What is Hasbara?

The word 'hasbara' means educated information. Hasbara is a word from the Hebrew language and is the noun form of the verb l'hasbir which means 'to explain' or 'to account for'. It was originally connected to the official position of the Israeli Government. For this reason, it acquired a connotation of propaganda.  However, the word is now used in a broader sense and has come to mean 'explaining Israel's case.'  One task of the Advocacy for Israel Committee is to confront all forms of anti-Semitism and gross misinterpretation about Israel that appear in various media around the world. In addition to this, we will address the issue of basic values, the underpinnings of Western civilization which are becoming unhinged day-by-day for purely political purposes. Our purpose is to educate ourselves, our congregation, and our community on issues about Israel and the Jewish people. For example, a current pressing concern is the political agenda of the Palestinians and some Islamic nations. They claim they want to rid the 'West Bank' (an area they already control) of 'The Occupier.' However what they really mean is to rid the entire region west of the Jordan River (which is all of Israel) of 'The Occupier.' (Source: The Israel Hasbara Committee)

Start the New Year off right: Ten Things you can do for Israel

Make 5765 a special year by devoting one hour per week to Israeli advocacy! 1. Make a contribution to the Israel Emergency Campaign through your local federation, buy Israeli bonds, and support the JNF 2. Write or e-mail the President and your congressional representatives. You can E-mail President Bush at president@whitehouse.gov. Find your legislators' e-mail addresses at www.vote-smart.org/index.phtml. In the subject line write "Thank you for your support of Israel." 3. Buy Israeli products through http://www.shopinisrael.com/ 4. Learn the facts, and educate others. Visit the Israeli government's Web site (http://www.mfa.gov.il/) and American Jewish organizations' Web sites (www.ujc.org, http://www.adl.org/) Speak in your own community. 5. Challenge media coverage of Israel. Call radio talk shows, write letters to the editor, speak out in chat rooms. For information on contacting the media, go to www.honestreporting.com/a/contact.asp 6. Reach out to individual Israelis. Go to the web site http://www.onefamilyfund.org/index to help families of recent terror victims. 7. Go to Israel. 8. Express solidarity with Israel: Wear a blue ribbon or pin, display a flag, sing Hatikvah. Participate in community events 9. Write a letter to boost the morale of an Israeli soldier: Letter to Soldier, POB 92, Jerusalem 91000, Israel, fax to 972-2-621-6133/6214, or e-mail as an attachment to lettertosoldier@jazo.org.il. 10. Join something Jewish. Connect locally with a project that helps build Israel. Volunteer your time, spirit and talents to the world Jewish community.

Advocacy for Israel Committee Information

The Advocacy for Israel Committee was formed in September of 2001 to organize pro-Israeli activities and to rally support in the form of Hasbara. The A Team’s next meeting is Sunday October 31 at 9:45 am in the CBI Atrium. Please join us and make a difference for Israel! See the reverse for news on an exciting speaker coming to CBI on next Monday, September 27. For more information, email A Team Chairmen Jay Epstein (jhe@tampabay.rr.com) or Sheldon Scheinert (Sheldo123@aol.com), or call the CBI office at 381-4900.

Speaking out for Israel so that "Never Again" shall Jewish silence lead to an indifferent world