7 June 2004

ISFSP Mourns the Passing of Former President Ronald Reagan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: pressroom@isfsp.org

Saddened along with our fellow Americans, the staff of the International Society for Sephardic Progress (ISFSP) mourns the passing of Ronald W. Reagan, 40th President of the United States of America. The 93 year old President died yesterday from pneumonia, as well as after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

President Reagan leaves behind a legacy which among his many positive actions, includes those which directly lead to the fall off the Soviet threat and the end of the Cold War. The ending of the Cold War had a secondary effect, that of liberating hundreds of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union. Reagan was a friend of the Jews, as well as a friend of the State of Israel. Though sometimes critical of Israel, he did in fact stand behind her as she fought for her own survival. The President is remembered saying:

In Israel, free men and women are every day demonstrating the power of courage and faith. Back in 1948 when Israel was founded, pundits claimed the new country could never survive. Today, no one questions that. Israel is a land of stability and democracy in a region of tyranny and unrest.

Tonight as the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel is still suffering under terroristic tyranny, it is also the only country in the Middle East which mourns the passing of President Reagan. His passing is a time to remember all he achieved for both the United States, and the world.

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The International Society for Sephardic Progress (ISFSP) is a Jewish agency developed to serve the Sephardic community--the descendants of the Jews of historic Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Levant who share both common religious and cultural bonds. Although based in the United States, the ISFSP is an advocacy organization representing Sephardim internationally. The ISFSP also functions to produce high quality Jewish educational projects which will educate the public on the rich Sephardic Jewish communities, past and present.

The ISFSP is a a non-profit organization.

President Reagan