March 4, 2002 Vol. 4, No. 8

Urge House Members to Sign Letter Condemning Terrorism: In light of the terrible events in Israel this past weekend, it is very important that member agencies contact Members of the House of Representatives and urge them to sign the Waxman-Ros-Lehtinen letter to President Bush. As we explained in the memo of February 28, 2002, the letter urges President Bush to add the Al Aqsa Brigade, the Tanzim, and Force 17 to the U.S. list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The Al Aqsa Brigade has claimed responsibility for this weekend's suicide bombing.

Head’s Up: JCPA Chair Michael Bohnen is scheduled to participate in a meeting tomorrow in Washington D.C. with President Mubarak of Egypt.

Foreign Ministry Materials in Other Languages: The Israeli Foreign Ministry publishes information about Israel in many languages including: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, and Russian. These materials may be very useful when cultivating support for Israel among Latinos and other ethnic groups. The list of publications available in different languages can be accessed at http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH010w0.

New Op-Ed Pieces for Israel Advocacy: We are pleased to share with you several new items related to the Middle East crisis and the recent Saudi peace proposal. Yitzhak Santis, Middle East Affairs Director at the San Francisco JCRC, wrote an op-ed piece for the Jewish Bulletin of Northern California entitled "This time, Divestment is an Anti-Peace Movement" (http://www.jewishsf.com/jb/comm2.shtmlupdated). Jay Tcath, Director of the Chicago JCRC, published an article entitled "Pointers on Judging the Media, Advocating for Israel," which is online http://www.juf.org/news_public_affairs/article.asp?key=2994. Finally, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs has published an issue brief analyzing the Saudi peace proposal, which can be accessed at www.jcpa.org.

"Fujifilm Map" Myth: The JCPA continues to receive numerous inquiries regarding an e-mail that has recently been circulating. This e-mail claims that, in order to entice Arab customers, Fujifilm stores outside the United States are providing customers with complimentary world maps that omit Israel as a country in the Middle East. The e-mail links Fuji with Subaru cars and calls for a general boycott of both companies. After careful investigation, the Anti-Defamation League has found these allegations to be false and merely another Internet hoax. Also, it was determined that the e-mail wrongly links Fujifilm Co. with Fuji-Subaru international, the manufacturers of Subaru cars. Fujifilm Co. has issued a statement saying that it never authorized the distribution or production of a map of this kind, and that they found that one third-party distributor of its products in the Ivory Coast had created a calendar with such a map and used the Fujifilm logo without permission. As soon as it learned of the problem, Fujifilm took measures to stop the distribution of these calendars. For Fujifilm's full statement please go to http://www.adl.org/rumors/fuji_rumors.asp

In Congress this Week: The Senate will continue working this week on legislation to tighten election standards, energy policy, and possibly campaign finance reform. The House will consider legislation to extend unemployment benefits beyond the standard 26 weeks. The House Budget Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary are both scheduled to hear from Secretary of State Colin Powell. The discussions on the fight against terrorism continue with a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the nuclear threat posed by terrorists; a House Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on the National Security Agency’s counterterrorism programs; and a hearing on the federal government’s ability to respond to terrorism crises held by the Military Procurement Subcommittee of the House Armed Services. Elsewhere on the Hill, legislators will discuss homeless assistance programs, welfare time limits and work requirements, and the causes and potential remedies for the economic crisis in Argentina.

Community Sederim Listings: The Passover Seder begins with the phrase, "Let all who are hungry come and eat." But finding a Seder that welcomes the public is not always easy. This year, UJC is posting information on its website (www.ujc.org) about Seders (Sederim) that are open to the public in communities across the country. To add your Seder to the list, submit the following information to sederinfo@ujc.org: city, state, name of host organization, date, time, cost, and contact information (phone number or email address). Sederim will be listed alphabetically by state and community.

Passover Project: Help End Slavery in Sudan: This Passover, as we recall our own slavery in Egypt, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism suggests that communities and congregations commit to take action against state-sponsored slavery in Sudan. Under the direction of the Sudanese government, millions of people have been forced from their homes, maimed, enslaved, and killed. There are many ways to make a difference. Urge your members of Congress and President Bush to enact a strong version of the Sudan Peace Act, which was endorsed at the 2001 JCPA Plenum; raise money to redeem those taken captive; and educate members of your communities and congregations about modern-day slavery. Background information, Seder readings, educational material, program ideas, a sample sermon, and much more can be accessed on the web at: www.rac.org/passover.html.

"Walk So They Can Read": Members of Congress are planning to participate in the Spring Walk for Afghanistan on the morning of Wednesday March 6^th at the Capitol. The walk is part of the literacy campaign started by the United States Committee for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). UNIFEM has started a program to raise funds for the empowerment of Women and Girls in Afghanistan called "Walk So They Can Read." [The 2002 JCPA Plenum adopted a resolution drafted by Hadassah that focused on the need to address the needs of women in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world.] Only 3 percent of Afghan women are literate. Therefore, UNIFEM is inviting men and women of all ages to raise funds by walking, running or biking, to ensure that Afghan women will not only have the opportunity to educate themselves, but their daughters as well. With a minimum donation of $5 to walk, participants are asked to gather other pledges and donations. The walk is done on an individual basis; you set the date and the place, but it must be completed between March 1^st and May 31^st. For more information email uscommitteeunifem@counterpart.org or visit www.uscommitteeforunifem.org.

Jewish Council for Public Affairs
443 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10016
info@thejcpa.org
212-684-6950 212-686-1353 fax

Jewish Council for Public Affairs
443 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
212 684-6950
212-686-1353 fax
contactus@thejcpa.org