Issues of Military Service

Compulsory Military Service in Israel

Amnesty International
The Israeli Government should seize the opportunity to recognize the right to refuse to perform military service for reasons of conscience, Amnesty International urged in a new report today, as the debate about compulsory military service is now firmly on the Israeli political agenda ( ISRAEL: The price of principles: Imprisonment of conscientious objectors.) 1999

Druze in Israel and the Question of Compulsory Military Service Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
The Amman Conference / Origins of Druze Political Loyalty / The First Military Nucleus / Compulsory Service Since 1956 / Building a Separate Identity / Obligations and Rights / Forging a New Reality / Remaining Problems / Confidence-Building Measures / A Bridge to Other Arab Communities / Responding to the Critics / Druze Solidarity / Summing Up / Suggestions for the Future

Military Service in the United States

PBS looks at military recruiters on high school campuses - you can watch this as a video or read the transcript - Special Correspondent John Merrow reports on military recruiting in high schools.

Selective Service System: Fast Facts. Conscientious Objection and Alternative Service. Information page from the US Federal government. "A conscientious objector is one who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles. "

Democratic Underground.com Was George Bush a draft dodger? "In recent days, George W. Bush has appeared at numerous military bases in a bid to bolster his image as commander in chief. With a back drop of flags and the faces of young military personnel, Bush has exhorted the troops with the co-opted slogan, "Let's Roll!" . . . Perhaps it is the wish of the 43rd president that the citizens of the U.S. never learned or have forgotten his own blemished military record and that of many of his most bellicose, militant advisors. Troubling accounts of his service history are not new and have been covered in major newspapers and books." awolbush.com

Bill Clinton on why he did not serve in Vietnam. Clinton's Draft Letter. After one week of answering questions about allegations of draft-dodging and one week before the New Hampshire primary, a letter surfaces in which a young Bill Clinton thanks a colonel for "saving me from the draft."Clinton defends the letter and questions the motives of his accusers.

The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It. PBS. "Millions of American soldiers fought for the liberation of Europe from Hitler's fascist grip during World War II. Yet 40,000 Americans refused to shoulder weapons in 'the Good War' because their consciences would not allow them to kill another human being. In the face of criticism and scorn, these men challenged the limits of democracy in wartime. Many participated in the social movements that transformed America in the years that followed. This is their story."

The U.S. military will be reinstating the draft by Spring 2005. This is from the Urban Legends site. There has been a rumor that Congress is passing legislation to reinstate a draft like the one used during the Vietnam War (a very unpopular war). Check out what Urban Legends says on this one in the Origins section.

Conscientious Objectors in the Civil War. From the "Historical Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War".

American Friends Service Committee. What do the Quakers have to say about Conscientious Objectors? What happened to the Vietnam Conscientious Objectors ?

The Objector: Home of the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors. CCCO supports and promotes individual and collective resistance to war and preparations for war.

Center on Conscience & War. To Extend and Defend the Rights of Conscientious Objectors to War and Violence.

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What can we do ?

we've talked about Love thy Neighbor, Compassion, and Benevolence in class, and the question has been asked, are we, CST 8 & 9, going to collect $$ or do anything to help , and I hope the vote is YES !
please take some time to look at a couple of the Jewish Charities listed in the earlier posting below, see what work they have done, and then also take a look at a few of these other major non-Jewish organizations -
Salvation Army
America's Second Harvest
Clinton - Bush Katrina Fund
United Way
Habitat for Humanity
Red Cross
and even the -
Florida Hurricane Relief Fund
and Pet Disaster Relief Organizations
Humane Society of the US
Noah's Wish
and here are some non-Katrina, but local Tallahassee organizations that are working in our community to help families and those in need - there may be some contact and services for Katrina refugees who have come to our area -
The Shelter
Meals on Wheels - Tallahassee
Big Bend Hospice
Refuge House
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
and my favorite International organization
Doctors Without Borders

In other years, we've split the Tzedakah collected between or among more the one charity. I recall that following 9/11 our Tzedakah was divided between two 9/11 funds to help the families of survivors.
so CST 8 & 9 class -
please, look at the different programs, and be prepared on Sunday to explain to our class why you would nominate a particular organization or organizations for us to set as our Tzedakah goal ! They are all going to need support for many months to come.
Ms. Carol

Disaster Relief

By now, you've all seen the pictures and heard the news about the terrible devastation to coastal communities in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Last week, I created an information section for the TCC campus on Disaster Relief, Donating Wisely - that lists major charities, identifies other lists of organizations providing disaster relief, and how to make sure you don't donate to a scam (fake) charity. I included major national organizations, the Florida Hurricane Relief fund, the Bush-Clinton Relief fund, and several animal rescue organizations.

I did not include Jewish charities on the TCC site, but here are some you can take a look at, also set up to help victims of the Katrina disaster:

United Jewish Communities
http://www.ujc.org/ has a Hurricane Katrina/Disaster Relief Fund - take a look at their site and see what other kinds of assistance UJC provides to the Jewish Community -

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism http://uscj.org/Hurricane_ReliefYou_6553.html - in their Social Action: Repair the World section has a disaster relief fund set up -

B'nai B'rith International has set up a Disaster Relief fund in addition to the other projects they regularly cover - http://bnaibrith.org/pubs/pr/050829_hurricanekatrina.cfm -

Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief - http://www.jdc.org/jcdr_main.html - an international organization helping victims of natural or man-made disasters, including Hurricane Katrina victims

Union for Reform Judaism- URJ Disaser Relief - http://urj.org/relief/index.cfm? - The need for food and other daily necessities is overwhelming. And so, as Reform Jews, we have no choice but to respond and help.

Chabad Lubavitch of Louisiana http://www.chabadneworleans.com/article.html?AID=306259 is accepting donations to help the Jewish Community affected by the storm

Zaka Rescue and Recovery http://www.zakausa.org/zaka_news.cfm Established in 1989, the ZAKA Organization identifies victims of and terror and disasters. They treat the human remains with utmost respect in accordance to Jewish Law. . . activities include: making travel arrangements to transport the bodies of the deceased, a service to loan mourning accessories and mobile carts for the handicapped and organizing lost and found spots for children.

and many individual Jewish congregations and communities around the US and in the world are fundraising to help people in the storm devastated areas -

in this class, we usually look at what Judaism says about the Mitzvot of Charity and Benevolence around spring time - this year we are going to move it up and discuss this topic in our next class on September 11th -

before coming to class on September 11th, either
1) bring in an article from a newspaper or magazine about disaster relief -
or
2) visit one or more of the Jewish websites listed above and make some notes or print a page and be prepared to talk about their activities to help others - who are they helping and how ?