What is The Clarion Fund?

Marketing Hate to the Masses

Joachim Martillo (ThorsProvoni@aol.com)

 

The Clarion Fund has generated a great deal of curiosity with its plans to distribute 28 million copies of Obsession, Radical Islam's War Against the West.

 

Philip Weiss has covered the story in 'NYT' Distributes Movie That's Harsh on Islam, Paid for by Rightwing Fearmongers.

 

Richard Silverstein provides more analysis in Anti-Muslim Film Produced by Pro-Israel Partisan Boosts McCain.

 

Sheila Musaji has a somewhat different angle in CAIR's Indifference to Obsession DVD Distribution.

 

I have reported a similar story about the dissemination of this film in RJC and CUFI Incite Islamophobia.

 

Here is are my findings about The Clarion Fund.

CLARION FUND INC
270 MADISON AVE FL 9
NEW YORK, NY
10016-0601

 

Taxonomy: (classifies an exempt Internal Revenue Code 501 (c)(3) organization) --  television

Contributions to the Clarion Fund are deductible

 

The organization receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public.

 

Correspondence with the organization are sent to the care of: ELI D GREENBERG ESQUIRE.

 

The founder of the Clarion Fund is Raphael Shore, who is a Canadian citizen, lives in Israel and is the producer as well as co-writer of Obsession.

 

Shore is a director of the organization as is Richard Green of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale.

 

The Clarion Fund director of communications Gregory Ross.

 

The Haaretz article 'Obsession' stokes passions, fears and controversy provides the following information.

"'Obsession' gives the picture that unfortunately no one else does," says Raphael Shore, the Canadian-Israeli living in Jerusalem who produced the film.
...
For one, it has a largely Jewish and pro-Israel distribution network, though Shore is trying to expand the film's appeal. According to news reports, at a screening earlier this year at New York University, distributors of the film required viewers to register at IsraelActivism.com, the Web site of Aish HaTorah's Hasbara Fellowships.

Shore, incidentally, was the director of both Aish HaTorah International and the Hasbara Fellowships, a pro-Israel advocacy group.But he says the film was an independent project.

He also tries to play down the film's Israel connection, simply because "It isn't helpful," he says."I don't want it to be only Jewish and Israel-related.

"I don't understand why it's biased if Jews are behind the creation of an objective film," he says."There's nothing wrong with Jews saying the radical Islamists are coming, just like there's nothing wrong with Jews in Nazi Germany saying the Nazis are coming."

Funders anonymous

The issue is further complicated as funding sources for the film remain hazy.Shore and director Wayne Kopping of South Africa are the only figures associated with the film willing to release their real names and appear in media interviews; the executive producer is listed as Peter Mier, while the production manager is listed as Brett Halperin.
...
But Mier and Halperin are just aliases, Shore says.
...
According to Shore, about 80 percent of the film's $400,000 budget was provided by Mier.
...
On the organization's site, "Obsession" is described as "Honest Reporting's newest documentary film," but Shore says it's a mistake and that the film's creators have told Honest Reporting to take it off their site "a dozen times."
...
"Many evangelical Christians are waking up and becoming passionate about this issue," says Shore.

Shore is also the founder of HonestReporting, which is a Zionist media watchdog outfit.

 

Here is a yahoogroups message that shows a clear connection between Aish Hatorah and The Clarion fund.

 

5 NEW EXCITING JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT AISH HATORAH
……………………..

1. ONLINE ACTIVISM FACILITATOR: NY, JERUSALEM OR HOME-BASED

The Clarion Fund - a new organization dedicated to educating people about the threat of radical Islam - is seeking to hire an Activism Facilitator for a new website-based project.

Launching in conjunction with the new documentary film "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West", this website will serve as a resource of historical and  current information about the issue, and ultimately facilitate the transfer of people's desire to get involved into organized, concrete action.

You will be required to oversee the development of the website as both a resource centre for activists and a forum for ideas. You will need to research and post articles and support material for various pre-existing campaigns, advertise new initiatives and oversee an advisory forum. Further key tasks include creating website membership, following-up with members/potential activists, publishing a weekly blog/newsletter and preparing regular progress reports.

In order to be considered for this role you must be familiar with current events and have experience in activism as well as superior writing, communication and PC skills.

To apply please send the following by Sunday Dec. 24th to emdresumes@...

· A cover letter and resume with three references

· A 2-3 paragraph writing sample/blog matching the website's goal (target audience is college students, 20-30 age group)

2. "OBSESSION" WEB AND RETAIL MARKETER: JERUSALEM

The Clarion Fund is seeking to hire a web and retail marketing professional for the new film "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West." This rewarding and exciting role requires an experienced web marketing expert with superior communication and writing skills.

Your primary responsibilities will include marketing "Obsession" over the web, which involves advertising on a variety of websites and generating links from other sites as well as promoting the film using e-groups and e-lists. You will be required to form retail deals with major stores, distributors, chains and websites for the purpose of maximizing exposure and public access to the film. You will also need to coordinate press with "Obsession's" PR firm in the lead-up to the March 2007 launch of the film.

To be considered for this role you must be organized, responsible, detail-oriented, creative and driven. Your constant willingness to take initiative is a must!

To apply please send a cover letter and resume with three references to emdresumes@... by Sunday Dec. 24th

3. PR EXECUTIVE: JERUSALEM

Help us get Aish IN THE NEWS. Seeking an experienced PR Executive to assist in getting Aish's name 'out there' as the world's fastest growing Jewish outreach organization. You must have a background in PR/marketing, as well as excellent communication and PR/writing skills. Your ability to take initiative and multi-task as well as a high level of creativity is a must! Starting off with a trial period (P/T, 10-15 hrs p/w) this position is expected to evolve into full-time tenure for the right person.

Working from our Jerusalem offices, you will be required to 'market' the organization at local and national levels. You will need to forge relationships with journalists as  well as print and electronic media outlets for the purpose of generating regular publicity. You will also need to put together regular press releases that highlight our ongoing events, programs and achievements, and use all means at your disposal to 'market' Aish HaTorah to the world.

Please apply via our website at www.vocaishion.com <http://www.vocaishion.com/>

4. PROJECT INSPIRE FOLLOW-UP CALLERS: NY OR HOME-BASED

Aish International is looking for part-time (5-15 hrs p/w) follow-up callers for Project Inspire (www.projectinspire.com <http://www.projectinspire.com/> ), a worldwide initiative aimed at encouraging frum people to get involved in easy, highly effective outreach campaigns. You will be responsible for calling people who sign up on the Project Inspire website, reminding them of upcoming campaigns, as well as providing outreach coaching and encouragement for all new registrants. Although Prior Kiruv experience is a real advantage, we will provide full training. However, you must be highly-motivated, positive, able to demonstrate excellent people skills and have a great phone manner.

Please apply via our website at www.vocaishion.com <http://www.vocaishion.com/>

5. AISH.COM WRITER: JERUSALEM

Aish.com <http://Aish.com> is seeking experienced halacha writers for a series of intermediate level halacha courses currently being developed to enable people to learn via email and/or view online. Each course will contain approx. 40 segments, of approx. 1,000 words each. Payment is approx. $200 per segment, depending on a variety of factors.

Separate courses will be developed on Tefillah, Shabbos, Brachos, Kashrus and Daily Living. Each course will explain the hashkafa behind these mitzvos, the principles behind the various halachas, and cite numerous practical examples. The target group is someone who has already accepted basic ideas (e.g. that God exists). This person is interested in moving forward in his or her practical observance, and needs a systematic, practical system for doing so.

Writers who are interested in submitting a trial essay should prepare a sample on the Melacha of Gozez, and adhere to the following guidelines:

1) Length: approx. 1,000 words

2) The article should give readers the confidence in the 'principles' to be able to apply them in other situations that may arise.

3) The article should be well-organized, interesting and engaging to read.

4) The writing style should be conversational, as if speaking one-to-one, explaining and taking it through logical step-by-step - how the melacha grows from it's Av basis, to Toldah, to Gezerias etc., and to its practical application today.

5) The writing should not be long paragraphs, but rather shorter paragraphs that incorporate bullet points. This makes the points easier to visualize, absorb and remember. Similarly, at the end of a sub-section, there should be a review and summary. This gives people a chance to pause and absorb.

6) The reader should be engaged in the process of learning. For example, create common scenarios, give them a chance to think about it themselves, and then explain the halacha. This makes the information much easier to relate to and recall, rather than being dry information that just goes on and on for page after page.

7) Include sources whenever possible, all as footnotes. We do have someone on staff who can easily look up sources, so if this is a time strain, it need not be a priority.

8) Regarding machlokes: If both are acceptable common minhagim, in general we should present the more makel shita, and then mention parenthetically that some are machmir. The final course material will be reviewed by a moreh hora, and a team of editors.

Please apply via www.vocaishion.com <http://www.vocaishion.com>

………………………….

Thanks so much.

Remember you can view all our current vacancies on our website at www.vocaishion.com <http://www.vocaishion.com/> .

Feel free to email us with any questions resumes@... <mailto:resumes@...>

Kind regards,

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