 

III. ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS (Ages 18-30). Visit Israel with the Jewish National Fund’s ASB (Alternative Spring Break). Experience what the early chalutzim (pioneers) of Israel experienced, turning the desert into livable land. You will be working with several of the 25 new communities that JNF is developing in the Negev. Over the next five to ten years these communities will be the homes for 250,000 Israelis. They will be complete with parks, roads schools, water supplies, electricity and modes of transportation. You will also work on projects in other towns in the Negev and other regions of Israel that are in need of your assistance. The 7-8 day trip is heavily subsidized and will devote 60% of the time to community service and 20% to educational programming on the history of the region and communities, the work being done there now, and its importance. The final 20% will be dedicated to tourism and fun. ASB’s goal is to connect participants to the land and people of Israel by exploring the region, meeting local residents, discussing the value of Jewish service, and connecting young Jews of different backgrounds from all over the United States with one another. Once registered, each participant must raise a minimum of $1050 to participate in the program through a personalized web page (similar to a walk-a-thon). Potential dates for the three trips are March 8, March 16, and March 23. For further information contact www.jnf.org/springbreak. 

IV. SKATE FOR SDEROT-ROLLER HOCKEY TOURNAMENT As we all know to well, Sderot has been struck by thousands of Qassam rockets, killing and injuring many people. That’s why Joe Teplow, 16, Netanel Shafier. 17, and their friend Zev Hait, have chosen Sderot as the beneficiary of the charity roller hockey tournament they’re organizing at Joe’s school, SAR HIGH SCHOOL in Riverdale. The Skate for Sderot 3-on-3 Roller Hockey Tournament is scheduled for January 6. “The way the tournament works, the teams go out and raise money themselves”, says Joe. It costs each three –person team $200, to enter, and then they can raise more money from parents, grandparents, and friends. All proceeds from the tournament will go to Connections Israel, a non-profit organization that sponsors multiple programs to aid Sderot’s citizens financially and psychologically. In September, this group gave out holiday gift baskets donated by communities from around the world to 10,000 families in Sderot in a show of solidarity, care, and support. For more information contact Joe Teplow at skateforsderot@gmail.com.

V. NEW ISRAEL SUMMER PROGRAM FOR JEWISH DAY SCHOOL STUDENTS FINISHING YEAR 10 &11. VolunTour Israel Ltd has developed an effective and inspiring framework in which Jewish High School students can give the best of themselves to Israelis in need. The programs are well suited to young Jewish people who are instilled with the desire to fill their vacation period with chesed, growth and giving. The program will be run in a fully observant framework. Dates: July 8- August 15, 2008. Projects include: Running day camps for new immigrants at absorption centers, Multi – day overnight trip with teenagers from families affected by terror, training as a Medical Clown and entertaining in hospitals, renovating bomb shelters and painting school walls, helping Israeli families affected by trauma, program for Jewish and Israeli Arab children to study together, activities and support for ill and disabled children, and food collection and distribution for Israel’s hungry. Check this program out at WWW.VOLUNTOURISRAEL.COM, voluntourisrael@gmail.com.

VI. CHOOSE ECO-FRIENDLY POWER SOURCES-REDUCE OUR OIL DEPENDENCE – America’s dependence on foreign oil is an issue of fundamental importance to the Jewish community. While the obvious focus is the impact of Arab oil on Israeli security, another important concern is for the well being of the United States. The principal strategies to free our country from dependence on foreign oil, using alternative fuels and the even more immediate strategy of using existing technologies to make our vehicles more energy efficient enhance our energy security. Purchasing Arab oil unnecessarily helps fill the coffers of Arab countries. We therefore pay to fight terrorism and support terrorist countries at the same tome. Returning the production of energy to America is an important first step in reversing these troubling problems. Steps you can do to reduce our dependence on Arab oil include: Whenever possible walk, bike, carpool, or use mass transit; When you purchased a car, choose a hybrid, or a car that gets 40 miles per gallon or better; Use low–watt bulbs or compact fluorescent lights; Use curtains and shades to cut down on air conditioning; As you replace home appliances, select the most energy efficient models. Check if your power company has a Green Choice Program. Many energy companies have an optional Green Choice Program, which supports the development of clean, green, renewable power resources that will help keep our environment cleaner for generations to come. Some power companies allow customers to select where they’d like their electricity to come from. (Either traditional power plant, which burns fossil fuels, like oil and diesel or clean energy sources like hydro, wind, and bio-energy). Such programs represent the nation’s hopes for energy independence sometime in the near future. 

If your synagogue or organization is planning an event to help Israel, please send us the details and/or if you know of a store which carries Israeli products please inform us so we may publicize these items in a future edition of this bulletin. Feel free to use all or parts of this bulletin in your organizations newsletter.