Ending 2023 With a Mitzvah

Starting 2024 With a Mitzvah:  It has become Abq Jew's tradition that the last checks written online donations entered for one year and the first for the next year should be charitable donations to organizations, institutions, and causes that Abq Jew supports.

If you are looking for ways to to contribute as well, here are three ways to support Israel during this time of war.

American Friends of Magen David Adom

ZAKA Search and Rescue

American Friends of Israel Defense Forces

Alas, the Israel-Hamas war is not being fought only in Israel - or in Gaza.
It's being fought in cities throughout the world - in "pro-Palestinian" marches, protests, and demonstrations.

We can all see that antisemitism is on the rise. 

And then there's the fear and tension at many (most?) American colleges and universities, where Jewish students, faculty, and administrators no longer feel safe on what should be their own home turf.

What's going on here?

Eretz Nehederet (A Wonderful Country), Israel’s #1 comedy television show, posted (OK ... last month) a report on the situation at Columbia Untisemity, which should give us some idea. NOTE: Folks, this is parody. It's meant to be funny. In the midst of all the sadness, we need to smile and carry on.

There's recently been a &!@#storm of "controversy" about whether Jesus, the birthday boy, was Jewish or ... not. Eretz Nehederet addresses this issue in The Gospel According to Berkeley. NOTE: Parody again, folks.

And if you think that things are different in the Land of Enchantment - well, you're wrong. Very, very wrong.

Just one recent example: Following a "pro-Palestinian" demonstration on Black Friday (November 24th), KOAT quoted Sara Koplik, Director of UNM Hillel:

My students have faced a lot of antisemitism in the past six weeks, more than they've ever experienced in their entire lives. We're trying to help support them. 

Hillel at The University of New Mexico is one of the important local causes that Abq Jew is proud to support. We need to help Hillel House remain a safe place for our Jewish students.

Hillel @ The University of New Mexico

In the meantime ....