Israel Affairs

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WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ISRAEL NOW!

Support Israel's Economy by Traveling to Israel and Buying Israeli Products...
Israel's economy has suffered a great blow due to the drop in tourism and exports over the past few years.  We urge you to visit Israel in this time of crisis, both to show your solidarity and to help boost the tourism industry.  In addition to making Israel one of your travel destinations, purchasing Israeli products will significantly help!  There is a wide variety of Israeli products that are available in the U.S., as well as a number of Israeli companies that export Israeli products.  The Israeli Exporters Catalog is one website that may be helpful in identifying Israeli products exported to the United States: http://www.export.org.il.  Explore this web site too: http://www.shopinisrael.com.  You're also encouraged to look for Israeli-made products in grocery and retail stores.

Support your Favorite Israeli Cultural Institution...
With fewer and fewer tourists traveling to Israel, the museums, theatres, and other cultural programs have seen a rapid decline in membership and attendance.  The arts are an integral and life-affirming component of Israeli society and it is imperative show our support for these institutions.  For more information, please visit the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00kj0#culture.

Familiarize Yourself with the Issues - Be Knowledgeable...
Set the record straight.  Click on the JCRC's "Middle East Briefings" icon in the left margin to scroll through nearly 150 reports on issues dealing with Israel, the Middle East, US Foreign Policy, and global anti-Semitism.  Click on the "Myths and Facts" icon in the left margin to gain access to publications of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise.  You may also visit the ADL and AIPAC's web sites at: http://www.adl.org (click on "Tools for Israel Advocacy") and http://www.aipac.org respectively.

Respond to Media Coverage...
Stay informed about how varying media outlets are covering Middle East happenings by visiting the web sites of the Committee for Accuracy in Middles East Reporting in America (CAMERA) and HonestReporting.com.  Check out the list of media contacts we have listed on our "Links" page and submit letters to the editor about a paper or news organization's coverage of a Middle East or Israel-related story.

Communicate with Our Legislators...
Thank them for their support of Israel and encourage their continued support of legislation and resolutions that strengthen the relationship between the United States and Israel.  Go to http://www.aipac.org and click on "Take Action."  Send messages to President Bush at president@whitehouse.gov or call 202-456-1414.  Explore the Government Affairs section of the JCRC's web site for contact information for Indiana's Congressional Delegation, as well as action alerts and advocacy tips.

Personalize the Grief...
So many Israelis have been killed in terrorist atrocities that we tend to become desensitized to the horror.  Along with the media, we often get caught up in the numbers game -- how many killed, wounded, etc., even though Jewish tradition teaches that each person is an entire universe unto himself (nefesh achat olam ma'le).  To preserve the memory of each victim, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website posts information about every person that has been murdered in a terrorist attack since September 2000.  To access this website, go to http://www.mfa.gov.il, scroll down to the section on Palestinian Terrorism, and click on "In Memoriam" or go to http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0iky0.

Reach out to our Israeli Brothers and Sisters...
Use Partnership 2000 relationships between North American communities and Israeli cities and regions to express your feelings of solidarity and support with your partner community.

Write a Letter to an Israeli Soldier...
The Association for the Well-Being of the Israeli Soldier (AWIS) in Israel, or The Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces in New York, will make sure your letters are distributed appropriately.

Send letters to:

The Association for the Well-Being of the Israeli Soldier
Attention: Nora
60 Weitzman St.
Tel Aviv 62155
Israel

Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces
298 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001

Buy Israel Bonds...
To learn about this consistently solid investment, visit http://www.israelbonds.com/ or go to http://www.israelbonds.com/indianapolis.html to see who Indiana's Israel Bonds leaders are.

Contribute to the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis' Annual Campaign and consider making a special contribution to the Israel Now Campaign.