Dear Friends, Lovers of Israel:

  ●  Because we care about Israel, we turn to you.

  ●  Because of the pressures on Israel, we need to come to her aid.

  ●  Because Israel and the U.S. are both engaged in a confrontation with terrorism, we need to gird to combat this evil.

To Protect Our Heritage Political Action Committee (PAC), an all-volunteer group of your friends and neighbors has been increasingly involved in protecting the precious heritage of freedom and human dignity represented by our two great democracies, Israel and America, and their unique partnership.  We help fund campaigns of Congressional, and Senatorial candidates pledged to support and advance the U.S.-Israel Alliance.

Our PAC has been involved in helping Israel for more than 21 years.  In 1982, a small group of us banded together after the U.S. sold the AWACS to Saudi Arabia, an avowed belligerent of Israel.  We recognized the danger to Israel and resolved to combat our enemies.  To Protect Our Heritage Political Action Committee (PAC) was founded with 20 participants and has grown to over 1500 financial contributors.

All our work is diligently done by dedicated all-volunteer non-paid staff who contribute  time, energy and means To Protect Our Heritage.  All funds raised are thus employed to support candidates and raise the understanding of the entire community.

Unlike AIPAC which cannot rate or financially support candidates, To Protect Our Heritage is registered with the Federal Election Commission and specifically permitted to rank candidates and help finance their election campaigns.  In that capacity, we play a vital role in the American electoral process, helping candidates whose legislative record or campaign statements show support for the U.S.-Israel Alliance.  Safeguarding and strengthening this Alliance is our single issue.

To Protect Our Heritage helped Dick Durbin defeat Paul Findley, in 1982.  Paul Findley still is a supporter of Arab causes, doing all he can to besmirch Israel.  We were among the very first to raise funds for Tom Lantos.  He is now the ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee. 

Among those whose record of support for Israel have earned our support, Senators Barbara Boxer, Arlen Specter, Robert Bennett, Daniel Inouye, Barbara Mikulski, Susan Collins, Frank Lautenberg, Joseph Lieberman, Chris Dodd, Russell Feingold, Norman Coleman, Charles Schumer, Harry Reid, Max Baucus, Jay Rockefeller, Ron Wyden and more.  And, in Illinois, Jan Schakowsky, Dennis Hastert, Mark Kirk, Lane Evans, Danny Davis, John Shimkus, Rahm Emanuel.  The list is longer than space allows.

Every national election cycle brings approximately 50 newly elected members of Congress to Washington.  Our task is to help elect, educate and maintain close contact with all friends of Israel in Congress.  They are the bulwark of the U.S.-Israel Alliance.  Our impact comes from our financial support that is often crucial to their election campaigns.  The greater the support we provide, the greater the attention To Protect Our Heritage and our goal strengthening the U.S.-Israel Alliance.  This is extremely important as we face negotiations on “The Road Map.”  We know our opponents will do everything possible to press Israel for concessions on issues vital to her safety.

Now we turn to you for your support.

The Road Map accepted conditionally by Israel will mean mounting pressures upon Israel from members of the “Quartet” and from the media.  Now, more than ever, we need our friends in Congress to stand with Israel.  We need your support in our vital work; conveying Israel’s message with greater forcefulness to our elected leaders, the media and our people.

Please give us your most generous support.  On behalf of our Board of Directors, I thank you for helping To Protect Our Heritage.

Most sincerely yours,

Victor H. Weissberg, Rabbi

Chair To Protect Our Heritage

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P.S.  Beyond our fundamental purpose --  funding election campaigns -- the PAC engages in the following activities:

Forum Programs.  These provide the larger community opportunities to hear candidates, scholars and communal leaders discuss issues of vital import to the pro-Israel Community and our enlightened electorate.  To Protect Our Heritage organized, publicized, and sponsored the key candidate forums for the Illinois 9th and 10th Congressional open seats.  Among the most recent forums, the PAC presented Dr. Daniel Pipes, Founder of Middle East Review, Dr. Luis Beres, Professor of International Law, Purdue, Dr. Wm. Kleiman, University of Michigan, Professor of Political Science and Hon. Morton Klein, National President of Zionist Organization of America.

Website. Widely read and widely quoted because of excellence of research and cogency of editorials.

Study Groups.   Examine, understand and respond to issues of Jewish concern domestically and internationally.

Email list.   Correspondents receive Action Alerts allowing real time communications with elected officials on fast-breaking issues of vital import to the supporters of the U.S.-Israel Alliance.  We cooperate in building interest to communal events that Protect Our Heritage.

Media Relations Committee.  Discussions and communications with the newspaper editors and station managers designed to clarify issues and overcome negative reporting on Israel, while heightening awareness among opinion makers of Jewish concerns.

Outreach to non-Jewish supporters of Israel.  Initiating and continuing discussions with friends in the non-Jewish community whose support strengthen the U.S.-Israel Alliance.

Speakers Bureau.   Providing informed and compelling speakers and programs for synagogues, churches community centers and fraternal groups desiring accurate reportage and interpretation of events in the Jewish world.

Meetings with Congressional Members and Candidates.   Conferences both in Chicagoland  and Washington D.C. to express opinions take counsel and build relationships that strengthen U.S.-Israel Alliance.

You are invited to join us and support this sacred cause.   Our success needs your participation!

Click here for Rabbi Weissberg's  Wake Up!

More memos from Rabbi Weissberg

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