Israel

At BJBE, Israel is not simply a committee or program; it is a core value. We express this through our commitment to educational symposiums, cultural events, a robust Hebrew curriculum for adults, and yearly congregational trips to Israel. We offer both adult and family trips, as well as a triennial pilgrimage to Kolin, Czech Republic, birthplace of one of our Holocaust Torah scrolls. BJBE is proud to partner with such organizations as Jewish National Fund (JNF), Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), and American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

We work to enhance the connection between BJBE members and the people, culture, and language of the Jewish state. If you would like to get involved, contact the temple office at 847.940.7575.

October 15, 2023 - Today, we successfully procured 450 paper letters to the consulates and coordinated approximately 100 email letters through the RAC = that is 550 letters in a 3-hour sp

Pro-Israel Advocacy

Help Make Colleges Safer from Antisemitism

As we are seeing daily, anger over the Israel-Hamas conflict is fueling the flames of hate on college and university campuses in the U.S. Jewish students are being assaulted, intimidated, and harassed because of their beliefs. The Department of Education must prioritize fulfilling its commitments in the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism to protect students from antisemitic and anti-Israel hostility.

Join ADL in urging the Department of Education to fulfill its commitments to make college campuses safe.

Urgent Call for the Release of Hostages - National Council of Jewish Women

NCJW has joined a growing list of over 6,500 global women leaders applying pressure to international governments, organizations, and civil society groups to do everything in their power to secure the release of 199+ kidnapped civilians held hostage by Hamas in unfathomable circumstances.

​​​​​​​Reach out to your lawmaker in Congress today to urge swift action to support the hostages, providing them medical care and negotiating their release. Use the button below to send an email to your Senators and Representative. The letter will autopopulate for your elected officials after you submit your contact information. Bring Them Home! 

Help Make Colleges Safer from Antisemitism - 

As we are seeing daily, anger over the Israel-Hamas conflict is fueling the flames of hate on college and university campuses in the U.S. Jewish students are being assaulted, intimidated, and harassed because of their beliefs. The Department of Education must prioritize fulfilling its commitments in the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism to protect students from antisemitic and anti-Israel hostility.

Join ADL in urging the Department of Education to fulfill its commitments to make college campuses safe. Take Action!

BJBE & AIPAC 
BJBE sponsors community-wide programming through the AIPAC North Shore Community Engagement Plan, which brings in high-level speakers throughout the year. 

AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C.
For more information, visit www.aipac.org.

ARZA: The Association of Reform Zionists of America
ARZA enriches the Jewish identity of Reform Jews in America by ensuring that a connection with Israel is a fundamental part of that identity. Its mission includes support and advocacy for a Jewish, pluralistic, just, and democratic society in the State of Israel. For more information, visit www.arza.org. 

StandWithUs 
StandWithUs is an international, non-profit, Israel education organization, dedicated to educating people of all ages about Israel and combating anti-Semitism and extremism.  Through printed materials, speakers, programs, conferences, missions to Israel, campaigns, social media, and educational films, they ensure that the story of Israel’s achievements and ongoing challenges are told in middle schools, high schools, college campuses, and in communities around the world.

For more information about StandWithUs, visit www.standwithus.com.

Women of the Wall
Women of the Wall is a group of Jewish women from Israel and around the world who strive to achieve the right to wear prayer shawls, pray, and read from the Torah at the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem. The Western Wall is Judaism’s most sacred holy site, and Women of the Wall work to make it a place where women can pray freely. Watch the BJBE calendar for information about events in support of Women of the Wall. For more information, visit womenofthewall.co.il.