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March 28, 2003
IAC speaks out for Israel
Challenging anti-Israel sentiment is the main goal.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
When more than a dozen Israeli citizens were murdered by a suicide
bomber on a Haifa bus, Jews throughout the Diaspora felt frustrated
as there was little they could do about it. In Greater Vancouver,
however, a local group, the Israel Action Committee (IAC), organized
a vigil on the front steps of Beth Israel Synagogue, giving the
community the chance to show their solidarity with the Jewish homeland.
Naomi Frankenburg, who co-chairs the IAC along with Dr. Michael
Elterman and Judy Mandleman, said the group was formed a year and
a half ago because of their strong desire to help Israel in any
way they can.
"People were falsely accusing Israel of being horrible to the
Palestinians and killing them without any reason to do so, instead
of trying to make peace," she said. "A number of us got
together and we decided that we had to do something. And since then,
we found that the city is full of people who want to do something."
The IAC has organized several pro-Israel events and has joined forces
with other community organizations for several others. The largest
event tied to the IAC was the rally for Israel that took place last
May, in which more than 2,000 people gathered outside of the Talmud
Torah elementary school on Oak Street.
Since then, the IAC has developed various sub-committees that assume
different duties. Some of those committees include a media monitoring
group, led by Frankenburg, a group that works to help educate public
high school teachers and students, led by Dr. Larry Barzelai, a
group organized by Sally Rogow that works with Christian lay leaders
to educate their communities, and a Townhall meeting committee,
led by Gabriel Patrich.
The Townhall meetings, which usually include an educational speaker
and a group discussion, have become the staple event for the IAC,
as each meeting has attracted more participants than the last. For
the next Townhall meeting, April 3, the guest speaker will be former
Canadian ambassador to Israel Norman Spector.
"We all feel that in the small window of time that we've had,
we really have achieved a great deal," said Frankenburg, who
has visited Israel more than 80 times herself. "We've attracted
so many more people and put on very successful functions."
The most recent success story that came out of the IAC camp was
its contribution at a pro-Palestinian forum that took place at the
University of British Columbia Feb. 28.
The IAC helped Hillel students, along with members of the Jewish
community, fill most of the seats at the forum and diplomatically
disputed many of the claims and statements presenters such as MP
Svend Robinson made about Israel.
The IAC Web site has also proven to be one of the group's most useful
tools. The packed site includes updated news about Israel, columns
and articles gathered from press from around the globe, announcements
about upcoming events and tips on how community members can contribute
by writing to Canadian politicians and media outlets.
Other than contributing to the IAC, Frankenburg told the Bulletin
that the best way concerned community members can show support
to Israel is by paying a visit to the Jewish state.
"I sometimes feel I'm [working with the IAC] to compensate
for not being [in Israel] because our thoughts are with Israel all
the time," she said. "The most important thing people
can do is go and visit Israel."
The IAC Web site is www.iact.ca.
The next Townhall meeting will take place Thursday, April 3, at
7:30 p.m. in the JCC auditorium.
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