Wednesday, March 2, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus
South African Olga Meshoe plans to tell as many people in Tidewater as possible why Israel is not an apartheid state. She is the second speaker in the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and community partner’s 5th Annual Israel Today series.
Meshoe will be in Tidewater for a limited time, but is booked solid. Meshoe will join UJFT’s Women’s Cabinet for lunch and a discussion on the important voice of Israel’s allies; meet and discuss with Jewish teens from BBYO and other youth groups, the importance of making their stance and voices clear; and discuss with UJFT’s Young Adult Division’s Hineni (YAD leadership program) alumni the impact that leaders can have on their community. Meshoe will be interviewed by the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) News team, speak at a combined CBN and Regent University Chapel during lunch and meet with their leadership, students, and administration. And this is all prior to her community event on the Sandler Family Campus.
Talk of her impending visit has caught the attention of many community members and faith leaders. Congregation Beth El’s Rabbi Jeff Arnowitz, in particular, says he was elated to learn of Meshoe’s upcoming visit to Virginia Beach, so much so that he agreed to be the moderator for the Israel Today discussion. When asked why he felt compelled to moderate the talk, he is clear, “I was drawn to Olga’s story. As the BDS Movement seems to be gaining ground on the argument about Apartheid, it is so important to have a victim of Apartheid stand up and explain the differences. To her, the comparison is not only false, it is offensive. This discussion could not be more timely or important.”
Meshoe will cross an ocean and meet with many of Tidewater’s community leaders and members several times in an effort to educate and motivate the Tidewater community to speak up for Israel, and to assure them that Israel has allies near and far defending the Jewish State.
Don’t miss the chance to meet this young woman who has gone through so much and come so far to meet with the Tidewater community. RSVP for the event on Wednesday, March 2 at 7:30 pm at the Sandler Family Campus by calling 965-6107, emailing crc@ujft.org or visiting http://jewishva.org/crcisraeltoday.
by Gaby Grune