There was an interesting commentary piece on the Jewish Telegraphic Agency website urging the American Jewish community to become more deeply involved in assisting Israel's Arab population. Arabs make up roughly 20 percent of Israel's population. (This does not include Arabs living in the West Bank.)

Noting an effort that was initiated by Jewish Federations of North America, among other groups, Rabbi Sid Schwarz writes, "The test of any democracy is how it treats it minorities. It is all the more challenging in Israel because it was founded as a Jewish state. However, there have always been non-Jewish citizens living in Israel and the country's Declaration of Independence guarantees them full equality."

Over the years, programs funded by The Birmingham Jewish Federation and Foundation have helped promote greater interaction and understanding between Israel's Jewish and Arab populations.

Every Friday night, as the Sabbath begins, the children of Birmingham Jewish community members Robin and Hilton Berger put money into their tzedakah boxes to be used to help causes important to them. At the end of each year, they decide where they want to donate the money.

This year, they elected to help support both Temple Emanu-El's annual food drive and to make an Operation Grassroots contribution to The Birmingham Jewish Federation in honor of family friends Randi and Dave Landy, who are chairing this year's BJF campaign.

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 today, including the donation from the Berger children, we've received 108 Operation Grassroots gifts -- only 892 to go!

The three Berger children attend the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School where the importance of tzedakah -- sharing what you have to help others and to create a more just world -- is stressed. When they were asked why they wanted to donate to The BJF, each answered that they wanted to help people in need, one of the main things The BJF does with the money we raise.

Their parents brought them to The BJF to drop off their contribution where they visited with BJF Executive Director Richard Friedman. Pictured here, from left, are Mason, Kyra and Adison proudly giving their money to Richard, who thanked them for their donation and talked to them about the work of The BJF.

Mom Robin wrote The BJF afterwards. "Thank you for making their donation experience special," she said. It's our pleasure, but it is we who thank them -- for thinking of The BJF and becoming part of Operation Grassroots!

If you have young children or grandchildren, and they would like to pool their funds to make an Operation Grassroots contribution of $100, and come by The BJF to learn more and have their picture taken for Update, let us know. Contact Donna Berry at The BJF at donnab@bjf.org to arrange a time.

Click to make an Operation Grassroots payment.

Click to make an Operation Grassroots pledge and be billed.

There is still time to register for "The Birmingham Israel Summit -- A Call To Action." The Birmingham Jewish Federation's Jewish Community Relations Coalition and our other Jewish community agencies have partnered with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to host an afternoon of learning and Israel engagement. The program will be from 3-6 pm Sunday, Jan. 22, at Temple Emanu-El.

AIPAC is a national organization dedicated to educating US Senate and House members and other officials about the bonds that unite the US and Israel and how it is in America's best interest to help ensure that Israel remains safe, strong and secure.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend multiple educational sessions to hear from experts on an array of topics. Topics include Iran's nuclear program; Christians and Jews working together for Israel; what the November, 2012 election might mean for Israel, and implications of the Arab spring.

The keynote presentation will be given by Professor Stephen Berk, whose topic will be: "From Tragedy to Triumph: The Future of Zionism." Berk is widely known for his expertise on the Holocaust, Russia, and the Middle East and is Professor of Holocaust and Jewish Studies at Union College in Schenectady, NY.

The Birmingham Israel Summit is free and open to the public. As part of our continued outreach to college students and young adults, we invite them to join us. The event is being co-sponsored by Temple Beth-El, Temple Emanu-El, Knesseth Israel, The Birmingham Jewish Federation's Jewish Community Relations Coalition, the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, the Levite Jewish Community Center and Collat Jewish Family Services.

Registration is required. To register, go to the below link. A picture ID will be required for security purposes. For more information contact Joshua Karsh at 770-541-7610 or jkarsh@aipac.org.

One of the many programs funded by The Birmingham Jewish Federation through the Jewish Agency for Israel is the Youth Futures program. This innovative program empowers disadvantaged Israeli youth, providing them with an opportunity to develop their academic and social skills. The program serves nearly 7,000 youth in 32 localities, primarily in the Negev and Galilee.

The Youth Futures model draws upon "trustees" -- some 300 young adult Israeli social pioneers -- who work full time to build a strong relationship with children and their parents. The trustees tailor annual work plans for each child, based on the child's strengths and needs. The work plan is developed and implemented in coordination with parents, teachers, school counselors, social workers and other professionals.

Israel, a tiny country with a population just roughly the size of Alabama and Mississippi's combined, must do all it can to enable young person to reach their full potential if it wants to continue to survive and thrive. The BJF is proud to be a partner in the Youth Futures initiative and so many other programs that benefit the people of Israel everyday in so many ways.

Photo, from Jewish Agency website, is of Israeli children benefiting from Youth Futures program.