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Important Notice of Changes in Israeli Consulate Services
Last week we received notice of important changes in how Israeli citizens can access important services from the Israeli Consulate in Canada. Many routine procedures related to documentation now require Israelis to physically present themselves at the consulate offices in Toronto. In the past, citizens were able to sign their documents in front of a notary public and mail them to the consulate. Following is a list of things that now require a visit to the consulate:

a. Application for your first passport, if you've never had an Israeli passport before.

b. Application for renewing or extending a passport for a minor. If the parents are married, the presence of one of them is enough in some cases.

c. Application for a passport due to loss, theft or destruction of a passport.

d. Notification of the birth of an Israeli citizen abroad. The presence of one parent is needed; the child does not need to come to the consulate.

e. Notification of change in marital status.

f. Notification of change of name.

g. Application for a waiver of Israeli citizenship.

Distance and airfare prices being what they are, Jewish Federation is working actively with local Israeli community members to bring to the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s attention the hardship that these requirements pose. During this week, we have worked with our colleagues in the Jewish Federation movement across Canada, the US, and in Israel to better understand the reasons for the changes, and to explore ways of easing the burden they will create on Israelis who don’t live in cities with an Israeli consular presence.

To sign a petition asking the Israeli government to consider alternatives to the changes they have imposed, click here.

For more information about how these changes may affect you, to be kept informed on this issue, or to help in our efforts to raise concerns with the Israeli Foreign Ministry, please email our director of Israel and Overseas Affairs, If’at Eilon-Heiber, or call her at 604.257.5140.

Israeli Election Fever
The coming Israeli election on January 22nd is heating up to a fever pitch, notwithstanding the rare heavy dump of snow that hit Jerusalem and other locales in recent days. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has been widely favoured for months to win reelection. However, the race has tightened as the election draws closer, and Netanyahu appears to be heading to a more complicated post-election period as he sorts out what governing coalition might emerge. What appeared as an almost certain right-leaning coalition has become more of an open question, as undecided voters appear to be breaking towards more moderate and left-leaning parties. Also, facing stiffer competition than expected from the right, Netanyahu will likely be looking for coalition options in both directions post-election.

The electoral landscape continues to shift as party leaders explore various coalition options. To stay abreast of day-by-day developments, try either the Haaretz or Y-Net English language websites.

2012 Annual Campaign Update
Having turned the corner on 2013, we are close to wrapping up our 2012 Federation Annual Campaign, and at this point have just about reached the $7.6 million mark, equal to what we finished at last year. But, with several hundred consistent donors who we haven’t yet reached, we hope to edge a bit further past last year’s campaign.

Our message this year has been “Our work is your work, and we couldn’t do it without you.” It is so true. It’s not too late to be counted in for this year’s campaign effort. Please, help make a difference in the lives of the tens of thousands of people around the Jewish world touched by our campaign, and make your gift now.

Parashat Va'era
In this week's parasha we start to read about the plagues that God brought down on Egypt to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave their enslavement. We learn that after each plague Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and so he refused to let the Israelites go. After the first five plagues there is a shift in language. At first Pharaoh's heart was hardened - that is, he himself chose his path. But, for the second five plagues the text reads that God hardens Pharaoh's heart - the choice was no longer his. After repeated choices of his own, he lost his own will to make the decision.

One of the phrases I think best captures what we try to do as Jews in inculcating values of tzedakah in our communal life relates to 'habits of the heart'. The heart is a vital organ not only in its most basic physical sense of the pump that sustains our life force, but we related to it in an emotional sense - giving power to our love and compassion. Through tzedakah (acts of righteousness) we are flexing and strengthening our love and compassion for others.

Through his repetitive acts of negation and control, Pharaoh lost control of the emotional part of his heart. By engaging in repetitive acts of love and care for others, we can strengthen our hearts, improving both ourselves and our world.

Shabbat shalom!