Join us for this year-long speaker’s series engaging in conversation with some of the world’s best scholars and leaders on Israel. We invite everyone to bring their own perspective, respect for all opinions and a desire to speak about Israel in a safe place. Download this flyer (PDF)for a guide to our offerings for 5772. A New Voice For Israel Jeremy Ben-Ami, Founder and President, J Street
Kol Shofar recently hosted Mr. Ben-Ami (January 8) who spoke to a crowd of 262. If you missed it, you can listen to this podcast.
Women of the Wall Featuring Anat Hoffman Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center Saturday, February 11, ~ 1:00 PM
The Israel Religious Action Center is the legal and advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel. Hoffman is known around the world as the woman who was arrested at the Kotel (Western Wall) for carrying a Torah. Join us after services and kiddush as Anat Hoffman leads us in discussion. We welcome everyone at Shabbat services. Location: Beit Knesset (Sanctuary) Behind the Scenes in Israel Appearance is not Reality with Brian Lurie Wednesday, February 15, 7:30
PM at Kol Shofar
Join us for a discussion on Religious extremism, equality for women, Israel’s move to the Right, Loyalty Oaths, treatment of Arab citizens and settlements. If you care about Israel, but have concerns about it’s Democracy, you’ll want to hear Rabbi Brian Lurie, the National Board President of The New Israel Fund.
Rabbi Brian Lurie served for seventeen years as Executive Director of the Jewish Community Federation and for five years as President of the San Francisco Jewish Museum. He has worked in Israel and America to promote equality for Israeli Arabs and as Executive Vice President of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA), he was instrumental in launching the second phase of Operation Exodus and provided the vision and strategic direction under which UJA has begun to broaden its mandate.
Free. Register: Hagar Ben-Eliezer, hben-eliezer@kolshofar.org or 415.388.1818 ext. 111Information and Disinformation: The PR struggle for Israel with Alan Elsner, Director of Communications, The Israel Project (TIP) &
Jay Amernick, West Coast Regional Manager, The Israel Project (TIP) Wednesday, March 21, 7:00
PM at Kol Shofar
For decades, Palestinians and their allies have run a campaign of disinformation about Israel. At its very basic level, they even deny a Jewish connection to the land. It is suggested both that Palestinians were punished for the sins of the Nazis and that Israel itself has taken on the racist trappings of Nazism. In the face of this onslaught, the Israeli and Jewish response has often been half-hearted and lackluster. What can we be doing better? What should we be saying and how should we be saying it? Location: Beit Am (Social Hall) Free. Register: Hagar Ben-Eliezer, hben-eliezer@kolshofar.org or 415.388.1818 ext. 111JNF Israel Ride 2011
Each year, the JNF forms a cycling team to raise money for the Arava Institute, a cutting-edge environmental research campus in the southern Negev. The institute is an amazing place – it recruits equal numbers of Jewish and Arab university students to work together on the region’s toughest environmental problems in a rigorous academic setting – they’re engaged in some the world’s most advanced environmental research. JNF’s cycling team raises money for the institute and rides with the Hazon Israel ride from Jerusalem to Eilat. They ride on roads built by JNF, stop at rest stops built by JNF, and visit the Arava Institute along the way to witness first-hand the cutting edge work their fundraising supports. • Download attached flyer with more info on the ride (PDF). • Watch the video – Here’s a great piece about the Arava Institute for which the funds will be raised:
JNF’s L’Dor V’Dor Mission – February 19 – 28, 2012
Thanks to the generosity of a JNF donor, JNF has created this unique experience. This Mission is designed for people 50 and over who have never been to Israel or who haven’t been to Israel in at least 10 years. It is modeled like a Birthright style Mission for adults and is heavily subsidized. The participants only pay $750/pp for a 10-day trip (participants are responsible for their own airfare). To learn more, please see: www.jnf.org/travel/missions/ldor-vdor-israel-experience.html. If you have any questions, please contact JNF Regional Director, Aaron Parker at 415.677.9600 x970.
Congregation Kol Shofar member and Bridges to Israel co-chair, Aaron Parker, new Regional Director for the Jewish National Fund! Read about it in the J-
Dear Friends of Israel, You can support Israel by buying Israeli products. Learn more at www.buyisraelgoods.org
Co-Chairs of Kol Shofar Bridges to Israel: Aaron Parker and Jeff Saperstein
We had the pleasure of a talk about Israel by Rabbi Doug Kahn, Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council, on May 31, 2009. His comments can be seen here.
The State of Israel is the geographic and spiritual center of the Jewish people. We are passionately committed to Israel and urge our members to support Israel in all possible ways. We encourage people to learn about, visit and, when possible, to study there, as well as make financial contributions. We encourage dialogue and active engagement in all issues connected to Israel.
The Masorti (Conservative) Movement in Israel is helping to raise emergency funds for Ashkelon and Sderot residents affected by rocket attacks from Gaza.
Ashkelon's Masorti congregation is raising funds to help install shatterproof glass for their preschool that serves 200 children. In Sderot, the Masorti Movement helps sponsor respite excursions as well as programs in Sderot itself. We would like to support these efforts by sending one large donation from Kol Shofar. If every household contributes $18, we can send $10,000 to our brothers and sisters in Israel through an organization that supports Conservative Judaism in Israel.
If you have suggestions about material for this section of the website, or want to participate in creating and maintaining the Israel pages, please contact Mike Harris through the Kol Shofar directory or email him: israel@kolshofar.org.
