• The Fund is Zionist, and believes in the establishment and continuation of the Jewish state in its present, historic location.
• The Fund works for political and economic equality for Israel’s traditionally less empowered populations: women, immigrants, Arabs, Bedouin, and Druze. Much of Israel’s international, political, and diplomatic strength comes from its position as the Middle East’s only free and democratic society. The New Israel Fund’s work helps to ensure that continues.
• The Fund supports organizations I know, believe in, and have worked with in a brief stint doing fundraising during college.

The war and recent battles between Israel and Hezbollah further demonstrate that modern wars cannot be won against weaker states or non-state actors. Military victory becomes political defeat, and anything less than total military victory becomes an implicit victory for the defeated. Israel could have learned that from American experience in Iraq. The only way Israel will win is to continue to be the only country in the Middle East where Arab citizens can vote freely, pursue economic interests freely, and criticize the government freely and without fear of persecution or violence. I hope that my support of the Fund will help to strengthen Israel for these continuing victories.

In their words: “NEW ISRAEL FUND works to strengthen Israel’s democracy and to promote justice and equality for all Israel’s citizens. The leading funder of social change in Israel, NIF supports grassroots organizations working to safeguard civil and human rights, bridge social and economic gaps, and foster tolerance and religious pluralism.”

The plaza outside of Jerusalem city hall becomes a day camp in the summer.

Bridge leading to Israel’s Supreme Court building.

Inside the Supreme Court building. We could walk right in and sit in on a case.

From the Valley of the Communities at Yad Vashem, Israel’s national holocaust memorial. The Valley lists each of the names of the thousands of Jewish communities destroyed during the Holocaust. Montova is the town we’d be visiting in Italy.

Jachnun, a Yemenite sabbath bread that cooks overnight on a blech or in a very low oven.

From a shop in the Jerusalem Old City: “I was drafted to serve in the reserves of the army. For assistance, please go to the gallery next door.”

Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall, on Tisha B’Av.

Inside of the Bullet Factory at the Ayalon Institute.

Israel is full of stray cats.

Officials in US President George W. Bush’s administration turned down a 2003 Iranian offer to begin talks with the US, recognize Israel, and end support of Palestinian terror organizations, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.

Of course, this was under Iran’s former reformist president. And the talks may not have gotten anywhere. But I’m surprised the administration let go of an opportunity to show that invading Iraq and Afghanistan worked. “Invading one of the Axis of Evil forces other to the negotiating table.” Great headlines. Unfortunately, all we did was undermine the reformists. Bummer.

US rejected Iranian overtures in 2003 | Jerusalem Post