JCRC's Latino-Jewish Coalition Participates in Dialogue Between Latino/Chicano & Jewish War Vets

Prior to the performance of “Zoot Suit,” a show depicting serious racial conflict between the Los Angeles Latino community, the Los Angeles City Government and US military personnel which culminated in riots in 1943, the Latino- Jewish Coalition heard from four speakers: two Latino/Chicano war veterans and two Jewish war veterans. They spoke about their experiences in the Viet Nam era and how their lives were impacted.

Gus Chavez was a medic serving the wounded at Balboa Naval Medical Center. He took care of the injured who were largely forgotten by the media. Many had long and painful recoveries and difficult re-entries into civilian life due to physical and psychological injuries. It is estimated that more than four hundred thousand military personnel were injured in this conflict. As a result of his experience Gus became an anti-war activist and a leader for the rights of Mexican- Americans.

David Valladolid served in the infantry and was badly wounded in combat. Along with his other injuries he was told that he would never see again. He took the risk of an additional surgery on his eyes which, against all odds, restored his vision. David then spent an additional six months in hospital recovering. As a result of his war experiences he too became an anti-war activist, community and labor organizer, and leader for the rights of Mexican – Americans.

Having seen the horrors of war, these two brave men wanted to work for peace and for the full inclusion of Latinos into American society. They spoke of being marginalized and being part of an ethnic group whose contributions, during our many wars, was not reported or recognized. In fact, forty–four Hispanic Americans have been awarded the Medal of Honor dating back to the American Civil War, and yet a famous documentary film maker failed to make mention of the Hispanic contributions to our military, and was only shamed into making a minimal mention of them by massive political action.

Allen Miliefsky initially enlisted in the US Air Force, then later gained his commission and flew some 250 combat missions in Viet Nam, receiving among other awards the Air Force Cross. Since retiring from the military as a Lt. Colonel he has been active in several veterans’ organizations, and was the Commander – Department of California 2009-2011 of the Jewish War Veterans (which is the oldest veterans organization in America.)

Louis Kaplan was an Air Force officer, during the Viet Nam conflict, serving first at Kessler AFB, Mississippi and then in Washington, D.C. He was a witness to many moments of US history watching the “civil rights wade in” along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the riots in Washington, D. C. and the anti- war protest movement on many college campuses in the Middle Atlantic States. Lou participated in a major diversity program where the armed forces tried to help returning veterans find civilian jobs related to civilian skills acquired during their military service. The Air Force that Lou experienced was fully integrated including women and minorities and served as a stark contrast to a civilian society that was still trying to come to grips with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

It was mentioned that more than 150,000 Viet Nam Era veterans have committed suicide since their service, a number almost three times those killed in action. It was also brought out that many vets joined the anti-war movement but were not antagonistic to their brothers and sisters in uniform.

BBC Olympic Site Refrains from Recognizing Jerusalem

As you may know, a controversy has erupted around the BBC’s Olympic website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/countries), which refrains from identifying Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel. Each country profile on the BBC's website for the 2012 London Olympics contains basic information, including a map, country capital and picture. It refers to Jerusalem as the “Seat of Israel’s government -- though most foreign embassies are in Tel Aviv.”

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, among others, has reacted negatively to this designation. His statement:
"Throughout the history of Jerusalem, with over a dozen conquerors, only the Jewish people have called the Holy City of Jerusalem our capital. Jerusalem today, under Israeli sovereignty, has returned to the role it played 2000-3000 years ago. There is unprecedented freedom of movement and religion and the world is welcome and encouraged to enjoy the beauty and majesty of Jerusalem. We will not accept those who deny our history, our sovereignty, and our right to determine our own capital. Irrespective of the BBC's political agenda, Jerusalem was, is, and will always be the capital of Israel and the spiritual, political, and physical center of the Jewish people."

The international community, including the United States, does not recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and stipulates that its status should be determined through negotiations. The BBC, however, is not a diplomatic entity and it could simply accept the “capital” designation as Israel has requested. If you wish to encourage the BBC to do so, please use this link:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/3701180.stm

Join Us for our February 14th Teleconference on Iran

The Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, together with our shared initiative, the Israel Action Network, will host a teleconference next Tuesday, Feb. 14, on the range of options available to Israel and its allies in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. We are honored to be joined by Moshe Arens, a veteran Israeli leader who was deeply involved over a long period of time in dealing with strategic challenges to Israel’s security.

Mr. Arens was Israel's defense minister during the 1991 war with Iraq. He also served as Israel's Minister of Defense in three different governments, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and Israel's Ambassador to the United States. He currently serves as Chairman of the International Board of Governors of the Ariel University Center of Samaria.

Following an opening presentation by Mr. Arens, there will be an opportunity for Q&A.

E-mail lindaf@jewishfederationsandiego.org for dial in information

Homeland Security Assures Federations

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and top US security officials told Jewish community leaders in a conference call Wednesday that they believe there is no imminent threat of an attack on Jewish targets in the US.

"Officials on the call said government and security agencies are closely monitoring intelligence information amid rising Mideast tensions, but confirmed that there are no immediate threats directed at a specific target in the US at this time," said a statement by the Jewish Federations of North America, which co-hosted the call with DHS and Secure Community Network, the group which partners with JFNA to consult with Jewish communities on security.

Napolitano and top officials of the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the White House spoke for an hour and "stressed that there is currently no indication of any such threat, and urged the Jewish community to continue to engage in normal activity," the JFNA release said.

A senior Homeland Security official said that Napolitano had been concerned by the level of worry in the Jewish community arising from a number of aborted attempts overseas to target Jewish institutions as well as recent arson attacks on synagogues in northern New Jersey.

Here in San Diego, The Jewish Federation of San Diego County continues to encourage all of our Jewish institutions and their staffs and users to practice good preventive security and to report things, developments and people which seem out of the ordinary.
                                                                                                                                                                               

Click for more.

Anti-Israel Activism at University of Pennsylvania - IAN Responds

As most of you I am sure are already aware, this weekend there will be a BDS conference at the University of Pennsylvania. The IAN has been assisting the Philadelphia Federation and local community to respond. In this regard, I wanted to make you aware that the Federation in partnership with Hillel will be hosting, "We Are One With Israel" an evening of unity and community solidarity featuring Alan Dershowitz, this Thursday, Feb. 2. The Federation will be live-streaming the event online – and you can attend virtually by going to www.livestream.com/jewishphilly at 7:30pm Thursday EST. We encourage everyone to share this information widely.

More about this conference here

via JFNA/JCPA Israel Action Network

Jews vs. Jews on Israel

It was once thought that the bulk of American Jewry was of one frame of mind when it came to Israel -- that is, that it is important to support the Jewish state and respect the right of Israel's democratically-elected decision-makers to do what they think is best for their own country.

This is changing as new generations of Jews have come of age, some of whose members don't have the same understanding and emotional attachment to Israel, and as technology has offered a much broader spectrum of viewpoints and forum for debating issues.

CNN took a look at this growing phenomenon in a piece that includes comments from spokesmen from the Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

On the local level, here in San Diego, there is a diversity of opinion on Israel's actions and policies within our own Jewish community. However, even people who are critical with things Israel might do, tend to support Israel in general -- understanding its history, admiring its achievements and recognizing the need for Jews to have a strong, independent homeland given the persecution, deportation, violence and genocide that Jews have faced over the centuries.

Click for more from CNN.

Be Heard! Participate in our Upcoming 2012 Election Teleconference!

JCRC Followers are invited to participate in the Jewish Federations of North America Teleconference Series on the 2012 Presidential Election.

The first call, on Wednesday., Feb. 1 at 3 pm CST, will feature Lynn Sweet, Washington Bureau Chief for the Chicago-Sun Times and Ron Kampeas, Washington Bureau Chief for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA).

Sweet is a regular guest on MSNBC programs and has appeared on CNN, FOX, NBC and CBS. Sweet is universally acknowledged as one of the leading media experts on Barack Obama, having covered him since the start of his political career.

Kampeas, as JTA's Washington Bureau Chief, is responsible for coordinating coverage in the US capital and analyzing political developments that affect the Jewish world. Before coming to JTA, Kampeas worked for over a decade with the Associated Press in its bureaus in Jerusalem, New York, London, and Washington, D.C. Kampeas is a leading expert on the intersection of the Jewish community with public policy and politics.

This call is the first in a series of calls regarding the 2012 Presidential election. If you would like to participate please email us at JCRC by 5 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 31 for the call-in information.

These calls, which are being sponsored by Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), are one more way that our national Jewish Federation movement serves the American Jewish community. (Neither JFNA nor The Jewish Federation of San Diego County endorses candidates or is affiliated with a political party.)

Click for more on Jewish Federations of North America.