Lee Bender, the co-author of the book “Pressing Israel: Media Bias Exposed From A-Z” (PavilionPress 2012) and website and mobile app, www.factsonisrael.com, answers “What does it mean to be Jewish?” in our latest #0dot2 video.

In addition to writing and speaking on behalf of the Jewish and Democratic State of Israel, Bender is a former Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney and has been in private practice as a trial attorney since 1995.  He is Co-President of the Zionist Organization of America-Greater Philadelphia District, a board member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Jewish Community Relations Council and Israel Advocacy Committees, and chairman of the Israel Advocacy Committee of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El, where he was a former member of the board of directors. He received his Bachelors at Cornell and his Juris Doctorate at William & Mary.

In answering what does it mean to be Jewish and in speaking about his parents, who were active B’nai B’rith leaders in Brooklyn while he was growing up, Bender said, “Judaism is the actual core of my being and my soul.  Every day I know I am Jewish and I am proud to be Jewish.  I am proud of an unbelievably amazing tradition that spans back thousands of years.  In fact, Jewish people have been blessed by God to be the light onto the nations.”
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We have launched the Zero.Dot.Two Initiative (#0dot2) ahead of our 175th anniversary to discuss ideas around Jewish identity, to educate social media users about Judaism as a proactive way to combat anti-Semitism and to promote the Jewish connection to the State of Israel through the voices of many online influencers. With approximately 14.4 million Jewish individuals alive today, we represent approximately 0.2% of global citizens.