Greetings from Jerusalem
Shalom, dear friends. It is my great pleasure to share these brief remarks with you from the President’s residence in Jerusalem at this critical time. Over the past century, much has changed since the American Jewish Committee (AJC) was formed against the backdrop of pogroms in Tsarist Russia. Yet, so much remains familiar. The tenacious conspiracy doctrine of anti-Semitism still lurks within our societies. Today, as always, Jews and the Jewish State need protection and advocacy.
The Role of AJC in Protecting Society
The AJC has always been clear: the protection of Jews isn’t just about Jews. It is about protecting our societies, our democracies, and all of humanity from the corrosive effects of hatred and prejudice. Protecting the Jewish community means protecting the entire free world.
The Earth Shook on October 7th
On October 7th, the Earth shook. It shook because of the brutal massacre here in our Jewish state. It also shook because of the speed with which this atrocity was forgotten and even denied. The ease with which fierce anti-Israel sentiment emerged in places designed to be guarantors of justice and strongholds of free thought is alarming. Truth is bowing yet again before hatred. Calls to “free Palestine” of Jews masquerade as social justice on college campuses and in international circles. The leaders of democratic Israel and Hamas jihadist terror masterminds are outrageously equivocated. Iran and its axis of terror proxies, this empire of evil, are attempting to isolate Israel in the international arena, and alarmingly, at times, it is working.
Resilience Amidst Hatred
But October 7th proved that while hatred lives on, so does our resilience. Since the Earth cracked open, we have seen, alongside the searing pain, many reminders of our gifts. The global Jewish community has stepped up and come forward for Israel. This connectedness is a resource that we must actively nurture and protect.
The Voice of the People Initiative
Even before October 7th, I put the full force of my presidency behind the “Kol Ha’am” initiative, called the Voice of the People. This initiative aims to form a global Jewish council on the most pressing issues facing our people. Its urgency has only grown. I hope all of you will come on board to bring your voices to this dialogue and conversation.
Gratitude and Hope
I want to thank my good friend, AJC CEO Ted Deutch, who has so beautifully taken the helm from our good friend David Harris. Ted is working tirelessly on the front lines for all of us, and I want to thank him and the entire beautiful team of AJC. I also want to thank President Michael Tichnor and Director of AJC Israel Avital Leibovich. I thank each and every one of you for your presence today and for gathering so that we can achieve our objectives.
A Prayer for Peace and Healing
May our hostages find freedom as soon as possible. May our soldiers return home safely and victoriously. May our wounded heal in soul and body. May our evacuees come back home from the north and south. And may we all be whole again. Thank you, todah, and shalom.
