With Passover coming, and with its message of redemption and heading to the Promised Land beginning to percolate, now would be a good time to give you some of the messages received at the AIPAC Policy Conference that I and several JCC members attended last week.

 

Before getting into the substance of what we lobbied, the best line of the conference was delivered by Meghan McCain as she and Joe Lieberman spoke in honor and in memory of her father, Z"L. Of the American support of Israel she said:

 

Americans don't support Israel because AIPAC is influential, AIPAC is influential because Americans Support Israel.

 

Here are the main topics we spoke to our congressional representatives about:

 

1) Support Security Assistance and Foreign Aid.

 

U.S. security assistance to Israel is the most tangible manifestation of American support of the Jewish state. Today, Israel faces an unprecedented array of threats stemming from growing instability and chaos gripping the region - from Iran's regional aggression to Hamas' violence from Gaza. These challenges require a significant increase in Israeli defense expenditures. American aid is vital to ensuring Israel can defend itself - -- ALWAYS BY ITSELF -and maintain its qualitative edge over its adversaries.

 

2) Enhance Security and Economic Cooperation.

 

Given the strategic importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance to both countries, it is critical to expand bilateral cooperation across a wide array of fields. A strong American-Israeli relationship enables both countries to prosper in times of peace and while better preparing to respond to growing threats like those on Israel's northern border and .longer term challenges like a potential nuclear-armed Iran.

 

3) Oppose Boycotts, Support Direct Negotiations.

 

Since Israel's founding in 1948, its enemies have repeatedly attempted to undermine and ultimately destroy the Jewish state through military assaults, terrorist attacks and actions at international organizations. More recently, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign has emerged in an effort to stigmatize, delegitimize and isolate the State of Israel. BDS proponents undermine the prospects for peace and decrease the incentive for the parties to negotiate a two-state solution.

 

The conference was full of energy, purpose, and camaraderie. Because next year is an election year the conference will be increasingly energized. If you have not gone before, 2020 is the year you should start. The conference will be from March 1-3. Let me know if you would like to go, or if you have any questions.

Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay