Shabbat Shalom!
It’s February and needless to say, I think we can all agree that 2022 is off to an interesting start. From the incident in Colleyville, to comments from a well-known personality on the Holocaust to this week’s Amnesty International Report, Antisemitism and Antisemitic sentiments continue to be on the rise. In each instance, whether it be deliberate or a microaggression, Jews, regardless of their station in life or political beliefs, continue to be targeted from all sides I want to share with each of you that leading a Federation is both art and science. I try my best to separate out my personal beliefs as they relate to global matters, knowing that the Federation represents each of you, a wonderful quilt.
Instead of adding color commentary on this, I want to share a piece that was previously shared this week by our Jewish Community Relations Council for those of you who may have missed it. As a community, we must not let others rattle or fracture us, we must remain resilient in our education efforts as well as having open dialogue with our friends in the broader community and with each other. The only way to avoid dark days ahead is to be the shining light now.
If you do not receive our JCRC newsletter, please reach out to Joyce Shevin at jcrc@bjf.org to keep apprised of all of our efforts.
May you have a restful Shabbat and a peaceful week.
Amnesty International UK Releases Report:
Amnesty International UK, a wing of Amnesty International, released a report this week accusing Israel of committing apartheid against Palestinians. The Israeli government has repeatedly called for Amnesty International UK to shelve the report for its biased nature and antisemitic rhetoric. U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, called the accusation "absurd".
The report states that the State of Israel was founded on this basis of discrimination between Jews and Arabs. In reality, Arabs in Israel are well represented in the government, judicial system, business, medicine and across society. The report fundamentally contributes to a misunderstanding of the historical issues as ones based on racial discrimination – as opposed to security concerns and territorial disagreements. The report makes little distinction between Palestinians living in Gaza, which is controlled by the terrorist group Hamas, those living in the Palestinian Authority-governed West Bank, and Palestinians and Arab-Israeli citizens of Israel. Amnesty International UK uses these conflations to allege apartheid across all segments of Israeli society, territories which it controls, and territories not under its control. Specifically, the report accuses Israel of apartheid for not withdrawing to pre-1967 borders and for not accepting the so-called “right of return” of all Palestinian refugees within Israel. It argues that Israel must also revoke any laws or practices that protect the Jewish identity of the country.
In advance of the report this week the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), American Jewish Committee (AJC), B'nai B'rith International, and the Jewish Federations of North America issued the following statement:
“We vehemently reject the biased and one-sided report on Israel scheduled to be released February 1 by Amnesty International-UK that presents an unbalanced, inaccurate, and incomplete review and instead inexplicably focuses on one aim: to demonize and delegitimize the Jewish and democratic State of Israel.
This libelous document resorts to baseless ‘apartheid’ accusations against Israel, among other distortions. In so doing, the report commits a double injustice: It fuels those antisemites around the world who seek to undermine the only Jewish country on earth, while simultaneously cheapening and downplaying the horrific suffering that was a result of apartheid in South Africa. The apartheid system practiced by South Africa was characterized by tyranny, segregation and dehumanization established both in law and practice; this has no equivalence to a vibrant democracy where all citizens have rights and representation in the national legislature.
The report makes no secret of its true intention – which is to cast aspersions on the State of Israel, which it portrays as illegitimate, starting ‘at its creation in May 1948’ (page 20). It disregards the fact that Israel’s robust democracy grants its Arab citizens full rights and equality, includes an Arab Muslim nationalist party in Israel’s governing coalition, as well as a history of senior Israeli Arab governmental officials, including Supreme Court justices, government ministers, high-level diplomats, military officers, and members of Knesset.
At the very time when many Arab countries are forging new agreements and accords with Israel, and relations between Arabs and Jews are flourishing in numerous corners of the Middle East, Amnesty-UK’s misguided and backward-looking effort to vilify Israel seems to be trying to turn back the peace clock, inflame existing tensions and incite violence, while obstructing the path to peace and the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We call on all parties of good faith to condemn this ideologically-driven polemic, and instead focus on efforts that will bring the parties together – rather than instigate more distrust and divisiveness.”
B’Shalom,
Danny
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Spotlight On Our Future:
Hillel Connections
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Hillel Connections is a program designed to attract Jewish college students to Birmingham, allowing them opportunities to develop personal, mentoring, and professional relationships with our community at large. An eight-week immersive summer internship program enables them to envision living in Birmingham as a young professional, and to consider looking for employment opportunities here after graduation; BJF feels this is a cornerstone of ensuring our Jewish future.
We are grateful to the Birmingham Jewish Federation, Birmingham Jewish Foundation, The Grafman Endowment Fund of Temple-Emanu-El, the Levite Jewish Community Center, and several visionary individual donors who have invested in our future by previous and current support of this program. Of the 20 students that have completed the program, 4 continued to work during the following school year, seven currently live in Birmingham, and seven are still in school or in post-grad programs and have expressed interest in returning (with the potential to bring at least 3 Jewish significant others with them).
Each week, we will “showcase” student(s) interested in joining our HC 2022 summer program; EMPLOYERS are needed to offer summer internships. Please review and reach out if you can help NETWORK on behalf of these talented students. They are bright, efficient, and willing to work!
If you know of a potential employer for these students, please have them reach out to us at hillel.connections@gmail.com or text Roxanne at (205) 907-2531. A detailed resume and further information can be provided if that would be helpful before you make the contact.
Prospective Intern Information
Jack L. is a UA Junior in Mechanical Engineering with a 3.65 GPA from Germantown, TN. During COVID, he started his own Landscape and automobile repair business. He is a quick learner and a problem solver and is interested in any engineering-related opportunity. Jack is a member of ZBT and he has performed many hours of community service for all age groups.
Emily B. is a Wake Forest Sophomore majoring in Communications with a minor in Creative Writing. She currently is a staff writer for the university newspaper and excels at public speaking and writing. Opportunities in the publishing industry and/or PR, Marketing fields, especially with regard to Brand Image are desired.
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The BHEC Presents:
Holocaust in Film 2022
Select dates listed below
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LJCC Movie Night: Kiss me Kosher
Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 7:00 PM
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Starting A Conversation:
A hands-on session about transmitting Jewish Values
Monday, March 7, 2022, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
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Jewish NYC in BHAM:
Tenement Museum Tour
Sunday, March 13, 2022, 3:30 PM
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Jewish Roots of Sports Gala
Save the Date – Sunday, March 27, 2022, 6 PM
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CJFS Annual Hands Up Together Event
Honoring the Bearman, Krell, and Wolnek Families
Save the Date – April 26, 2022
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Tot Shabbat
Friday, February 4 @ 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM
Temple Emanu-El
It’s time for Tot Shabbat with Robin Berger and Cantor Wittner! Join us for a family-friendly Shabbat celebration designed for children ages 0 through 6 years old and their grown-ups. We will sing our way into Shabbat, hear a story, and have a blast!
PJ Library’s Shabbat in the Bag – Tot Shabbat Evening
Friday, February 4 @ 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
The Birmingham Jewish Federation
PJ Library joins TEE’s Tot Shabbat as we make our own Shabbat Candles.
Falafel Sunday
Sunday, February 6 @ 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Chabad of Alabama
All you can eat Falafel Buffet! Family friendly event.
Holocaust in Film Series, Film #2: Europa Europa
Sunday, February 6 @ 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center
Join us for a free screening of Europa Europa at Sidewalk Film Center & Cinema, and stay afterward for a discussion of the film led by local film director, producer, and historian, Michele Forman.
In order to reduce this risk of COVID-19 transmission, the audience at all screenings will be limited and masks will be required. Registration for these films will close once capacity has been reached.
About the Film: Europa Europa is based on the true story of a young German Jew who survived the Holocaust by falling in with the Nazis. Solomon Perel (Marco Hofschneider) is the son of a Jewish shoe salesman coming of age in Germany during the rise of Adolf Hitler. In 1938, a group of Nazis attack Solomon’s family home; his sister is killed, and 13-year-old Solomon flees to Poland. Solomon winds up in an orphanage operated by Stalinist forces; when German forces storm Poland, Solomon’s fluent German allows him to join the Nazis as a translator, posing as Josef Peters, an ethnic German. In time, Peters is made a member of the elite Hitler Youth, but since Solomon is circumcised, he can be easily revealed as a Jew, and he lives in constant fear that his secret will be discovered. Solomon’s close calls include an attempted seduction by Robert Kellerman (André Wilms), a homosexual officer, and his relationship with Leni (Julie Delpy), a beautiful but violently anti-Semitic woman who wants to bear his child for the glory of the master race.
Siddur Master Class
Tuesday, February 8 @ 6:30 PM- 7:30 PM
Temple Beth-El
Are you interested in getting to know the Siddur better? Join Rabbi Norry for this “master class” on the Siddur and sharpen your ability to lead and participate in prayer services! Each class will cover its own topic, from the meaning to mechanics and music of the Siddur, so join for one session and for all. No RSVP is required.
Lunchtime Torah Study
Wednesday, February 9 @ 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Temple Emanu-El
This Torah study meets via Zoom and will cover that week’s Torah portion. All levels are welcome.
My Jewish Year Book + Holiday Club
Wednesday, February 9 @ 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Temple Beth-El
Are you looking to engage with the Jewish holidays in new and creative ways? Are you interested in developing a deeper understanding of the Jewish calendar? Would you like a group of people to learn, observe, and celebrate with for this coming year? Are you busy, but would still love to be in a book club?
Over the course of the year (September 2021-September 2022) this group will be reading My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew by Abigail Pogrebin, learning about Jewish holidays and celebrating them together. This group is open to all levels of holiday knowledge and experience!
Shabbat Hilicha/Shabbat Hiking
Saturday, February 12 @ 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Temple Emanu-El
One Saturday per month, in lieu of a regular Shabbat service at Temple, we will meet at Red Mountain Park to spend Shabbat morning together. Led by Rabbi Wright and/or Cantor Wittner, we will spend one to two hours enjoying Shabbat in nature.
CJFS Senior Grocery Delivery
Sunday, February 13 @ 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
CJFS
CJFS Senior Grocery Delivery
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The Federation and Foundation have been having issues with our post office box. Please send all correspondence to our physical address at
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The Birmingham Jewish Federation
@jewishbirmingham
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