Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace
ABCs of Selected Major Jewish Organizations
Ameinu (formerly the Labor Zionist Alliance)
www.ameinu.net
Ameinu is a membership-based organization aiming to foster a more progressive Israel. The organization envisions a Jewish, democratic Israel, at peace with its neighbors, committed to religious pluralism and social and economic justice for all its citizens. Established in 2003 based on the existing framework of the Labor Zionist Alliance, Ameinu sponsors national and local events, educational programming, and political advocacy efforts. Ameinu is closely associated with Israel’s labor movement and is a member of the Conference of Presidents.
- The Current Crisis: Where We Stand (Press Release 7/25/2006)
- In Response to the Escalation on Israel’s Northern Border (Press Release 7/16/2006)
- Ameinu Mission to Israel 2006: Israel the Progressive Landscape
American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC)
www.aipac.org
AIPAC is one of the largest and best-funded political advocacy groups in Washington D.C. today. The group claims to work with Congress on legislation and strengthen the US-Israel relationship, but many times has found itself in stark disagreement with Israeli leaders, such as with Prime Minister Rabin over the Oslo Accords. More often AIPAC’s views represent those of the Israeli political group Likud. Still, AIPAC is recognized to wield great influence on Capital Hill and in some cases even drafts Israel-related legislation for debate in Congress, as was the case with the now defunct Palestinian Sanctions bill and many others.
American Jewish Committeewww.ajc.org
Established in 1906 in response to a series of pogroms in czarist Russia, the American Jewish Committee today sets out to safeguard the welfare and security of Jews worldwide by promoting principles of pluralism. The organization is active domestically as a membership organization and claims thirty-two chapters nationwide and 100,000 members and supporters.
- The work of the AJC includes publication of its Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion which reflects the attitude of the American Jewish community on a variety of issues, including Israel and the peace process.
- The AJC is also active in political advocacy. In May 2006 the organization issued a ‘Capital Alert’ statement in strong support of the House and Senate versions of the Palestinian sanctions bills. Brit Tzedek opposed this bill in both its House and Senate versions.
- During the crisis in Lebanon in July-August 2006, the AJC ‘Action Center’ urged its members and supporters to write letters of concern to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, US President George Bush, and the European Union President.
American Jewish Congress
www.ajcongress.org
Originally founded in 1918 to represent Jewish interests at a post-World War I peace conference in Versailles, the American Jewish Congress defines itself today as “a membership association of Jewish Americans, organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad, through public policy advocacy, in the courts, Congress, the executive branch and state and local governments.”
- In a statement issued following Israel’s Gaza disengagement of August 2005, the organization expressed its support for President Bush’s Road Map for Peace, but voiced concern that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was not amounting to a legitimate partner for peace.
- Executive Director Neil Goldstein issued a full statement in response to the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas in June 2006 and Hezbollah in July 2006. The statement urged that a cessation of hostilities “not come before those who were kidnapped are freed” nor before Hezbollah and Hamas are disarmed.
Americans for Peace Now
www.peacenow.org
The goal of American’s for Peace Now (APN) is to help Israel and the Shalom Achshav (Peace Now - Israel) movement to achieve a comprehensive political settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict consistent with Israel's long-term security needs and its Jewish and democratic values. APN is one of the leading US advocate groups of Middle East peace, and is a member of the Conference of Presidents. Shalom Achshav is the largest and oldest peace group in Israel.
In order to fulfill its mission, APN seeks the following: to educate the American public about the benefits of Middle East peace; engage the White House and State Department in the peace process; advocate support in Congress for the peace process and continued aid to Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians; and create awareness in the US of the benefits of Shalom Achshav programs in Israel.
- APN Publication: Settlements in Focus
- Complete List of APN Positions
- APN Condemns Hezbollah Attack, Calls for Resumption of US Diplomacy in Region (Press Release, July 12, 2006)
Anti Defamation League (ADL)
www.adl.org
The ADL operates domestically and internationally to combat anti-Semitism, extremism, and terrorism through a broad range of efforts including media monitoring, education, and advocacy. With 26 national offices in the United States (and 3 abroad), the ADL is a major presence in the American Jewish community. The organization is a member of the Conference of Presidents and the JCPA, and its national director, Abraham Foxman, appears regularly in news media as an advocate of ADL positions.
- Advocating for Israel: An Activists Guide
- Campaign: Free Them Now!
- Pope Assures ADL Leaders He is a Moral Voice Against Anti-Semitism
B’nai B’rith
www.bnaibrith.org
Founded in 1843, B’nai B’rith is an international organization with 180,000 members and organizational affiliates in more than 50 countries, with the mission of enhancing Jewish identity, strengthening Jewish life, and advocating on behalf of Jews throughout the world. At the center of B’nai B’rith’s Israel-related activities is the BBI Center for Public Policy, located in Jerusalem. By maintaining close contacts with Israeli and foreign officials in Jerusalem, the Center facilitates the implementation of the B’nai B’rith’s Israel related agenda.
- BBI Condemns One-Sided Anti-Israel Report at the UN Human Rights Council
- Press Release: Israeli Soldiers Seized; Israel Responds
- BBI Assails Iran for Ahmadinejad’s Anti-Israel Tirade at the United Nations
Hadassah
www.hadassah.org
Founded in 1912, Hadassah is a membership-based women’s organization active in both the United States and Israel. In Israel, Hadassah sponsors medical care and research, education, youth institutions, and environmental projects. In the US, Hadassah supports health education, Jewish education and connections with Israel, social action and advocacy.
Hadassah is a member of the Conference of Presidents and a national member of the JCPA. The Legislative Action Center (LAC) operates as Hadassah’s center for political advocacy.
Hillel The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
www.hillel.org
Hillel is a network of centers, campus Foundations and Hillel student organizations on 500 colleges and universities around the world. Their mission is to provide a pluralistic, welcoming and inclusive environment for Jewish college students, where they are encouraged to grow intellectually, spiritually and socially. Hillel aims to help students find a balance in being distinctively Jewish and universally human by encouraging them to pursue tzedek (social justice), tikkun olam (repairing the world) and Jewish learning. The organization is also active in supporting pro-Israel advocacy on campus and is a member of the Israel on Campus Coalition.
- Focus on Israel: Tools for Education, Advocacy and Action on Campus
- Israel Advocacy Tools and Guides
- Support Israel Petition
Israel Policy Forum
www.israelpolicyforum.org
The Israel Policy Forum (IPF) is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that supports active and sustained American efforts aimed at resolving the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors. In order to advance its mission, IPF seeks to educate the American public on the key issues facing the peace process in the region, and to advocate policy positions to key policymakers.
The IPF’s activities include: meeting and corresponding with U.S. and foreign heads of state, policymakers and opinion leaders; sending community fact-finding missions to the Middle East; hosting educational briefings throughout the country with scholars and policymakers from the Middle East and United States; distributing their weekly publications, IPF Friday and IPF Focus, which are widely distributed throughout the U.S. and Mid-East, and are read by some of the key leaders on Capitol Hill.
- IPF Letter to Sec. Rice: Steps US Should Take Now
- Statement on Israel-Hezbollah Fighting
- IPF Resource Center, for researching Israel and the Middle East
Jewish National Fund
www.jnf.org
Since its founding in 1901, the JNF has played an important role in environmental issues in Israel. With the support of donors throughout the world the organization has succeeded in planting over 240 million trees, developing over 250,000 acres of land, and creating more than 1,000 parks throughout Israel. The environmental projects of the JNF took on new proportions in August 2006 when fighting with Hezbollah resulted in the destruction of an estimated 1 million trees, or about 20% of northern Israel’s forests.
Mercaz USA
www.mercazusa.org
Mercaz USA is the Zionist membership organization of the Conservative Movement, the voice of Conservative Jewry within the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JA). Only 5% of Conservative/Masorti synagogue members are Mercaz members, which diminishes its voting power in the World Zionist Congress. The organization sees Zionism as a valuable tool for strengthening Jewish identity and combating assimilation, and is also active in Zionist educational programming, encouraging aliyah, and lobbying on behalf of religious pluralism, funding for the Masorati movement, and Israel’s right to security and peace.
Na'amat
www.naamat.org
Na'amat (The Movement of Working Women and Volunteers) is an organization that strives to enhance the quality of life for women, children and families in Israel, the U.S. and around the world. Na'amat women act locally, nationally and globally in 11 countries (including Israel) on issues ranging from religious pluralism to an improvement in the status of women at home and in the workplace, from child well-being to peace in the Middle East, and more. Na'amat USA is a member of the Conference of Presidents.
National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)
www.ncjw.org
The NCJW is a volunteer grassroots organization that champions progressive policies for the sake of women, children, and families in the US and Israel. Their work includes research, education, and public policy advocacy, which are coordinated by its Washington D.C. office. The organization’s Israel-related social action agenda includes women’s rights, tolerance and coexistence, and US support for Israel. NCJW is a member of the JCPA and Conference of Presidents.
- Briefing on NCJW’s Response to the Crisis in Israel
- Letter Writing Campaign: Support Israel and the Peace Process
- NCJW decries Israeli Supreme Court Ruling Against Rights of Women at Western Wall (Press Release 4/8/2003)
Workmen’s Circle/Arbiter Ring
www.circle.org
The Workmen’s Circle describes itself as ‘the welcoming home for new generations of Jewish families, cultivating Jewish community and culture, and standing up for social justice.’ It is a membership-based organization located in New York with branches throughout the US, and emphasizes the cultural and national historic aspects of Judaism as a means to express and experience Jewish heritage. One issue on the organization’s broad agenda is the Israeli-Palestinian peace process—their official position on this issue can be read below. The Workmen’s Circle is a member of the Conference of Presidents.
- Resolution of the 2006 National Convention on the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
- Letter to Bush Urging Ceasefire in Middle East
Zionist Organization of America (ZOA)
www.zoa.org
Though the ZOA is one of the oldest Israeli advocacy groups in America today, and was formerly headed by such notables as Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandies, the influence of the group, which today has about 30,000 members and chapters in major cities, has waned somewhat as its ideology has continued to shift further rightward. The aims of the group include: “documenting and exposing Palestinian Arab violations of the Road Map plan”; “keeping Jerusalem unified under Israeli sovereignty”; “fighting Hamas and Fatah”; and “working on the imposition of sanctions on Syria and Saudi Arabia”. The ZOA also engages in anti-Israel media monitoring, college campus activism, and educational activities.