January 15, 2021
What's On Our Mind

A personal reflection by Hollis Wein
JAC Communications/Research
Director

It was 1988. I had just arrived back home in Washington, D.C. after my first presidential campaign, the losing campaign of Michael Dukakis. My colleagues and I poured our hearts and soul into that campaign. We travelled the country, slept on floors, and knocked on doors.

It was a crushing defeat, but we were energized by the opportunity to effect change, to see America up close and personal, and to play a part in our great democratic process.

When inauguration day came, I, along with several friends, went to the Capitol grounds for George H. W. Bush’s swearing-in. We went because we could. As an American, it was one of my proudest moments to stand there.

No one asked about my political party. No one chased me away. No one shouted me down. There were no armed troops and vehicles in the street, and there was no fear of violence. I stood with other Americans to witness one of the most unique parts of our democracy — the peaceful transfer of power.
Upcoming Events



National Memorial for Those Lost to Covid-19
Light a candle and join in with President-elect Biden & Vice President-elect Harris as the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is lit up to honor those lost to the virus.
Tuesday, January 19
5:30 pm ET | 4:30 pm CT | 2:30 pm PT

Special Call with Jason Segal of the ADL: Moving Forward After the Attack on Our Democracy 
Friday, January 22
12:00 pm ET | 11:00 am CT | 9:00 am PT

Special Call with Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), member of the House Committee on Homeland Security
Wednesday, February 3
Time TBA
RSVP coming soon
Instagram of the Week
January 13, 2021 - The band of nine. They got the job done fairly, timely, and in the best interest of the American people. Long live our democracy - second time’s the charm! #Impeachment

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In the News
ISRAEL
With Iran hopefully held in check by the Biden Administration, Israel has ramped up attacks on Iran's weapons program by carrying out airstrikes near the Syrian-Iraq border. Currently, Israel leads the world in vaccinating its population against COVID-19 -- here's why.
ANTISEMITISM AND BDS
The prevalence of antisemitism and white supremacy at the U.S. Capitol insurrection cannot be ignored. In the aftermath, companies including Etsy who sold Camp Auschwitz t-shirts, are being held accountable for their role in enabling extremist violence.
CHOICE
States and advocates are gearing up for a new fight for abortion rights. This week, the Supreme Court restored restrictive requirements for medication abortions, siding with the Trump administration. In South Carolina, a heartbeat abortion ban may finally pass the state legislature.
RELIGION AND STATE
Self-proclaimed 'prophets' from a growing Christian movement provided religious motivations for the January 6 events at the U.S. Capitol. Even in the face of these deadly attacks, many faith leaders still support Trump. Soon, the Supreme Court will hear a case on freedom of religious speech on college campuses.
BEYOND THE CORE
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) penned a defense for strengthening voting rights as a way to strengthen our democracy in the aftermath of the Capitol insurrection. Guns and an open-carry democracy are preventing a return to political normal. Climate denial and disinformation still continue in the waning days of the Trump administration.
POLITICAL BYTE
Trump is facing a historic second impeachment. This time, ten Republicans voted to remove him from office -- listen to this podcast to see why. Although Trump's term is almost up, he can still be convicted as an ex-president. Corporate America is distancing itself from Trump as a result, which brings up the consequences of corporate money in politics.
FYI
Speaker Nancy Pelosi quoted an Israeli poet to urge removal of Trump. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) brought his favorite Jewish treats in a Zabar's bag to the impeachment hearings. In a new series, Chef Michael Solomonov brings Israel to U.S. homes.
The Last Word
"We will not be intimidated, we will not be beaten, and we will stand up and be strong. Those people who tried to derail our democracy failed, and they will always fail. We will fight back.”

- Jason Crow (D-CO)
Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC) is a pro-Israel PAC with a domestic agenda. We support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocate for reproductive health and the separation of religion and state and incorporate other issues of importance to the Jewish community, including gun violence prevention and climate change. In addition to providing financial support for U.S. Senate and House campaigns, JACPAC educates our membership with outreach events designed to inform and activate their participation in the political process.
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