2010: A Year of Expansion

In reviewing the year 2010, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ) would like to thank you for partnering with us to advance democracy and social justice within the State of Israel and worldwide. The year 2010 was a successful year full of victories, achievements, and expansions in the areas of advocacy, civil rights, religious freedom, and social justice.

Advocacy Update

Advancing Israel’s Public Relations

Over the past year and half, JIJ has sought to tackle the ever-increasing negative press coverage of the nation of Israel and develop strategies to enhance her public image and diplomacy among the nations. While JIJ mobilized over 1000 Christians from across Europe to demonstrate against the UN Durban II Conference in 2009, JIJ expanded its efforts in 2010 by sponsoring and organizing a massive demonstration in Geneva against the double standards of the Red Cross and the prolonged captivity of kidnapped Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. Its efforts also included the recent launching of its own media initiative, The Jerusalem Chronicle , which consists of a website containing current news and information regarding Israel and the Middle East as well as short broadcasts and film segments conducted by its staff. In the fall of 2010, JIJ helped organize an event, which brought a delegation of former NBA players, college stars, and a Harlem Globetrotter to Israel to play disabled Israeli veterans in a game of wheelchair basketball. Upon the close of 2010, JIJ submitted a briefing to the United Nations Human Rights Council, which called for an inquiry into Hamas’ countless human rights violations in the Gaza Strip and along Israel’s borders.

Combating Human Trafficking

Project NOA (Not Objects Anymore), initiated and managed by JIJ to combat human trafficking and provide assistance to victims of sexual exploitation in Israel, continued its battle against the alarming phenomenon throughout 2010. JIJ offered assistance to victims and their children to cover healthcare, education, and rent while financing the translation of documents in a human trafficking trial, which helped shut down one of the world’s leading trafficking rings that operated in Europe and the Middle East. JIJ works in partnership with other organizations by providing legal representation, education, financial assistance, and support services to victims of trafficking, domestic prostitution, and sexual exploitation.

Safeguarding Civil Rights & Religious Freedom

Having now handled over 390 cases of discrimination including 17 Supreme Court victories, JIJ helps to combat the ultra-Orthodox hegemony in Israeli society and advance Israel’s fledgling democracy. By doing so, JIJ helps to legitimize the Jewish State in the international community. Over the past five years, JIJ has handled cases dealing with citizenship/residency rights, religious freedom, and the equal application of civil rights regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation. March of 2010 marked the end of a four-year battle over citizenship for three Messianic Jews who were illegally denied citizenship and residing in Israel with no legal status, basic rights, or means of income. After the Ministry of Interior (MOI) failed to comply with the 2008 Supreme Court ruling in their favor, JIJ submitted two contempt of court lawsuits against the MOI, and by March 2010, victory had come at last. Full Israeli citizenship was granted to all three petitioners. In the institute’s struggle to advance democracy within the State of Israel, JIJ also helps to combat discrimination and safeguard the civil rights of asylum seekers and migrant workers residing in the nation.

Social Justice Update

Caring for Israel’s Elderly
The elderly sector remains one of Israel’s vulnerable populations with approximately 20% living in poverty, many of whom are Holocaust survivors. While JIJ continues to distribute thousands of fleece, winter coats, hats, and down comforters to Israel’s elderly during the winter months, in 2010, JIJ was able to successfully secure monthly donations to absorb the medical costs of 11 Holocaust survivors with terminal cancer.

Empowering Israel’s Children

The National Insurance Institute's 2010 poverty report reveals that approximately 850,300 children currently live in poverty within the nation of Israel while some 55% of them forgo at least one meal daily due to their families' economic status. JIJ helps to reverse poverty among Israel’s children by meeting some of their early educational needs. JIJ’s annual backpack distribution saw a total of 4,000 backpacks and school supplies distributed to disadvantaged Israeli students across the nation in 2010. One distribution held in the Neve Yaacov neighborhood, home to many new Ethiopian immigrants, served approximately 200 families and nearly 1,000 individuals without the means to afford backpacks and school supplies for the new school year.

Supporting Israel’s Soldiers

There are currently over 5,000 lone soldiers serving in the IDF with no family network within Israel. Throughout  2010, JIJ provided back-packs, blankets, cameras, hats and gloves, undershirts, and pairs of socks along with trays of dried fruits, Purim baskets, and bags of candy to lone soldiers in the Jerusalem area. Purim gift baskets were distributed to soldiers serving at checkpoints outside of Jerusalem while vouchers and tickets to concerts and movies were also provided. In addition, JIJ continued to partner with the Jerusalem Municipality and Avis Car Shuttles to host weekly Erev-Shabbat meals at a local hotel in Jerusalem.

Upholding Israel’s Poor

According to the National Insurance Institute’s 2010 poverty report, 25% of Israel’s 7.6 million currently live under the poverty line. The nation saw a 1.3% increase in poverty between 2008 and 2009. JIJ helps to meet this need by annually distributing holiday packages and food vouchers to needy and underprivileged families during Passover and Shavuot.

The Jerusalem Institute of Justice would like to thank you once again for your help in making 2010 a year of success and expansion. We ask you to continue to partner with us in fighting against religious intolerance, discrimination, and injustice while advancing civil rights, social justice, and democracy within the State of Israel and among the nations. 
 

Over 1000 Christians gather to demonstrate against the Durban II conference in 2009

JIJ expanded its efforts in 2010 by organizing a demonstration in Geneva against the Red Cross

JIJ helped organize a wheelchair basketball game between NBA delegation and handicapped Israeli veterans

JIJ's Project NOA provided assistance to human trafficking victims and their children while helping to shut down one of world's largest trafficking rings

JIJ submitted two contempt of court lawsuits against the Ministry of Interior, securing citizenship for three Messianic Jews after a four-year battle

JIJ secured monthly donations to cover the medical costs of Holocaust survivors with terminal cancer

4,000 backpacks and school supplies were distributed by JIJ in the fall of 2010

Over the spring of 2010, JIJ provided lone soldiers with Purim gift baskets, clothing, and food

JIJ distributed holiday packages to underprivileged families for Passover and Shavuot in 2010