Debriefing with Congressman Christopher Murphy on January 12 after his return from a Congressional mission to Egypt, Israel and Turkey. Left to right: Gary Jones, Chair - Greater Hartford JCRC, Laura Zimmerman, Executive Director - Greater Hartford JCRC, Congressman Chris Murphy, Dan Millstein, President-Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation Emek Shalom and Don Gershman, Chair - Greater Hartford AIPAC.
Elie Wiesel Speaks in Greenwich
Saying the world has not learned enough from the Holocaust, survivor and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel on November 3 urged hundreds of Brunswick School students in Greenwich to "think higher and feel deeper" when they wonder how to respond to modern-day atrocities.
Read the article about Wiesel's talk in the Greenwich Time
January 6, 2010 meeting with William Daroff, Vice President for Public Policy & Director, The Jewish Federations of North America, Washington Office. Left to right: Bob Fishman, Executive Director, JFACT; Rep. Denise Merrill, House Majority Leader; Rep. David Baram; William Daroff; Rep. Peggy Sayers, Deputy Majority Leader; Laura Zimmerman, Executive Director, JCRC of Greater Hartford. Absent from picture: Sen. Jonathan Harris, Chief Assistant Majority Leader; and Rep. David McCluskey, Deputy Speaker. The meeting was held to discuss domestic issues of Jewish concern on the Federal, state and local level.
UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America Mourns Victims of Tel Aviv Shooting
August 10, 2009
The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven issued a similar statement.
UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America, together with the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT) and the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, mourns the fatal shooting of two young Israelis at a gay youth center in Tel Aviv last weekend.
An estimated 20,000 Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on Saturday night to remember the two victims who were gunned down in an apparent anti-gay attack last week. Leading entertainers joined dignitaries headed by President Shimon Peres in what was both a tribute to the victims and a statement against hatred.
Those killed were Liz Trubeshi, 16, of Holon and Nir Katz, 26, of Givatayim. Fifteen others were injured.
According to news reports, a masked attacker walked into a community center for gay and lesbian youth on Nachmani Street around 11 p.m. Saturday, firing an automatic rifle indiscriminately. No one has been arrested and police are considering that the attack was either a hate crime or motivated by a personal dispute.
"We are appalled and saddened by the murders at the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Association," said UJC President and CEO Howard Rieger. "Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims and we hope the attacker will be swiftly brought to justice."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also condemned the attack as a violation of Israel's democratic values, and called for greater tolerance. Memorial ceremonies have been held in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Washington, DC.
May the families of the victims be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and may the names of the victims be forever as a blessing
Beryl Weinstein, 1926-2009
Beryl Weinstein at the May, 2007 luncheon.
Beryl Weinstein with Governor Jody Rell in 2005
Beryl was our esteemed founding president of JFACT 15 years ago and remained a constant supporter. He was also a past president of the Waterbury Jewish Federation, now the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut. He was also a founder and leader of the Southern New England Partnership 2000 program with Afula and Gilboa (SNEC). Beryl served as chair of Small Cities for the national Jewish federation system and was a delegate and leader at over 30 General Assembly conferences.
We will forever miss him and may his memory be for a blessing.
Obituary
Sikorsky Teams with Israel's Elbit Systems
Stratford's Sikorky Aircraft Corp. has wrapped up a two-year demonstration flight program the aim of which is to sell copies of its AH-60 Battlehawk helicopter to military customers worldwide, including the Israeli Air Force.
Sikorsky Military Systems and Israel's Elbit Systems Ltd. recently conducted demo flights in Israel using a reconfigured version of its famed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to display the performance and weapons capabilities of the Battlehawk concept.
The demonstrations began in September 2008. Sikorsky did not say how much it has invested in showing the worthiness of its light attack helicopter program.
Sikorsky test pilot Bill Fell and an Israeli Air Force pilot performed live-fire exercises on a test range with the copter that can be armed with guns and missiles for combat or unarmed for troop transport and search and rescue and disaster relief missions.
Elbit is in charge of mission avionics and weapon systems integration.
So far, Sikorsky's Battlehawk customers include the U.S. Army, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirate.
Standing for Freedom in Iran This is part of the Connecticut presence at the Stand for Freedom in Iran rally at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at the United Nations on September 24, 2009. |
National Jewish Leadership Advocacy Day on Iran September 10 The Connecticut delegation to the National Jewish Leadership Advocacy Day on Iran. Left to right: Rabbi Clifford Librach, Donald Gershman, Josh Blumenfeld, Amy Lipton, Ben Weingrod, Gary Jones, Marsha Stein, Laura Zimmerman, Mitchell Weseley, Robert Yass, Alan Stein, Arthur Seltzer. Josh Blumenfeld and Ben Weingrod are members of Senator Dodd's staff. For more photos, Click Here. |
Free the Slaves
The Israel Advocacy Committee from B'nai Israel of Southbury is organizing its third annual Human Rights Program on Sunday, July 12 at 1:30. It will feature Judy Hyde and Helen Armstrong, spokespersons for "Free the Slaves," dramatic readings, films and audience discussions. The program is being co-sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League. A flyer may be viewed at and downloaded for printing by clicking here.
Yom Hashoah
The 31
st Annual Statewide Holocaust Commemoration was held Friday, April 24, 2009 at 11:00 AM in the Senate Chambers of the State Capitol.
Senate President Don Williams presided over the ceremony, which featured Dr. Rabbi Philip Lazowski as its keynote speaker. Rabbi Lazowski is Connecticut Senate Chaplain, Rabbi Emeritus of Beth Hillel Synagogue, Bloomfield and author of Faith and Destiny, an account of his survival in the ghettos and in hiding in the woods of White Russia during the Holocaust.
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David Baram Sworn in to State House of Representatives
Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz swears in David Baram. Baram, JFACT Chairman of the Board, won a special election to the Connecticut House of Representatives in Bloomfield and Windsor. Senator Jonathan Harris, Bob Fishman, Speaker of House Chris Donovan and Majority Leader Denise Merill join David Baram and Bloomfield leaders in office of the Secretary of State.
Ambassador Gabriela Shalev
Israeli United Nations Ambassador Gabriela Shalev spoke February 26, 2009 at Emmanuel Synagogue in West Hartford at a luncheon co-sponsored by JFACT.
View More PhotosSeeing Things Through Other's Eyes: My Experience with Bloomfield's Identity Project
By Robert Rader, President, CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education)
When Dr. Joseph A. Olzacki, Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Bloomfield Public Schools, invited me to join high school students, some staff and members of the community in a one-day trip to the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., I wasn't quite sure what to expect. After all, I had been to the museum years ago, had been to Israel's Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem, twice, and have even been to a Holocaust Museum in New York City. But, I had never gone with such a group.
The experience turned out to be so much more than just a field trip to the Museum. It was an emotional learning event, the type that board members, staff and even students rarely have the opportunity to experience.
…
I think that those of us who shared the day came away with a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the importance of and strength in diversity and respecting the dignity of all people. These lessons touched every member of our diverse group.
This shared experience, learning about the worst horrors mankind has ever perpetrated, together with seeing symbols of the best of our own nation's ideals, reinforced the finest, the most caring, most unifying and the most positive emotions in all of us. And, I believe that on some level, no matter whether the individual was a student, a teacher, a member of the community or one who just wanted to be part of this event, we were affected in the same way.
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State Senator Toni Harp makes presentation to JFACT Chairman David Baram at October, 23, 2008 JFACT Board Meeting. Looking on are Executive Director Bob Fishman and President Robert Yass.
Brad Davis presenting check for $20,000 to the JFACT Fund. The check represents a third of the proceeds raised at a dinner honoring Brad for his fifty years in broadcasting. JFACT was one of three organizations mentioned at the dinner, which was attended by more than four hundred people. JFACT was recognized for its work on Holocaust education and Israel programs brought to college campuses in Connecticut.
Brad Davis, a resident of Bloomfield, traveled on the first two trips to the U.S. Holocaust Museum with Bloomfield teachers, town officials and students. Bob Fishman also appeared on his radio program in August.
Young Emissaries Visit Capitol Hill
Back Row (left to right): Senator Edith Prague of the 19th district, Or Shahar, Karin Brustein, Hadas Nafshi, Bob Fishman, Senator Jonathan Harris of the 5th district, Hadar Elya, Naama Kelman, Representative Matthew Lesser of the 100th district, Keren Shemesh, Hamutal Zimberg, Dvir Dor, Or Geisinger, Representative David Baram of the 15th district, Sharon Conway, Director, SNEC Israeli Young Emissary Program.
Front Row (left to right): Shoshan Zahor, Sarai Barzel, Inbal Magen, Matan Aviel.
October 16, 2009
Ten Ways You Can Help Israel
Give, Rally, Connect, Buy, Travel, Read, Advocate, Educate, Comfort, Act
The list is courtesy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford.
View the Full List
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JFACT, The Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut, is a statewide
advocacy organization, representing the 9 Jewish Federations, 4 Jewish
Community Centers, 8 Jewish Family Services, and 3 Jewish nursing homes in
Connecticut. JFACT is the government and community relations arm of the
Jewish community and lobbies for legislation that is of interest to
Connecticut's Jewish community.
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Monday, February 8, 2010.
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010
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