COMMUNITY
The Jewish Journal - September 2011 16 Elul - 14 Tishri
To Be Or Not To Be...
www.ocjj.net 7
a Latino army of coming together with the Jews, with one purpose in mind, to defend and protect Israel.” Brog and the two Pastors were questioned about the hate being taught to the Palestinian youth and whether CUFI has ever discussed or has taken any action on the issue. Brog responded that they view the incitement in textbooks as an issue of concern. He said “we generally try to look at three issues for the Hill. We have taken a look at this incitement and we may make it an issue.”
Deputy Chief of Staff Timothy Lynagh talking to CUFI members. Continued from page 6
of the way Congress views Israel.” Just as the Jewish community educates the community about Israel, through rabbinical teaching and periodicals, the speakers stressed that the same needs to be done to our elected officials. The Pastors reiterated the same idea regarding their Latino and African-American communities. Pastor Ortiz, Senior Pastor of the Christian church Iglesia Internacional Cristo Vive, located in Miami, Florida, said “we
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have to go and build a bridge of communication for knowledge.” He then quoted the verse from Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. He said that during his sermons he explains to his congregation that “The Jewish community can explain Judaism without mentioning Christianity, but we cannot explain Christianity without mentioning Judaism. That is why we are Judeo-Christians.” He added “this Summit is our opportunity as
The question also triggered an immediate response from the Pastors. Pastor Stevens addressed the issue from a standpoint of making an impact, teaching people how to care for one’s neighbor. He said “one of the things that I often share is that because I am pro-Israel doesn’t mean I’m anti-Palestine. The Bible says “own man nothing but love”. We know there are Palestine Christians in the Middle East.” It appeared the group was interested in taking an aggressive stance on the issue. Brog said “this year we said that if the Palestinians pursue the unilateral declaration and a treaty with Hamas, we should stop the funding. If they continue to teach hate and incitement, then we should cut the aid.”
Brog finalized the press conference saying: “this is obviously a problem. If there is ever going to be peace in the region, you cannot have one side teaching its children to hate and delegitimize the other side. Israelis don’t do it. Maybe one day it will be one of our issues. It is very much on our radar.”
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Every year on the last day of the Summit, the attendants visit their Senate and Congressional elected officials to express support for Israel and ask questions about specific legislation. One of the Summit sessions is specifically about the legislations and issues they’ll discuss with the politicians they will visit.
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On July 20, attendees from Ocean County went to visit NJ U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, NJ U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and NJ U.S. Representative Chris Smith. That day most of the politicians were in an emergency session and could not meet with the visitors, but when Rep. Smith’s Chief of Staff, Mary Noonan, heard there was a contingency from New Jersey she came off the floor to say hello. Deputy Chief of Staff Timothy Lynagh also took time to meet with some of the constituents who were not discouraged because representatives were unavailable. They talked about House Resolution 268 and Senate Resolution 185. Both reaffirm the United States’ commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and declares that Palestinian efforts to gain recognition of a state outside direct negotiations demonstrates the absence of a good faith commitment to peace negotiations, which will have implications for continued United States aid. Congressman Smith voted in favor of H. Res. 268 and supports all current aid to Israel. Jeff Sagnip, Smith’s Public Policy Director, shared the following comments from the Congressman: “Israel has repeatedly given up land in an effort to foster peace. Yet, it has enjoyed not a day of what any reasonable person would call ‘peace.’ The Sinai it returned to Egypt in the 1970s in exchange for Anwar Sadat’s recognition of Israel’s right to exist could once again -if it comes under a more radical government than its predecessorsbe used as a launching pad for war. Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza, land Egypt did not want back, in 2005. For that gesture of peace, Hamas, the current rulers of Gaza, responded by firing rockets into civilian areas of Israel. The U.S. Congress and U.S. Administration must fully support the people of Israel and their right to a future of security and stability as a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians is sought.”
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