MERCAZ Newsletter - Fall 2001

FROM MY VANTAGE POINT / Evelyn Seelig, President

On Sunday, September 23, 2001, a "Solidarity Rally with the People of Israel" was scheduled for New York City that would have attracted Jews from across North America and beyond. However, due to the terrible atrocities committed on September 11th at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the rally for Israel was canceled, and in its place, a memorial service was held at Yankee Stadium to mourn the bombing victims and to pay tribute to the men and women of the New York Police and Fire Departments.

This is clearly a time when all Americans, whatever their religion or country of origin, need to stand together, and I have no doubt, during the days and weeks ahead as our country undertakes the appropriate actions to combat international terrorism, that we will continue to stand together. The near future may be a difficult one, but I am confident that we have the resolve to see this mission through to its end.

As Americans adjust to the reality of terrorism on our shores, there is much that Israelis can teach us about how to react when confronted with such horrendous events. The main lesson is to go on with life as we had lived it before. Those of us who have been in Israel over the past twelve months know that everyone is committed to living life as normally as possible. A good example of this is the rebuilding of the Sbarro Pizza Restaurant in Jerusalem, just a month after the tragic bombing. Ironically, the official re-opening ceremony took place on Wednesday, September 12th, just as we were waking up to the reality of the massive destruction that had occurred in this country. Just as in Israel, we too must demonstrate to the terrorists that our way of life is larger than what they destroyed.

Evelyn Seelig registers to vote on-line.

As we engage in the review of the past year, it is clear that the Palestinian violence of the past twelve months has renewed our deep concern about the security of the Jewish State and the Jewish People. Gone from the Jewish community are the discussions as to whether we had entered into the era of "post-Zionism". Once again, Israelis and Diaspora Jewry are responding "We Are One." We are all Jews, we are all Zionists, we are all one and we speak with one voice!

But how in reality can we demonstrate that "We Are One"? How is it possible for Israelis and Diaspora Jews to speak with one voice? The one arena that brings Israelis and Diaspora Jews together and that enables us all to affirm our oneness is the World Zionist Congress, the international gathering that takes place every five years. And while even the largest convention center could not have room for every Jew, all of us will be present at the 34th World Zionist Congress, which is taking place in June 2002, by registering to vote for the American Zionist elections that are currently taking place.

This is the one way that American Jewry can cast a vote of support for Israel. This is also the one way that Conservative Jews can insure that our Movement and institutions enjoy fair access to the Jewish Agency for Israel, one of the few sources of financial support that, unlike the Israeli Government, is not in the hands of the Orthodox. By registering to vote and supporting MERCAZ USA, you will help in the fight to expand the financial support for the programs and institutions of the Conservative/Masorti Movement in Israel and throughout the Diaspora, such as the Masorti synagogues, the Schechter Institute, the TALI school network, the United Synagogue Youth’s Israel Pilgrimage, Camp Ramah’s Israel Seminar and many other worthy projects.

Don’t put off registering to vote! Whether you are comfortable with the notion of on-line registration or prefer to print out and mail in a voter’s application, visit the MERCAZ USA website, www.mercazusa.org, to facilitate your registration. Remember that every American Jew, who is 18 years and older, is eligible to vote. We are counting on you. Do it today!