OU Galvanizes Support for Israel
In concert with other major American Jewish groups, the Orthodox Union has been heavily channeling its resources in support of Israel during the past few weeks:

Washington, DC
Mindful of our huge reach in the Orthodox community, the OU made a major push to bring our constituency to the Israel Solidarity Rally in Washington, DC, on Monday, April 15. It paid off. Although Orthodox Jewry makes up perhaps 10% of the American Jewish community, as the Forward reported last week “Orthodox Jews were disproportionately represented among the 100,000-plus participants.…” The New York Jewish Week noted that many observers placed that representation at greater than 50%.   Naturally, our OU/IPA Washington office was heavily involved in the logistics of the rally, but OU headquarters also took on the role of information clearinghouse for the transportation, including the 1,200 buses that brought people to Washington. As synagogues, schools and other organizations informed us of their plans, we posted all this information on our website www.ou.org. Individual visits to our site, which usually average about 50,000 per week, peaked at over 87,000 by week’s end. Our valiant office staff fielded thousands of calls, directing individuals to locations where we knew the buses had empty seats, taking reservations for charter flights, and otherwise marshalling the troops to get them to Washington.

New York, NY
But a political statement is only half of the effort--tefilla (prayer) is the more important side of the coin. Joining with other Orthodox organizations, including Agudat Yisrael, the Rabbinical Council of America, Young Israel and several more, the OU organized a massive Tefilla Gathering in downtown Manhattan on Sunday, April 21. Over 50,000 men, women and children assembled to daven Mincha, say tehillim and recite selections of selichot in an orderly and dignified manner.   The tefillot were led by Rabbi Syshe Heschel, a member of the Orthodox Union’s kashrut supervisory staff and a descendant of a distinguished hasidic family. With a podium at the center point, the men’s section to the north and the women’s section to the south stretched as far as the eye could see. To see photos of this extraordinary event, visit http://www.ou.org/events/5762/tefgathering/default.htm.   The OU/IPA was one of the sponsors of a rally attended by nearly 20,000 members of the Russian immigrant community on Sunday, April 28 in Brooklyn, NY. Governor George Pataki and Senator Charles Schumer were among those who addressed the crowd. The moving statement of one Jew of Russian origin best expressed their enthusiasm: “When I could not emigrate from the Soviet Union, Jews here demonstrated for me. Now it is our turn to stand up and demonstrate our solidarity with Israel.”   OU synagogues in many other cities have been instrumental in organizing their own local rallies and tefilla services for Israel.

Website is Information and Inspiration Central
The OU website, www.ou.org, continues to be a source of both information and inspiration concerning the matzav (situation) in Israel. From letter writing campaigns to a shopping mall for Israeli products, it provides ideas and opportunities for those who want to help. The number of messages on the Israel/Diaspora Message Board (http://www.ou.org/israel/message/mboard2.htm) has increased dramatically in recent weeks, as Israelis post first-hand accounts of their experiences on the front lines, and Jews (as well as many non-Jews) around the world send messages of support and encouragement. It’s worthwhile reading and adding your own note.

Action Alert from the IPA
The IPA calls upon all OU members and friends to support resolutions being circulated by Senators Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) and by Representatives Tom DeLay (R-TX) and Tom Lantos (D-CA), which express solidarity with Israel, reaffirm Israel’s right to self-defense, support additional defense assistance for Israel, and condemn Palestinian terror. It is imperative that you immediately contact your Senators (call 202.224.3121) and ask them to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 247, as well as your Representatives (call 202.225.3121) and ask them to co-sponsor House Resolution 392.  See also the action alert on our website, www.ou.org  (click on IPA, then Action Alerts), or call (212) 613-8123.  

AROUND THE OU

Orthodox Groups Double Support in Elections to Zionist Congress
Responding to an urgent campaign by the OU and other Orthodox groups, voters in the recent Zionist elections selected 29 delegates representing the Religious Zionist Movement, nearly doubling its representation from 16 seats five years ago. The 34th Zionist Congress, meeting in Jerusalem in June, will determine how the World Zionist Organization’s $350 million budget is spent on immigration, absorption, and religious, political and educational programs throughout the world. Harvey Blitz, OU president, will lead the OU delegation. Thank you to all who voted and made a difference.

Kharkov
Close to one thousand people participated in some aspect of the Passover programming, reports Rabbi Shlomo Asraf, director of the OU Joseph K. Miller Torah Center in Kharkov, Ukraine. Sedarim were held in the nearby small towns of Poltava and Sumi, as well as in Kharkov itself. Hundreds of high school and college students took part in the various learning opportunities and shabbatonim held in preparation for the holiday. For many, there was no possibility of eating kosher for Passover food in their homes, and the Center provided food and utensils for them for the entire holiday. Some 15 young Americans, who are currently learning in Israeli yeshivot, came to Kharkov to help the resident shlichim with the Pesach preparations and activities.

Therapeutic Cloning Supported by OU and RCA
A working group of halachic, legal, public policy and other experts, assembled by the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America, recently issued a report and  statement in support of therapeutic cloning. “If cloning technology advances our ability to heal humans with greater success,” the statement reads, “it ought to be pursued-but only, it must be emphasized, for therapeutic purposes. The OU and the RCA therefore advocate that the government create “a fully funded and empowered oversight body comprised of scientists and ethicists. . . to monitor this research.” Distributed by the Associated Press, this story was reported by over one hundred newspapers around North America. For the complete text of the statement, visit http://www.ou.org/public/publib/cloninglet.htm. The OU has also expressed support for the bipartisan “Human Cloning Prohibition Act” in the Senate.

Honorees Announced for 104th Anniversary National Dinner
Invitations are in the mail for this year’s National Dinner, on Monday, June 3rd at New York’s Grand Hyatt Hotel (please note: it’s on a Monday!). Terrence Augenbraun, OU Regional Vice President for New England and Dinner Chairman, has announced that the honorees will be OU Senior Vice President Steve Savitsky and his wife Genie, who will receive the Keter Shem Tov Award; Rabbi Menachem Genack, Rabbinic Administrator of the OU Kashrut Division, recipient of the National Distinguished Rabbinic Leadership Award; Edward S. Goldstein of Parkside Memorial Chapels, receiving the Distinguished Community Service Award; and Susan Natalia & Neil Thalheim, founders of the Israel Emergency Solidarity Fund-One Family, who will be presented with the National Israel Award. For more information, to make reservations or to place a journal ad, please call Malka Laks at 212.613.8144, or fax 212.613.0744.

West Coast Dinner
The West Coast Region of the OU and NCSY will hold their Annual Awards Banquet on Monday, June 17, 2002 at the Sephardic Temple in Westwood. Rabbi Daniel and Judith Arnall will be presented with the Community Service Chesed Award; Rabbi Gabriel and Helen Elias will be honored with the Rabbinic Leadership Award; Lisa Stern, Esq. will be the recipient of the Public Service Award; and the Community Leadership Award will be presented to Yakov and Sylvia Yellin. For more information, to make reservations or to place a journal ad, call the West Coast office at 310.229.9000, ext. 3.

Israel Missions
Recent publicity concerning the OU’s Israel Missions in Synagogue Trends and Leadership Briefing, as well as on the OU website, has elicited a marked increase in the number of telephone calls and e-mails requesting information on organizing individual synagogue/community missions, as well as many requests for information on our next OU/RCA Israel Solidarity Mission, scheduled for July 21st through 28th. To find out more, call Richard Stareshefsky at 212.613.8171, or e-mail him at richard@ou.org.

AROUND NCSY

West Coast Region
A recent shabbaton in Vancouver attracted 170 teens, shattering the previous record of 115. The teens discussed the situation in Israel and what they could do about it. Over half of the participants were from public school, and one wrote: “Thank you so much for the incredible shabbaton last weekend. It was amazing. I had so much fun.. . .  I learned a lot, and was very inspired.”

Etz Chaim (New Jersey) Region
Some 50 NCSYers and staff spent April 17-21 in Washington, DC, on a program initiated more than 10 years ago by an NCSYer from Spring Valley, NY-Ryan Karben, who is now (at the tender age of 28) the majority leader of the Rockland County Legislature, a member of the Etz Chaim NCSY Youth Commission and a candidate for New York State Legislature. Meeting with both of New Jersey’s senators, as well as with other congressmen and government officials, the youngsters lobbied for resolutions condemning European anti-Semitism and in support of keeping US foreign aid from the Palestinian Authority and its agencies. Local Rabbis Barry Freundel, of the Kesher Israel Congregation, and Jack Bieler, of the Kemp Mill Synagogue, also addressed them, as did Richard Joel, president of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, who spoke on the concept of leadership.

www.ou.org