bs"d
TO: Chazaq, Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, JCC Marine Park, Nachum Segal Network, Citicom, 5WPR, Sheinkopf Ltd., Har Hazeisim Preservation, and list....
Dear Yaniv Meirav, Michael Rothschild, Shea Rubenstein, Nachum Segal. Morty Mehlman, Ronn Torossian and Hank Sheinkopf, Menachem Lubinsky, Dov and Shani Hikind and Fellow Activists, lovers of Israel.....amv"sh
I am specifically addressing this letter to you, and bccing to many more people because you each have either shown tremendous love for Am Yisroel, Eretz Yisroel and/or demonstrated amazing ability to mobilize the Jewish people in the Diaspora, to to act to benefit Israel, humanity, the Jewish People in Israel and/or America, and the world at large.
Basically, you have demonstrated amazing leadership skills and are extremely well connected to the powers at large, be it spiritual, political, and/or the masses. Some of you are PR firms and others are publishers with print and radio media at your disposal. Some of you are networked to many Rabbanim and Torah Institutions.
We all know that Israel is facing an existential threat.
Now we are in the month of Nissan. Either we witness awe inspiring miracles or chas veshalom the opposite. I don't see the volatile global situation staying status quo for much longer. Iran is very close to obtaining nuclear empowerment. President Obama has not made it a secret of his intentions to help Iran acquire it. Isis as well as Iran are dangerously close to Israel.
Jews and non Jews are extremely concerned!
Besides prayer, we still have the ability to act to make a difference or pay the consequences....
Atem Nitzavim...Each one of us according to our ability has the obligation to act....
When Mordechai Hayehudi was faced with existential threat he acted.
You are proven leaders and men of action.
Now is not the time to be humble and to say let us ask the Rabbanim. When one is uncertain about the threat one must act and not ask.
When it comes to saving a life, one must act with the greatest alacrity and should not hesitate. The Gemara (Yerushalmi Yuma 8:5) puts it very pithily: "The one who acts with alacrity is to be praised; the one who is asked (concerning whether to desecrate Shabbos) is disgraceful; and the one who asks is a murderer."
If it cannot be ascertained whether or not a situation is life-threatening, the situation must be considered life-threatening until proven otherwise, thereby allowing action to be taken.
It is of prime importance that if one believes a life may be in danger, and seconds may count, that persons involved not delay helping the victim out of fear of violating halakha, or in order to determine if such a violation is permissible according to halakha.
If one takes action in violation of halakha to save a life when s/he believes the situation is life-threatening, but later learns that there was no threat to a human life, s/he has not sinned, and must not feel guilty over having made such a mistake.
Let us all join together following the Lubavitcher Rebbe's heartfelt plea to "Scream about the horrible situation - without embarrassment and not from behind a curtain. We must bang our fist on the table, if necessary, because this issue affects the very lives of millions of Jews!" (not to mention non Jews RT)
Each of you, the Askanim have the media tools to act in your capacity different than the Rabbanim. Therefore don't waste any time! However the Rabbanim are by no way exempt. The Opposite!
The current situation in Israel is such that the duty to protest falls squarely on the shoulders of the Rabbis. This obligation falls upon all Rabbis who arbitrate practical matters of Jewish law, and especially those Rabbis who have at one time expressed an opinion on this issue, no matter where they are — whether in Israel or in the Diaspora.
The ruling must be explicit and definitive, being the result of exhaustive consultation with present military authorities who have actual firsthand knowledge about these issues, and who express their opinions through purely security-oriented considerations, and not political ones.
In order to save the Rabbis the trouble of researching the issues which are required for a ruling, the Rebbe informs us that he has already investigated the matter, and the conclusions are:
Those involved in military affairs say that surrendering any portion of the West Bank and Gaza, places untold numbers of Jews in danger, G-d forbid.
The past is well known (e.g., Golda Meir not listening to the Israeli Military Intelligence prior to Yom Kippur War).
A ruling must be issued quickly, and a Rabbi must not wait until he is asked about the matter. Rather, he must see to it that the law is publicized everywhere — to the extent that "there will not be a single individual who has not heard of this ruling." This is because regarding these matters, "he who asks (rather than acts) is a spiller of blood, and the one who waits to be asked is contemptible" for not having publicized his opinion.[35]
Similarly, one should publicize the decision of the "Great Assembly" of 1937 [36] which states that "it is forbidden to cede to a non-Jew, even a tiny strip of the Land of Israel." This should be publicised until the entire Jewish people are aware of this ruling.
Every Jew, regardless of where he lives, is connected with every other Jews in the rest of the world. Therefore, according to Jewish law, he must protest any action taken by another Jew which is not in accordance with Jewish Law. Protest is required even if the forbidden action took place a great distance from him — because he is still obligated by the command, "Thou shalt not stand idly by thy brother's blood."
At times the situation is such that there is nothing left to do but to protest. This is a precise indication that our task in this situation is to protest.
The claim that protest will not affect the situation does not absolve any of the Rabbis, no matter where they are, from their obligation to publicize a clear ruling because:
Who knows where we would be if no one were to speak up.
Regarding the mitzvah to admonish one's fellow man, the Talmud says, "even one hundred times," meaning, if one unsuccessfully gave rebuke ninety-nine times, one is bound by Jewish law to engage in rebuke a hundredth time, for it could well be that the hundredth time will be decisive.
The Rabbi must do his job and protest without fear, and without considering the reaction which may follow his ruling (such as being ignored); especially because this is an ongoing matter, which concerns saving Jewish lives.
The obligation not to stand idly by while your brother's blood is being spilled, applies in every situation, even when one is uncertain that his protest will have any effect. Even if the chance that protest will assist is only one thousandth of a chance, or a fraction of that, one is obligated to protest, because this is the law in the Code of Jewish Law.
Even if the majority remain silent, and those protesting are in the minority, nevertheless, the minority is taken into consideration.
The Rabbis who remain silent cause the greatest damage. This is analagous to the Talmudic law concerning seventy Rabbinic judges who rule for or against a certain side, with one judge "abstaining." In such a case, Jewish Law requires the entire trial to be rendered null and void.
The Rebbe's opinion is that were there to be a sustained protest, carried out with the greatest intensity — as the present situation clearly demands — it would eventually succeed, in the near future.
Thank you Izzy Kaplan zt"l for forwarding the material of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 2007.
date: Sat, Mar 21, 2015 at 11:23 PM
subject: Urgent Message from Jeff Wiesenfeld
The Corker-Menendez Bill is coming to a vote next week. Our Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, despite their public statements to Jewish groups claiming their commitment to Israel, have been silent about whether or not they intend to vote for the override of Obama's expected veto of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act.
Friday, March 27 at 12:00 noon is the ideal time for a press conference in front of Schumer's and Gillibrand's offices at 780 Third Avenue because Friday is the day they are in their NY offices. The initial vote will have taken place by then and the pressure will be on to secure the rest of the votes needed for an override.
We are able to effectively address BOTH Schumer and Gillibrand because their offices are at the same location!!!! The purpose is to pressure them to commit to overriding Obama's veto of this critical legislation.
WE NEED TO KNOW, IMMEDIATELY, IF YOU CAN BE AT 780 THIRD AVENUE AT 12 NOON NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 27! Time is of the essence.
For many, Friday may be difficult but THIS is the day when BOTH Senators are in the building. March 27 is the day.
==============
Senator Schumer spoke at the Chazaq Event a week ago by Daniel Perez. http://matzav.com/chazaqs-big-event-graduates-from-high-school-to-college-3rd-annual-gathering-draws-over-2000-at-new-venue "Also among the guests and well-wishers at Sunday's big event were prominent political leaders such as New York's own Senator Chuck Schumer, who spoke of his efforts against Iran's nuclear program, which he characterized as an existential threat the Jewish state-just as Chazaq combats assimilation here at home, an existential threat to the Jewish soul. Commenting on the Hebrew origin of his own name, Schumer declared: "I take my name as a shomer Yisrael ('guardian of the Jewish people') very seriously."
He received a resounding round of applause. He promised then, that he will be true to his name...to be a Shomer, the watch guard of the wall, named after his ancestor who guarded the ghetto wall, to be a Guardian of Israel.
YET Senator Schumer has still yet to commit to override the expected Obama veto!
This is where our Hishtadlus comes in. We must mobilize the Jewish people including men, women and children, not only in prayer but in awareness and we must call our Senators.
Marco Rubio Delivers Blistering Speech on Obama's Assault on Israel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdMWbqZsyuMSenator Schumer needs to know that his promises at the Event only ends with a commitment to override the Obama's expected veto. Obama's attempt to unseat Netanyahu meddling into the internal politics of Israel is indicative that he stops at nothing! Unfortunately. Schumer has to personally see it through to the very end. It requires Mesirat Nefesh on his part. Talk alone is cheap.
Date: Mar 17, 2015 12:01 PM
Subject: Fwd: FW: URGENT--PLEASE FLOOD THE PHONE LINES!
T>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Wiesenfeld, Jeffrey S <WiesenfeldJS@bernstein.com>
> Date: Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 11:11 AM
> Subject: FW: URGENT--PLEASE FLOOD THE PHONE LINES!
> What did I tell you about our two NY senators????
>>
> They should always be challenged as any other interest group would do.
>
>... And as a community – we are allowing our two senators, representing the nation's largest Jewish population to play us to the White House's benefit.
>
> > Time to get busy with these two "shomers."
>
> THANK YOU SARAH STERN AND EMET.
>
> Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld
>
> From: Sarah Stern [mailto:sstern@emetonline.org]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 10:47 AM
>
> Subject: URGENT--PLEASE FLOOD THE PHONE LINES!
> Importance: High
>
> We just had a meeting with a professional staff member for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who works directly under Chairman Bob Corker. We have been putting maximal energy into Corker-Menendez, The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which would enable the Senate to review and vote on the Iranian nuclear deal that the Obama is hell-bent to sign next week. This staffer has told us that Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Senator Booker are not yet on the act. They need enough votes to over-ride a presidential veto.
>
>
> We need people to flood their phone lines and ask them to please sign onto S615 the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. They have scheduled a vote on this for next week. PLEASE SEND THIS OUT TOTO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND ANYONE ON YOUR LISTS.
>
> Senator Schumer's number is 202-224-6542
>
> Senator Gillibrand's number is 202-224-4451
>
> Senator Booker's number is 202-224-3224
>
> If you need any talking points, please let us know.
>
> Thanks very much,
>
> Sarah
>
> > Sarah N. Stern
>
> Founder and President
>
> Endowment for Middle East Truth
>
> www.emetonline.org
>
> 202-601-7422 (office)
>
> 301-922-9667 (cell)
>
From: Lynne Bursky TammamDate: March 12, 2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends of Israel and the Jewish People,
It has been reported that Senator Cardin (D-MD), Senator Coons (D-DE), Senator Blumenthal (D-CT), and Senator Bennet(D-CO) have all committed to overriding President Obama's anticipated veto of the newly introduced Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (S. 615)!!!! This bi-partisan legislation authored by Senators Bob Corker (R-TN), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) will delay the lifting of sanctions against Iran and establishes a procedure for congressional review and approval of any nuclear agreement with Iran before it is finalized.
Christians United for Israel was able to get 57,000 supporters of Israel to write letters to the Senate. A similar effort on your part will dramatically enhance the effort to pass the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. It is urgent that we call, e-mail, and write to those senators below who supported the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act in the past but who have maintained silence or are non-committal regarding their willingness to override Pres. Obama's expected veto of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. Our phone calls, e-mails, and letters DO make a difference! This was emphasized first-hand by Congressional representatives during recently attended AIPAC sessions.
The websites of Senators are warning that intense security in Washington is causing significant delays in the receipt of regular mail. They are advising to fax letters rather than sending them by regular mail to Washington.
NOTE: Although it was reported in the Wall Street Journal that Senator Schumer was committed to overriding Obama's expected veto of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, the Jewish Voice (3/11/15) has just reported that Schumer "declined to confirm that he would vote to override a veto." Ask Senator Schumer: Is he or is he not going to be counted among those brave Democratic Senators who are putting our national security and that of Israel before partisan politics and protocol?
For those in New Jersey, call Senator Cory Booker at:
Senators Mark Warner (D) of Virginia, Joe Donnelly (D) of Indiana, and Joe Manchin (D) of West Virginia are also senators who originally supported the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act but who are now silent. If you are in these states or have contacts in these states, please encourage them to launch phone, e-mail, and letter-writing campaigns to these senators.
The message we sent:
"Your support for the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (Senate Bill 615) is urgently needed. It is critical that the proposed agreement with Iran be subjected to Congressional review and approval before it is finalized. We are urging you to put the security of the United States of America, its closest ally Israel, and the entire Middle East region above politics and protocol and to commit to overriding President Obama's expected veto. 77 % of Americans now agree that Iran's development of nuclear weapons is a "critical threat" (Gallup World Affairs Poll, Feb. 8-11, 2015).
The Administration is about to enter into an agreement with Iran which is described by our State Dept. as the "world's foremost leader of state-sponsored terrorism" and is ruled by a regime that has reneged on every agreement it has signed since 2003. It continues to refuse the International Atomic Energy Agency access to its Parchin military complex and has refused to allow the IAEA to inspect the technologies it is developing which are related to building a nuclear weapon. Iran has done nothing to establish itself as a credible negotiating "partner."
There is every indication that the strategies being used with Iran are the ones that failed with North Korea which now has nuclear weapons. Iran's nuclear ambitions are threatening to create a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
THE PRICE FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION'S OUTSOURCING OUR FIGHT AGAINST ISIS MUST NOT BE A NUCLEAR-ARMS-CAPABLE IRAN. YOU MUST HOLD THIS ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS DANGEROUS STRATEGY.
On behalf of our children, our grandchildren, and future generations, we beseech you to find the courage and fortitude to support the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 and to commit to overriding Pres. Obama's expected veto! At this perilous juncture in history, we need heroic action!"
Lynne Bursky-Tammam and Nessim Tammam
Chairpersons, Yom Hashoah Mobilization Committee
