B\'nai Brith Canada President Rochelle Wilner has announced that the group\'s first national officers\' meeting under her presidency will be held in Jerusalem a few weeks from now. \"Now more than ever it is important for Canadian Jews to express their solidarity [with Israel] in tangible ways,\" she said. \"[We must visit] Israel to show that we are one people and that we truly stand together when under attack... [T]ogether we can demonstrate our unity and commitment to the People and to the Land of Israel.\"
Comments on the Reform Movement\'s decision to cancel its youth trip to Israel this summer:
\"While I understand parental concerns, something doesn\'t add up: Why does CNN have more of an impact on you than we do? We have been bringing Jewish youth to Israel, in good times and in bad, for over fifty years! When the teenager does not come to Israel, what is he or she going to do this summer? Is he or she going to be in a safe, supervised environment around the clock?
\"The young people of Taglit (Birthright) who are presently touring Israel are full of joy, excitement, and pride in being here at this time. They, along with the thousands who do opt to come this summer, will go back to their communities with a very vital message. Like the young Jews who came from across the world at other times (sometimes engaging in mundane tasks), they will hold their heads high for the rest of their lives...\"
- Rabbi Paul Freedman, Former Director of United Synagogue Youth
\"As much as I would love to wrap my loved ones in bubble wrap and Styrofoam in order to protect them, I cannot... Not sending your child to Israel? How about funding someone who wants to come but cannot afford it?\"
-- Yaakov Kessler, who immigrated to Israel with his family in 1995
“The next time Diaspora Jews tell us to either withdraw from this or that hill or not withdraw from this or that hill, or advise to either go to war or not go to war, we should remember that they are not really part of the State of Israel and that, therefore, their right to determine our fate borders on nil.”
-- Maariv newspaper editorial, June 12, 2001
“Instead of drawing [Diaspora leaders] closer to us, we are forcibly pushing them away... We demand solidarity from them but hasten to serve them with divorce papers.”
-- Yediot Acharonot newspaper editorial, June 12, 2001
“While Israel should not be dragged into angry name-calling with either Jewish leaders overseas or organizations, for many Israelis, the bitter taste of disappointment in their overseas brethren will not quickly dissipate.”
-- HaTzofeh newspaper editorial, June 12, 2001
Comments on the Reform Movement\'s decision to cancel its youth trip to Israel this summer:
\"While I understand parental concerns, something doesn\'t add up: Why does CNN have more of an impact on you than we do? We have been bringing Jewish youth to Israel, in good times and in bad, for over fifty years! When the teenager does not come to Israel, what is he or she going to do this summer? Is he or she going to be in a safe, supervised environment around the clock?
\"The young people of Taglit (Birthright) who are presently touring Israel are full of joy, excitement, and pride in being here at this time. They, along with the thousands who do opt to come this summer, will go back to their communities with a very vital message. Like the young Jews who came from across the world at other times (sometimes engaging in mundane tasks), they will hold their heads high for the rest of their lives...\"
- Rabbi Paul Freedman, Former Director of United Synagogue Youth
\"As much as I would love to wrap my loved ones in bubble wrap and Styrofoam in order to protect them, I cannot... Not sending your child to Israel? How about funding someone who wants to come but cannot afford it?\"
-- Yaakov Kessler, who immigrated to Israel with his family in 1995
“The next time Diaspora Jews tell us to either withdraw from this or that hill or not withdraw from this or that hill, or advise to either go to war or not go to war, we should remember that they are not really part of the State of Israel and that, therefore, their right to determine our fate borders on nil.”
-- Maariv newspaper editorial, June 12, 2001
“Instead of drawing [Diaspora leaders] closer to us, we are forcibly pushing them away... We demand solidarity from them but hasten to serve them with divorce papers.”
-- Yediot Acharonot newspaper editorial, June 12, 2001
“While Israel should not be dragged into angry name-calling with either Jewish leaders overseas or organizations, for many Israelis, the bitter taste of disappointment in their overseas brethren will not quickly dissipate.”
-- HaTzofeh newspaper editorial, June 12, 2001