Zionism in Action: Feeding the Hungry

The proposal was brilliant, and so simple.

Via Algemeiner

Grassroots pro-Israel activists in the UK have launched a novel campaign with a dual purpose: combating the boycott movement targeting Israel while helping the homeless at the same time.

Sussex Friends of Israel, a group based in Brighton on England’s south coast, is calling on consumers around the country to buy Israeli products and donate them to homeless charities to mark what it is calling “IsrAction Day” on December 21st, the fifth day of Chanukah and four days before the Christmas holiday, traditionally a time of charitable giving.

 

The idea for IsrAction Day crystallized over the summer, when Sussex Friends of Israel countered BDS demonstrators outside the Israeli-owned Ecostream store in Brighton. As part of their strategy of engaging passersby, the group handed out free snacks, donating the leftover food to a local homeless shelter.

 

Now, working with similar groups in Manchester, Nottingham and Birmingham, Sussex Friends of Israel intends to implement a local strategy on a national level. Boosting this aim, the long-established Jewish Chronicle newspaper today announced that it was “proud to lend its support” to the initiative in a cover story.

 

Sussex Friends of Israel is encouraging pro-Israel groups in the US and elsewhere to follow their example.

 

“This is a simple initiative that can be implemented anywhere in the world,” Sussex Friends of Israel spokesperson Fiona Sharpe told The Algemeiner. “It can be supported by large organizations or by individuals.  The message is the same – buy Israeli produce, give it to homeless shelters and food banks.  While our support for Israel is always foremost in our minds, we must also remember those in need in our own communities.”

From Sussex friends of Israel's phenomenally successful day of action

 We can also do it here.

Via Emunah:

Mitzvah Goreret Mitzvah. One mitzvah leads to another.

Here's an action to you take right now to make the holidays a little bit brighter for people in need.
Inspired by our brilliant friends at Sussex friends of Israel :

Go to your local store. Buy some food from Israel and donate it to your local foodbank. Its so easy- you'll help Israel, you'll help the needy during this holiday season, and its a great big slap in the face to the BDS'ers.

You get extra points for photographing your haul.

You get extra points for buying your Israeli products at one of the local many Arab grocery stores that have steadfastly refused to give in to the bullying of the BDS movement.

1...2...3...GO!!!!

British BDS'er expresses his desire for more kidnappings

Kudos to the intrepid activists at Sussex friends of Israel for standing up to hate, and for documenting the antisemitism of the BDS movement on  the other side of the pond.

From Today's protest at EcoStream- an environmentally friendly business that sells  bulk Palestinian olive oil. However,  since the dark and ugly core of the BDS movement is isolating and punishing Israel, NOT  helping the Palestinians, it is subject to protests for daring to sell the home carbonation device Sodastream

From the Blog of Richard Millet: Palestinian olive oil on sale at Ecostream

Abdul of Brighton BDS describes the three kidnapped Israeli youths as "soldiers" and  expressed his desire for 3,000 more kidnappings.

Again, thanks to our friends at Sussex Friends of Israel for not allowing hate to reign unchecked and  unchallenged on the streets of Brighton.

Another articulate friend of Palestine

From Sussex Friends of Israel:

Presenting a well reasoned intelligent advocate for the Palestinian people.



First they ignore you.
Then they laugh at you.
Then they fight you.
Then they have hysterical manic breakdowns.
Then you win.

Brighton grandparents take to the streets to counter hate

Some good folk in Brighton, England have realized that when we fight back, we win.
Meet Sussex Friends of Israel, and like them on Facebook

From their Facebook page;

We are a community-wide support group dedicated to promoting better understanding about Israel through the advancement of educational, cultural and social ties in the greater Sussex area.
MissionSussex Friends of Israel (SFI) is a community-wide support group dedicated to promoting better understanding about Israel through the advancement of educational, cultural and social ties in the greater Sussex area.

SFI is committed to:
- Engaging meaningfully with all those working towards a peaceful, just, democratic and lasting resolution of the conflict between Israel and its neighbours.- Restoring balance and fairness in all discussions about Israel in the pursuit of reconciliation between Jews and Arabs.- Seeking recognition from the wider community that a secure and confident Israel is a vital component for achieving peace in the region.

 From the Jewish Chronicle online:

There is a “war” going on in Brighton, with grandmothers as troops and cakes and bagels among the weapons.

The conflict involves a band of pro-Israel supporters who have adopted an imaginative approach to the business of combating activists who support a cultural and commercial boycott of the country.

The group is called Sussex Friends of Israel (SFI)and consists of local Jews, Christians and members of Brighton’s gay and transsexual community.

Together they have taken on the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement which have targeted an Israeli-owned shop in the city centre.

Christian pro-Israel protester Jill Young

“We’re at war and we’re on the frontline,” says Christian SFI member Neil Duncanson, who manages public relations for the group.

“The BDS and PSC organise three to four demonstrations each week — we just had to do something about it. So we set up SFI.”

The group was founded a year ago, after the anti-Israel campaign became increasingly hostile following the opening of the EcoStream shop in August 2012.

Every weekend, activists protest outside the store, which is a division of carbonated drinks manufacturer SodaStream, based in the West Bank settlement town of Mishor Adumim...

Its not surprising then that Sussex friends of Israel have show up at St. James's "Bethlehem unwrapped" program,  which features a $50,000 mock up of Israel's security barrier. Thank you, SFI for adding a pro-Israel voice and a sense of perspective to the propaganda play.

                                   (Photos from the Sussex friends of Israel facebook page)