The numbers are almost
unreal.
Over 18,000 pro-Israel
activists from all 50 states (including over 4,000 students). Thousands of members from 350 congregations
and over 500 rabbis from around the country and across the denominational
spectrum. And KJ has over 200
participants in our community's delegation.
Wow!
These are impressive
numbers. Especially in a Jewish world
that excels at not being able to come together.
Jews are good at
disagreement. We're good at asking
questions. We're good at cheshbon ha-nefesh, self-examination and
self-criticism. We embrace machloket
l'sheim shamayim - disagreeing for the sake of heaven. We cannot and should not ignore the
differences between left and right, Republican and Democrat, and the
differences of denomination. At the same
time, we must remember that we are a people and a family. What effects one, impacts all.
In a Jewish world where
broad agreement and opportunities to come together are few and far between,
AIPAC remains the place where common purpose can be found in ensuring a safe,
secure Israel and a strong US-Israel relationship.
AIPAC is one of the few
places in the Jewish community that understands the power of a common cause and
unified message, and it's not really even a Jewish organization. It's all about Israel.
AIPAC is not perfect. There are plenty of things you or I may want
to see done differently. But AIPAC gets
a lot right in its commitment to strengthening Israel and its relationship with
America.
In my first hours in
Washington, this power of unified purpose even among diverse populations was on
display in a number of examples.
1) My first session was entitled "The
Progressive Case for Israel" and was a panel consisting of a Democratic
congressman, a Reform rabbi, a Labor Party Knesset member, and a campus
activist. Each came with an extensive
resume of involvement in progressive issues like immigration, wage equality,
LGBTQ inclusion, and pro-peace activism.
What they each also had in common was the declaration, "I am a
Zionist!"
A little later, I attended
a session entitled "Why the Next Generation of African American Elected
Leaders Supports Israel." I
listened to several young African American elected officials describe the common
cause their community has with the pro-Israel community. In a room full of African American pro-Israel
advocates, I have a common cause with a much broader community than I often
realize.
Where else do progressives gather together in common cause, with
so many who disagree with that agenda?
2) Natan Sharansky spoke at the Synagogue
Delegation luncheon. He is a hero of the
Jewish people and shared his insights and reflections on issues impacting
Israel and the Jewish community.
Here is a quote of
Sharansky's that was read while introducing him:
"If anyone would have
asked me in prison if I felt more solidarity with Labor or Likud, religious or
secular, orthodox or Reform, I would have considered the question
ridiculous...I was certainly aware of internecine rivalries and conflicts...but
in prison these differences were meaningless..."
(To which I add: They
really are meaningless even out of prison...)
"It was the connection
I felt with all the people of Israel, with our mutual history and destiny that
was the source of my strength."
(To which we all should
respond: Amen!)
Let's try to move beyond
the disagreements. There's plenty of
time the rest of the year to duke out our differences. We dare not forget, however, that we have a
common goal uniting us beneath the layers of disagreement.
3) AIPAC makes a point every year about treating
all speakers with respect as if they're guests in our home.
This year, in particular,
the refrain is ever present and repeated more clearly and more often.
Some people may scoff or
roll their eyes. Why? What's wrong with a little plug for Derech
Eretz, for treating people with respect?
Our world seems to prioritize the loudest, most divisive voices. Here at the AIPAC Policy Conference, it's
actually refreshing to have a chance to rub shoulders with those with whom I
disagree. And it doesn't matter. We're all here for a common cause.
That's really hard this
year.
Much has been written and
said about Donald Trump's appearance on Monday night at the AIPAC Policy
Conference in a Washington, D.C.
From the time AIPAC
announced Trump would join Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich as
presidential candidates addressing the convention, the reactions have been
pouring in fast and furious. Ron Kampeas summed up some of the ways to act: Walk in
wearing stickers. Stay out bearing
placards. Get up and walk out when Trump
walks in. Just don't go. Go but don't clap. Blame AIPAC.
Don't blame AIPAC.
I'm sure it will be a
typical Jewish gathering: Lots of everyone doing different things.
I get it. Donald Trump is, putting it mildly,
complicated. It seems unbelievable that
he is now the presumptive Republican nominee with a realistic chance to be the
next President.
Donald Trump has said
things that many consider outrageous, offensive, and even dangerous, and he is
clearly not the conventional candidate.
There are many different opinions out there. Jonathan Tobin offered one in Commentary Magazine:
"Leaving aside the
fact that he is clearly unprepared for
the Oval Office, Trump's behavior has been offensive in a way that in a saner
world than the one we're living in would have disqualified him for the
presidency."
What are we supposed to do
in a case like this?
Well, we live in a
democracy. We should respond with our
vote and our voice.
We should be frank and
honest in our discussions about and criticism of Donald Trump and any other
candidate. There is no place in American
public discourse for anti-Muslim statements or even the semblance of justifying
hate speech or violence.
We should also take a deep
breath and focus on what matters in this (or any) election: the issues and the
policies and the strategies that candidates put forth.
What do the candidates
believe and what will they do? Let's get
them on the record. At AIPAC Policy
Conference, we'll hear from almost all of them on the subject of Israel.
Let's get the facts. Let's focus on positions and strategies and
not let any candidate off the hook with more media attention that doesn't
provide the people with the truth.
Unfortunately, Trump's
campaign, in particular, feeds on the media circus surrounding every
controversial remark as well as those who oppose him. As Allison Kaplan Sommer wrote in Ha'aretz:
"A circus atmosphere
surrounding the Trump speech plays directly into the theatrical candidates’
hands. Trump has shown that he is the
master of turning opposition into a boomerang, and using it to fire up his
supporters."
AIPAC is doing what it
always does: striving to promote a strong US-Israel relationship. It is not perfect, but it is consistent. It is staying on message by inviting the
candidates to go on the record with their attitudes towards Israel and how
America should relate to the Jewish State.
We may not want to hear
from all the candidates who will be speaking - or we may want to hear from
Bernie Sanders who declined the invitation.
Let's hear what Donald Trump has to say.
Let's hear from Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich. Let's hear all of their positions on
Israel. Let's hear how they plan to
implement their vision. Let them go on
the record in front of an audience of 18,000 activists dedicated to a strong
America and a secure Israel, and we'll find out whether they embrace the values
of freedom, democracy, and opportunity for all that define both countries. Maybe one or all will impress us beyond our
expectations.
If you don't want to listen, don't. Thank God, we live in
a democracy. Stay away. Protest civilly. Making a huge issue
only gives more ammunition to those who divert the focus of the campaign away
from the issues at hand.
Life, elections, and so
much more are complicated.
We just began reading the
book of Vayikra. There is very
little narrative in the third book of the Torah. There are lots and lots of sacrifices, laws
of the Kohein and the priestly service, and rules relating to holiness
and purity. Some may find it a little
boring or irrelevant.
Rabbi Berel Wein, a noted
educator and rabbi now living in Jerusalem, teaches that Vayikra comes
to remind us of our limitations. The
focus on the sacred which can't be fully understood underlines the fact that we
cannot always fathom God's motives or rationalize the world. We always want to be in control and take charge.
The teachings of the third book of the Torah are meant to humble us. There is
much that we are powerless to control.
Rather than despair at the
state of the crazy world around us, let us commit to remain optimistic and
appropriately engaged in pro-Israel activities, election year politics, and
being good Jews and good people.
That's a platform worth
supporting.
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