Contact: Rosa Hollander
(212) 929-1525, ext. 114
rhollander@youngisrael.org
www.youngisrael.org
National Council of Young Israel:
“We raise our voices for Jerusalem”
New York, NY - October 16, 2007 - The National Council of Young Israel,
representing more than 150 community synagogues in North America and 50
communities in Israel, charged its constituent rabbinic leaders, and members
of other Rabbinic organizations to speak out in support of a united
Jerusalem.
“Today, we must raise our voices at the thought of losing our united capital
of Jerusalem,” wrote Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Executive Vice President of the
National Council of Young Israel, and Rabbi Neil Winkler of the Young Israel
of Fort Lee, New Jersey, in a letter intended for spiritual leaders and
members of Young Israel and non-Young Israel synagogues (text below)
To defend against any proposal to divide Jerusalem, Young Israel advised its
Rabbis and affiliates to expound on the absolute unity of Jerusalem in their
sermons, and to rally their congregations to write to Israel’s Ambassador in
Washington D.C., and to write to editors of secular and Jewish media in
support of Jerusalem.
The National Council of Young Israel is also working to align major Jewish
groups to protect Jerusalem, which is now in danger of being carved up, with
plans floated to make East Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian State, and
giving the Temple Mount to Jordan.
“We are building a rabbinic coalition and will be calling upon you to add
your name and voice to a campaign in support of the undivided City of
Jerusalem,” Rabbi Lerner and Rabbi Winkler wrote to their colleagues.
# # #
The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI), founded in 1912, has grown into
an Orthodox movement with over 150 synagogue branches in the United States
and Canada and over 60 synagogue branches in Israel. NCYI is a central
agency, which provides religious, educational, Zionistic, social and
communal programming for all Young Israel synagogues and their 25,000
affiliated families. With dynamism and dedication, NCYI continues to
concentrate on the needs of its branches, Klal Yisrael and Eretz Israel.
=================
National Council of Young Israel
111 John Street, Suite 450, New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212.929.1525 Fax: 212.727.9526
ncyi@youngisrael.org www.youngisrael.org
October 16, 2007
4 Cheshvan 5768
Dear Rabbis:
Shalom Aleichem.
We write to you at this time about a very serious matter, the future of
Yerushalayim.
We, at National Council of Young Israel and the Young Israel Council of
Rabbis are in contact with our chaverim: Rabbi Shlomo Hochberg of Y.I. of
Jamaica Estates and Rabbi Yaakov Wasser, of the Y.I. of East Brunswick,
President and Vice president of the RCA; Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, Director
of Igud HaRabbanim, Rabbinical Alliance of America; Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht,
Beth Israel Synagogue of Westport, Connecticut and active in the Lubavitch
Rabbinic movement; and many other Rabbis and Rabbinic groups.
This week we first learn of Yerushalayim and its importance: “And
Malchizedek, King of Shalem (Yerushalayim).” Bereishis 14:18.
We are sure you have been reading the reports of Jerusalem being divided,
with the east part of Jerusalem to become the capital of a Palestinian
State, of the Temple Mount being given over to Jordan and of the demands of
the Palestinian Authority that they be given the Kotel (G-d forbid).
This is not the time to discuss the dangers of a terrorist Palestinian State
as a neighbor to Israel. Today, we must raise our voices at the thought of
losing our united capital of Jerusalem.
We call upon each and every one of you to:
1. Continue to educate yourself and your congregations. Peruse often
Arutz Sheva, Jerusalem Post on-line, etc.; talk to your colleagues in
Israel for a first-hand report of what is happening
2. Designate your next Shabbos drasha/sermon to the topic of the
undivided city of Yerushalayim. Share with your congregation the importance
of never dividing the re-united city of Yerushalayim.
3. Take it upon yourself to write a letter or send an e-mail and/or fax
to the Israeli Ambassador in Washington and the Consul General in New York.
Ask each of your members to do the same. Here is the contact information:
- Ambassador Sallai Meridor, Embassy of Israel
3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Emb-sec3@ISRAELEMB.ORG
Phone: 202-364-5590; Fax: 202-364-5560
- Ambassador Asaf Shariv, Consulate of Israel in New York
800 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Ashariv@newyork.mfa.gov.il
Phone: 212-499-5450; Fax: 212-499-5455
Pay attention to the local media, Jewish and secular newspapers. Write a
letter to the
editor about the importance of the Temple Mount, of Jerusalem, to our
history and
traditions.
“. . . Behold, they are one People with one language for all. . . and now,
it should not be witheld from them all they propose to do.” [Berashit 11:6.
See commentary of Rav Hirsh]. The intent of the Torah is that, once the
People have achdus, unity, it would be impossible to prevent them from
succeeding.
The Zohar HaKadosh comments ? and our groups that delve into the Torah, and
we have one heart and one unity, even more so ? that, if they unite in goal
and purpose to commit evil, then even more so, how strong can those that
learn Torah and do mitzvot be when they unite.
We are building a Rabbinic Coalition and will be calling you about adding
your name and voice to numerous activities in support of the undivided City
of Jerusalem.
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Pesach Lerner
Executive Vice President
Rabbi Neil Winkler
Young Israel of Fort Lee, New Jersey
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 and is filed under action.
You can leave a response.