The partnership between UJC, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, federations and Community Relations Councils serves as a powerful Israel advocacy infrastructure. IAI is based on two primary principles: that the continued support of the United States government is essential to guarantee Israel’s long-term security. And, that federations and CRCs play a distinctive and crucial role in advancing community-based advocacy on behalf of Israel.

The UJC/JCPA Israel Advocacy Initiative works with more than 150 communities to enhance Community Relations Councils and federations’ capacity to meet Israel advocacy challenges in their communities within a nationally coordinated and strategic framework.

An expanded Israel advocacy team is also working with communities to improve the quality of their outreach to key non-Jewish leaders. The goal is to meet emergency and ongoing challenges on campus, and to effectively communicate messages through the media.

IAI has already made an impact, countering anti-Israel divestment initiatives within mainline Protestant churches, on college campuses and in city councils. Our system can and is making a difference.

The UJC/JCPA Israel Advocacy Initiative focuses its efforts in three activity spheres:

1. Mobilizing communities to intensify their interfaith and inter-group dialogue.
2. Promoting community-campus partnerships with federations and CRCs and working with administration, faculty and student groups and addressing anti-Israel rhetoric.
3. Addressing local communities’ needs including an extensive field survey that will provide a valuable snapshot of local efforts and specific community needs.

The IAI also includes important components including:

• America’s Voices in Israel: an initiative of the UJC and JCPA in cooperation with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the Jerusalem Post. America’s Voices aims to expand the general understanding of and support for Israel on the grass roots by sending U.S.-based radio reporters and commentators to broadcast from Israel.
• UJC/JCPA “Israel Perspectives” teleconferences: these conference calls keep professionals and laypeople at federations and Community Relations Councils informed about key developments affecting Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship, and provide recommendations for Israel advocacy. Conference calls give community leadership tools to think strategically about pro-Israel advocacy and provide suggested talking points, programming opportunities and guidance that help communities pursue their own Israel advocacy initiatives.
• Development of new manuals and commissioning of attitudes research to assist communities in tailoring advocacy approaches to specific non-Jewish constituencies.
• Micro-grants for innovative local community Israel advocacy programs.
• Consulting services for communities’ Israel advocacy strategic plans, speakers bureaus, advocates training, advocacy with non-Jewish constituencies and community-campus partnerships.

For more information, please contact Amos Kamil, Director, Israel Advocacy Initiative, Jewish Council for Public Affairs at AKamil@thejcpa.org or call 212.684.6953.