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letter applauding Betar in Cleveland Jewish News - "Betar takes on challenge"  " Kidos
to Betar for its public advocacy on behalf of Jonathan Pollard ("Betar
advocates for Jonathan Pollard's release," CJN, Nov. 30).The determination of this Zionist youth group to tackle the more challenging and controversial issues of our time is indeed an asset to our community. Betar has been on the forefront of this issue for quite some time, having helped enlist the Cleveland Board of Rabbis and Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland to issue statements in favor of Pollard's commutation. The Israeli government acknowledged that Pollard was an agent acting on its behalf and not a common felon motivated by greed. When freed, Pollard n an Israeli citizen n intends to return to Jerusalem, not his original Maryland residence. In exchange for a reduced sentence, Pollard pled guilty and cooperated fully with the government. By doing so, he spared his family, Israel, and the American Jewish community the attention a public trial would have afforded. Some say the Pollard case should be settled via quiet Israeli diplomacy, and American Jews should keep out. Had the Justice Department honored its original agreement, that may have been the case. But it was not, and we have the obligation to speak out against a miscarriage of justice and the failure of our government to meet its commitments. The life sentence given Pollard may have been used by government agencies as both a scare tactic and an excuse for anti-Semitism. Pollard was also viewed by the government as a bargaining chip for exacting Israeli concessions during "final-status" negotiations during the 1999 Wye Summit. Without continued pressure by both Israel and the American Jewish community, Pollard's freedom is unlikely. Grassroots movements like Betar are doing their small part to help, and we should follow their lead. Thank President Bush for his continued support of Israel, and let him know it is time to send Pollard home. Steve Moses Beachwood " http://cjn.org/articles/2007/12/13/community/letters_opinion/moses1214.txt Betar France The Jewish community of
France, recently orginized a big event named the "Torah Day" which was
dedicated to strenghthening the Jewish identity and the natural
belonging to the State of Israel within the Jews in France. Many
represantetives from the different Jewish and Zionist organizations,
joined the Betar - Tagar movement in Paris, and brought upon the Betar
ideology to the event. Following are pictures that were taken during Yom
Hatorah. Betar in France are welcoming you to their local website:
TOC - Turkish Olim Club
News from Betar Cleveland " We had a great meeting this
past Sunday night (10/21). We read a letter that Shlomo Ben-Yosef wrote
to Rosh Betar Zev Jabotinsky before he was sent to the gallows in 1938.
We also read the famous statements that Etze"l fighter Dov Gruner said
during his trial after being arrested in 1946. I addition to that, we
looked a paragraph from Jabotinsky's poem, Haneder. The paragraph is
regarding- Sherut or service to the Jewish people and state. All three
of these pieces are amazing and extremely moving. I encourage everyone
(especially those who weren't at the meeting) to look at them....
Click here to read all about it and see our pictures!
Former Clevelander Returns as Betar Shaliach
Betar Cleveland's first event of the year
Winter trip to Israel In the Winter Break of 2006-2007, a group of 18 people – mostly college students, from the United States, Canada, and Britain traveled through Israel with the Betar-Tagar Zionist Movement. In a coordination of Mr. Dennis Seaman from Cleveland Betar and Eitan Behar from World Betar, another amazing volunteer trip satisfied the participants. For some, it was their first time experiencing Israel, for others, a return trip. Over two weeks, the group did volunteer work around Kedumim and in Nahariya and witnessed first-hand both the beauty and potential of Israel as well as the horrifying devastation caused by Kassam rockets in Sderot and the results of appalling attacks on civilian targets in Nahariya. In addition, they enjoyed spending time with Israeli families in their homes in Kedumim and touring some of Judaism's holiest sites. Places visited include the Tombs of the Patriarchs in the Machpela Cave in Hebron, Rachel's Tomb, Mounts Grizim and Eval, the Golan Heights, Jerusalem, and the Acco prison where early Zionists and Betar members were executed during the British Mandate. As part of the activism for
Israel, world Betar is proud to promote the Betar-Tagar-MASA programs –
a short and a long term once in a life-time experience.
Betar UK activism for Israel On September 4th
the Zionist Youth movement Betar-Tagar together with Likud-Herut GB held a
“buy Israeli products” stand outside of Marble Arch Marks & Spencer,
Oxford Street. Both Betar/Likud and Palestinian activists held countering
stands.
President`s House Event
On 29.7, Betarim from all over the world gathered at the
President`s Residence to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the
movement. Attendees were addressed by President Moshe Katzav and World
Betar Chairman Danny Danon. Betarim Sandra Feder, Kenny Sachs and Kevin
Kenigsberg also read from the writings of Rosh Betar. In his address,
President Katzav quoted from Rosh Betar`s message to his comrades of the
Jewish Legion: `look yourself proudly in the face. Stand to attention and
salute yourself, for it is you who made it` (referring to Jewish
sovereignty). The President referred to the dream of Rosh Betar as `a
vision realized.`
Betar summer tours from many countries have been visiting Israel over the past two months. Groups from Cleveland, from New York, from Australia, from France and from Latin America have been here. Beter Eretz Yisrael have also run tours for chanichim. Activities included: agricultural volunteering in Kdumim, tours and lectures in Jerusalem`s Old City, hiking in the Golan, meetings with prominent Israelis, activities with Olim and Israeli youth, participation in discussions on campus activism, and much more.
Shabbat Olim
A special Shabbat for Olim, organized by World Betar, took
place at the `Avia` Hotel in Yehud, from August 22-23. 80 Betarim
participated, including Olim from France, Australia, the USA, Latin
America and veteran Israelis. On Friday, the group toured Ramle, and on
Saturday, participants divided into language groups for discussions of
Betar ideology. MK Michael Eitan also addressed the group. The event was
hailed by all as a great success, following in the footsteps of a number
of similar events organized by the World Leadership over the last couple
of years.
The
final touches are now being put to the Asper Community Action Center in
Ofakim, and the Center is scheduled to open in late October. The Center
wil be the largest yet, and will be opened in a festive ceremony that will
be attended by Ofakim mayor Yair Hazan, prominent Israelis and local
activists, and a delegation from Winnipeg who are due to be visiting
Israel at that time. |
News from Betar South Africa
The
13 Betarim from Latin America taking part in the Machon have completed
successfully the movement-run part of their program, which took place in
August. They took part in a program of the JNF, were received as guests in
the family houses of Betarim from Beit Shemesh, took part in an
ideological seminar in Tel Aviv, and visited the Community Action Center
in Beersheva, and the son to be opened new center in Ofakim. At the
beginning of September, they began the `Marva` program together with the
Australian Machonikim. 