Jewish Public Affairs Expert Visits Seattle

Across the country, efforts to debase and de-legitimize Israel have challenged Jewish communities in profound, new ways. These efforts have done little to further constructive dialogue or foster a real peace in the Middle East but instead have cleaved deep rifts in communities from Boston to Seattle.

Martin Raffel, Senior Vice President of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) ventured to the Pacific Northwest for a series of meetings with leaders in the Jewish community on Monday, May 16, 2011. The day culminated with a Jewish Federation reception and program at the home of Joe and Judy Schocken.

In his program, Raffel covered both the domestic and international threats to Israel. Together, uncertain democratic movements sweeping through the Middle East, Fatah and the terrorist organization Hamas' newly formed unity government, and Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons threaten the peace process, Israel's security, and her very existence.

Yet an organized campaign to cast Israel – the Middle East's only democracy – unfavorably threatens the country's legitimacy on the global stage among countries, political leaders, and cultural icons. Motivated to quell the rising tide of de-legitimization around the country, Raffel detailed how the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Council of Public Affairs have embarked on a coordinated, strategic campaign to help communities combat anti-Israel boycotts, divestments, and sanction efforts.

For more information on the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, visit http://engage.jewishpublicaffairs.org.