AIPAC And Me.2018

AIPAC And Me

By Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman

March 16, 2018

As many of you know, I was at the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. last week.  Tonight I would like to share some of my impressions with you.

AIPAC has always been there to provide me and other supporters of Israel with a boost in morale.  There is strength in numbers, and nothing beats the feeling you get when 18,000 people stand up as one to cheer a common cause.

This year’s conference, though maybe somewhat more low-keyed than in previous years, still had that effect on me. There was Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, who again received the most thunderous applause and the most number of standing ovations, competing only with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, who, in the face of worldwide criticism and corruption charges at home, gave the speech of his lifetime and career.  Senators Chuck Schumer and Bob Menendez gave rousing speeches promising their ongoing support for Israel, and Vice President Mike Pence represented the current administration and reminded everyone—again, to thunderous applause—of the plans to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  And though several heads of state from Latin America and Africa expressed their solidarity with Israel as well, that was pretty much the extent of the political speeches.

Still, through armchair interviews, panel discussions and through video as well as live presentations, the message of AIPAC came through loud and clear: First, Israel is, thank God, strong.  It has many friends, and it is bracing through the storm.  As it has been for longer than its existence as a state (70 years this May), Israel today is still facing existential threats.  However, it is also involved in more business, political, technological and philanthropic work around the world than ever before.  But the work is never finished; now more than ever, Israel needs to educate and prepare the next generation to pick up and continue the important work of persistence and survival.

Israel’s security issues come from all directions.  In the north, in Lebanon, Hezbollah has something like 150,000 missiles pointed at the Jewish state.  In Syria, the ongoing battles have resulted in a spillover of mortar and missile onto the Golan Heights.  More worrying, however, are the ongoing threats that come daily from Teheran.  Iran’s ongoing work on nuclear centrifuges as well as on developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads is of utmost concern.  Equally disturbing is its increased presence in Syria. Iran is currently building military bases and supplying technology and firepower to both Assad and his allies, including Hezbollah.  Turkey and Russia are also involved in the bloody and tragic mess that Syria is today. Netanyahu and Putin, however, have a close relationship, and as Moscow continues to entrench its presence in the Middle East, their ongoing dialogue is both critical and essential. 

Hamas still controls Gaza and still vies for political viability and prominence both in Gaza and in the West Bank, where it has set up political and military cells that challenge Mahmoud Abbas, the ailing president of the Palestinian Authority. Further west, in the Sinai Peninsula, ISIS has made a reappearance, establishing an active and dangerous base in a no-man’s land wilderness.

From Israel’s perspective at least, BDS—the anti-Israel boycott, divest and sanction movement—though annoying, is of smaller significance than it seems to be in the United States, the United Nations and the European Union. In fact, Israel’s business and diplomatic outreach has actually been expanding to a far greater extent than ever, and Ambassador Nikki Haley has been doing a tremendous job defending Israel from its many bullies and detractors in the United Nations.

Thanks to the powerful IDF, Israel’s Defense Force, and thanks to the ongoing support of the Israel’s chief ally, the U.S., Israel is geared to defend itself on all fronts. Constantly being tested keeps its defenders sharp and ready for anything, though in this part of the world the unexpected can always—and should always—be expected.

It’s never short of amazing to see Israel’s technological breakthroughs.  We have almost gotten used to Iron Dome, the anti-missile defense system developed by Israel and used successfully during the Gaza war of 2014; but it was heartening at this point also to be informed of new methods to detect and destroy tunnels dug and used by Hamas to attack targets deep inside Israel.  

Other innovations unveiled at this year’s AIPAC conference include StemRad, which provides protection from gamma radiation.  Used in medicine as well as space exploration, StemRad was developed in Israel following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan seven years ago, which saw first responders going into the damaged reactor with little or no protection from the poisonous radiation.

Edgy Bees is a system that uses drones to locate with exact precision and provide prompt emergency aid to people stranded in floods, fires, hurricanes and other disasters.

Also using drones is CropX, a hi-tech agricultural innovation that measures soil moisture and temperature to determine the rate and amount of irrigation needed to produce maximum crops.  Collected data is sent from the soil itself, into the virtual Cloud, where it can be accessed from any stationary or mobile device.

Israel’s philanthropic work all over the world should not be news to anyone at this point.  Aid missions following recent earthquakes in Mexico saw field hospitals set up and health workers hard at work saving lives night and day.  Israeli doctors and hospitals also offer help on a daily basis to Syrian men, women and children injured in the bloody warfare in that part of the world.  Most recently, Israel sent an entire team of social and psychiatric workers to Parkland, Florida, site of the tragic high school shooting that took the lives of 17 students and teachers.

In Africa, a continent that has for too long been neglected, abused and raped by world powers, the work of MASHAV cannot be overstated. MASHAV is an organization set up by Israel’s Foreign Ministry with the goals of empowering, teaching and training third world countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable social, agricultural and technological development. (By the way, Yossef Abramowitz, husband of past-TBI-Rabbi Susan Silverman, is active in this organization, as well as with a company called Energiya Global, which develops solar projects worldwide, with the goal of providing clean electricity for 50 million people by 2020).

Education has always been a key part of AIPAC’s mission.  Ignorance breeds fear, and fear breeds prejudice and hatred.  And so, as one of the most important aspects of its work, AIPAC arranges for every newly elected United States senator and Congress member, as well as for members of various ethnic and religious groups, to go on fact-finding trips to Israel to learn first hand about a complex situation that few understand, yet so many are willing argue and fight about. 

AIPAC does not spread propaganda.  Its work is done through education.  AIPAC is nonpartisan; its policy is to be inclusive for all people, regardless of gender, color, faith, nationality, political affiliation and age.  Among the thousands who attended the AIPAC Policy Conference this year were 4,000 high school and college students. In addition, many families brought their children, of all ages, with them.  Seeing all these young and eager faces was terrific.  The younger generation is, after all, our future.  Their participation and work on behalf of Israel and the Jewish People is of vital importance to Jewish continuity.  AIPAC understands that and works hard to make sure that its important work will continue well into the next decade and beyond. 

The Jewish People stands alone and unique in the world.  Since it first appeared, 3600 years ago, it has withstood prejudice and stigmatization.  It has survived attack and persecution in every age and every part of the world.  Its survival in spite of all has never ceased to amaze and astound. Its tenacity is due to many reasons—not the least being the sense of mission it took upon itself and maintained through the centuries. The values we have taught and shared include democracy; improved quality of life; and progressive ideals for people of color, gender diversity, culture, knowledge and education.

It is for these reasons that I am such a strong advocate for AIPAC. I believe in making the world a better place, and in AIPAC I find thousands like me, people who share my views, goals and methodology. AIPAC inspires me, strengthens me and restores my dedication to a cause that I believe is both sacred and attainable.  I believe that together, AIPAC and I CAN make a difference in the world.  That, after all, has been the goal of the Jewish People, from time immemorial and into the infinite future.  I invite you to join me next year, at the AIPAC Policy Conference 2019.

© 2018 by Boaz D. Heilman