April  2010

Dear Friends:

Last month, for the fifth consecutive year, Ner Tamid members comprised a significant delegation to AIPAC’s Annual Policy Conference. As all delegations, ours lobbied our elected officials, exercising one of the great privileges that American citizens enjoy; to express directly to our elected representatives our concerns and hopes regarding issues of importance to us and to our community. We were blessed to be among almost 8,000 Pro-Israel activists attending this vitally important annual gathering, lobbying on behalf of the U.S./Israel relationship.

We had numerous important issues to address. Given recent tensions between the State of Israel and the American Administration and Iran’s ongoing and dangerous pursuit of nuclear capabilities, our agenda was clear. First and foremost, we lobbied in support of a letter circulated by Congressional leaders throughout Congress that reaffirms the deep bond of essential democratic values and partnership in security-related matters enjoyed mutually by our country and the State of Israel and acknowledging the enemies to freedom we share in common as well. This letter to President Obama underscores two major and critical points: (1) The U.S./Israel relationship is not predicated upon any peace processes with the Palestinians or the Arab and Islamic states throughout the region; (2) As all disagreements among friends, they are best discussed and resolved in private than in the public eye, especially when unresolved differences may strengthen shared adversaries, such as the Palestinians and other hard-liners (and even “moderates”) in the Middle East.

We lobbied, as well, in support of the enactment and implementation of legislation mandating robust sanctions against Iran, passed both in the House and Senate one year ago, that would severely hinder Iran's efforts to procure oil-refinement services and technology from companies outside Iran, thereby giving Iran one more reason to comply with the global community's demand that it cease immediately its development of nuclear technology. Iran’s leadership has repeatedly voiced its aim to wipe the State of Israel off the face of the world's map and continues to urge large gatherings to imagine a world without the United States of America. Amazingly, for all of Iran's progress toward the development of nuclear technology (and advanced ballistic missile capabilities), Iran still relies upon foreign resources to refine most of the petroleum that it produces for use by its own citizens. This should serve for all observers as more than a hint at Iran's lack of care to use its technological progress toward the betterment of its own citizens' lives and of the sinister purposes underlying its ongoing and rapid pursuit of nuclear technology. When one considers the brutal manner in which the Iranian regime neutralized its opposition only months ago, its tyrannical character is all the more evident. The legislation passed last year by bipartisan leadership in the House and the Senate, and for which we lobbied then, would, if implemented, deal Iran's economy a severe blow and, perhaps, awaken its fanatical leadership and its general population to the costs that they will endure if Iran does not comply with the will of the international community regarding its nuclear program.

Some may wonder why there has been a delay in implementing this legislation. For the past year, the Obama Administration has successfully discouraged the House and Senate leadership from taking the legislation to “Committee” to prepare a final bill for President Obama’s signature, viewing the legislation as more drastic than necessary. Our position last week was that, one year subsequent to the passage of this legislation, and despite the late hour and Iran’s continued and unimpeded progress toward its nuclear ambitions, these sanctions need to be implemented without any further delay.

Finally, we lobbied for the continuation of vital military foreign aid to Israel (the overwhelming majority of which is mandated to be spent right here in the United States, bolstering our own aerospace and defense-related industries), encouraging Congress to continue to support Israel's qualitative military advantage as it strives daily to defend itself against an array of serious existential threats.

This year, as always, AIPAC’s Policy Conference featured an extraordinary array of speakers and presenters, including Tony Blair, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. AIPAC's Gala Banquet, held on the final evening of the Conference, hosted dignitaries from most embassies in Washington, D.C. and the great majority of elected officials and some of their staff members serving in our nation's Capitol. All in all, the Conference served not only as an opportunity to make a significant difference in support of the U.S./Israel relationship, but also as a serious learning experience for all in attendance and an opportunity to develop meaningful connections with Jews and others of a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds who support both our country and the State of Israel.

In closing, please consider the following. There are numerous different interpretations and understandings of recent dynamics – public or private - between the Obama Administration and the Israeli Government. Some observers still view differences that have emerged as generally insignificant, given the history and depth of strategic cooperation and shared values held by the United States and the State of Israel, toward the mutual and shared benefit of both countries. Other informed sources are growing more deeply concerned by what they see and hear. However, as far as those of us who care for the special relationship between the United States and Israel, neither perspective changes what we must do, given the threats that Israel faces today. Why? - Because the bedrock of the partnership cherished by the United States and the State of Israel has rarely, if ever, been centered on the American Administration; rather, it has almost always seen its foundation among America’s citizens and, as a consequence, among our elected representatives serving in Congress. Congress represents daily the perceived interests of the citizens of our great country. When we make our voices heard and our passionate feelings known to our elected representatives, they are most likely to continue to support and protect values or policies that they know to be both intrinsically true and well-conceived and to represent the sincere concerns of their own constituents.

So please become involved. Please register today at www.AIPAC.org for AIPAC's Annual Policy Conference in May 2011. You will be part of the historic undertaking of securing our brothers and sisters in Israel and ensuring that a strong U.S. /Israel relationship endures to the benefit of both our country and our homeland! After registering, please call my assistant, Pat Richman, to inform her that you are now apart of next year’s CNT delegation.

Let us always bear in mind that, if we ever needed Israel, she and her citizens would be there for us with unceasing support and open arms; today, we need to do our part for Israel, and the greatest difference that we can make may well be in Washington in May 2011 and in our efforts to bring as many of our friends along with us on our sacred and vitally important journey together next year.

B'Shalom - With Blessings of Peace and Wholeness,

Rabbi Isaac Jeret
Spiritual Leader