10 years ago

Shliach Inspires Florida Cabinet

Rabbi Schneur Oirechman, Chabad Shliach to Florida’s Capital, Tallahassee, participated last week in the Florida Cabinet meeting which was convened to discuss the current situation in Israel ● The Shliach delivered a short speech, focusing also on the recent murder of Rabbi Yosef Raksin of Crown Heights ● Full Story

Rabbi Schneur Oirechman, Chabad Shliach to Florida’s Capital, Tallahassee, participated last week in the Florida Cabinet meeting which was convened to discuss the current situation in Israel.

The Shliach delivered a short speech, focusing both on his upbringing in Northern Israel, and the fear of Hizballah rockets, and also on the recent murder of Rabbi Yosef Raksin of Crown Heights.

The Government then issued a resolution supporting Israel and mentioning Rabbi Raksin, which was signed by Florida Governor Rick Scott and the Florida cabinet.

Full text of the resolution:

WHEREAS, Israel remains a force of freedom and democracy in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, Florida continues to foster a strong relationship with Israel and is home to one of the largest Jewish populations outside of Israel; and

WHEREAS, Israel is a steadfast ally of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Hamas is a United States-designated terrorist organization whose charter calls for the destruction of the State of Israel; and

WHEREAS, Hamas continues to reject the Quartet Principles, the set of three requirements laid out by the diplomatic entity composed of the United Nations, the European Union, Russia, and the United States, which are to accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements, to renounce violence, and to recognize Israel’s right to exist; and

WHEREAS, innocent civilians are indiscriminately targeted by Hamas rocket attacks, and Hamas has killed hundreds of Israelis and dozens of Americans in rocket attacks and suicide bombings; and

WHEREAS, since Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Hamas and other terrorist groups have fired thousands of rockets at Israel, and since June 2014, Hamas has fired approximately 3,000 rockets at Israel; and

WHEREAS, millions of Israelis are currently living under the threat of rocket attacks from Gaza.

WHEREAS, Iran has long provided material support to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including assistance that has enabled these terrorist organizations to produce longer-range rockets capable of striking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem; and

WHEREAS, the killing of Rabbi Joseph Raksin in North-East Miami-Dade has put Floridians on high alert that there is a potential for violence against the Jewish people in Florida; and

WHEREAS, Florida partners with Israel to create opportunities for families through the establishment of the Enterprise Florida Tel Aviv office; and

WHEREAS, Florida works to protect families in Israel through the “Iran-Free Bonds” policy that was adopted by the Governor and Cabinet in 2013 requiring the State Board of Administration to scrutinize and divest public dollars from entities that conduct business with Iran; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT resolved that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida, do hereby declare that the State of Florida stands with

ISRAEL

and supports Israel’s right to defend and protect its citizens from the forces of tyranny and oppression to ensure the survival of the State of Israel.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida vehemently condemn the unprovoked rocket attacks aimed at Israel and call on Hamas to immediately cease all rocket and other attacks against Israel.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida have hereunto subscribed their names and have caused the Official Seal of the State of Florida to be hereunto affixed in the City of Tallahassee this 19th day of August, 2014.