This newsletter is brought to you by the Israel Action Committee of Temple Israel.  Each week we will bring you articles about Israel and the conflict in the Mideast that we believe are particularly insightful or that have important information, as well as suggestions for how to help support Israel in a variety of ways. Please read, think about, and act on the information in this message. In addition,  we encourage you to send this newsletter, or any individual item in this newsletter, on to your friends and acquaintances.

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Dear Friend,
       Welcome to the Israel Action Committee's e-mail newsletter. This is our first issue. This newsletter is separate from the Temple Israel "announce" e-mail service, which informs you of upcoming events at the Temple.  This newsletter's goal to help us all become better educated about the situation in Israel and the dispute between Israel and its neighbors, and to help our brethren in Israel.  We will do so by sharing with you a selection of articles, information about buying Israeli products, reports on unfair media coverage, calls to action, suggestions of videos and books, donation opportunities, and announcements of upcoming events such as talks in our area.
       We plan to send the newsletter approximately once per week.  We hope you find it valuable, and that it provides you with insight and opportunities that you will take advantage of.
       Since we believe that it is crucial that we inform our less well-informed neighbors, friends, and acquaintances about the truth of what is going on in the Mideast, we also hope that you will share this newsletter or the items you find particularly interesting with others.
       The newsletter is being sent to all members of Temple Israel who have provided their e-mail addresses to the Temple. Unsubscribe instructions are below.

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What really happened in Jenin?

     Israel has been accused of a "massacre".  This article from Time magazine (which is not known as particularly friendly to Israel or Ariel Sharon, to put it mildly), is worth reading. It is not "pro" either side; it's just a factual rendition of what Time found in its investigation.
    Among the findings: Palestinian confirmation that the Israelis, as they claimed, warned Palestinians to get out of buildings they were going to attack, and Palestinian confirmation that they extensively booby-trapped the
camp, and that Palestinians were killed by the booby-traps.

TIME.com: Inside the Battle of Jenin

       For more information on the manipulation of perceptions of what happened at Jenin, check out honestreporting.com's summaries of (and links to) articles, at

Jenin Lies

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What are they saying about us?

     You have most likely heard it said that the Arabs speak very differently when they speak to each other in Arabic --   in their newspapers and tv & radio broadcasts, in their schools, in their mosques -- than when they speak to the "West".  The article linked to below is a great example of what they say about us to each other.

       This is a translation of an article from a Saudi daily newspaper, published in March. The article describes in detail how Jews use the blood of non-Jewish children in making hamentashen on Purim.  The translation comes from a Web site that translates Arabic media into English. You never know when to believe that things are real when they are so foreign to our way of thinking, but this article was reported by some mainstream US media.

      Sometimes it seems that we in the West are purposely blinding ourselves to what is churning underneath "over there" and what "they" really think of us.  (And the "us" are not just Jews.)  We blind ourselves to it because it is too horrible to deal with as reality, and it is much more comfortable for us to pretend it's not there, so we can continue to live our blissful lives without the intrusion of the REAL "real world".

Special Dispatch Series - No. 354

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An encouraging read.

       Whatever you think of his politics on other subjects, there's no doubt television personality Alan Keyes has been clear-headed in his commentary and interviewing on the Mideast conflict. Here's an inspirational read, a letter from Keyes.

IMRA - Friday, April 26, 2002 Letter from Alan Keyes to express solidarity with the people of Israel in this difficult time

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A practical donation idea.

       You can help Israel by donating to the Jewish National Fund and fulfill some personal obligations at the same time.  When you want to send a condolence wish to a friend who lost a parent or other loved one, or a mazel tov wish on a happy occasion such as an anniversary or birthday, consider sending a JNF certificate for trees.  JNF makes it easy: you can establish a "bank" of trees at JNF by calling 800 542 8733 and setting up an account in any amount with your credit card. You can replenish the account whenever you wish.  Then, when you want to have a certificate sent, just call JNF with the name and address of the recipient and occasion, and the number of trees (at $10 each), and it's done!

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House and Senate Resolutions:

       Last Friday the United States House of Representatives and Senate passed strong resolutions, by overwhelming majorities, in support of Israel. Read the text at

Two Resolutions 'Expressing Solidarity With Israel'

       Please note -- it has been reported that Senator Torricelli and Representative Roukema did not vote on the resolutions.  Both were supporters of the resolutions, but were unable to be present in Congress that day (Congressional rules require members to be physically present in order to vote).

       Please write to our Senators and Representatives thanking them for their support. A few words is all that is needed:

Senator Jon Corzine:  http://corzine.senate.gov/comment.html    (Web site form)

Senator Robert Torricelli:  senator_torricelli@torricelli.senate.gov

Representative Marge Roukema:  rep.roukema@mail.house.gov

Representative Steven Rothman: steven.rothman@mail.house.gov

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Two important upcoming events at Temple Israel:

Sunday, May 12, 9:30 am - Zahal Shalom breakfast and speakers. Come and meet the Israeli veterans who are visiting  our community and staying with local families for two weeks. They will discuss their own experiences and the current situation in Israel.
   
Tuesday, May 14, 7:30 pm -  Join us to learn from Stephen P. Cohen, a renowned expert on the Middle East, who will speak on the current conflict.  Mr. Cohen's talk is presented by Temple Israel's Adult Ed Committee, in conjunction with the Israel Action Committee.

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        This newsletter is intended as a service to our community.  Although we  select the items in this newsletter with care, Temple Israel is not responsible  for the content of particular items,  including material in items linked to.  Please note that outside Web sites do not keep material indefinitely, so some links may become invalid at some point.
         To unsubscribe from this list,  please send a message to israel_action-request@synagogue.org with the word  unsubscribe in the body of the message.

        If you would like to join the Israel Action Committee, please send an  e-mail to IsraelActionComm@aol.com.