Action Alert: KGO Radio Debate, Counter Protesters Needed, Keep Up the PR War

From the JCRC:

ACTION ALERT!

1. Listen & Call KGO TONIGHT (1/15) at 10 PM

2. Listen & Call KGO Saturday (1/17) at 7 PM

3. Join Hillel of Silicon Valley Sunday (1/18) at 12 PM in San Jose (counter protest)

4. Keep writing letters and opinion pieces!

Listen and Call KGO Thursday, January 15th (Tonight!) @ 10:00 PM The topic will be on Israel and Gaza. In recent days radio shows have received significantly more anti-Israel callers than pro-Israel callers. Make your voice heard tonight and support Israel! Saturday, January 17th @ 7:00 PM DEBATE: Consul General Akiva Tor will debate UC Berkeley professor Hatem Bazian KGO Call-in numbers: (415) 808-0810 (510) 808-0810 (408) 808-0810 (650) 808-0810 (707) 808-0810

Sunday, January 18th 12:00pm 3071 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara Israel Shoulder to Shoulder Please join Hillel of Silicon Valley to counter protest an anti-Israel event in San Jose Meet at 12:00pm in the Parking lot of SAFEWAY.For more information please contact Zohar Porshyan 408-340-3491 israel@hillelsv.org

Keep writing letters-to-the-editor and opinion articles. Everyday there are anti-Israel letters and Op-Eds in the SF Chronicle, SJ Mercury and others. Don’t allow those letters to go un-answered, write a letter now! For TALKING POINTS and NEWSPAPER CONTACT information , click here.

Am Israel Chai: San Jose Israel Solidarity Rally Recap

This afternoon, hundreds of supporters of Israel descended on the plaza outside the Santa Clara County Building. They waived their Israeli and American flags and held their posters high in a peaceful rally. Steve, the current president of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley summed it up well in his opening remarks “It’s as simple as shalom (peace) verse jihad.”

The program organized by the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley in connection with many other organizations opened with the sounding of the sofar followed by the American National Anthem and Hatikva. Speech’s from the Federation President, Jacob F. a native to Silicon Valley who served in the IDF during the disengagement, Ro Khanna, chair of the DCCC Indo-American Committee, California State Assembly Member Ira Ruskin, Israeli Consul General Akiva Tor, and Rabbi Melanie Aron of Congregation Shir Hadash followed. The rally concluded with the  singing of Am Israel Chai (the Nation of Israel is Alive).

Ro Khanna, chair of the DCCC Indo-American Committee:

California State Assembly Member Ira Ruskin:

Israeli Consul General Akiva Tor:

See more pictures, or the videos below.

• Hatikva
• Silicon Valley Native Speaks of His Service in the IDF
• Ro Khanna Speaks in Favor of Israel
• California State Assembly Member Ira Ruskin on Israel
• Israeli Consul General Akiva Tor on Supporting Israel in Operation Cast Lead
• Rabbi Melanie Aron gives prayers for Israel
• Am Israel Chai

Action Alert: Israel Solidarity Rally In San Jose This Sunday

From jvalley.org:

Israel Solidarity Rally This Sunday, Jan. 11, at 1pm

There will be a pro-Israel rally on Sunday, January 11 at 1pm at the Santa Clara County Building plaza located at 70 W. Hedding Street in San Jose. The South Bay Jewish community will convene to support Israel and voice our wish for peace. Keynote speakers will include Israeli Consul General Akiva Tor, Ro Khanna, chair of the DCCC Indo-American Committee, California State Assembly member Ira Ruskin, and Rabbi Melanie Aron of Congregation Shir Hadash.

You can download posters to bring from either BlueStarPR or StandWithUs.

This rally is part of “A Week of Solidarity with Israel,” a national initiative beginning this week to underscore and highlight the deep and widespread support of Israelis, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley is committed to addressing humanitarian and social needs in southern Israel, part of this national initiative to stand in solidarity with Israelis during the current conflict with Hamas, the terrorist organization in control of the Gaza Strip.

For more information, please contact Arielle Hendel, Chief Development Officer, at (408) 357-7501.

Update: Videos and pictures from the rally.

What’s the Next “birthright?”

Akiva Tor, the new Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest Region, is on a mission, he’s looking for the next “birthright”, or as Dan Pine of the J. puts it the ‘next great Jewish idea.’ While covering a range of topics in his talk tonight at Congregation Beth David, as part of their Conversations in Jewish Learning series, his message rang lound and clear. And he’s very open to hearing from you, while he’ll be tending to his responsiblities as the Consul General, he’ll make time to hear from you. He’s hoping the next big Jewish idea comes from this region.

Israel’s Seventh Decade a Talk with our New Israeli Consul General

Israel’s Seventh Decade

Thursday, September 18, 2008
7:30 pm
Speaker: Akiva Tor, Consul General of Israel, Pacific Northwest Region

Part of Congregation Beth David’s Conversations in Jewish Learning Series.

Akiva Tor, Israel’s new Consul General, will discuss “Israel’s Seventh Decade”, including cultural, demographic, economic, political, and religious developments and trends. During its seventh decade, the U.S. faced challenges and opportunities relating to conflicts with neighboring countries and peoples, economic expansion and uncertainties, extent of government control, minority groups, political discord, population growth, rights of individuals, and status of territories. Israel faces similar issues entering its seventh decade. Fresh from an assignment in Israel for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consul General Tor will provide an informed perspective on challenges and opportunities facing Israel.

About the Speaker
Akiva Tor became the Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest Region on August 1st. Prior to this, Akiva Tor was the Director of the Department for Jewish Communities at the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his previous position as World Jewish Affairs Adviser to the President of Israel, he began the organization of the World Jewish Forum, a presidential initiative for creating a pan-Jewish strategy for stemming assimilation and decline in Jewish life. Akiva Tor has served as Director of the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei and as Deputy Director for Palestinian Affairs. He was a Wexner Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government and has written and lectured extensively on Jewish values in the foreign policy of Israel.

“Conversations in Jewish Learning” is sponsored by Congregation Beth David in partnership with Sharone Hadassah, Silicon Valley Ner Tamid Lodge of B’nai B’rith, and Brandeis National Committee of Santa Clara Valley. These lectures are free to members of Congregation Beth David or partnering organizations. We ask non-members to contribute a $5 donation per lecture. For more information, contact the Beth David Office at 408.257.3333.