January 31, 2002

MEMORANDUM

To:       Rabbis, Synagogue Leaders, Community Members

From:   Richard B. Stone, Chairman
             Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International and Communal Affairs

In the spirit of Hakarat Hatov, it is important that we thank President Bush for the strong support for Israel he has demonstrated very clearly in recent remarks and pronouncements and in his State of the Union address.  His strong commitment to fighting the war against terrorism at home and abroad should be applauded as well as his specific mention of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad as terrorist groups.  Below is a sample letter expressing commendation which you may choose to use or adapt.  We strongly recommend that synagogue leadership and community members write to the White House by fax or e-mail.

Sample Letter:

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you for your strong support of America’s most reliable ally and only democracy in the Middle East, Israel.  Your strong commitment to fighting the war against terrorism at home and abroad should serve as an example to all world governments who cherish freedom and who understand the dangers of this global scourge.  We praise your condemnation of the terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad, who are financed and fostered by Iran.  We applaud and support your demands that Yassir Arafat and the Palestinian Authority live up to the commitments that they made to renounce, cease, and prevent terrorist attacks and to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.

We thank you for your leadership on working to stop Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and of other weapons of mass destruction.  Iran’s continued support for terrorist groups and her race to acquire weapons of mass destruction threaten not only countries in the Middle East but many countries all over the world.

Once again, thank you for your outstanding leadership in the global battle against terrorism which has united our country and freedom-loving nations the world over.  We wish you the strength and the courage to continue to lead our nation in the fight to protect our freedom and in standing up for our ally, Israel.

Sincerely,

Letters should be sent to:

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Fax:  (202) 456-2461
E-mail:  president@whitehouse.gov

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Institute for Public Affairs

Prof. Richard Stone, Chairman
Nathan Diament, Director
Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International Affairs & Communal Relations

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