Upcoming Events
Israel Action Committee
Congregation Beth Jacob has always been in the forefront of activities supporting Israel. The Israel Action Committee members strive to increase our community’s awareness of Israel’s struggle for peace and security and to facilitate pro-Israel activism in our community, media and government.
GILAD SHALIT
TRADER JOE'S
GILAD SHALIT
On the occasion of Gilad Shalit's birthday (August 28) we can make a
small but meaningful gesture to tell the world that he is not
forgotten, and to uphold the "international legitimacy" which is often
cited in vain by anti-Israel groups. Tell the International Red Cross
to fight for the right to visit Shalit, guaranteed to every prisoner of
war under the Geneva Convention.
Click here to sign a petition and show your support and join the Jewish Agency in writing to the American Red Cross, demanding his just treatment according to international humanitarian law.
Who is Gilad Shalit?
Gilad Shalit is an Israeli soldier who was captured on 25 June 2006 by Palestinian militants in a cross border raid from the Gaza Strip on the Kerem Shalom crossing (in Israel) and has been held hostage by Hamas since. Shalit is believed to be alive. Shalit, a soldier of the IDF's Armor Corps, held the rank of corporal at the time of the incident but has since been promoted to staff sergeant.
Shalit became the first Israeli soldier captured by militant Palestinian forces since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994. His abduction and the following cross border raid by Hezbollah, resulting in the abduction of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev into Lebanon, occurred prior to the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon during summer 2006. Shalit holds French citizenship, a fact that encouraged France and the European Union to be involved to some extent in the efforts to release him. Recently, he also received Italian citizenship. Hamas has barred the International Red Cross from seeing him, and has demanded the release of 450 Palestinian prisoners.
TRADER JOE'S
An Important Message from Rabbi Ezray and the Israel Action Committee
To Members of Congregation Beth Jacob,
Recently, one of our favorite stores has been stocking a small number of Israeli products only to be met with vandalism and protests by anti-Israel activists. This store is Trader Joe’s.
Anti-Israel protestors have rallied at local Trader Joe stores throughout the Bay Area and bombarded customers and store managers with anti-Israel propaganda. These activists have been vandalizing the Israeli products by disfiguring them with labels depicting an Israeli orange that is half a hand grenade and stickers that read “Don’t Buy into Apartheid; Boycott Israeli Goods.” This issue has come to light with a highly disturbing video on YouTube. Click here to view this video. Please view this video and see why it is so imperative for all of us to act now. This is a deliberate campaign to employ boycott, divestment, and sanction initiatives against Israel to delegitimize our right to a Jewish nation and State.
As a local Jewish community, we should show our support to Trader Joe’s by buying these high-quality and delicious products along with our regular groceries for the week. We will be helping not only Trader Joe’s but Israel too.
Let us join our friends at Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame, Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo, and Peninsula Sinai Congregation in Foster City. We invite you and your family to visit your local Trader Joe’s store on
Sunday, August 23, at 11:00 a.m.
and then again on Wednesday, August 26, at 7:00 p.m.
and buy these great products. We hope to have as many people there as possible to thank the Managers and Assistant Managers for their support and for stocking Israeli products.
Our goal is to support Trader Joe’s and to show our deep appreciation that they continue to stock Israeli products and for not bowing to the pressure of anti-Israel organizations and sentiments.
Please join us on one of these very important days at your local Trader Joe’s.
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1820 S. Grant St., San Mateo
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1482 El Camino Real, San Carlos
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720 Menlo Avenue, Menlo Park
The products from Israel are:
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Harvest Grains Israeli Couscous
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Pastures of Eden Feta Cheese
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Dorot garlic, cilantro and basil cubes (frozen food section)
In addition, Beth Jacob will be purchasing the Pastures of Eden Feta Cheese from Trader Joe’s and serving it at many of our dairy Kiddush luncheons and other events.
Let us stand together and with our hearts, our feet, and our dollars help Israel.