As you read this I am in Washington D.C. for the AIPAC Policy Conference for the sixth year in a row. Once again I am joined there by other members of Temple Beth Ami. 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 being a presidential election year the importance of this year’s event is obvious. Overlapping with Super Tuesday it will be interesting to see what candidates and speakers have to say regarding the US/Israel relationship. In addition, in the midst of the conference, the third election in a year will be taking place in Israel on March 2. In past years Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke in person at AIPAC, this year's conference he won’t be as he as his hands full. So this could be a watershed moment for Israel as well.
Many of you have expressed interest in going. Start planning now, we need your presence there next year. I guarantee that this annual event is one of the greatest Jewish events in our nation. Simply joining together with thousands of our people from across the United States is an unbelievable experience. Next year you need to feel it for yourself.
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 as here in the US, of immense strength and power, we live in remarkable and wonderful days. However, as we have seen too often recently, even in our own nation, 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 Monday night, March 9th 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 once again all joining forces to put on an amazing Purim Carnival. It's going to be huuuge. Celebrate with Purim fun at Hart Park Picnic Area, March 8th from 11am - 2pm.
This year being a presidential election year the importance of this year’s event is obvious. Overlapping with Super Tuesday it will be interesting to see what candidates and speakers have to say regarding the US/Israel relationship. In addition, in the midst of the conference, the third election in a year will be taking place in Israel on March 2. In past years Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke in person at AIPAC, this year's conference he won’t be as he as his hands full. So this could be a watershed moment for Israel as well.
Many of you have expressed interest in going. Start planning now, we need your presence there next year. I guarantee that this annual event is one of the greatest Jewish events in our nation. Simply joining together with thousands of our people from across the United States is an unbelievable experience. Next year you need to feel it for yourself.
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 as here in the US, of immense strength and power, we live in remarkable and wonderful days. However, as we have seen too often recently, even in our own nation, 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 Monday night, March 9th 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 once again all joining forces to put on an amazing Purim Carnival. It's going to be huuuge. Celebrate with Purim fun at Hart Park Picnic Area, March 8th from 11am - 2pm.
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