Tactics of Hamas

"Immediately after the [Israeli school] bus was hit, militants in Gaza fired at least seven mortar rounds at the area, complicating efforts to evacuate the teenager and the bus driver, an AFP correspondent said.

By early evening, the army said at least 45 mortar rounds and rockets had slammed into southern Israel, one of which scored a direct hit on a house."

From Agence France-Presse  http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/restofasia/Israel-pounds-Gaza-kills-3-after-missile-hits-bus/Article1-682513.aspx

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From Hamas.  http://qassam.ps/news-4391-Al_Qassam_declares_responsibility_for_Kfar_Saad_operation.html

Gaza-Ezzedeen Al Qassam Briades (E.Q.B) the military wing of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas declared in a military communiqué released on Thursday April 7, 201l the full responsibility for the operation of targeting Israeli bus traveling in the nearby Israeli settlement of Kfar Sa'ad east of Gaza Strip.

The operation left two Israeli settlers injured, one of them was in a critical condition and evacuated by the Israeli medical crews to Soroka hospital.

-----------------------------------

Note:  To Hamas.... all Israel is a settlement.  And all Israelis are 'settlers.'  //Mark  jcrc@dmjfed.org

 

Why Facebook took down the 3rd Intifada page

Why Facebook took down the '3rd Intifada' page, calling on people to launch a Third Palestinian intifada against Israel.

Richard Allen, Facebook’s director of policy for Europe, the Middle East and Asia:

 “Our reviewers felt that the content of the Page began as a call for peaceful protest, even though the term Intifada has been associated with violence in the past. In addition, the administrators initially removed comments that promoted violence. Under these conditions a Page of this nature would normally be permitted to remain on Facebook.

“However, after the publicity of the Page more comments deteriorated to direct calls for violence. Eventually, the administrators also participated in these calls .After administrators of the page received repeated warnings about posts that violated our policies, we removed the Page yesterday.”

Source:  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/facebook-intifada-page-removed-when-comments-deteriorated-to-direct-calls-for-violence-1.353319

Iowa City Jewish and interfaith Third Annual Mitzvah Day, April 3

From:  Rabbi Jeff Portman [mailto:jrportman@agudasachimic.org] 

 Press Release   March 28, 2011

 

From: Jeff Portman, Rabbi

Agudas Achim Congregation

602 E. Washington Street

Iowa City, IA  52240

 

What: Third Annual Mitzvah Day

When: Sunday, April 3

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Locations: Agudas Achim Synagogue and Iowa City area

Contacts: Rabbi Jeff Portman 319-337-3813 or Sue Weinberg 319-679-3120

 

What is Mitzvah Day? In Hebrew, the word “mitzvah” represents ancient laws requiring Jews to perform acts of human kindness, among other commandments. On Sunday, April 3, hundreds of people from Agudas Achim, Shulman Hillel,  Kingdom Apostolic Community Worship Center and The University of Iowa will come together to perform acts of kindness throughout the local community, across the country, and around the world in this annual service event.

 

This day of generosity and enrichment is an annual event led by the Tikun Olam Committee of Agudas Achim Congregation, Iowa City’s only synagogue, officially organized in 1916.   

 

Mitzvah Day brings together families, friends, and neighbors in the Jewish spirit of “Tikun Olam” which means “repair the world”—a commitment Jews make to community service and social action. Some of the activities taking place on Sunday include food packaging for Outreach International, a group that is sending food to Africa, a blood drive, military service correspondence, fleece blanket tying, nursing home visitation, and more. As part of the project, several collections are being taken of food, household goods, pet food and supplies, bicycles, and money, for the Crisis Center, the Iowa City Animal Shelter, the Iowa City Bike Library, and Mazon—an international Jewish organization dedicated to stamping out hunger around the world.

 

For the second year in a row, the Iowa City Jewish community will be joined by Kingdom Apostolic Community Worship Community Center, a local church currently without a building that has been using donated space in the synagogue for Sunday services. Pastor Vincent Allen and other church leaders decided to cancel services that day to join in the Mitzvah Day activities.

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

JCRC Action Alert: Help Iowa divest public funds from Iran!

A Coalitional Action Alert from the Jewish Community Relations Commission of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines     Contact: jcrc@dmjfed.org

 Dear Fellow Iowans,

 A very important piece of legislation is before us in the Iowa Legislature and a coalition of Iowans, including Veterans groups, needs your help.  Our objective is for Iowa to become the 24th state to divest specified public funds from assisting Iran's oil industry.  To do this, we ask you to contact your local State Senator --immediately -- and respectfully request that he or she votes in favor of House File 484.

   House File 484 protects our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan by instructing the public pension boards to divest our direct holdings (not co-mingled funds like mutual funds) from foreign companies that do business with Iran’s petroleum industry.  Iran’s petroleum industry is owned by the Iranian government which has direct links to the arms being used to fight and kill our troops overseas.  (Talking points on this important issue are appended to this e-mail.)

  Please email your  State Senator Today  to support House File 484 !  

Instructions:   To find your Senator and their email please follow this link: http://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/senate.aspx.  (Alternately, you can find the name of your State Senator on this map: Http://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/DistrictMaps/2011/Senate/names.jpg  ) 

 

A Sample Letter in Support of House File 484.  Remember to include your address, so you can be identified as a constitutent -- and have your letter read.

Dear Senator_______;

I am a constituent of yours and would like to voice my support for House File 484.  This bill divests direct holdings from the public pensions companies that do business with Iran’s petroleum industry.  I support the 23 other states that have supported our troops overseas by taking this action. I do not want any of Iowa taxpayers’ money going to a regime that is supplying weapons and explosive devices to American opposition in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The cost of taking this action is very minimal and regardless I do not want to see us investing in a country that is putting our troops in harm’s way.  It is my understanding that “terror-free” investing is not any less profitable. 

The bill passed the House overwhelmingly 88-3.  The bill is currently in a subcommittee whose members include Senators Kibbie, Horn and Behn and to avoid the session procedural deadlines it must pass out of Senate State Government by April 1^st. 

I hope you agree with me and vote or encourage your colleagues to vote for House File 484.

Sincerely,

Name

Address

Wed., March 23: Barry Rubin Conference Call

 

Conference Call with Dr. Barry Rubin

of the GLORIA Center.

 

Brought to you by Rabbi David Kaufman as an installment of

Rabbi Kaufman's - The Whole Megillah Podcast

 

Wednesday, March 23 at

10:00 am Central / 11:00 am Eastern

 

To Listen Live to the Call with Dr. Barry Rubin

There is no charge to listen in on the call, but the call is not toll-free.

Dial  712-432-1001

 

Enter Access Code  499558534

 

Please submit questions for Dr. Rubin to Rabbi Kaufman  

 at dkaufman@aol.com. You may do so during the live conference call  

 as well as prior to it.

 

Previous Episodes of Rabbi Kaufman's - The Whole Megillah  

 may be found at www.rabbi.mypodcast.com including a recent interview  

 with Dr. Zuhdi Jasser of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy.

 

Brief Biography of Dr. Barry Rubin

 

Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA)  

 Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal. 

  See the GLORIA/MERIA site at www.gloria-center.org.

 

An expert on politics of the Middle East, Barry Rubin maintains a blog at

www.rubinreports.blogspot.com and is a frequent contributor to the Jerusalem Post  

 among other publications. He has published numerous books including most recently 

  Lebanon: Liberation, Conflict, and Crisis.

 

 

David Jay Kaufman
Rabbi
Temple B'nai Jeshurun
Des Moines, Iowa
www.templebnaijeshurun.org
www.rabbikaufman.blogspot.com
515-274-4679
dkaufman@aol.com

www.weareforisrael.org
President and Co-Founder

Purim programming in Des Moines

Purim programming in Des Moines.  Consult your synagogue/Temple for additional information.  

 

  Community  Purim-Palooza Community Carnival  at Beth El Jacob Synagogue 

Sponsored by Beth El Jacob, Tifereth’s YAD group,  

 JFCS, The Jewish Federation and Temple B’nai Jeshurun

 Sunday, March 20th  11am — 3pm at  Beth El Jacob Synagogue   Featuring kosher lunch, costume contest, and carnival games and attractions! $10 *optional* price per

family includes lunch and bounce house entry for each child.

RSVPs VERY appreciated for food planning purposes! Email: office@betheljacob.org or call 515-

274-1551 ext 1 

 [All Tifereth YAD kids who volunteer will also receive FREE lunch.Contact Alla for more information  mikeandalla@msn.com ]

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From Beth El Jacob Synagogue:

•   Sunday, March 20th  11am — 3pm at  Beth El Jacob Synagogue : Purim-Palooza Carnival . (See above)
•  Sunday, March 20 5: 30pm at Colby Park.   Lubavitch's Judaic Resource Center and Beth El Jacob will be enjoying the Purim Seudah together at Colby Park in Windsor Heights. There is a charge for this event. Please contact the JRC for details and/or to RSVP at (515) 277-1770 
• -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

From Tifereth Israel Synagogue

  Purim Megillah Reading and Costume Parade

Saturday, March 19th at 7pm  -  Tifereth Israel SanctuaryJoin us for a dramatic reading of Megillat Esther by Cantor Linda Shivers.

Come in costume and join the parade following the reading! We’ll Sing Purim songs and enjoy some

hamantaschen.We also encourage you to bring canned food for donation to DMARC.

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From Temple B'nai Jeshurun:        MEGILLAH READING AND PURIM PARTY!   SATURDAY    6:00 PM Read The Scroll In Sanctuary   6:30 PM Children Eat In Social Hall   7:00-7:30 PM Adults Go To Bergman Mansion (Children Stay With Childcare at Temple)   7:30-9:00 PM Food & Music At Bergman Mansion (2000 Grand Avenue)   FREE Babysitting! FREE Food! FREE Fun!   Wear Costumes (If Desired) Music Provided (Sam Miller) Food & Drink Provided FREE (Contributions Gladly Welcomed)   RSVP RSVP RSVP 515-274-4679 officemanager@templebnaijeshurun.com  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Judaic Resource Center

Davening schedule at the Judaic Resource Center:   Please remember to RSVP for Purim In China Sunday, March 20th at 5:30pm. 515-277-1770 jrcspark@msn.com

Friday: Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat: 7:00 PM Shabbat: Shacharit: 9:30 AM Mincha: 7:00 PM Maariv: 8:05 PM Megilla Reading: 8:30 PM Sunday: Shacharis: 9:00 AM Parshas Zachor will be read again right before Megillah reading 1st Megilla reading (during Shachris): 9:30 AM 2nd Megilla Reading: 12:30 PM at Valley West Apartments 1800 36th St. West Des Moines 3rd Megilla Reading: 5:30 PM (followed by a grand Purim in China Celebration) Colby Park Community Center 6900 School Street Windsor Heights

 

Information distributed by the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines     Contact: jcrc@dmjfed.org

 

Join the Jewish Federation's page on FaceBook! 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Jewish-Federation-of-Greater-Des-Moines/124027370980783

 

JCPA statement on Itamar murders

From the Jewish Council For Public Affairs, online at jewishpublicaffairs.org
Heartbreaking Itamar Murders Shine Light on Incitement JCPA Mourns Tragic Deaths, Calls for PA Action and Calm From Israelis This weekend’s horrific murder of a sleeping family in the West Bank community of Itamar was a heartbreaking terrorist attack not only on Jewish Israelis, but on the peace process itself, said the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. “This vicious act was aimed at intimidating Israeli Jewish families and derailing the already fragile peace process,” said JCPA President Rabbi Steve Gutow. “My heart pours out for the Fogel family, their loved ones, and their community. All of us who remain committed to a vision of two states living in peace and security cannot help but feel an incredible sadness at this attack and the cold hearted machinations of the murderers and their supporters. We look to the Palestinian Authority to work closely with Israeli authorities to bring the killers to justice.” “We have joined with U.S. and Israeli officials in praising Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad for making progress toward preventing terrorism and instituting effective security arrangements in areas under PA control. This makes the terrorist attack in Itamar that much more shocking,” said JCPA Chair Dr. Conrad Giles. “The path to peace and reconciliation,” he continued, “requires serious effort from the PA in ending incitement, especially among school children, the most vulnerable to hateful propaganda and the most important to reach with positive lessons.” At the annual JCPA Plenum March 7th, 2011, the JCPA and its member agencies approved a resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process that called, in part, for the PA to promote security and denounce all acts of terrorism and violence. “We understand the strong passions aroused by this brutal murder, but revenge violence directed indiscriminately against Palestinians is unacceptable. We regret that some attacks reportedly have occurred,” Giles asserted. JCPA, the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community, serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 14 national and 125 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations.