JUF Women’s Division Heart to Heart Mission to Rome and Israel
Rome is just the most amazing destination for a JUF mission, not because it’s home to the Vatican or to
Armani, not because it has some of the finest food, clothing, and leather goods under the sun, but
because the JUF Campaign actually began in Rome, in a really amazing way. In the year 66 before the
Common Era which is 2,079 years ago the great Roman orator and Senator, Cicero, stood on the steps of
the Senate and as part of his indictment of a Roman Governor named Flacco declared:
The hatefulness of the Jewish gold now follows.
Surely this is the reason that this case is being tried not far from the Aurelian steps.
For the sake of the crime, this place and this crowd, Laelius, was sought by you.
You know how large this band is and how close and how powerful they are in assemblies.
What large band is Cicero talking about? In the year 66 before the Common Era, he’s talking about the
Jewish community of Rome who has assembled on the steps of the Roman Senate, in order to defend
Flacco. Flacco has permitted Jews from the Roman Empire to contribute significant sums, all in gold, for
the support of the Temple in Jerusalem. In other words then, Rome is the first place, in history, where
we have a record of a JUF campaign taking place for support of Israel. And the first place where we have
on record an attempt to stop Jews living in the diaspora from supporting Israel.
More than merely a mission, Heart to Heart is an experience that will transform you from a tourist into
an active participant. You will see firsthand what Israel is doing to solve almost impossible problems,
how it is succeeding, and how women are leading the charge. The name Heart to Heart accurately
describes the emotional connection you will feel-with the people you will meet, with each other, and
with Israel. We hope that you too will allow yourself to fall in love with Israel more than you ever
thought possible.
In this journey we will examine both substance and spirit. We will visit projects and sites that we are
committed to and for which we labor throughout the year, to see how our capacities empower others to
lead their lives in dignity. We will meet women whose life stories and contributions exhibit the victory of
the spirit over matter. Women who are an inspiration to us all: politicians, philanthropists, artists,
businesswomen, fighters, athletes and more. National Women’s Philanthropy is proud to present Heart
to Heart, an event far beyond a visit to Israel - this program will assure each and every one of us that
activism is truly a way of life.