These are difficult times for Israel. It has suffered another horrific attack by Hamas. An attack approved and financed by the militant Islamic government of Iran. Many Jews, whether in Israel or in the Diaspora, whether religious or secular, are praying for Divine protection for the soldiers and people of Israel.
But God has already answered many of their prayers. More than 10 years ago. With an extraordinary hidden miracle. Which I personally witnessed.
Over 20 years ago, Dr. Ben Chouake organized NORPAC, an advocacy organization whose members met with American members of Congress and senators to build their support for Israel. NORPAC’S members, including myself, advocated for America to send critical military and non-military aid to Israel that the Jewish state could not otherwise afford.
Like many NORPAC members, I privately hosted leading congressmen and senators in my home. That is how I met the late Sen. Carl Levin, who was then the powerful chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He effectively controlled the military budget of the United States.
Whenever I met with Levin on NORPAC missions to the capital, he was always welcoming and friendly. And proud to be a supporter of the strong friendship between America and Israel.
Except for one issue. He refused to provide American financial support to a proposed Israeli anti-missile system called Iron Dome. His staff and American military experts believed that the Iron Dome system would be very expensive and hardly effective. They estimated that the Iron Dome missiles would likely intercept only 20%-40% of incoming enemy missiles. Levin continued to refuse approving an Iron Dome program when I visited him on subsequent NORPAC missions.
So I took a bold step. Which risked my entire relationship with my special friend. I went to Washington on my own and requested an urgent meeting with the senator. Levin agreed to see me alone in his private office. He repeated again that the experts still did not believe in the value of an Iron Dome system.
So I looked straight into his eyes and said: “Carl, if the Iron Dome system is effective in only 20% of its launches, it will save hundreds of Israeli lives. If it is 40% effective, it will save thousands of lives. What will God say to you when you go to Heaven if you let those precious lives be lost?”
The senator stared at me for a very long minute. Then he picked up the phone, called the aide who oversaw defense legislation and told him to get the Iron Dome legislative work completed immediately. And then the senator, without any fanfare, shepherded the legislation to begin funding the Iron Dome system through the Senate and into law.
With the passage of over a decade since my critical meeting with Carl, we know that the Iron Dome system is extraordinarily effective in blowing up 80%-90% of the missiles launched against Israel. And that the United States has built up its own substantial stockpiles of Iron Dome missiles to protect America and its allies.
All because God placed a senator with a big heart and a love for both America and Israel in a position of power. To help protect the people of Israel and the citizens of America. Just at the right time.
Joseph Stechler has led several major Jewish organizations.He has been a leading investment manager and securities analyst for over 20 years, and an adviser to many individual investors and leading financial firms.BARRON’S called his performance record “dazzling.”Contact Joseph at [email protected]
