Update sent out a story late Wednesday on the latest developments regarding the painting of an incorrectly-depicted swastika outside of the home of a Jewish family in Vestavia Hills. The story also highlighted the role that The Birmingham Jewish Federation has played in helping the family, the mayor of Vestavia Hills, school system officials and law enforcement authorities address this situation. (See below link for story.) Readers responded quickly.

One of those was Jody Wolfe, one of our many Christian donors who is a former Mountain Brook police officer. Jody often responds whenever we carry stories about anti-Semitism, affirming his commitment to fight prejudice and hatred of the Jewish people. "This is good news," he wrote after reading about the progress in the swastika investigation.

An email also came from Richard Berkowitz, who grew up in Birmingham and now lives in Savannah. "If they (the perpetrators) are eventually caught and prosecuted, and hopefully severely fined and/or jailed, they should be taught history," he wrote.

Birmingham Jewish community member Denise Lewis wrote, "As a Vestavia Hills resident, I am very concerned and interested in the follow-up to this incident. I have spoken on many occasions in Vestavia Hills schools about the Holocaust and have always been treated with respect."

"The students and teachers have been extremely interested in this subject. I hope this is only a one time problem and it is taken care of soon. I thank BJF staff member Joyce Spielberger and the entire BJF for its help in this investigation," Denise added. Denise also helps coordinate speakers for the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center, an organization funded in part by The BJF Campaign.

Writing on Facebook, BJF volunteer leader Randi Landy, who, along with her husband, Dave, is chairing this year's BJF Campaign, wrote of our involvement, "This is yet another example of The BJF providing leadership and clarity for the entire community."

We thank these readers for their comments and, as always, thank all those who contribute to our BJF Annual Campaign. Your dollars provide the staffing, organizational structure and funding that allow us to respond to situations quickly and effectively on behalf of the Birmingham Jewish community.

By Richard Friedman, Executive Director

I got a phone message the other day from a friend who lives in the Northeast who is an Update reader. He said, "I was talking to one of my friends who asked me to explain why it is in America's national interest to support Israel and the Israelis. Honestly, I had a little problem articulating why."

The caller, who I have known a long time and who supports Israel and who is Jewish himself, asked me to send him some information that might be helpful. I sent him an article by Israel's Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, which appeared last spring in Foreign Policy magazine. The article was headlined "The Ultimate Ally" and it reflected on Israel's importance to the US in a number of ways.

"What is the definition of an American ally?" asks Oren. Then, referring to Israel, he adds, "On an ideological level, an ally is a country that shares America's values, reflects its founding spirit, and resonates with its people's beliefs. Tactically, an ally stands with the United States through multiple conflicts and promotes its global vision. From its location at one strategic crossroads, an ally enhances American intelligence and defense capabilities, and provides ports and training for US forces. Its army is formidable and unequivocally loyal to its democratic government."

"An ally," he continues, "...assists in saving American lives on and off the battlefield. And an ally stimulates the US economy through trade, technological innovation, and job creation."

Israel does all of the above for the US -- and more. The entire article -- a great backgrounder on Israel and its value to the US as an ally -- is long but worth reading. (See below link for article.)

GROWING DIFFICULTY

The phone message from my Northeast friend unfortunately reflects a growing difficulty that the Jewish state faces: Jews who don't "get" and support Israel. They often see Israel incorrectly as a military aggressor which it is not. It's sad -- Jews especially should celebrate Israel as a unique state in the region.

Israel is one of the few authentic democracies on the planet. It is a nation with freedom of speech and the press and an independent judiciary; a country that always is among the first to lend a helping hand, even to its adversaries, when tragedy strikes elsewhere; and a country that has refrained from using its full might against its enemies, seeking negotiations instead.

I am glad my friend called me. I wish there were programs called "Israel for Jews Conflicted about the Jewish State," so they could fully understand Israel, its accomplishments, its commitment to western ideals and its unique value to the United States.

I am also glad that The Birmingham Jewish Federation is there -- everyday in so many ways -- serving as a resource not only on the local level but for people in other parts of the country as well. It's one more thing we do to help the Jewish people and the Jewish state.

What a great email we received from one of our donors in response to an email we had sent her on behalf of Operation Grassroots!

"I am so proud of all The BJF does," she wrote. "I've been reading about the campaign and I do want to increase my pledge by $100. I seriously doubt that I'll be able to do it again after this year, and I won't be able to pay it in one payment, but I will call your office and set it up. Thank you for taking the time to write me."

And then, she added something especially nice about Amanda Weil and Daniel Odrezin, two young people who will join our BJF staff this year, and current staff members Caren Seligman and Joyce Spielberger. Here's what she wrote: "Please tell Amanda, whose whole family I love, and Daniel, who I met and admired for volunteering where I was fundraising and writing grants, and Caren and Joyce that they...are my heroes."

Operation Grassroots is an unprecedented BJF effort to raise 1000 new gifts and increases of at least $100 to receive a $100,000 challenge gift. As of this writing, 86 Operation Grassroots gifts have come in -- only 914 to go!

Click to make an Operation Grassroots payment.

Click to make an Operation Grassroots pledge and be billed.