FROM THE AVI PRESIDENT I am glad not having to report any per- sonal losses in the recent terror act per- petrated in New York City. We are all saddened by the losses to terrorism ev- erywhere. I am heartened by the pros- pect of a serious worldwide campaign, long overdue, to destroy this scourge on humanity wherever it hides. As the US forms a coalition against terror we hear voices supporting the twisted logic that reducing support for Israel will generate loyalty from the Arab nations. I am confident that more astute and insightful wisdom will prevail. Our gen- eration has learned the lesson many times over that one concession brings demands for other concessions close on its heels and appeasement always failed to mitigate the danger. It would indeed be a sad day for democracy if US policy were to be dictated by the mobs in the streets of Ramallah and Baghdad. The irrefutable fact is that Israel is the only reliable US ally in the Middle East. We are responding to this aggravated situation, having formed an AVI Speakers Bureau to reach out within the community, particularly to the younger generation. In spite of its in- herent difficulty we are attempting to organize a solidarity  visit to Israel and encourage our membership to visit the country on their own accord. We are carrying the message of Israel’s creation, both as remembrance and reminder, by participating in the events covering the re-screening of the film ‘Exodus’ in many cities in North America. We can let our voices be heard on the web and AMERICAN VETERANS OF ISRAEL VOLUNTEERS IN ISRAEL’S WAR OF INDEPENDENCE UNITED STATES & CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS 136 East 39th St., New York, N.Y. 10016 FALL 2001 continued on Page 3 continued on Page 6 continued on Page 6 REPORTS FROM THE REGIONS NEW YORK The present effort is to complete the col- lection and validation of records of aliya bet crew members. So far we have orga- nized the lists in The Jews’ Secret Fleet by Joseph Hochstein into alphabetic crew lists by ship and are now incorporating mate- rial from the Finegood files.  These will be forwarded to key members of each ship for their review and correction, They will be asked to further disseminate the lists to other members of their crews to assure the most complete data possible. Final lists will be used in our Records Interview Project. We are very fortunate that our members were spared in the World Trade Center di- saster.  Living so near that area, many of us know some of those still listed among the missing. Plans are being finalized for the Chanukah celebration scheduled for Sunday, Decem- ber 16th and we look forward to a great turnout. President Si Spiegelman has appointed Naomi Kantey to head the newly estab- lished AVI Speakers Bureau. She will con- tact those who have spoken on behalf of Israel and AVI in the past and make ar- rangements with local and national orga- nizations, to provide speakers for their func- tions.  If you would like to be included, please contact her directly: Naomi Kantey, 160  Overkook  Avenue    Apt.  26-C, Hackensack, NJ  07601-2231 (201-489- 3809). David Kaplan AVI/NORTHWEST Members in the Northwest are planning public affairs briefings on the U.S. anti-ter- rorism campaign. These will be offered in LOWENSTEIN, MACHAL ARCHIVIST, REPORTS Ralph Lowenstein has served for a number of years as AVI’s archivist. He has been collect- ing photographs, service records and other pa- per materials on those who served in Machal and in Aliya Bet. The following is a summary of his work and financial needs to pursue the effort. It is flowed by a listing of those indi- viduals for whom he has filed information. Needless to say, if you are a veteran and not on this list, you should contact Ralph if you care about your service record being preserved in this way. editor Let me give you background on the Machal Archives. About 15 years ago, concerned that many of our members would die be- fore we could get a complete background and service record, I started sending out questionnaires. Over the years I have col- lected about 200 complete questionnaires of 53 detailed questions, and about 100 more short questionnaires of 13 detailed questions. These questionnaires are divided into four categories: Canadian Aliyah Bet, U.S. Aliyah Bet, Canadian Machal, U.S. Machal. Then, as the years went by, I began col- lecting photographs, books, videotapes, audiotapes, official papers, unpublished manuscripts, airplane logs — almost any- thing on tape or paper. I do not collect things like clothing, flags, medals, etc. An elderly woman whom I have been car- ing for during the past 20 years (she has been a very large donor to my college), wanted to leave me $50,000 in her will as a reward for my services to her — I handle all of her financial accounts, and, in her infirmity (she is 95 years old), pay all of