From Washington, DC: A Week of Insight, Perspective, and Hope

This week, I traveled to Washington DC for the 5th Annual Zionist Rabbinic Coalition (ZRC) conference. Of all the various rabbinical organizations with which I am involved, this one has become the most significant and important one to me. The ZRC was formed in 2021 at the urging of then Ambassador of Israel to the United States Ron Dermer, who expressed concern about a growing drift away from traditional Rabbinical support to Israel. Sadly, this is something that I also had witnessed over the past several decades.

Today, the ZRC is a network of over 2000 Rabbis representing Conservative, Orthodox, Reform, as well as non-denominational Rabbis from across the United States. We are the independent, multi-denominational, and non-partisan collective voice of Zionist Rabbis. Another important feature of our work is actively combating antisemitism, especially when it masquerades and manifests in the form of anti-Zionism. Through our growing Rabbinic network, advocacy on Capitol Hill, partnerships with Christian allies, pro-Israel political organizations, and figures, as well as our public statements, we challenge negative portrayals of Israel in the media, and promote a more accurate and constructive understanding of Israel and its importance to the American Jewish community. We are a clear alternative to other groups who purport to speak in the name of American Rabbis, yet denigrate and are publicly critical of Israel. I’m proud to be part of this organization. 

This past week, our group met with retiring member of Congress Steny Hoyer, among the leaders in the Democratic Party, and a tremendous supporter of Israel and US Israel relationship for over 45 years. We met with representatives of the State Department, including the chief of staff to Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as well as Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the US special envoy for monitoring and combating antisemitism. We also met with Ambassador Yehiel Leitner, Israel’s ambassador to the United States. We met with leading foreign policy experts, elected officials, and others who are working to maintain the strategic alliance between the United States and Israel, and bring it to even greater heights.

Meeting with these leaders and policymakers is always an eye-opening experience. Let me just say that there is a lot more going on than is generally reported in the media.  Opportunities for future cooperation between Israel and its former Arab enemies are literally blossoming at this very moment.

At a time of great challenge and concern for the American Jewish community, there are important narratives that we need to know about, narratives that will not only give greater context to what we are hearing and reading, but will inspire and give you hope as well. I look forward to talking to the congregation about all that I learned and experienced this past week. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If You Read Just One Article About Israel and Iran, Make It This One

I pride myself on always writing a new message to the synagogue and greater community each Shabbat. I have done this for many years, sharing my own thoughts and ideas on subjects and matters of consequence to our synagogue, community, and the greater Jewish community. But this week I’m going to make an exception. This week, I am not sharing something that I’ve written, but rather an amazing article that someone else wrote.  If there is one article about Israel’s recent strikes against Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile facilities that you should read, it’s this one. This article is, without a doubt, the finest thing that I have read on the subject, explaining not only why Israel made the decision to strike, but also why the strike had to happen when it did. The article was written by David Horowitz, the editor in chief of the Times of Israel , among Israel’s most trusted English language news sources. I hope that you will find this article as interesting, compelling, and imp...
Read more

A Heartfelt Thank You to Rabbi Avram Kogen

This Shabbat, as we read Parshat Korach , we joyfully mark a remarkable milestone: Rabbi Avram Kogen begins his 16th year of dedicated service to the Jewish Community Center of Paramus/Congregation Beth Tikvah. For 15 years, Rabbi Kogen has been the voice of Torah in our sanctuary, reading with distinction every Shabbat and holiday. Following the retirement of Cantor Sam Weiss two years ago, Rabbi Kogen took on additional responsibilities, including tutoring our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students. Yet his impact goes far beyond the bimah . He is a trusted advisor and friend to me and Cantor Krasner, a mentor to congregants of all ages, and a warm, welcoming presence at every Shabbat and holiday service. His deep knowledge of Jewish texts, his humility, and his unwavering love for our community continue to inspire us. Behind the scenes, Rabbi Kogen supports both me and our congregation through life’s sacred moments with compassion and care. Though modest in demeanor, Rabbi Kogen is a pil...
Read more

A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future

  On the High Holidays, I spoke about the need to prioritize our particular Jewish communal needs and concerns for as long as necessary until we feel safe again. After nine years of increasing antisemitic rhetoric, threats and violence, and the explosion of anti-Zionism since October 7, 2023,   we must call out threats to our safety and welfare, even if that means risking partnerships with former friends and allies. This is a time for moral clarity. Every member of every synagogue in America should know exactly where their Rabbi stands when Jews and the State of Israel are under attack from so many.  That's why I am among 900 Rabbis from across the United States who recently signed the Rabbinic Call to Action sponsored by The Jewish Majority . which has brought critical attention to our shared commitment to defend Jewish identity, combat antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and perhaps most importantly, to reaffirm that the authentic, mainstream voices of American Jewry b...
Read more