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UJC MetroWest is home to all streams of Judaism and proud of its diversity. We are a leader among Federations in promoting religious pluralism and tolerance among diaspora Jews and Jews in Israel. UJC strongly condemns the acts of violence that are occurring in Beit Shemesh and other acts of intolerance towards fellow Jews and women in particular. These provocative acts disregard our Jewish values and promote dangerous conflict within Israel and among Jews worldwide. Together, we must stand up against this violence and work tirelessly to instill a sense of mutual respect in all our people.
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Max Kleinman "Max"imum Potential — a UJC Blog
Max Kleinman shares his thoughts about what's important to the MetroWest community

Incivility Is a Double-edged Sword
The Mayor of Rishon LeZion was late. I anxiously stared at my watch as I had a return flight to catch back to the States. Dov Tsur finally arrived. He apologized and explained the reason for his delay. He met with a group of residents who vigorously protested the plans for constructing a school in their neighborhood. The school was under Modern Orthodox auspices. The same kind of school that was blasted by the fanatical fringe of Haredi in Beit Shemesh. The same kind of students who were humiliated by those extremists down south in the “House of the Sun” (Beit Shemesh). more
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Sarit Catz CRC: Advocacy in Action
A blog by Sarit Catz, Israel Advocacy Chair
Israel, Women, Fighter Pilots, and the Truth
You’ve probably heard a lot recently about women on Israeli buses. You may have heard women have to sit in the back of the bus. They don’t. You may have heard that’s not actually the law. It’s not. You may have heard that there’s a lot of controversy about it. There is. more
   
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Amir Shacham From Leslie's Laptop
A blog by Leslie Dannin Rosenthal, Vice Co-Chair of Major Gifts

Being Proud of Being Jewish
I don’t know about your family, but when I was growing up, my grandmothers, who were very dear friends, played an ongoing game of “did you know?” — as in, “Did you know that Christopher Columbus was Jewish?” This could go on for hours, and I always wondered why it was so important to them. I guess I’m getting to be more like my grandmothers, because I had an experience this weekend that brought this old game to mind. more
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Amir Shacham On the Ground in Israel
A personal view of our efforts in Israel by Amir Shacham, Associate Executive Vice President, Israel and Overseas.
A Tale of Two Cities: A Story of Two Stones
So what was Beit Shemesh for Israelis? It was shocking for many Israelis and Diaspora Jews to find out from the media that the pure, vivid symbol of biblical stories, Zionism, idealism, moderation, and Jewish renewal turned out to be such an evil place. I can proudly say that United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ has been working tirelessly over the last 15 years and has invested a lot in trying to protect Israel from attempts from within to brutally destroy the values of human equality, religious pluralism, acceptance, and tolerance. more
   
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As part of our effort to disseminate information about diaspora organizations interested in pluralism, Jacob's Bones wrote a piece highlighting both MetroWest and DC's involvement in Pluralism and Tolerance earlier this week:
Jacob's Bones
Returning Israel to its Source

Two US Federations With a Long History in Support of Tolerance
In a beautifully written essay published in eJewishPhilanthropy, Steven A. Rakitt, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (Washington DC) makes the case for Diaspora involvement in Israel’s recent social conflicts more
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News Update
Local News
Iran expert: 'Non-military tactics might work'

Patrick Clawson believes there are ways to halt Iran's nuclear weapons program, but it will depend on global cooperation, credible economic threats, and the willingness of the United States to show that it is ready to take military action. He will expand on those views in a talk on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Alex Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus in Whippany. more

Local News
Haredi rabbi battles religious coercion, violence

JERUSALEM — He believes all fervently Orthodox Israelis, or haredim, should serve in the army and work for a living. He spoke at a rally condemning haredi discrimination against women. And he would facilitate the conversion of hundreds of thousands of people even though they do not intend to keep all the commandments. Amsalem will speak about those tensions on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m. at the Alex Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus in Whippany. more

local news courtesy of New Jersey Jewish News
fact of the week Federations Support Jewish Disability Awareness Month 
February 2, 2012

To mark Jewish Disability Awareness Month this February, more than 25 Jewish community professionals and lay leaders, including representatives from seven Federations and JFNA, will travel to Washington on Feb. 7 to participate in Jewish Disability Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. The day’s events will focus on the importance of Medicaid to the disability community, and will include a forum for Congressional staff and advocacy meetings with key members of Congress. Learn more about other Jewish Federation activities around Jewish Disability Awareness Month.

Read more JFNA Facts in the Fact of the Week archive
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press relations Partner 2 Partner 2011 UJC Report to the Community Speak EZ Weekly eUpdate
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