Like many of you, I have been watching the news in Israel this past week with close attention.
Israel is very much a part of my personal identity, and one of the pillars of Temple Emanu-El.
We as modern Jewish-Americans cannot understate the importance of Israel to our self-identity and well-being in the world, whether or not we are conscious of it.
So it was painful this past week to see the stories and to speak to our Israeli relatives, about the 450 rockets fired by Palestinian terrorists at Israeli civilian populations.
Our kids have school canceled due to threats of snow, the Israeli kids had school closed this week because of rockets. Families spent days on end in bomb shelters. It’s a sad reality, but also a tremendous testament to the Israeli spirit that they deal with the psychological burden with a sober attitude, and then return back to everyday life when the threat has subsided.
L’chayim-to life is more than a toast, it’s a way of life.
But I want to share something with you, and then challenge you to help.
Thanks to the US-Israel relationship, Israel has the Iron Dome missile defense system which intercepts 90 percent of the rockets fired on Israel’s diverse civilian population.
This type of defense is a miracle in the making that comes from cutting edge technology and the cooperation of both countries at the highest level.
Israel’s ability to protect its citizens from these rockets is a direct result of American security assistance to Israel, and the defense funding that we help lobby for at AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, DC.
You see, if anything, our Jewish history has taught us that this type of miraculous relationship, with all of its benefits to both parties, does not just happen.
It takes decades and thousands of dedicated people who make it a priority.
This is what AIPAC does (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee).
For five straight years, Temple Emanu-El has had the largest synagogue delegation to AIPAC’s Policy Conference in the SouthEast.
This year being a Presidential election year, our presence, our energy, and our attention has never been more important to the US-Israel relationship than right now. Israel is the one thing that seems to transcend partisan politics in the walls of Congress.
I consider it part of my obligation as a Jew to ensure that this continues.
We could sure use your help.
Come join us in Washington, DC (it’s dynamic, it’s incredibly informative, and it’s fun) March 1st-3rd.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions.
We need you.
Shabbat shalom!
These TE congregants are heading to Washington, DC for AIPAC’s Policy Conference.
Can we add your name to our group?
Rabbi Spike Anderson
Scott, Lori & Jami Bohrer
Mindy Broda
Norm & Diane Cohen
Darcy Denneen
Stuart Dunowitz
Jonathan & Julie Elster
Lisa Fox Freedman
Chuck & Carol Ganz
Lisa & Ken Gordon
Bennett Kaplan
Stacy Lavictoire
Alan & Roni Mintz
Lynn & Linda Newport
Deb Perlstein
Heather Rifkin
Brooke & Brad Rosen
Craig Spector
Milt & Bev Stahl
Bill & Randi Steuer
