I was proud to be a Jew this week. I stood up and applauded when the Prime Minister of the Jewish State, my country—the land that I pray for each day and the one promised to our people by God—stood before a joint session of Congress and spoke to our elected officials. I stood out of emotion several times as Israel’s highest ranking official laid out his side for the foundations of moving forward in the peace process.
I spent part of this past week with over 10,000 delegates at the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington DC. There were over 180 rabbis from the Conservative movement as part of the conference, including many from Bergen County and greater New Jersey. I sat in sessions with leaders who discussed the imminent dangers to Israel and the United States as Iran continues the process of enriching uranium and creating a nuclear weapon. I participated with others in hearing about the technological and medical advances of Israeli companies that are shared with the rest of the world as a result of continued relationships. And I listened to expert panelists’ debate the prospects of peace and the obstacles inherent in brokering with many of these parties on the opposite side of the table. And I readied myself to lobby my senators and my congressman for support for Israel together with other representatives from our congressional district.
Most of all I came away impressed. This was my first experience at the conference and I was unprepared for the sheer numbers of people who are attracted to lobbying and supporting Israel in this manner. I came away impressed with the openness and dialogue by many of Israel’s supporters. Not everyone agrees, as we all know, on every subject and point as the peace process meanders forward. What strengthens one’s resolve and principles is being able to articulate a position and defend it. AIPAC, especially during the down times, the informal moments when people are waiting for sessions to begin, or waiting in line to get through security, affords everyone, Jew and non-Jew, Labor or Likud, Democrat or Republican—the time and materials to make a cogent argument.
This past week has seen Israel put front and center in the political forum with President Obama’s speech about the 1967 borders and then followed by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to AIPAC and then to Congress. How many of you know what we mean when we talk about the 1967 borders? The right of return for Palestinians? A divided Jerusalem? The Green Line? The difference between Fatah and Hamas in terms of ideology and their views of Israel? The answers to the questions above are the basic knowledge base that every Jew should know.
Every one of us should be knowledgeable about Israel, its history, and the current issues facing the country. AIPAC affords some educational opportunities for people, but it is not for everyone. But there is something for each of us, a way to get involved and strengthen our ties and the ties of our elected officials with regard to Israel. Read up on current events and different views about the issues facing Israel and her neighbors. Join a group—a political one, a cultural one—and discover with others and through others what makes Israel important to you.
Jews across America and the world should stand and be proud of who we are and what we stand for in this day and age. To quote the Prime Minister on Tuesday: “no one can guarantee that our peace partners today will be there tomorrow. And, my friends, when I say “Tomorrow,” I don’t mean some distant time in the future. I mean tomorrow.
May we all know peace, for us and for our children.
