lyar 5762
April 2002

Dear Friends:

Israel is at a crossroads. Ironically, this great regional military power, the Middle East's only democracy and its most cutting edge economy, is in a precarious situation. Never have there been such danger and despair since 1949, when it first won its independence.

At such a moment, we must consider: how important is Israel to us? Make no mistake, if - God forbid a thousand times - Israel would fall, our lives as Jews in America would irrevocably be changed, and not for the better.

Many of us have responded politically. We follow the news and communicate with our leaders from the President on down. We have and will continue to demonstrate at rallies large and small. We have voiced our complaints against inaccurate and biased reporting in the media.

The time has come now to also show our support with our wallets. Israel, a country of six million, is second only to the U.S. in high tech innovation and other state-of-the-art industry. Its work force is second to none in education, sophistication and the synergy that comes from "'kibbutz gatuyot", the ingathering of the disparate cultures and back- grounds of Jews from around the globe.

Right now, Israeli society needs reassurance from us that we still believe in "'Hatikvahl" - the hope. By investing our own funds, we tangibly demonstrate our confidence in Israel and our own self-confidence as Jews. Moreover, the amount of Israel Bonds sold is closely watched by politicians as a marker of Israel's support abroad.

That is why the Board of Trustees has voted to respond with a PJC Israel Bond Drive. It is investment as an act of faith. May "pamassah tovah" - prosperity and blessings - come to all who invest in Israel Bonds.

Shalom al Yi--rael, im bitachonl Peace
for the Jewish people with faith and
security,

Rabbi Moses A. Birnbaum

95 Floral Drive / Plainview, Long Island, New York 11803
(516) 938-8610 / Fax (516) 938-2737 / E-mail: ramabl8@yahoo.com