About the Committee

Israel at 60…Alliance for Middle East Peace with Michael Davidson

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:30:37 -0700

Please join us for a conversation with Michael Davidson entitled “Alliance for Middle East Peace — Is it the Foundation for Peace between Israel and its Neighbors?” The discussion will take place on Wednesday, June 11, 7:30 PM at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center.

Michael Davidson will discuss the prospects, opportunities, and challenges he faced while working on water management projects in the Middle East. He will also relate his professional work to his involvement in The Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) and describe the organization’s goals, objectives, structure, activities, and its future as a bridge between Israelis and Palestinians. In addition, he will talk about his serendipitous conversation with Senator Boxer while sitting next to her aboard a flight from Washington, D.C. and how it might strengthen the cause for peace in the region.

In addition to being a teacher in our Religious School, Michael Davidson has been professionally involved in water management projects affecting Israel and its neighbors. Through these projects, he has worked closely with a wide range of academic institutions and non-government organizations, including The Shimon Peres Center for Peace, the Israel-Palestinian Center for Research and Information, The Arava Institute of Environmental Studies at Kibbutz Ketura, The Hebrew University, and The World Bank. His work has enabled him to have extensive contact with Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians. We are indeed fortunate in having a member of our congregation with these contacts who can share with us his unique perspective of the region.

The Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) is a coalition of fifty-five non-governmental organizations (NGOs), promoting people-to-people activities between Arabs and Jews, and Israelis and Palestinians. The goal of ALLMEP is to unite Americans from diverse religious, ethnic, and political backgrounds to create “facts on the ground” that will build the foundation for a lasting peace in the region.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Temple Office at 626-798-1161.

Israel at 60…What Does it Mean to be “Pro-Israel?”

Tue, 27 May 2008 19:30:10 -0700

Marcia Freedman is the founding President of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace. America’s largest and fastest-growing grassroots Jewish peace group, Brit Tzedek has over 40,000 supporters in thirty-nine chapters nationwide, and 220 rabbis participate in its rabbinic cabinet. The mission of Brit Tzedek is to educate and mobilize American Jews in support of a negotiated two-state resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Since the early 1970’s Marcia Freedman has divided her time between Berkeley and Jerusalem. She served in the Knesset from 1973 through 1977, during which time she was an outspoken advocate for women’s issues. She raised concerns about such issues as domestic violence, breast cancer, and teenage prostitution, and introduced legislation that led to the reform of Israel’s then highly restrictive abortion law.

In 2008, Marcia Freedman became one of the founding advisors of JStreet and the JStreetPAC. JStreet and the JStreetPAC support Israel and its desire for security as the Jewish homeland, as well as the right of the Palestinians to a sovereign state of their own. JStreet will lobby and advocate on policy issues and JStreetPAC will endorse candidates who share its policy positions. Among other things their Statement of Principles calls for “consistent and concerted diplomatic engagement by the United States to achieve Israeli-Arab peace. A negotiated end to the Israel-Arab and Israel-Palestinian conflicts serves both U.S. and Israeli strategic and security interests.”

This program is open to the public and free of charge. All are welcome.
For more information, (626) 798-1161 or www.pjtc.net.

This is one of many programs we will be presenting this year as we celebrate Israel at 60.

Israel at 60…Interfaith Mission to Rome and Israel

Sat, 10 May 2008 09:00:22 -0700

Rabbi Mark S. Diamond, Executive Vice President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, and the Right Reverend Alexei Smith, Ecumenical and Inter-religious Officer of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, will discuss their experiences as part of an interfaith mission to Rome and Israel during Shabbat morning services.

Join us following services at the festive Kiddush lunch hosted by the Esensten and Bernath families in honor of Israel’s 60th birthday. There will be music and a chance to sing along to some of your favorite Israeli songs.

Please RSVP to the Temple Office to ensure that we have enough food for all.

For more information, please contact the Temple Office at (626) 798‑1161.

Israel at 60…Dinner and Congregational Trip Photos

Thu, 8 May 2008 18:00:48 -0700

Join us for Israeli dancing, music , food and shared highlights of the congregational trips to Israel.

In honor of Israel’s 60th birthday, the Israeli chicken dinner will only be 60 dimes ($6.00) It’s free for anyone 12 and under!

Please RSVP to the Temple Office to ensure that we have enough food for all. 
For more information, please contact the Temple Office at (626) 798‑1161.

Israel at 60…Who Knew? Science and Technology and the Peace Process

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:30:09 -0700

Join us Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 7:30 PM as Seth Brysk, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Los Angeles, helps us understand the many influences that play upon the peace process in the Middle East. Raised in Southern California, Seth Brysk served in the Israel Defense Forces and has degrees from U.C. Berkeley in Political Science and Tel Aviv University in International Relations with a concentration in Conflict Resolution. He has served as Director of the Israel Action Center for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston and from 1999-2005 he was Executive Director of San Francisco Hillel.

This is one of many programs we will be presenting this year as we celebrate Israel at 60.