StandWithUs/San Francisco Voice For Israel, the Bay Area chapter of SWU, is a grass roots community based organization that takes to the streets to respond to enemies of Israel in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Our mission is to stand up to anti-Israel speech wherever it may surface. Over the past two decades, those in the Bay Area who support Israel's struggle to survive in the face of unrelenting terrorism have been too quiet in confronting public attacks on Israel (and attacks on Jews masquerading as anti-Israel statements). The time has come to respond to these attacks by taking our message to the community in the time-honored tradition of peaceful protest, to counter the lies and to educate our neighbors. Israel's very existence is under attack, but Jews will no longer march quietly to their deaths.
Israel is the cornerstone of Jewish existence. Zionism is the movement for Jewish self-determination and Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel, the homeland where Jews have lived continuously for 3000 years.
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, America's only true ally against terrorism, and the only country in the region that shares American values of freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and civil rights. It must defend itself against threats of destruction from dictatorial regimes that support terrorism, religious intolerance, and persecution of women and minorities.
We are a broad based coalition of activists from all political perspectives, left to right, Jewish and non-Jewish, with various viewpoints on issues such as settlements and the peace process. We stand for Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, within secure borders, and free from attacks by its neighbors.
Please contact us at sfvoiceforisrael@yahoo.com. Join us at one of our updoming events listed on the right side of this page!
DAN KLIMAN: OUR FRIEND, OUR BROTHER
Dr. Daniel J. Kliman, z"l, was found dead on December 1, 2008 at the bottom of an elevator shaft in the building where he was taking Arabic classes. The police report, released March 18, states that this appeared to be an accident after the elevator car got stuck and Dan fell after forcing the doors open.
Dan was a founding member of San Francisco Voice for Israel, who tirelessly worked to promote a fair and balanced image for Israel in the Bay Area, regularly facing the threats and insults of anti-Semites and anti-Israel activists for several years.
Dan was a friend, a leader, and an inspiration. And Dan was a colleague, companion, and comrade in so many protests on behalf of Israel. We, his friends and community, are going to miss him. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.
THE IMAGE WE WANT TO PROJECT ON THE STREETS
We are (unofficially) representing the state of Israel, the brave soldiers of the IDF, and the civilians living under terror from rocket attacks. The other side will offer the most vulgar, hateful anti-Israel and anti-Semitic language and images that you can possibly imagine. Remember that we are better than they are. They stand for hate and death; we stand for Hayyim v'Shalom-- for life and for peace. Many of them are anti-Semitic; we are not anti-Islam. They support terrorism; we support freedom from terror. If you keep that in mind, you will project an image that will infuriate the other side that wants to drag us down into their gutter and make it seem like we're not any better than they are.
If you wish to bring your own signs, please avoid using language or graphicsthat are offensive to any racial or ethnic group, including but not limited to Arabs, Palestinians or Moslems. Remember our reason for being on the street: to project a positive image of Israel.
Remember that cameras are everywhere-- anything and everything can be a YouTube moment. We know that we can count on the other side to provide plenty of those moments and we will be filming them. But if you're going to be on YouTube, have it be standing tall, standing resolute, and something that will make your parents and grandparents (or kids and grandkids, as the case may be) proud.
Be a San Francisco Voice For Israel!
