American Council for World Jewry

Israel exercising the tenets of , as always, and this time - in Sri Lanka:

Israel provides disaster relief supplies to Sri Lanka 26 May 2016 Friendship between people - but more so between nations - is tested in times of need. We have every intention that this emergency aid would ease the recovery of the areas affected by the floods.

On Yom HaShoah we pay our respects to those lost in the Holocaust, but we also look to the future at what must be done to prevent another atrocity of this magnitude, and seek to restore justice to the remaining Holocaust survivors who have to live with the burden of their experiences.

We at the Council for World Jewry reflect on the Holocaust every day, not just on Yom HaShoah. We strive to educate world leaders on the historic injustice of what our ancestors faced, and set the record straight on the current struggle in Israel. Every year, amid our annual Israel Mayors Conference, we take leaders (such as NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, pictured below with ACWJ Chairman Jack Rosen and Israeli Consul General Ido Aharoni) to Yad Vashem in an effort to cultivate understanding and tolerance.

"In its ambition to be the cybersecurity capital of the world, Israel is busy building a vast military-industrial security megacomplex in the working class city of Beersheba, improbably located in the southern Israeli desert."

The Future of Cybersecurity Is Being Written in the Israeli Desert Inside the vast military-industrial cybersecurity complex Israel is building in the desert city of Beersheba.

"Saturday’s elections in Taiwan catapulted a major Israel fan into the presidency...

The new president visited Israel in 2013, the daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday, and on returning to Taiwan, published a glowing article in the island’s main newspaper.

She expressed amazement at Israelis’ ability to maintain normal lives despite terror, and admiration for Israel’s high-tech industry, its social protests of 2011 and the determination of Israeli diplomats to fight for their country abroad."

Taiwan’s new president ‘amazed’ by Israel Tsai Ing-wen hailed Jewish state’s achievements as source of inspiration for her country after 2013 visit

Israel, as always, coming to the aid of those in need:

Israel First Country to Respond to Kenya’s Plea for Help; Sends Food, Supplies to Flood Victims Israel was the first country to respond to a Kenyan governor’s plea, after his region was engulfed by floods caused by El Niño rains, a Kenyan newspaper reported on Monday. Governor Okoth Obado said Israel donated to his Migori county in western Kenya some 100 bags of maize, 44 bags of beans, three…

Israeli continues to develop the most cutting edge medical technology, as demonstrated by the new collaborative effort with the United States, another example of the Jewish State promoting science diplomacy:

US, Israel to co-develop technologies for first responders Agreement between Israeli Public Security Ministry and the US Department of Homeland Security aims to better prepare both nations’ rescue forces.

Keeping with the theme of this year's Mayors Conference, science diplomacy:

China Focus: China, Israel start construction of innovation-oriented college GUANGZHOU, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Construction began Wednesday on a technology institute cooperation between a Chinese and an Israeli university in south China.

BUENOS AIRES—Yesterday, American Council for World Jewry (ACWJ) Chairman Jack Rosen attended the swearing in ceremony for recently elected Argentinian President Mauricio Macri. Macri, who participated in last year’s International Mayors Conference in Jerusalem, invited Rosen to Buenos Aires as a guest for the ceremony.

Reflecting on the significance of the newly elected Argentinian leader, ACWJ Chairman Jack Rosen issued the following statement:

"Today’s ceremonies only served to reaffirm my strong belief that the people of Argentina have elected a true leader—a leader who is prepared to usher in a new era of economic prosperity, increased accountability and restored international diplomacy. I look forward to supporting President Macri as he works to revitalize Argentina’s image at home, within Latin America and around the globe. For the Jewish community especially, President Macri will be an important partner in confronting sponsors of terror and ultimately, creating a safer, more tolerant world.”

Column: Rochester’s sister-city has much to teach Last month, I had the opportunity to travel to Israel to attend the 30th International Conference of Mayors, organized by the Jewish American Congress,

Congratulations to Mauricio Macri -- a participant of our 2014 mayor's conference -- for being elected as the next President of Argentina (below with ACWJ Chairman Jack Rosen):

Argentina elections: Macri poised to be next President - CNN.com A triumphant Mauricio Macri thanks supporters as results in Argentina's presidential runoff place him in the lead and Daniel Scioli concedes.

NEW YORK -- In response to the European Commission’s decision to label products produced in east Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the West Bank, and exclude them from the Israeli Free Trade agreement with the European Union (EU), American Council for World Jewry (ACWJ) Chairman Jack Rosen issued the following statement:

“We are gravely disappointed that the European Commission has decided to legitimize the BDS movement in the eyes of Europeans and discount historical precedent with this motion.

Anti-Semitism is at a dangerous tipping point in Europe, as radical right-wing parties have taken a larger stake in EU member states given the public’s disillusionment with government following the fiscal crisis. It is scary enough that there are elected officials in Europe who speak openly against Jews, but now it appears that the EU has gone one step further in its failure to recognize this crisis of anti-Semitism amid the continent where the Jew’s darkest days unfolded.

With the recent surge in attacks on Jews across Europe -- from France to Norway -- it is evident that the EU should be moving to educate the public against anti-Semitism, not encouraging it by vilifying Israel.

Jews from Europe, and across the world, must stand up against this ignorant decision by coming together and telling their respective governments that they must support Israel and defend what is right. If this motion goes unheeded, it will be another dangerous step down the slippery slope of European anti-Jewish sentiment. We cannot allow this to continue.”

Photos from the 30th Annual Israel International Mayors Conference. Thank you to the wonderful participants and those who helped them explore Israel