The Israel Subcommittee has helped to organize several activities since its creation a couple of years ago, including: 1) an annual Israel Independence Day party; 2) fund-raising efforts to help needy children in Israel; 3) a “pen pal” initiative involving 5th graders in Israel and their counterparts in the Temple Israel Religious School; 4) an Israeli Roundtable, which featured Israelis living in Tallahassee discussing current issues in Israel; and 5) a book discussion involving Israeli issues.
In developing programs, the Subcommittee considers the following topics, among others:
1) The need for/importance of Israel for Jews; 2) Threats to Israel; 3) The importance of helping Israel and some options for doing so; 4) Issues relating to Reform Judaism in Israel; and 5) Monitoring the media and responding to inaccuracies and misleading articles.
The Subcommittee encourages participation in its activities of the entire Jewish community of Tallahassee, as well as others interested in the Subcommittee’s work. To date, the Subcommittee has made special efforts to reach out to members of the other Jewish congregations in Tallahassee, including Shomrei Torah; to the Tallahassee Jewish Federation, which has been a strong supporter of the Subcommittee’s efforts; and to Hillel and other Jewish organizations at FSU, including Friends of Israel.
News from Israel Subcommittee
The Israel Subcommittee is ready for another exciting year working to strengthen ties between Israel and Tallahassee.Once again, we’ll do various social action and other activities, including our annual Chanukah fund drive to help needy children in Israel.This is Israel’s 60th anniversary, and we’re looking forward to working with the Jewish community in Tallahassee and others to celebrate this important milestone.If you’re interested in joining us, please contact Dave Markell, at dmark123@comcast.net
As always, there are lots of interesting developments in Israel that have the potential to protect the environment and advance human health, despite the security challenges the country faces.For example, a September 2007 article in the electronic newsletter Israel 21C, entitledIsraeli photovoltaic cells to produce inexpensive electricity, summarizes an Israeli invention of a photovoltaic cell that could”mark the beginning of a whole new path that combines independence from fossil fuels with a greener, more sustainable future."To sign up for free weekly versions of the newsletter and track exciting innovations of this sort, go to http://www.newparadigmforisrael.org/programs/Newslettersignup/signup.asp
In January 2006, Tallahassee welcomed its third sister city into the family. Read about our recent sister-city partnership with Ramat Hasharon (a city that lies north of Tel Aviv in Israel).
