The first slogan put forward by Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) was hakibbush mashchit - the occupation corrupts. Now, as we approach the 46th anniversary of the corrupting occupation, we can understand how prescient that slogan was.

Lag B'Omer - the 33rd day between Pesach and Shavuot- is a little-known Jewish holiday that celebrates (among other things) the cessation of a divinely-sent plague that resulted from people not showing one another adequate respect. It is celebrated with bonfires, and great joy. In Israel, on Lag B'Omer, a pall of smoke hovers over the city of Jerusalem from all the bonfires being set throughout the city.

Soon, Passover. I've long believed that being Jewish is a calling-a vocation, if you will-and if that is so, then Pesach is surely an extraordinary contribution to the vocational education of the Jews.

Think of it: Avadim hayinu-"We were slaves." We! Not our ancestors long ago, but we ourselves. "In every generation, each of us must see himself, herself, as having been redeemed from the house of bondage."

Last month, APN launched a planned giving program. Donors are invited to take us into consideration when thinking about their future. We tell them that our cause is a marathon rather than a sprint. It's not a struggle we'll win overnight. We will win it, though, if we continue to support the Israel we love and the goal of a two-state solution. APN remains the best hope for Israel's future. Please take a look at our new legacy giving program - another way you can support APN.

My name is Etai Mizrav. I'm an Israeli who is currently taking time out from Israel to complete a Master's ­program in Public Policy at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Up until recently I was the activities manager of Israel's Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) movement. My position put me at the forefront of progressive ­efforts to fight the extremism that has been creeping deeper and deeper into Israel's public arena. I am also a reserve officer, a Major in the IDF, and a proud Zionist. More

A Purim message from Jim Klutznick, APN Chair

Many people think of Purim as a children's holiday, but Purim is not a Jewish Halloween with dress up and cookies. On Purim, it is said, everything is turned upside down. Topsy-turvy. Haman's plan to kill all the Jews of Persia was thwarted by the Jewish Queen of Persia, Esther. Haman was hung when Esther's plea to the King to save her people paid off. Ultimately, the Purim story is a story of Jewish survival. On this holiday, Jews throughout the world read this story from a book contained in the Jewish Bible - Megillat Esther. Megillat Esther can be understood to mean "to expose the hidden." More

APN is launching a planned giving program. Donors are invited to take us into consideration when thinking about their future. We tell them that our cause is a marathon rather than a sprint. It's not a struggle we'll win overnight. We will win it, though, if we continue to support the Israel we love and the goal of a two-state solution. APN remains the best hope for Israel's future. Please take a look at our new legacy giving program - another way you can support APN.

On Tu Bishvat, many people will be planting trees for peace. Others will be cutting them down. Which will you be?

On January 11th, dozens of settlers from the illegal outpost of Esh Kodesh raided the village of Qusra and uprooted at least 210 olive trees. This kind of destruction is incessant. In October, 2012, alone, the Israeli press noted settlers destroyed nearly 600 olive trees in six Palestinian West Bank towns, not including stolen olive harvests and additional damage to trees. A UN report notes that between January and mid October 2012, settlers destroyed more than 7,500 olive trees.

It is an astonishing amount of destruction against the property of Palestinians, and against the very symbol of peace and hope for a future - the branches of an olive tree.

I'm proud to be associated with the more than 500 rabbis who signed a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, asking him not to advance construction in the sensitive West Bank area of E-1 nor authorize building thousands of settlements in East Jerusalem.

In my childhood, Chanukah was a happy time: a new present every day, beautiful light emanating from the Chanukah candles, dreidel games, "nisslach" ('nuts' in Yiddish), good spirits all around. The Chanukah story was a simple tale of good-versus-evil in which we - the good guys - won. The Maccabees were called zealots and their brand of zealotry was applauded and rewarded, no question about it.
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