This March, when I will be in Washington D.C. for the AIPAC Policy Conference for the third year in a row, I will be joined there by other members of Temple Beth Ami. While this is the first time we will be traveling as a TBA group, this amazing annual event attracts thousands of participants from around the country who gather together in our nation’s capital to learn directly from the specialists and leaders in the Middle East, show solidarity for Israel, and engage in grassroots meetings with every congressional representative on the Hill.
This year in particular, I felt the need to be there. A new administration, still in its early days needs to see our unity and strength. In past years Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke in person at AIPAC, and while this is a strong possibility once again this year, this year's conference will no doubt bring out leaders from across the political spectrum.
We need your presence there this year. I guarantee that this annual event is one of the greatest Jewish events in our nation. Simply joining together with thousands of Jews from across the United States is an unbelievable experience everyone should feel. This year you need to experience it for yourself.
Continued violence in Syria coupled with the ongoing threat of Iranian ambitions in the Middle East create a very dangerous neighborhood for Israel. On this, nearly all Israelis agree, and they very rarely agree on anything. There are indeed vast differences of opinion in Israel on how to deal with these harsh realities, but make no mistake about it, they must be dealt with.
Not long after the AIPAC Conference concludes participants, including Jews from every denomination and political affiliation, will return home to their communities and we will be confronted with the story of Esther as we celebrate Purim.
Underneath the masks, and below the farce we are confronted by the existential threat that emanates out of Persia nearly 2500 years ago. The chilling geographic coincidence does not go unnoticed to Jews around the world. The courage of Mordecai and Esther, who represent a powerless diaspora community at the risk of their lives, have inspired us for centuries. Their situation, and tragically Jewish history for most of the last 2000 years, was one of fragile existence. It is a far cry from where we are today, but we do not dare go back.
With a nation of our own rebuilt in Zion, and Jewish communities like the one here in the US, of immense strength and power, we live in remarkable and wonderful days, but as we have seen too often recently, on the streets of France and Denmark, our enemies are not fictional creations or myth.
Purim is a yearly reminder that we have enemies, and that our enemies, in the end, cannot triumph. Jews in times of peace forget the first point. Those in trouble must not lose sight of the second.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday night, March 11th at 7 pm, as we celebrate Purim with our special Spiel, a musical celebration featuring Wendee and some very talented, or at the very least, well intentioned TBA players. Everyone is encouraged to come in costume and let loose.
This year the local synagogues are all joining forces to put on an amazing Purim Carnival. It's going to be huuuge. Celebrate with Purim fun at Valencia Heritage Park 24155 Newhall Ranch Rd., Santa Clarita, CA 91354, March 12th from 11am - 2pm.
This year in particular, I felt the need to be there. A new administration, still in its early days needs to see our unity and strength. In past years Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke in person at AIPAC, and while this is a strong possibility once again this year, this year's conference will no doubt bring out leaders from across the political spectrum.
We need your presence there this year. I guarantee that this annual event is one of the greatest Jewish events in our nation. Simply joining together with thousands of Jews from across the United States is an unbelievable experience everyone should feel. This year you need to experience it for yourself.
Continued violence in Syria coupled with the ongoing threat of Iranian ambitions in the Middle East create a very dangerous neighborhood for Israel. On this, nearly all Israelis agree, and they very rarely agree on anything. There are indeed vast differences of opinion in Israel on how to deal with these harsh realities, but make no mistake about it, they must be dealt with.
Not long after the AIPAC Conference concludes participants, including Jews from every denomination and political affiliation, will return home to their communities and we will be confronted with the story of Esther as we celebrate Purim.
Underneath the masks, and below the farce we are confronted by the existential threat that emanates out of Persia nearly 2500 years ago. The chilling geographic coincidence does not go unnoticed to Jews around the world. The courage of Mordecai and Esther, who represent a powerless diaspora community at the risk of their lives, have inspired us for centuries. Their situation, and tragically Jewish history for most of the last 2000 years, was one of fragile existence. It is a far cry from where we are today, but we do not dare go back.
With a nation of our own rebuilt in Zion, and Jewish communities like the one here in the US, of immense strength and power, we live in remarkable and wonderful days, but as we have seen too often recently, on the streets of France and Denmark, our enemies are not fictional creations or myth.
Purim is a yearly reminder that we have enemies, and that our enemies, in the end, cannot triumph. Jews in times of peace forget the first point. Those in trouble must not lose sight of the second.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday night, March 11th at 7 pm, as we celebrate Purim with our special Spiel, a musical celebration featuring Wendee and some very talented, or at the very least, well intentioned TBA players. Everyone is encouraged to come in costume and let loose.
This year the local synagogues are all joining forces to put on an amazing Purim Carnival. It's going to be huuuge. Celebrate with Purim fun at Valencia Heritage Park 24155 Newhall Ranch Rd., Santa Clarita, CA 91354, March 12th from 11am - 2pm.
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