[ ]J Street[ ]
Friend,

Wow. What a week!

As J Streeters leave the Democratic National Convention fired up and ready
to go, it’s clear we’re having a greater impact than ever.

The Vice President’s remarks on Israel-Palestine were perhaps the clearest
articulation of J Street’s values from a presidential nominee – and
received roaring applause.

An ironclad commitment to Israel’s security. Recognition of the depravity
of October 7, including sexual violence. A commitment to ending the war
and securing a hostage release deal.

AND a clear recognition of the devastating impact of the war in Gaza on
civilians, as well as explicit recognition of Palestinian rights to
dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.

I cannot tell you how many people came up to me in the hours after the
convention to say that last night was the result of 15 years of hard work.

J Street helped shape the platform. We partnered with the Democratic
National Committee and others for major events. And we’re now the largest
grassroots Jewish fundraising organization behind the Harris-Walz ticket,
having raised $3.5 million and counting.

In Chicago, we engaged directly with dozens and dozens of lawmakers, party
strategists, journalists and policymakers.

Our message: The mainstream Jewish community is firmly behind Democrats
this November – and we want to see a fresh, stronger focus on ending the
suffering in Gaza, freeing the hostages and securing long-term freedom and
safety for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

[1]Images from the DNC

Some key takeaways:

* Hostage Family Speech: Two of the most powerful speakers of the week
were the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year old
American-Israeli held hostage by Hamas – you may remember Jon and
Rachel from our [ [link removed] ]webinar earlier this year.

* “There is a surplus of tragedy on all sides of the tragic
conflict,” Jon Polin said courageously. “In a competition of
pain, there are no winners.”
* The speech silenced the arena, brought many in the room to tears
and led to a roaring, spontaneous chant of a message we all
share: “Bring them home!”

* My Message to Democrats: Joining an official DNC panel with other
Jewish Democratic leaders – [ [link removed] ]as reported in the Times of Israel – I
made the case that “it is the mainstream American Jewish position to
feel that this government of Israel is out of step with our values and
the ways in which we view the war.”

* I called on the party not to write off younger protesters, and
heralded Kamala Harris’ empathy and commitment to “getting beyond
a binary” approach.
* Key Quote: “This party’s ticket brings a balance that recognizes
that we have to have rights and freedom and safety and security
for both Israelis and Palestinians – that is what separates us
from the Republican Party.”

* Peace Takes Courage: J Street’s marquee event gathered hundreds of J
Streeters, party officials and Members of Congress (pictures above)
and focused on the need for bold, courageous US leadership and a fresh
approach to Israel-Palestine.

* Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, spoke at
the event, [ [link removed] ]urging US leaders to keep up the pressure on both
sides to urgently seal a deal.

* Prayer for Peace: J Street Rabbinic Cabinet member Rabbi Sharon Brous
opened the second night of the convention alongside Imam Talib M.
Shareef, [ [link removed] ]telling the Forward she wore a hostage ribbon and an
olive-branch pin.

* Key Quote: “This terrible war must end, all of the hostages must
be brought home, and we must lay the foundation for a just peace
and a thriving future for Israelis and Palestinians.”
* Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt – also of the J Street Rabbinic Cabinet –
gave last night's closing benediction.

* Palestinian Voices: DNC speakers spoke with nuance and compassion of
the intolerable suffering of Israelis and Palestinians – but a
Palestinian voice was missing from the lineup.

* Our Take: Hosting the first ever Palestinian speaker at a
national convention would have been a powerful way to underscore
the shared goal of an immediate ceasefire and hostage deal, and
the compassion the party feels for Palestinians and Israelis
alike.
* We hope the Harris-Walz campaign finds every opportunity to
demonstrate the depths of its care and empathy, and to clearly
outline a fresh, robust approach to delivering peace, safety and
freedom for all.

* Five Things Leaders Need to Know About Mainstream Jewish Voters: As
the Harris campaign continues to develop its policy and messaging, I
wrote a piece for the Times of Israel outlining J Street’s view as
representatives of mainstream Jewish opinion:

* “This mainstream consensus is found in poll after poll showing a
healthy majority of Jews who care about Israel, oppose Netanyahu,
support Palestinian self-determination and want the US to
exercise balanced, pro-peace leadership.” [ [link removed] ]Read and share the
full piece here.

* J Street Defends Harris, Explains US Jewish Opinion in Israel: With
Israelis seeking to understand Kamala Harris, J Street Israel’s
Executive Director Nadav Tamir has penned several pieces in the
Jerusalem Post pushing back against right-wing attacks:

* [ [link removed] ]In one piece, he blasts “a toxic, racist, and misogynistic
narrative that has begun to flourish in the right-wing
pro-Netanyahu camp in Israel since Kamala Harris was nominated
Democratic Party candidate for the presidency of the United
States.”
* [ [link removed] ]In another, he explains that “American Jews have seen Israeli
governments increasingly distance themselves from the liberal
values they believe in” and we recoil from West Bank annexation
and “efforts to thwart a two-state solution.”

* In Case You Missed It: Two things from Tuesday’s recap that are worth
your time:

* J Street’s Director of Policy Dr. Debra Shushan penned a
brilliant piece for the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune outlining
what we can expect from a Harris-Walz presidency. [ [link removed] ]Read and
share it here.
* J Street was thrilled to partner with the Forward for a “Live
from the DNC” behind-the-scenes broadcast with Editor-in-Chief
Jodi Rudoren and pollster Jim Gerstein. [ [link removed] ]Watch it here.

One last thing: I know that after a hugely successful, energizing and
powerful Convention, many of us are excited to renew our support for
candidates up and down the ballot.

I hope you’ll make JStreetPAC the home for your political giving. It’s the
best way to amplify your impact, push back on the influence of right-wing
mega-donors, and send a message about our shared values and priorities.
[ [link removed] ]Learn more here >>

Thank you, sincerely, for your ongoing support.

Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street


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J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy
Americans who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the
Jewish people. Working in American politics and the Jewish community, we
advocate policies that advance shared US and Israeli interests as well as Jewish
and democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



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