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Executive Director's Message: June 2004
by
Brian David Goldberg, PhD
Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
Israel Advocacy
This past month we have had a tremendous amount of Israel advocacy in our community. This is an area that I feel is a top priority for the Federation and one on which we have worked collaboratively with AIPAC, Hillel, the synagogues and other agencies.
In my last article I bemoaned the fact that few of our teens are going to Israel. I believe much of this has to do with fear regarding potential terrorist attacks. Part of this fear results from the constant negative stories about Israel in the press. The old adage still holds true for the news profession “if it bleeds, it leads.” This is an unfortunate reality we have to deal with as Jews, and as supporters of Israel. That does not mean, however, that we have to accept it. It is our responsibility to combat these one-sided images of Israel and make sure the whole story of Israel is told. In this vein, I am proud of the two most recent community events that took place in San Jose.
The first event was Yom Ha’Atzmaut or Israel Independence Day. Over 1,000 people, from all walks of life, came together to celebrate Israel’s 56th birthday. There was music, food, singing, shopping, informational booths, rock climbing, arts and crafts projects, sports, speeches and more food! It was exciting to be part of a celebration in conjunction with Israel, which was apolitical and not focused on “the situation,” as it is called there.
The second event was the first ever in the State of California, and what we hope will be an annual event here and a model for communities around the country: Israeli Cultural Day in Santa Clara County. The County Board of Supervisors proclaimed May 4 Israeli Cultural Day for Santa Clara County. The event began with the Israeli flag being raised and flown over the county building. Consul General Amrani was presented with a key to the County of Santa Clara and a copy of the proclamation declaring Israeli Cultural Day. Well over 200 people participated in this event, which highlighted the deep and strong connection between Israel and Santa Clara County.
The day focused on the many contributions that Israelis have made to the fields of technology, medicine, science, education, arts and culture. It was another opportunity to emphasize the many accomplishments of Israel and Israelis to the betterment of humankind — something that is often lost on the Jewish community and certainly is not appreciated by the general community. This event was important because it gave Israel a public venue for the leadership of our county to highlight aspects that are rarely seen. It is difficult to explain in words the sense of pride that I felt as a Jew and a communal leader at these two events. It can be difficult at times to take a step back from all the unpleasantness that surrounds Israel, particularly when on a daily basis Israel is being attacked and accused of horrible things. Israeli Cultural Day was an opportunity for us to reflect on the many positive contributions Israelis make on a daily basis. This is even more impressive given the constant threat of terrorism and the political and economic isolation under which Israel works.
The reality is that these two events emphasized the spirit and character of Israel far better than the situation. We need to be reminded of this on a regular basis and make every effort to get this message out to the entire community. I look forward to continuing to work with you to make this a reality for our children and ourselves.
To reach Brian David Goldberg call (408) 358-3033 x34
or email bgoldberg@jewishsiliconvalley.org.
Mission statement
The Mission of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley is to raise and to allocate funds needed to maintain and strengthen Jewish identity, Jewish community and Jewish life, and to work toward meeting the needs and concerns of the Jewish community locally, in the United States, in Israel and throughout the Diaspora and to develop leadership. More
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Executive Director's Message
President's Message
A letter to the community from Brett "Mad Dog" Borah, President of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
About the Executive Director
Learn about the background of Brian David Goldberg, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. More.