JStreet, the AIPAC alternative

[scandal 951]

Jeremy Ben Ami, the founder of JStreet, was on The Colbert Report tonight. Nicely done.

http://jstreet.org/about/

About

J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans.

The organization gives political voice to mainstream American Jews and other supporters of Israel who, informed by their Jewish values, believe that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential to Israel’s survival as the national home of the Jewish people and as a vibrant democracy. J Street’s mission is two-fold: first, to advocate for urgent American diplomatic leadership to achieve a two-state solution and a broader regional, comprehensive peace and, second, to ensure a broad debate on Israel and the Middle East in national politics and the American Jewish community.

J Street represents Americans, primarily but not exclusively Jewish, who 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 – two states living side-by-side in peace and security. We believe ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in the best interests of Israel, the United States, the Palestinians, and the region as a whole.

J Street supports diplomatic solutions over military ones, including in Iran; multilateral over unilateral approaches to conflict resolution; and dialogue over confrontation with a wide range of countries and actors when conflicts do arise. For more on our policy positions, click here.

J Street advocates forcefully in the policy process, in Congress, in the media, and in the Jewish community to make sure public officials and community leaders clearly see the depth and breadth of support for our views on Middle East policy among voters and supporters in their states and districts. We seek to complement the work of existing organizations and individuals that share our agenda. In our lobbying and advocacy efforts, we enlist individual supporters of other efforts as partners.

The J Street family of organizations is comprised of:

• J Street: a 501©(4) non-profit corporation and registered lobby.

• JStreetPAC: a political action committee endorsing federal candidates.

• J Street Education Fund, Inc: a legally independent 501©(3) non-profit.

J Street represents

• More than 177,000 online supporters, 5,000 students, and 650 National Rabbinic Cabinet Leaders.

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Here's a link to the Colbert/Ben-Ami interview from last Thursday night.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/397772/september-22-2011/jeremy-ben-ami

[scandal 951]

שנה טובה לכל חברי בערב ראש השנה

שנת שלום, שנת בריאות, שנת אושר ועושר

Happy New Year to all my friends on the Eve of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

Wishing a year of peace, a year of health, a year of good fortune and wealth.

(there's a pun in the Hebrew for those latter two words, osher va-osher, homonyms spelled differently but with the same sound)

It's traditional to dip apples in honey on Rosh Hashana to welcome in the year with sweetness.

Here's a modern take on this custom......

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Leshanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim!