How dare the Jews Fight Back: the San Francisco Story

The Bay area has long been considered a hub of anti-Israel activity., though there's plenty of indication that the situation is turning around.  The supporters of Israel are mobilizing and organizing.  The Jewish community is excited about  a local mission to Israel, and the stores are filled with products from Israel,  in spite of the  11 year old BDS movement

A local rabbi sent out this notice to his congregants, reminding us again, that we are all family, and that all of Israel is responsible for each other. (I've made slight changes to protect the privacy of those involved)

Our connection to Israel is deep and profound. It is a connection that has many layers. At times like this however one connection resonates most in our hearts: Israel is home, Israel is our family.

Every Shabbat  we pray for the well-being of our brothers and sisters in Israel as well as for the safety of Israel's Defense Forces. This week and this Shabbat our prayers are particularly rooted in the hope that the Holy One will bless our family in Israel with security and with peace.

In addition, this week and this Shabbat, we also wish to convey a message of love and support to the Israeli members of our family and to all members who have parents, siblings and children living in Israel, as many of us do. It is especially difficult to be away from home during this time. Our  family is here for you. We hope and pray that being in community will bring some comfort and a deeper sense of home.

 Indeed, our family is asking for our prayers and our support. Let the powerful words of our prayer book ring loud and clear:

אחינו כל בית ישראל הנתונים בצרה ובשביה העומדים בין בים ובין ביבשה, המקום ירחם עליהם ויוציאם מצרה לרוחה ומשעבוד לגאולה השתא בעגלא ובזמן קריב

 As for our brothers of the whole house of Israel who are in distress or captivity, on sea or land, may the All-Present have compassion on them and lead them from distress to relief, from darkness to light, and from oppression to freedom, now, swiftly and soon – and let us say: Amen

On the streets,  it's the same story.  Two days of protest at the San Francisco Israeli Consulate on Montgomery Street were met with two days of counter protests in solidarity with Israel. And while the anti-Israel side expressed their intransigent rejection of peaceful co-existence with chants of  "Intifada", and  from the "River to the Sea", the pro-Israel side sangs songs of peace 

Although largely peaceful,  the demonstrations were marred by some violence. On the first night,  anti-Israel thugs, many with their faces cowardly covered in dime store masks or with made in China Kaffiyahs, tried to crash through police barricades, chanting "Zionist Scum your time has come". Yesterday, a woman was arrested for assaulting a peaceful pro-Israel demonstrator, in what may have very well been a hate crime.

Why is it likely this brutal assault was motivated by hate?  Perhaps it was Lena's own word  "Fuck you, Jew"

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In a demonstration sponsored  and promoted by "Jewish" Voice for peace , this display of pure anti-Semitism was simply ignored.

What can you do to help our friends and our family in Israel?

Stay informed and be an advocate for Israel 

Arm yourself with accurate information and spread it through your personal and social media websites. 

You can find helpful facts about Operation Pillar of Defense and up-to-date information on the crisis in Israel on our local Israeli Consulates website 

Social media is your friend.  Need help using the new media? Drop me an email and I'll walk you through it.

Donate to Federations Israel Terror Relief Fund  (or to your favorite  solidarity group) to provide immediate services to those impacted by the rocket attacks. 

Write letters to the editor, and op eds to your local paper. Demand that Israel's side of the story be heard.

And continue please to pray for the safety of our people, and our homeland in Israel.