President and Mrs. Trump send Chanukah greetings
The White House issued the following statement from President and Mrs. Trump:
“Melania and I send our warmest greetings to our Jewish brothers and sisters in the United States, in Israel, and around the world celebrating Hanukkah.
“For eight nights, Jewish families and friends will come together to engage in the lighting of the menorah. This special tradition started more than 2,000 years ago during the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which followed a trying period when Jews were persecuted for practicing their faith.
“Unfortunately, Jews today continue to face many different forms of violence, hatred, and bigotry around the globe. We remember all those from the Tree of Life—Or L’Simcha Congregation—whose lives were tragically taken in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this past October. As one Nation, we pledge our continued love and support for the victims, their families, and the community, and we pray that the victims’ families find some measure of peace and comfort during this holiday season.
“Over the coming days, may the warming glow of each candle on the menorah help fill homes and hearts with love and happiness. Together, we reaffirm the truth that light will always break through the darkness. We send our very best wishes for a blessed and happy Hanukkah.” — From the White House
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Netanyahu, Pompeo meet in Brussels
The U.S. State Department issued the following statement: “Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Monday) in Brussels. The Secretary emphasized the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and absolute right to self-defense and to fighting anti-Israeli bias at the United Nations. The Secretary reiterated U.S. support for warming ties and increased dialogue between Israel and its neighbors in the Middle East and Africa, including Oman and Chad. Secretary Pompeo noted the strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance and our multifaceted cooperation. He reiterated America’s resolve in confronting the totality of the Iranian regime’s threats through maximum pressure.” — From U.S. State Department
Demonstration for women’s rights planned Dec. 4 in Israel
Libby Lenkinski, vice president for public engagement of the New Israel Fund (NIF), sent the following alert, as edited:Tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 4) is going to be a big day for women’s rights and the struggle to end violence against women in Israel. It may well be a moment we never forget.
Across the country, tens of thousands of women and men will go on strike. At 10:00am they will get up from their seats, go out in to the streets, and stand in silent protest for 24 minutes. And at 7:30 in the evening they will gather for a mass demonstration in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square.
Tomorrow’s strike protests the government’s failure to act to defend women from domestic abuse. Nearly 200 women in Israel have been killed by a family member or partner in the last decade. And 24 have been murdered so far in 2018.
That’s reason enough for action. And women’s rights advocates have been working on this issue for a long time But the government keeps standing in our way: They have only spent 10% of the NIS 250 million budget allocated to address domestic violence. And less than two weeks ago, the government voted unanimously to block a proposed Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on preventing violence against women.
NIF has always supported the women’s rights movement in Israel — from rape crisis centers, to civil rights litigators, to grassroots organizers. We’ve poured resources into efforts led by women from different backgrounds within Israel, including Bedouins and other Palestinian Israelis, the Orthodox Jewish community, and the secular Jewish majority. We have also provided a pool of grants — in partnership with the Dafna Fund and the National Council of Jewish Women — to support grassroots activism on this issue. We do this because we know that the need to defend women’s rights is not limited to one part of the population, and because we know that the struggles of women from each of these communities are part of the same battle for equality. — From New Israel Fund
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Preceding items culled from news releases. Please send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com