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Israel Advocacy

A Cultural Boycott is Wrong: An Op-Ed

We found Mike Scott’s story “Middle East Film Festival brings 72 movies to N.O.” on November 12 greatly disturbing. We support independent film in New Orleans, which New Orleans can stand proud as a model; but we are deeply concerned regarding the Director of the N.O. Film Festival, Rene Broussard’s decision to boycott Israel.

A cultural boycott against a country is an inherently prejudicial and unacceptable. It indicts through assumption everyone of that culture is guilty of that assigned to them. That includes not only those who design and implement the official policies, but those who have no connection to the governmental policy that one opposes. This point is even more the case when considering Israel. As a democratic state, any attempt to impose a cultural boycott on it can only stem from lack of knowledge or a wrong perception of Israel.

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The Jewish Outreach and Community Relations Committee is responsible for promoting connection awareness to Israel within the Jewish community and for strengthening its connection to the Jewish State.  In the dynamic of the entire Greater New Orleans community, the Jewish Federation acts as an advocate for Israel and takes action when such issues arise.  The most relevant and current issue relating to Israel in the United States   is that of divestment. Churches and organizations have and still are debating pulling out of investments in companies whose products Israel uses.

Children from a Bronx, New York middle school read from a story written by kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, When the Shark and the Fish First Met.

Standing with Israel

More than 300 members of the Greater New Orleans Jewish community gathered together on the evening of Thursday, January 8 to express solidarity with Israel.

 

United Jewish Communities has launched an Israel Solidarity Drive to help bring relief to the nearly one million Israelis living under threat of missile attacks from Gaza. Click here to donate now.

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Working to bring Honorary NOLA citizen Gilad Shalit home

On March 6, 2008, as more than 80 students at Jerusalem, Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva gathered to celebrate Rosh Chodesh Adar, a gunman burst into the Yeshiva and opened fire, killing 8 students and wounding 11. This video shows the graphic aftermath, and contains disturbing images that may not be suitable for all audiences.

Israel, Sderot children want Gaza missile fire to stop!