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Prime
Minister Sharon Declares Heightened
Jewish Identity Crucial for the Security of Israel
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Rabbi Yitzchak Rosenbaum
National Jewish Outreach Program
646-871-4444 ext 24
yr@njop.org
Prime
Minister Sharon Declares Heightened Jewish Identity Crucial for
the
Security of Israel
New
York, NY, July 23, 2001 – In an unprecedented endorsement of
the work of the National Jewish Outreach Program, the Prime Minister
of Israel, Ariel
Sharon, startled a large group of guests and community leaders when
he told them that the most important thing that the Jews outside
of Israel can do to support the State of Israel is to remain Jewish
and become more Jewishly committed. The special June 24th gathering,
hosted by Mr. Sam Domb and Mr. Jack Avital at New York City’s
Harmonie Club, was an opportunity for Mr. Domb to bring together
his close personal friend, Prime Minister Sharon, and the much admired
Jewish leader, Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, Founder and Director of the
National Jewish Outreach Program.
Mr.
Sharon called the efforts of the National Jewish Outreach Program
to
keep America’s Jews Jewish “crucial,” and urged every
Jew in America to
learn the Hebrew language and to study the Bible. “You know
that I am not
personally very observant,” said the Prime Minister. “Most
of you in this
room are far more observant than I, but the need to maintain one’s
Jewish
identity, especially outside of Israel, is crucial. The work that
the
National Jewish Outreach Program and Rabbi Buchwald are doing must
be
furthered and supported.”
While
many Jewish leaders have called on Diaspora Jews to financially
support the State of Israel, this was undoubtedly the first time
that an
Israeli Prime Minister has spoken so forcefully about the central
role that
a strong Jewish identity plays in Diaspora Jewry’s commitment
to the State
of Israel. The goal of strengthening Israel through educating the
Jewish
people has always been one of Mr. Domb’s primary beliefs, and
hearing Prime Minister Sharon confirm that belief with his ringing
endorsement of the National Jewish Outreach Program gave Mr. Domb
great pleasure and served as a vindication of his indefatigable
support for NJOP.
On
behalf of Mr. Domb, Mr. Avital and the National Jewish Outreach
Program, Rabbi Buchwald and Jack Avital presented the Prime Minister
with a silver menorah inscribed with a prayerful verse, “And
You [G-d] shall give peace to the land, and to all its inhabitants.”
The Prime Minister graciously thanked them for the gift and promised
to display the menorah prominently in his office.
The
National Jewish Outreach Program was established in 1987 by Rabbi
Ephraim Buchwald and has become one of the largest and most successful
Jewish outreach organizations in the world, offering free “Crash
Courses” in
Hebrew Reading and Basic Judaism, Turn Friday Night Into Shabbat
programs, Beginners Services, and Shabbat Across America/Canada
and Read Hebrew America/Canada campaigns at more than 3,300* locations
across North America, and in 27 countries worldwide. Through these
innovative programs and the acclaimed Jewish consciousness raising
advertising campaigns, NJOP has successfully reached more than 600,000*
North American Jews and engaged them in Jewish life. * figures as
of 6/01
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