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@aol.com

I. VISIT ISRAEL – This past August, as an estimated 80,000 Americans (including myself) and thousands of others from Europe made their way back home, the Israel tourist trade was celebrating one of the strongest holiday seasons in recent memory. This, despite some predictions that the war in Lebanon would curtail the number of tourists from abroad. Hotels in the North were filled to capacity just weeks after nearly 2000 Katyushas fired by Hezbollah all but shut down tourism in the area. All signs point to more than 3 million tourists coming to Israel this year! News has it that Delta Airlines would be adding a New York – Tel Aviv flight by the end of the year.

II. NCSY TEEN SUMMER PROGRAMS IN ISRAEL –
*TJJ (THE JERUSALEM JOURNEY) is a fantastic experience for public school teens who are interested in getting in touch with their Jewish roots through hands on experiences in Israel.
*GIVE (GIRLS ISRAEL VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES) a program for teenage girls who want to focus their summer experience on making a difference by doing chesed (acts of kindness) for needy people in Israel. While GIVE is focused on chesed, there is so much more to the program. Participants will have the chance to tour Israel, go hiking, banana boating, rafting, zip lining, rappelling and more.
*MICHLELET – This is an amazing program for teenage girls who want to spend their summer having a great time in Israel. Girls on Michlelet will gain a greater appreciation of Torah, chesed, and the land of Israel through learning sessions with knowledgeable rabbis and advisors, participating in various chesed opportunities and going on exciting trips in Israel.
*KOLLEL – a great opportunity for high school boys to strengthen and intensify their commitment to Judaism and Israel through a program focused on Torah study, serious sports and touring. Although much of the day is focused on learning, there is plenty of time to participate in sports on their state of the art basketball courts and hockey rink, meet new friends and tour Israel to see some of the incredible sights and experiences that this land has to offer.  For information, a booklet and to find the right program your teenager, call 800-868-7496.

III. BAKE COOKIES! - Become an Israel Cancer Research Fund “Jr. Partner.” Take on a wonderful Bat/Bar Mitzvah project: bake and sell homemade cookies, run a car wash, bike-a-thon, bake sale or any other activity. For information on becoming a junior partner in finding a cure for cancer and supporting Israel, call Melissa Katzman at the ICRF, 212-969-9800.

IV. VOLUNTEER WITH SAR-EL, THE NATIONAL PROJECT FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR ISRAEL. Sar-El provides world Jewry with an opportunity to play a part “hands –on” in helping Israel. Volunteers, teen to 65 years of age, are assigned to Israel Defense Force warehouses, Army bases, hospitals, working alongside and under the direction of soldiers, packing food rations or medical kits, changing spare parts, painting and more. By working with Sar-El, eight hours a day, five days a week, Sar-El volunteers significantly reduce the military demands on Israeli reservists. Local long Islanders, Gigi and Irwin Bressler have spent three tours of duty with Sar-El and would be happy to share their experiences with your synagogue or organization. They can be reached by calling 516-485-4880.See www.Sar-El.org.

V. COME TO THE PARADE! - On Sunday, May 6, many synagogues, religious schools and community organizations in Northeast Queens will join together under our council’s banner and join hundreds of other groups in this years annual “Salute to Israel” parade. It’s not too late for your group to join and participate with us. Mark your calendars now. Bring the children/ grandchildren.For details; call our parade committee chair, Corinne Steel at 718-224-6468.

VI. SUNDAY MORNING PANCAKE BREAKFAST. – Let the parents relax! Youth or teen groups can run a Sunday morning family pancake breakfast to help the many below the poverty line in Israel. Getting donations of OJ, coffee, pancake mix, syrup, paper gods etc. can make such a pancake breakfast a profitable fundraiser. Consider donating your profit to Kav Hachesed, P.O. Box 50620, Jerusalem, Israel 91504, www.kavhachesed.org.il or Hazon Yeshaya-U.S. Office 2001 East 7 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11223 And when in Israel volunteer at the Hazon Yeshaya Soup Kitchen, 60 Rashi Street, Jerusalem.

VII. CHECK OUT THE LOVELY SILVER JEWLERY – The TJ Maxx Store at 23-15 New Hyde Park Road (In Pathmark Shopping Center) has some beautiful silver jewelry made in Israel. Check out their lovely selection. Great for holiday, anniversary, birthday and Bat Mitzvah gifts.

VIII. FreeTheSoldiers.org represents a broad base of national Jewish organizations and community leaders that share a common urgency to advocate on behalf of these soldiers and their families, as well as Israel's other missing soldiers, Zachary Baumel, Tzvi Feldman, Yehudah Katz, Ron Arad and Guy Hever. Sign on to the site to sign a petition to the new UN Secretary General to seek their freedom.

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.

Go the previous Support Israel Bulletin