URGENT: Calling for Your Help to Defeat Israel Divestment Bill at Cal

A Note from Rabbi Creditor Calling for Your Help to Defeat Israel Divestment Bill at Cal Upcoming Events!  Celebrate Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzma'ut in Berkeley! April 14, 3pm:  CNS Music Festival! April 16th, 7:30pm: Love & Taxes at CNS! April 21 - Our Problem to Solve: Ending Gun Violence in Our Community May 3-4: Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat! May 5, 10am - CNS Preschool 5 Year Celebration! May 12 - CNS Annual Gala! Quick Links CNS Website! Make a Gift to CNS! CNS Online Calendar! CNS Blog! CNS Preschool! Rabbi Creditor's Blog! 4 Iyyar, 5773 || April 14, 2013  Dear Chevreh,   Once again, the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement has targeted the Berkeley Campus. As you likely remember, just two years ago a bill was considered by the UC Student Senate, which would have recommended to the University of Berkeley that it divest itself of companies that conduct business with Israel. Dozens of Netivot Shalom members and the entire Bay Area Jewish community responded to an urgent call from the Berkeley Hillel community for support, which led to the bill being defeated.    PLEASE read the urgent letter below from Netivot Shalom member, Berkeley Hillel Executive Director Rabbi Adam Naftalin-Kelman - and answer his call.   Netivot Shalom has always demonstrated commitment to a unified Jewish community as well as a deep love for Israel. Now is the moment we are called to stand true to both.   Am Yisrael Chai! Rabbi Creditor from Rabbi Adam Naftalin-Kelman Executive Director, Berkeley Hillel    The Associated Students University of California Senate has taken up the issue of divesting from Israel once again.  On Wednesday evening the Senate will vote on an anti-Israel bill calling on the UC Regents to divest from some companies doing business with Israel.  The passing of this bill will tarnish the reputation of a leading world institution and unfairly singles out Israel.  The students have shown amazing leadership and passion in their preparation for the Senate meeting.  We have assured them they are not alone and they have asked us for our help.    The students are asking for your help in garnering support to defeat this bill.  Currently there are two letters that people can sign which will be delivered to the Senators on Wednesday night.  If you are alumni you can  click here to sign the online letter and make your voice heard, as alumni of a leading world institution.  For those that did not attend Cal but would like to voice your concern to the Senate, there is an online petition at change.org  that you can sign by clicking here.  Along with signing one or both of these letters we ask that you distribute these petitions and letters to as many people as possible.     If you are on Facebook you can follow major updates through a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/STOPDivestment   Please open up your 'rolodex' and send the link to the letter and petition to all those that care deeply about Israel and the Cal community.  It is critical to show the Senators the negative impact this will have on the campus as well as the greater community.    Although many of us share differing views on the Middle East, we can all agree that efforts like divestment bills, which serve to delegitimize Israel, do nothing to encourage a peaceful resolution for everyone living in the Middle East.    Thank you in advance for your support. Alumni Letter -  http://berkeleyhillel.org/alumni/alumni-letter/ Change.org Petition - CLICK HERE   Rabbi Adam Naftalin-Kelman     Executive Director www.berkeleyhillel.org Berkeley Hillel   2736 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704 (510)8457793 ex 11 adamnk@berkeleyhillel.org

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Rabbi Menachem Creditor

Congregation Netivot Shalom

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menachemcreditor.org

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