Our Series “Torah Fund Stands With Israel” Forges On

Posted on Apr 06, 2022

The second program in this illuminating series was held via Zoom on January 24 with over 140 attendees. Speakers included Rabbi Ariel Stofenmacher, president and rector of Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires, and Adva Vilchinski, consul for public diplomacy at the Consulate of Israel in New York. 

Rabbi Stofenmacher spoke of G-d’s role in our lives, explaining Israel was created by G-d through human hands, and we don’t have to agree with everything Israel does. But, he emphasized, we need to support Israel because it is our home, our heart, and our soul.

Adva told of her background growing up in a secular family and being exposed to different factions of Judaism, including Masorti, by an American friend. Adva aspires to make Israel a special place in a progressive, liberal context. She relayed her experience of being impressed when the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines met with her while she was working on disaster relief. She discussed the continuing threat and challenge of Iran; how Israel is strengthening its relationship with the Palestinian Authority; the UN Resolution condemning the denial and distortion of the Holocaust (that all countries except Iran approved); the Abraham Accords leading to normalizing relations between Israel and the UAE; Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco; Israel’s work on and research into Covid-19; and Israel’s study of climate issues. She then took questions from the audience, which was eager to hear her views.

The next Torah Fund Stands With Israel virtual event is Sunday, May 22, at 1:00 p.m. ET. Please mark your calendar and join us on Zoom.

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