The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual Bergen and Rockland Summer Dinner will be held this year on Wednesday, June 8, at the Rockleigh Country Club. The evening will highlight AIPAC’s efforts to combat the delegitimization of Israel —from college campuses to Capitol Hill—and will feature Founding Editor of The Times of Israel David Horovitz. The event is being chaired by Miriam and Ezra Lightman of Bergenfield, Lisa Beth & Gregory Meisel of Tenafly and Ilana and Mitch Kahn of Englewood.
As the child of Holocaust survivors, I cannot help but reflect on the miracles God has performed in the 71 years since the end of WWII and the Holocaust. This includes the miraculous creation of the State of Israel and its defense against seemingly overwhelming forces arrayed against it. It is thrilling to see the incredible development of the land into a modern nation, despite enormous challenges. We have been privileged to witness an ingathering of Jewish refugees from all over the world. We marvel at the outstanding creativity, diversity and selfless devotion to the performance of good deeds of so many of its citizens. They can be found wherever there is a crisis in the world requiring a helping hand.
Yet, the lessons of the Holocaust are still fresh in my consciousness. I am compelled to do everything within my power to protect our beloved Jewish State through political activism in our home, the United States. AIPAC is the vehicle that allows me to do my part in accomplishing this mission. AIPAC was created in response to the American Jewish community’s lack of political organization during the Holocaust.
I feel that my involvement with AIPAC is a responsibility both as an American and a Jew. As an American, I have the responsibility to support Israel, one of America’s only genuine allies in the world, a beacon of democracy in a sea of despotism and a country of shared values with America. As a Jew, I have a sacred duty to ensure a safe and secure Israel for generations to come.
Please join me in a demonstration of support for AIPAC’s work to strengthen the US-Israel relationship at the annual AIPAC Bergen & Rockland Summer Dinner. Two tickets are included with an AIPAC membership. For more information and to join AIPAC and make your reservation, you can reach out to AIPAC Associate Director Ayelet Kahane at [email protected] or at 212-750-4110.
By Leonard Grunstein
