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Jews have been forced to find
unique ways to celebrate holiday
s when antisemitism and persecution threatened their existence. Jews learned to be creative - and daring. Today we face the challenge of celebrating Passover in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
We are all separated from our families and friends during a time when the very essence of the holiday is to gather around the table for a Seder. This will be a Passover like no other for the Jewish people. But this is not the first time that we have been forced to celebrate in the face of adversity.
In April of 1943, Jews in the Warsaw ghetto were on the verge of deportation. Nevertheless, they continued with their preparations for Passover as best they could. The Germans forces entered the ghetto on April 19, the eve of Passover. The Jews bravely held a a Seder with whatever they had amidst the sounds of gun fire and tanks. That was a Passover like no other.
During the Spanish inquisition, Jews kept Passover under unimaginable circumstances and celebrated in secrecy. Christians encouraged their Jewish neighbors to hold a Seder on the fifth night so as not to arouse suspicion. That was Passover like no other.
Jews in Theresienstadt ate bread at their secret Seder. Because of the extremely small amount of calories prisoners were receiving in the camps, abstaining from bread would mean certain death. That was a Passover like no other.
In 1948, the Arab forces had severed the supply line to Jewish Jerusalem. Food was scarce and rations were at starvation levels. There was not sufficient wine, matzah, or bitter herbs for the all the people of the city to make even a token seder. Miraculously, for Passover a convoy made it through carrying supplies and delivering some matzah. This first meager seder, in the new state of Israel was a Passover like no other.
We will get through this difficult time. We have proven to be resilient and strong as we have stepped up to face every challenge throughout history. This moment will be no different.
Next year, together with our families.
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Don't miss our next Congressional Update Conference Call
with Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL)
on Monday, April 6 at 10:00 am CT.
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Coronavirus Crisis Boosts Shtayyeh's Chances of Becoming Next PA President
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh has become the public face of the Palestinians' fight against the coronavirus pandemic, winning plaudits from Palestinians from across the political spectrum for his management of the crisis. One year after he was appointed as prime minister, Shtayyeh, 62, has significantly improved his chances of becoming the next PA president.
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It is as predictable as day follows night. A crisis erupts - pandemic, financial, security - and the conspiracy theorists come out of the woodwork. Today is no different.
With the jet propulsion provided by social media platforms, their claims circle around the globe with warp speed and can find receptive, even eager, audiences. After all, why grapple with the realities of menacing issues such as COVID-19, when social hucksters peddle all-inclusive, readily-packaged, and diversionary explanations of who is really behind it?
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Texas Abortion Ban Can Go Back Into Effect, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Rules
Texas will again be allowed to implement its temporary ban on abortion, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday afternoon. Per the order, any abortion "not medically necessary to preserve the life or health" of the patient must be halted as part of the state's directive suspending "non-essential" medical procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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The Group Building Tents for Coronavirus Treatment in Central Park Says Its Medical Staff Must Adhere to Christian Beliefs, Sparking Condemnation Online
The group that built COVID-19 field hospitals in New York's Central Park is expected to open its tents to patients from Mount Sinai hospitals on Tuesday. But as it seeks medical personnel for its facilities, Samaritan's Purse, a Christian 501(c)(3) organization, has specified its desire for Christian staff members.
The leader of Samaritan's Purse, Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelical Rev. Billy Graham
, called for employees of his Christian creed in a tweet on Sunday
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Gun Background Checks Reached New Record During Coronavirus Surge
Fears over the coronavirus have propelled demand for guns to unprecedented levels, smashing the FBI's all-time record for monthly background checks processed.
According to the bureau, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) conducted
3.7 million screenings in March, the highest number recorded since its inception in 1998
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Kushner Company Stands to Benefit From Freeze on Federal Mortgage Payments
Jared Kushner's family business could be a prime beneficiary of a provision in the federal recovery bill that allows owners of apartment buildings to freeze federal mortgage payments on low- and moderate-income properties.
Kushner Companies, the real estate firm started in 1985 by Kushner's father, Charles, controls thousands of low- and moderate-housing units across the country, some of which are funded through an $800 million federally backed loan the firm received in 2019.
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How Will Joe Biden Find His Joe Biden?
Interviews with nearly two dozen Biden allies and donors over the last week provided the clearest picture yet of the critical early phase in Mr. Biden's efforts to choose a running mate. It is a process made even more complicated by the fact that Mr. Biden and his team are quarantined in different locations and grappling with how to run a campaign during a national health crisis
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Trump Congratulates Businesses for Helping Fight Coronavirus, but His Own Company Has Been Absent.
As America's coronavirus crisis has mushroomed, President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted the efforts of businesses to meet a desperate nation's needs. "It's been really amazing to see these big, strong, powerful - in some cases, very small companies, family-owned companies - step up and make a lot of great product for what we're going through and what we will continue to be going through for a while," Trump declared. As for the president's own private business? It doesn't appear to be "stepping up."
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You Can Do It: Your Guide to Hosting (Or Attending) a Virtual Passover Seder
The whole worldwide pandemic thing is making it a little more difficult to gather together and retell the Passover story. But in the past few weeks, as professional and personal life shifted online, Jewish cooks, clergy, and community leaders mobilized to adapt the age-old Passover seder to an entirely new format: the video conference. So let us help you through it. Whether you live on Zoom or you don't know what it is, here's a step-by-step guide to planning - and enjoying! - a holiday celebration you'll remember for years to come.
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Introducing JACII, a JAC group for young professionals, advocates, and those young at heart who are looking to get involved. Groups have started in Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Events will feature elected officials and speakers in lively settings. JACII is by and for young people. Now is the perfect time to get involved.
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Know someone who would be interested in joining or hosting a meeting? Let us know at info@jacpac.org. We will be happy to help organize a JACII in your city.
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"If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset - our sailors."
Capt. Brett Crozier, former commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt
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While the current outbreak has most of us staying home, we have some upcoming virtual events we can all join.
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Monday, April 6
10:00 am
JAC Conference Call with
Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL)
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Virtual Events in Support of former VP Joe Biden
Tuesday April 14
5:30 pm ET
Interactive Virtual Fundraiser with Tony Blinken, Nick Burns & Julie Smith
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Tuesday, April 21
Time TBA
Women for Biden with
Dr. Jill Biden & Ashley Biden
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Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC) is a pro-Israel PAC with a domestic agenda. We support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocate for reproductive health and the separation of religion and state and incorporate other issues of importance to the Jewish community, including gun violence prevention and climate change. In addition to providing financial support for U.S. Senate and House campaigns, JACPAC educates our membership with outreach events designed to inform and activate their participation in the political process.
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Paid for by Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs. Contributions or gifts are not tax deductible. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Corporate contributions and contributions from non-US citizens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence are prohibited. All contributions by individuals must be made from personal funds and may not be reimbursed or paid by another person.
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