In response to the worsening situation in Israel, leaders from 100 North American Jewish communities gathered simultaneously last Sunday morning as part of a nation-wide solidarity initiative sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the United Jewish Communities and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
The event, dubbed “Israel Solidarity Leadership Gathering: We Stand with Israel,” attracted some 80 local Jewish leaders representing area Jewish organizations to the Helfaer Community Services Building to watch a live satellite broadcast from Israel and New York. The local program was organized by the Israel Solidarity Coordinating Committee of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations.
Summarizing the importance of such gatherings, Jody Kaufman Loewenstein, general chair of MJF’s Community Campaign 2002, said, “When we as a community stand with Israel now, we will be able to say we stood with Israel now and forever.”
The satellite program featured speeches from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, Elie Wiesel, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), among others.
Allen L. Samson, MJF president, said such events enable local Jews “to learn from each other and from national figures [about] how to remain strong through this difficult period.”
Richard H. Meyer, MJF executive vice president, said the gathering was “the best illustration of the endless support of our people for Israel.”
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