January 11, 2001
Real-Time Israeli Solidarity
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Earlier this week, 160 people from Los Angeles -- including Jewish Federation President John Fishel and the Board of Rabbis' Mark Diamond -- were among 900 who traveled to Israel as part of a United Jewish Communities-sponsored solidarity mission. As the L.A. contingent tours the Holy Land, their experiences will be recorded by still and video photographers and posted to the Internet soon after. The Web site, a cooperative effort between the Los Angeles Israel Government Tourist Office, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and Diamond, will feature pictures, video clips and a message board where Los Angelenos can interact with those on the mission and vice versa.
The site is intended to allow others to "experience this trip vicariously," says Dana Kempler of the Los Angeles Israel Government Tourist Office. "It's also to let people here know what kind of time people are having there and let them exchange messages so people can see what the reality is."
While the solidarity mission officially ends Jan. 14, the Los Angeles contingent will stay on until Jan. 18.
To access the Israel Live Web site, go to www.realitytoday.com/tour or look for the link on The Jewish Journal's Web site: www.jewishjournal.com.
