Federation grants $25,500 to ‘new Zionist’ programs

Instead, federations and diaspora Jews "are now dealing with some issues that have been deferred. The new Zionist dream means to ensure all Israel's citizens have the same opportunity."

That involves closing the economic gap between Arab and Jewish Israelis, promoting responsible land use and tackling "eroding relations between religion and state," Nahshon said.

Grants of $,5000 each have been awarded to the following organizations:

*Association for Civil Rights in Israel, a human rights organization and legal action group.

*Mother to Another: Children at Risk/Family Violence Prevention, a program in the federation's sister community of Kiryat Malachi that attempts to prevent and treat family violence.

*Israel Union for Environmental Defense, an environmental lobby group.

*The Center for Jewish Arab Economic Development, a group that encourages small businesses economic cooperation between Jews and Arabs.

An additional $5,500 was allocated to federation programs that further Israel-East Bay connections. One grant will help support a teacher exchange between 10 East Bay synagogue and Midrasha instructors and 10 teachers from Kiryat Malachi. Another will help fund a weekend retreat for 120 local college students to discuss Israel and develop leadership skills. Last year, the federation helped bring some 750 people to the Jewish state, Nahshon said.