At the outset, I must tell you about three upcoming events, two on Sunday, Sept. 10, and then one on Tuesday, Sept. 12:
On Sunday morning I will speak and introduce the CJV in Bethesda, MD. Our topic will be “The Anti-Israel Movement is NOT the new Anti-Semitism… (It’s the OLD Anti-Semitism).” The event will begin at 10:00 AM, my talk will begin at 10:30. I’ll discuss the anti-Israel movement and its claim to being a moral cause, how this affects American Jews and American values, and how the CJV is helping in this and other areas.
And just hours later, at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, our Senior Rabbinic Fellows Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld and Rabbi Pesach Lerner will host Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, MK Tzipy Hotovely, to speak about current affairs in Israel. Please access your invitation as a PDF.
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If you can attend either of these events, please RSVP via the corresponding link above or by replying to this email.
On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the Rabbinical Alliance of America (RAA) will hold its 29th Annual Siyum celebrating the completion of study of the entire Babylonian Talmud over the previous year. Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, Executive Vice President of the RAA, extended an invitation for me to address the rabbis at the celebratory dinner to introduce them to the work of the CJV. Members of our Rabbinic Circle are invited to attend the dinner as well, and they will receive a separate email with further information.
Another three weeks have flown by, and we have achieved another crucial media milestone: rather than merely responding to and using our press releases, reporters are now coming to us for quotes for relevant stories. As this first happened just two days after I sent a “special bulletin” regarding our friendly coverage in The Forward, I felt it would overburden your inbox to send yet another bulletin. Nonetheless, this was far more prominent!
And once again, a debt of gratitude is owed to a supporter of our organization who made it possible. In this case, it was an anonymous rabbi who was contacted by an AP reporter, Rachel Zoll, concerning Jewish reactions to Trump’s statements about Charlottesville. While he declined to be quoted, he referred her to the CJV.
My quote appeared in in her story of August 17, “US Jewish criticism of Trump expands to some supporters.” As the AP is syndicated broadly, this article was published on ABC News, Fox News, US News and World Report and many other radio, tv and print journals. This was publicity of a different order of magnitude than anything we saw previously.
Furthermore, radio host Michael Savage read the AP story on his program that evening — and I was the only rabbi to say something he liked! Although his style isn’t for many of us, I was both amused and delighted by what he had to say.
Besides the AP story, we had other notable coverage:
Chris Buskirk, editor of American Greatness, interviewed me on The Seth and Chris Show August 17 concerning my op-ed on Trump’s response to Charlottesville.
The Baltimore Jewish Times obtained a few quotes for their story, “President Donald Trump Still Their Man,” Aug. 30.
The Cleveland Jewish News asked my opinion for “GOP’s Josh Mandel targets act barring church politicking,” Sep. 1.
Our recent Press Releases:
Rabbis call The Forward “An Embarrassment to Jewish Journalism”, Aug. 14
Over 1,500 Rabbanim Join Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce in Support of Anti-BDS Effort, Aug. 17, issued by the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce
Rabbis Rebuke Rabbis for Dissing Trump, Aug. 28
Op-Eds and Letters:
President Trump Was Right the First Time,
Rabbi Yaakov Menken in American Greatness, Aug. 16
Mandel’s Criticism was Accurate, Letter to the Editor,
Rabbi Yaakov Menken in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Aug. 17
And Yet President Trump, in His Classically Inartful Way, Was Absolutely Right,
Rabbi Dov Fischer in The American Spectator, Aug. 18
Open Orthodoxy name change: New brand, same product,
Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer in Israel National News, Aug. 18
Obliterating Confederate Symbols is Counterproductive,
Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer in American Greatness, Aug. 27
Trump Goes It Alone and Leaves ‘Em in the Dust,
Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer in The American Thinker, Aug. 31
A Flawed President Whose Pugnacious Divisiveness Uniquely Suits the Moment’s Need,
Rabbi Dov Fischer in The American Spectator, Aug. 31
If you have read this far, you are probably interested in our survival and growth as an organization. So I am delighted to conclude by letting you know that we have received an extremely generous offer to match $100,000 of gifts received within the next few months. With funding, we can effectively promote our values and affect public policy via pursuit of the following:
- Grow our Rabbinic Circle to over 1,000 members
- Establish relationships with legislators, Administration officials and other DC area policy centers
- Advance our media presence and public relations
So we are quite urgently seeking your support! If you are able, please join us, and please reply to this email if you would consider a substantial gift to be matched as part of this special program.