Please circle two dates on your February calendars for two great Israel events:

The first is Saturday night, Feb. 20, when we'll be enjoying the Israeli hit movie Noodle at the Lions Gate theater in Culver City. http://www.israelifilms.co.il/40420/Noodle
The film is truly delightful, the theater will be all ours that night, and where else can you still see a movie for just $8?!  We chose Noodle both because it truly transports us to Israel for the evening, and because in its own beautiful way raises important questions about the pressing and complex social issue of foreign workers in Tel Aviv. And I'm delighted to share that the Deputy Consul General, Gil Artzyeli, who is an expert on this topic, will be sharing some thoughts and taking our questions after the film is over.  Please be sure to RSVP today to Vivian Lurie at kessian@aol.com .

There are so many ways in which we can express our support for Israel at this time of need. Below, please find the items that our Israel Action Committee and I want to highlight for this evening. These items are:
(1) Tomorrow's Rally, (2) Our upcoming Annual Israel Appeal, and (3) Contacting our Public Officials

(1) RALLY

Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Time: 12 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: Federal Building in Westwood L.A.
Street: Veteran and Wilshire
StandWithUs, Bnei Akiva and the ILC in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, and Jewish Day Schools across Los Angeles, invite you to STAND IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL's RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST HAMAS

(2) B'NAI DAVID-JUDEA ANNUAL ISRAEL APPEAL

Date: Saturday, January 31, 2009
As you know, it is through this annual appeal that we, as a shul community, support vital organizations in Israel. This year's designated recipients include an organization that provides rehabilitative services to wounded soldiers, and one that provides social and economic support to Sderot. (The other recipients are programs addressing poverty and social ills in Israel). Over the coming Shabbatot you will be able to find pamphlets about the various recipient organizations for this year. Let's begin now to think about how we will be able to respond to the appeal on the 31st.

If you are interested in also making an immediate, direct contribution to an organization that is directly involved in the present crisis, we recommend
Operation Take a Break which provides a respite from the conditions that residents of the South are living under. www.connectionsisrael.com/donate
or

Package From Home which delivers care packages to IDF Soldiers in Gaza www.apackagefromhome.org/

(3) POLITICAL SUPPORT – SENATORS AND CONGRESSMAN

This is a VERY EASY way to email elected officials regarding Israel. Using the link below, provided by AIPAC, you simply type in your name and address and an email letter is sent to your Senators (in California Boxer and Feinstein) and Congressman (for most people Waxman). In addition, the cite then lets you type in the name of other email addresses to let those people lend their support. It takes less than a minute.

http://capwiz.com/aipac/issues/alert/?alertid=12364041&type=CO

POLITICAL SUPPORT – MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA
Update from Elliot Brandt at AIPAC :
I've heard from the Mayor's office, and his staff let me know that they have received countless calls of appreciation and gratitude. For as much they have gotten calls that were critical of the Mayor's support for Israel, as of now the positive calls far outweigh the negative ones. In speaking with the Mayor's staff, they asked that going forward, we please call (213) 978-0721, as this is a number that will allow them to handle what is becoming a very large volume of calls.

B'nai David-Judea
Israel Action Committee
310-276-9269
admin@bnaidavid.com