Birmingham Jewish community member Nate Salant had a great letter in Monday's Birmingham News. We thank Nate, a Birmingham Jewish Federation donor, for stepping forward, especially as the Palestinians seek support this week at the UN for their unilateral declaration of independence, a ploy designed to further isolate Israel. Here's what Nate wrote:

Last week, the Palestinian Authority's ambassador to the US publicly said "no Jews should be allowed to live in" any Palestinian state. That bares the true character of the conflict.

If he had said "no Israelis," that would be one thing; however, he excludes all Jews (presumably even the handful of ultra-orthodox who are anti-Zionist), and thereby reveals the anti-Semitism behind the conflict. The last country to take that tact was Nazi Germany, and the last country to expel its Jews was Iraq (1953, when 40 percent of Baghdad's population was Jewish).

It is disgraceful that our so-called allies in Europe, Central and South America and the Far East simply ignore such blatant hatred. Then again, many of them are the same countries that closed their doors to Jews fleeing Europe between 1936 and 1941 stood by and watched as their Jews were murdered, or sank so low as to assist the Nazis with the Holocaust.

I guess things really have not changed much since the guilty purged their consciences by creating Israel in a brief moment of regret, before returning to the anti-Semitism and knock-kneed weaknesses of their pasts.

Do not be surprised if some day the Palestinian state begins persecuting Christians, too. We've already seen the population of Bethlehem go from 80 percent Christian to less than 20 percent Christian in less than 20 years. Palestine would only be following in the footsteps of its major financial supporter, Saudi Arabia, where the public display of any non-Muslim religious item is prohibited. In Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, attacks on Christians have become common.

Israel's prime minister has gone on record recognizing the need for a two-country solution, but we have yet to hear the so-called "moderate" Palestinians agree that Israel should be a Jewish homeland. Until that happens, negotiating with the Palestinian Authority is like negotiating with "moderate" Nazis.

For decades, Michael Pizitz and the Pizitz family have been generous supporters of The Birmingham Jewish Federation. Michael, Dick, and Merritt, the senior members of this longstanding Birmingham family, continue to remain deeply interested in The BJF.

They typically are among the first donors we visit each year as we start our annual campaign -- and they are always willing to hear more about what's going on at The BJF.

We thank them for their continuing support and thank Michael for sending us a great email in response to our Update story last week headlined, "Kindling Jewish Life at Birmingham-Southern College." The story showcased the role The BJF is playing in strengthening Jewish life at Birmingham-Southern and mentioned similar efforts at the University of Alabama, Auburn University and UAB.

This outreach effort -- designed to keep more Jewish college students in-state and attract Jewish students from elsewhere, with the hope that they will build their careers and lives in Alabama -- is one more groundbreaking initiative developed by The BJF through Our Next 100 Years, a historic Jewish community project.

"I am very impressed with the work The BJF is doing with our four in-state colleges," wrote Michael. "With Jewish students representing only 1%-2% of the population of each of these colleges, you are giving them the opportunity to connect with other Jewish students."

"I think this is particularly important for those Jewish students attending our colleges from out of state. In addition, this could give our You Belong in Birmingham project an inroad with these students. In summary, I think The BJF's work with our four in-state colleges is most important."

Photo is of The BJF's Director of Outreach, Caren Seligman, lighting the candles at a recent Sabbath dinner at Birmingham-Southern College.

Another great email came from Simmy Barrocas, one of our Birmingham Jewish Foundation board members. Simmy wrote in response to our Update story headlined, "New Jersey to Birmingham: Bridge of Friendship."

The story highlighted the efforts of Pastor Keni Ashby and Rabbi Steven Sirbu, of Teaneck, NJ. The two, who visited Birmingham in 2010 on a national trip The BJF helped develop, were featured in Update for raising money for Alabama's tornado recovery. (See below link.)

"Awesome job on the 2010 conference and the relationship with these two mensches [good people]!" Simmy wrote in an email to The BJF's Director of Community Relations Joyce Spielberger, who both staffed the 2010 visit and is coordinating The BJF's tornado recovery effort.

"This is incredible and the fact that you are making this kind of a remarkable difference throughout this country on behalf of our Federation is AWESOME!" added Simmy. "The Pastor and Rabbi are mensches and it is so touching that they refer to Birmingham as a holy place and want to help because of the tornados. What a great impression you were able to impart to this group and thank you! I loved this story!"

Photo is of Pastor Keni Ashby, left, and Rabbi Steven Sirbu at the foot of the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma which the group visited during their trip to Alabama.