7 WAYS YOU CAN REALLY HELP ISRA'EL

(whether or not you are a Jew - see editor's note below)

Did you know this...

...the relative size of Isra'el to other key nations

For many Jews around the world, one of the most frustrating

aspects of the current violence in Isra'el is the seeming inability to do

something about the situation. Dazed by daily reports of terror, concerned

Jews are largely at a loss as to how they can help, even in some small way,

during this difficult period.

Such feelings are entirely understandable, for one often gets the

sense that no matter what Isra'el seems to do, its predicament only grows

worse. But such thinking is neither productive nor beneficial, because the

last thing the Jewish people need right now is despair. Instead, we must

all focus our energies on doing what we can to lift Isra'el's spirits and

help it contend with an increasingly volatile and uncertain situation.

Though far from revolutionary, here are some simple and practical

suggestions as to what you can do to help. They are what I refer to as the

"Seven 'P's" of Jewish activism:

1) Point and Click - The first task is to better educate

ourselves and our communities about events in Israel. The Internet provides

a range of useful sources for getting a more accurate picture of what is

really happening in the Jewish state. A few useful sites are: the Jerusalem

Post - www.jpost.com, Arutz-7 - www.israelnationalnews.com and IMRA -

www.imra.org.il . Visit such sites and recommend them to friends - you will

be amazed at how people's eyes can be opened when they start to get the

real picture about what is going on. See also the various links on this site.

2) Publish Your Views - Once you have a better grasp of the

facts, don't hesitate to speak out. No Jewish organization or Isra'eli

consulate can fight the propaganda war on every front, so don't assume that

they will. Pick up your pen, or your keyboard, and start writing. Whether

it is a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, or an ongoing

dialogue in a chat room, you never know how your contribution may affect

someone else's views. Share your success stories with others, and turn

yourself and your friends into roving ambassadors on Isra'el's behalf.

3) Protest Media Bias - The mainstream media is replete with

anti-Isra'el bias and sloppy reporting. Don't let them get away with it. If

you see something that offends you, let the editor know, tersely and

politely. For resources and ideas on combating media bias, check out:

Honest Reporting - www.honestreporting.com, CAMERA - www.camera.org and

CNN-Watch - www.cnnwatch.org.

4) Provide Assistance - If you able to provide financial support,

there are many worthwhile organizations working to address the problems

caused by the intifada. The Israel Crisis Management Center, based in Tel

Aviv (phone: 972-3-544-5161), assists new immigrants who have been

victimized by terrorist attacks, including the families of those killed in

the Tel Aviv disco bombing, with grants, loans and volunteer counseling. A

group called Helping Israel -www.helpingisrael.com, has an extensive list

of medical and security supplies required by Jewish communities that have

borne the brunt of the Palestinian violence, such as those in Judea,

Samaria and Gaza. Sending money, even in small sums, is a tangible and

meaningful way of demonstrating your support. (Editor's Note: The Bridges

for Peace Ezra Projects give Christians an excellent way to help the needy

in Israel - www.bridgesforpeace.com)

5) Pressure Representatives - Wherever you live, your views as a

citizen need to be heard by your elected representatives.

Find out who are your elected officials, in whichever country you live,

and urge them to publicly express their support for Isra'el during these

difficult times.

6) Pay A Visit - The recent flap over travel had a sharply negative impact

on relations between Isra'el and the Diaspora.  There is no better way to demonstrate your

solidarity than by boarding a plane and paying a visit to the Holy Land. Yasser Arafat

needs to know that he cannot succeed in scaring Jews (and others) away, and your visit

will help to send him that message. Sign up for a trip on this site - simply go to the

bar at the top and click on 'Isra'el Tours' - another click in the same box will give

you our itinerary.

7) Pray for Help - The Jewish people have always turned to their

Father in Heaven as a source of strength and support. No prayer goes to

waste and, regardless of your level of observance, consider adding a

request for Isra'el to your regular (or even irregular) prayer regimen.

Whether in the privacy of your home or on the pews of your local synagogue

make the crisis in Isra'el the focus of your thoughts.

While these suggestions may not offer a panacea to all of

Isra'el's ills, they do provide each of us with a practical means of fending

off frustration and doing something concrete to improve the situation. Even

if our actions do not appear to influence the overall outcome of events, by

getting more involved on behalf of the Jewish people we do succeed in

changing ourselves. And that, in and of itself, is already an important victory.

Editor's Note: Michael Freund was the Deputy Director of Communications and Policy Planning for Prime Minister Netanyahu. As I read this article I realized that although he is a Jewish man writing to a Jewish audience, the things he is suggesting are the very things God has put on our hearts to do as well. If you would like to become more involved in one of these areas, write to us and we will assist you. Please prayerfully consider supporting the aid projects of Bridges for Peace. And don't forget to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem." For more information about any of these projects please write to us at www.bridgesforpeace.com

Please scroll the page to the top for other links to the site