- Write/call your friends, relatives, and acquaintances in Israel and with Israeli loved ones providing your concern and “we stand with you” emotional support.
- Monitor the New Mexico press (primarily the Santa Fe New Mexican and Albuquerque Journal), broadcast (and streaming) media, and social media for accuracy, misinformation, bias and disinformation (otherwise known as propaganda). Immediately comment and/or write letters to the editor or op-eds with the truth and combat the disinformation and bias with a pro-Israel perspective. Respond to the New Mexican’s several anti-Israel letters published this past Sunday, October 14. See below for a pdf of that page.
- Give your money to worthy organizations (there are many of them) that support Israel’s fight. Many of them are listed on our webpage here.*
- Call out anti-Zionism/antisemitism and moral equivalency statements by organizations and institutions between Hamas’ actions and Israel’s necessary self-defense retaliatory actions.
These 4 actions are important. In our view, #5 will have the greatest collective impact:
5. Write to our Members of Congress (MOCs) to support Israel. MOCs and the administration provide diplomatic, political, and financial support. In one stroke Congress and the President can allocate billions of dollars for Israel’s needs. Text ISRAEL to 24722 to join AIPAC’s email-writing campaign. A simple click will send emails to Senators Heinrich and Lujan, and Congresswoman Leger-Fernandez.
The one organization that has spent 70 years building strong and sustainable bipartisan relationships in Congress is the American israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The evidence of its effectiveness is the strong support Israel has seen in the past one and a half weeks from both sides of the aisle in individual statements and through senate and house resolutions.
If you wish to write to our MOCs directly instead through AIPAC you can find the contact information elsewhere on our website: https://www.sfmew.org/elected-officials-contact/ .
Do you give to Members of Congress incumbents or candidates? The easiest way to let MOCs know that you are pro-Israel and expect them to be pro-Israel as well is through the AIPAC*PAC portal. You can select the endorsed pro-Israel candidates you wish to support directly, and they know it is a pro-Israel contribution.
Many of us have been ranting for years about the severe partisanship in Washington, DC. Israel support is one of the few truly bipartisan issues. Here is a chance to show your own conviction of bipartisan work along with your support of Israel. [Note that AIPAC*PAC only endorses and supports clearly (1) pro-Israel candidates (2) who are in-cycle; that is, up for election or re-election (incumbents) in 2024.]
We’ve seen little support for Israel in the Santa Fe New Mexican from non-Jews. One of our members, Ray Lopez, had a brief and poignant letter published today (Oct 18) – thanks Ray. And here’s a terrrific statement by Rev. Talitha Arnold. Send her a note thanking her for her support, and encouraging her to have her fellow ministers throughout Santa Fe join her in speaking out in support of Israel. You can find her email here.
Praying for healing
Our hearts and deep prayers are with the people of Israel and the Jewish communities of Santa Fe and around the world in the wake of the devastating terror and death of this past week. May we pray for broken hearts and lives to be healed and for hostages to be released. In the words of the Psalms, may we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for all throughout that sacred land. And may my prayers and those of other Christians be matched by a deeper commitment to speak out against hatred and violence, wherever it occurs.
The Rev. Talitha Arnold, senior pastor, United Church of Santa Fe
Santa Fe New Mexican, October 14, 2023 Letters to the editor.
There’s so much more to be said about advocating for Israel. So many others are writing and advocating as well; we’re sure you are following the news and various websites detailing what’s going on in the Middle East and in the US and Europe. If you see something particularly poignant don’t hesitate to send it to us: info@sfmew.org.
And don’t forget to add your pro-Israel voice to your social media sites. We thank Israel and Nancy Sushman for continuing to add ours for SFMEW: Follow us on Facebook and X.
*While we won’t play favorites, members Brenda and David Jaffe, long time supporters and participants in the Arava Institute’s Israel Ride, are disappointed that it was cancelled. It was to take place October 24-30. See here if you wish to help with their fundraising efforts.
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