Boycott
hits israel - zionist
plea for help
This is an email sent by a zionist group in israel
to their friends in America for help - read it, it reveals the real
economic collapse Israel is facing as boycott after boycott hits
israel.
Subject: An Easy Way To Help Israel Now
Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 12:52:05 -0400
From: Dovid Ben Chaim <dovidbc@onebox.com>
[Below is an e-mail just received from the group headed by the
great Rabbi Avi Weiss. Please help and forward.]
Hello there,
As we are all aware, the situation Israel has been facing is a
gravely dangerous one. Every Israeli has been a victim of
terror, either directly or indirectly.As if this is not bad enough,
the Israeli economy has taken a huge hit resulting in terrible losses.
Companies, businesses, and stores (large and small) are unable to
move their goods due to a nonexistent tourism industry.
In addition, the boycott of Israel by the EU has resulted in the
loss of an entire market for the Israelis.It is the typical chain
effect and everyone from the manufacturers down to the store owners
are in horrible financial trouble.
Store owners are unable to pay their rents, pay for their inventory,
replenish inventory sold, support their families or pay their bills.
Our fear is that these shops will start to close leaving every Kikar
in Israel deserted.We can help in a very real and direct way.
We have store owners in Israel that are willing to travel with
some of their inventory. What happens is, they come with enough
inventory...sell off what they brought, and then take orders that
are filled upon their return to Israel.
For example, at KJ in Manhattan on Mother's Day....people were
buying up a storm and once everything was sold, people had no problem
with seeing a sample of the item, paying for it, all with the understanding
that once the vendor returns to Israel..it will be shipped. Think
of all the Ben Yehuda stores. Art work, photographs, prints
and posters, jewelry, trinkets, ceramics, judaica, t-shirts...these
are just some examples of the merchandise sold in the stores
there. With the same assortment of vendors brought here, there
will be something for everyone.
We are coordinating these events for a number of communities throughout
North America --the first to be held in Westchester and we need
your help. We are desperately trying to defray our travel costs.
We need to fly these vendors in at our expense. Two airlines
have agreed to allow people with frequent flyer miles to purchase
round trip tickets from Israel in other people's names (the vendor's
names). Delta and Continental.
Also, it might be possible to utilize American Express points/miles
to purchase tickets. We are asking for people to donate frequent
flyer miles so that we can directly help these Israelis. If
given the chance to come here to our communities, they will return
to Israel with the funds to pay their bills and support their families.
In turn, the manufacturers also benefit because inventory is being
moved, paid for and replenished.We need to act quickly and because
of this, we are looking to start bringing vendors in for June.
We are asking you to donate your miles/points and to let us know
if you are able to do so as soon as possible. Our communities will
be joining together to assist these Israelis. We are in need
of your help to make this possible and to see it through to fruition.
We are all one people...we are all family. They need our help
desperately and we need yours.
We are available for any questions you might have. Feel free
to contact us at anytime.
With much appreciation,
Meredith Weiss
National Director,
Coalition for Jewish Concerns
mw812@aol.com
(office) (718) 796-4730
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