Update from Israel

In recent days we have met with Dore Gold, Israel's former ambassador to the United Nations, as well as Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon. Both expressed concern that the window to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is closing.

We also enjoyed an evening at the exquisite and fascinating newly renovated Israel Museum with a private dinner there. We are in the Negev now, with stops at Masada as well as Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls. While in the Negev we also are seeing the work of the IDF and its brave soldiers. You cannot but be impressed by the message we hear consistently from the young men and women of how they work so carefully in such precarious conditions to save lives, even of those who seek to take theirs.

Our visit to the south included a stop at Sderot to see the indoor playground built by the JNF so that children would be able to have a place to play – They have 15 seconds when an alarm is sounded to run and take cover in a bomb shelter. We will also visit the Rabin Center and Independence Hall, the place where Israel declared its independence.

Yesterday we met Steph Wertheimer at the Itscar factory who spoke to us about Israel's technological achievements and who impressed us with his humility and gentle manner. He is the founder of the company bought by Warren Buffet several years ago, Buffet's first purchase outside of the U.S. Click on the following link for more detailed information about Itscar and its purchase by Warren Buffet: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/mar2008/sb20080314_011498.htm.)

We continued with the theme of Israel's remarkable hi-tech innovations with a visit to Better Place where we test drove electric cars. This company, which was founded by Shai Agassi, is prominently featured in the book "Start-up Nation.” Here is a link to more detailed information about Shai Agassi and Better Place: https://betterplace.com/the-company-leadership-detail/index/id/shai-agassi.

We are now getting ready for shabbat which we will celebrate at the Western Wall, the Kotel. Earlier today we heard from Nitsana Dirshan Leitner of Shurat HaDin, Israel Law Center, about the amazing work she is doing to stop the terrorists in their tracks by unrelentingly pursuing in courtrooms the banks and financial institutions that transfer money and make it possible for them to act. Here is a link to Shurat HaDin’s website: http://www.israellawcenter.org/.

A moving visit to Mt Herzl with Ariel Kotler of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the Herzl Museum was followed by a stroll through the open air market of Mahaneh Yehudah where we enjoyed falafel and other delicacies. Here is the link to JNF’s website: http://www.jnf.org/about-jnf/.

Shabbat shalom.

Some Interesting Washington Receptions

October 3, 1990, is the date that Germany celebrates the unification of East and West Germany. On October 3, 2011 the German embassy sponsored a celebration at the residence of the German ambassador. It was a somewhat surrealistic experience to be a guest at the residence of the German ambassador in Washington for such a celebration, but such is the extent of the reconciliation between Germany and the Jewish people, some 66 years after the end of World War II and the end of the Holocaust.

The following week I was invited to a small reception at the home of the Vice President to celebrate the Jewish new year. We gathered outside on the patio near the pool on a beautiful evening. Vice President Biden spoke extemporaneously about his strong affinity for the Jewish people. He said the thing that he, “an Irish Catholic boy,” admires so much about the Jewish community is that “it always thinks about others and how to improve the world.” Using the Hebrew term, “Tikkun olam,” he acknowledged that the Jews have a right to be bitter, but instead are always hopeful and thinking about how to help the rest of the world. He also spoke of his concern about the attempts to isolate and delegitimize the State of Israel.

Needless to say, it is always still a thrill to receive an invitation to go to the White House. However, since I have been to the White House a few times and had never been to the residence of the Vice President, I was especially excited and looking forward to attending a small reception in September at his home for American Jewish community leaders.

When we came through the receiving line to have our picture taken with him, I told the Vice President how much we appreciated his heartfelt words and that I would even incorporate some of what he said into one of my High Holiday sermons. I asked him if he was misquoted in the New York Times article the previous week which said that he was strongly opposed to the granting of a pardon for Jonathan Pollard. He told me that he was not misquoted and that he felt strongly about this issue. As he continued the conversation I was uncomfortable since there were a number of other people waiting in line to have to their picture taken with him, and I had not studied the issue well enough to be able to have an in-depth conversation about the matter. I told him that I would welcome the opportunity to speak about it in further detail with him at a later time, and he said he would welcome it. I gave him my card – we will see what happens.