[ ]J Street[ ]
Friends,

As American patriots and supporters of Israel, we share a profound love
for both countries. And yet we see so clearly the dangerous, authoritarian
paths leaders from both countries are taking.

To paraphrase Frederick Douglass, the best friend of a nation is one who
acknowledges its shortcomings. So many of us can relate to that sentiment
given the current situations in both the United States and Israel.

Next week, we are sure to feel this struggle even stronger as Israel
celebrates its 77th Yom Ha'atzmaut, its Independence Day. We can think of
no better time for our community to come together and embrace the nuance.

So I invite you to join J Street, Hatikvah and our Progressive Israel
Network partners in honoring what we’re proud of – and what we continue to
aspire to – in Israel as well as celebrating those peacemakers doing the
hard and often thankless work of embodying our Jewish, democratic values.

[ [link removed] ]Register here to join us on Thursday, May 1 at 2pm Eastern / 11am
Pacific >>

[ [link removed] ]Register for Israel at 77: What we're honoring. What we're fighting
for.

Rabbi Sharon Brous, a leading voice for justice in our community and
senior rabbi of IKAR, and Evan Wolfson, civil rights lawyer and gay rights
advocate, will kick off our hour together with a discussion moderated by J
Street NYC’s Communal Chair and Hatikvah delegate Talia Benamy about
Israel’s past, present and future – as well as our role as progressive
Jewish Americans.

We’ll then move into an action opportunity, giving voice to our values by
getting out the vote for the Hatikvah Slate for the World Zionist Congress
elections. Already voted? We’ll huddle up and map out a plan of action to
text, call and email our personal networks to encourage them to cast their
ballot.

Polls for the World Zionist Congress close just a few days after we
convene, so your attendance is critical. We have an opportunity right now
to directly influence decisions being made for Israel and on behalf of the
Jewish people around the world.

I hope you can join us on Thursday. [ [link removed] ]Register to mark your calendars >>

Wishing you a meaningful week as we honor and reflect on the journey and
future of Israel.

Best,

Sam Berkman
National Director of Communal Relations, J Street

P.S. Can’t make it to the webinar? [ [link removed] ]You can still vote for Hatikvah
(#16) and encourage your friends and family, too. Voting ends May 4.


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© 2025 J Street | [ [link removed] ]www.jstreet.org | [email protected]

J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy
Americans who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the
Jewish people. Working in American politics and the Jewish community, we
advocate policies that advance shared US and Israeli interests as well as Jewish
and democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



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