MBJC

Weekly Jerusalem Update Edition 10

Dear Friend of Jerusalem:

As winter descends on the Northeastern US, we continue to keep the proverbial fires burning to preserve Jerusalem as the undivided eternal capital of the Jewish people.

This week saw our campaign continue on many fronts. Some of this past week's highlights include:

1. The OU had an op-ed published in the most recent issue of the New York Jewish Week, one of the leading publications in the global Jewish community. Titled "Jerusalem Must Remain Undivided," we presented the case against re-dividing Jerusalem, and reiterated that, due to the Jewish people's deep connection to Jerusalem, Diaspora Jews do indeed have an important say in the future of Israel's eternal capital. A similar editorial was submitted for publication to Jewish newspapers around the country.

2. Meetings with senior members of the Bush Administration continued this week as well, and I was joined in some of these meetings by representatives from major Jewish and Christian organizations. In our presentation, we covered three topics: current views of American Jews and Israelis against Jerusalem's division, the history of Jerusalem, and the security threat from the city's re-division.

3. These meeting are critical, especially as President Bush is now set to travel to and visit Israel personally in just a few weeks. As this trip is being planned right now, we urge you to email The White House and communicate your commitment to the indivisibility of Jerusalem and ask President Bush to defend Jerusalem as the historic and eternal capital of the Jewish People during his visit next month. You can send a simple e-mail message to comments@whitehouse.gov.

4. The OU leadership also asks you to consider joining in one of our impactful upcoming trips to Israel - the January Mission to Israel and the 2008 OU Biennial Convention- which has just been relocated to Jerusalem for the sake of this effort. Read on below for further details.

Thank you,

Nathan Diament,

OU Director of Public Policy

What You Can Do:

Plan a Trip to Israel:

We must show our solidarity with Jerusalem. Sign up for the OU's January mission and save the date for next year's Biennial Convention in Jerusalem.

A) OU January Mission 2008 to Israel: January 20 – January 27

Show your support for Israel and Jerusalem by joining the OU's exclusive "family friendly" mission during yeshiva break week. Meet the political leaders of Israel and advocate for keeping Jerusalem united. Participants will visit Sderot, where Kassam rockets terrorize the citizens on a daily basis, and meet the evacuees from Gush Katif in their new homes in Nitzan. Travel with OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb for unforgettable insights into the land of our heritage. For details and registration visit www.ou.org/israelmissions or contact Allyson Gur-Aryeh at allysong@ou.org or 212-613-8124.

B) OU 2008 Biennial National Convention: Sunday, November 23 to Sunday, November 30

Having previously decided to hold its 2008 Biennial National Convention in New York rather than Jerusalem, the OU recently reversed course and announced that the Thanksgiving Convention will be held in the Israeli capital. The Convention, including pre-Convention touring and programs, will take place from Sunday, November 23 to Sunday, November 30. Thanksgiving Day is November 27. The Convention will be the climactic event of a year-long period of OU activities to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary year of the State of Israel.

Your Prayers Matter

Continue to pray for the peace and indivisibility of Jerusalem. Concentrate on the blessing of "Ve-li-Yerushalayim Ircha" in Shmoneh Esrei, and recite Tehilim, including Psalm 122. Continue to dedicate your learning for the Jerusalem's unity.

Express Your View

Write to government officials and local newspapers about the necessity to keep Jerusalem one and in Jewish control.

OU Defending Jerusalem Website

To read more up to date information about Jerusalem and the Middle East Peace Conference check out our Defending Jerusalem Page

Divrei Torah about Yerushalayim:

This week we commemorated Asarah B'Tevet, which marks the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem. We hope these Divrei Torah about Asarah B'Tevet help you focus on the significance of the destruction and use this as an impetus to pray for Jerusalem's welfare.

"Siege of Jerusalem"

Rabbi Noah Weinberg

Aish HaTorah

www.aish.com

"Parshat Vayechi"

Rav David Silverberg

Yeshivat Har Etzion, The Israel Koschitsky Virtual Beit Midrash

www.vbm-torah.org

"Old City Walls: An Eternal Metaphor"

Yehoshua Halevi

OU Shabbat Shalom

www.ou.org