Well over a thousand delegates from across the Jewish firmament came to Oxon, MD outside Washington, DC, for the annual General Assembly (the GA) of the Jewish Federations of North America. The conference, themed “The World Is Our Backyard”, brought together American Jews of multiple denominations and interests, Israelis, and representatives of Jews in communities around the world. Participants represented several generations, introducing emerging and honoring established leaders of the North American community.

The keynote speaker of the Monday morning Plenary, Vice President Joseph Biden, expressed the administration’s strong and absolute support for the Jewish State of Israel. Nessie Goldin survived four years in the ghetto, labor camps, and on a death march. As she introduced Vice President Biden she expressed her appreciation for being alive and to Biden for the help he has provided to survivors. Biden presented a strong, supportive speech for the State of Israel to an audience supportive of many of his positions.

“It feels like coming home,” declared the Vice President. “Why should there be any question about the State of Israel?” He recalled his father as a “righteous Christian,” noting that he had learned of the Holocaust at his family’s dinner table. “Unless we remember, it would happen again… “it is” really important to bear witness.”

Biden spoke with pride about his response to meeting the needs of Holocaust survivors and his influence on the appointment of a special envoy tasked with finding ways to provide needed services. Turning towards the future, he declared “were there not an Israel, the United States would have to invent one.” The Vice President called Israel “a security necessity. The security of Israel and the United States are inexplicably tied. We will never abandon Israel – out of our own interest,” he assured. There is “an ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, her right to defend herself–just as we (the US) would.” He noted that some $17 billon had been provided to Israel in military aid within the past five years.

“There is no friend of Israel like the USA and the USA has no friend like Israel.” “The US and Israel have an especially deep security partnership. Like all close friends, we talk honestly, disagree, love one another, and drive one another crazy. That’s what friends do. We are straight with one another.

“We have heard so much ‘malarkey’ on Iran. In no uncertain terms,” Biden stated. “We will not let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon. Period. Period. Period.”

“We are committed, in good faith, to get an agreement that will verifiably block Iran from all pathways to a bomb.” The world coalition cooperating to make sanctions against Iran are consequential, meaningful, and causing a heavy price for Iran to pay…I can guarantee we will not sign a bad deal, we will not… Iran has to make a choice. Will it siege the opportunity to prove its program is for peaceful purpose?”

Turning to the Israeli–Palestinian situation, Biden stated “the future of Israel as a Jewish State, a secure Jewish democratic state depends on reaching a two state solution. A secure Jewish State and a homeland for the Jewish people world-wide.”

“I am a Zionist. Israel is the center for the security of Jews worldwide,” Biden expressed strong support for the integrity of Israel. “I am convinced that the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians believe peace is desirable and possible.”

Politics–and a common enemy without–make unexpected “bedfellows,” the Vice President suggested. Israel and nearly all its Arab neighbors, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates find themselves in a fight against ISIS and Iran. There is much in common. Shame on us if we are not as nimble in taking advantage of common concerns about the same threat.”

The Vice President analyzed an “historic conversion of basic interests that creates a chance for a closer relationship.” A basic condition for the opportunity to be realized, he cautioned, is that Israel and Palestine “make progress towards peace. The last thing we need is the failure to reach a two-state solution or another intifada on the ground…All sides need to demonstrate restraint…It is too easy to ignite uncontrollable violence.”

These remarks were poignant when juxtaposed against the terrorists attacks that took the lives of two young Israelis at virtually the same time the Vice President issued his call for restraint.

“One more threat worries me more than anything else: the efforts to delegitimize Israel as a Jewish state. All over the world, attempts to demonize and defame Israel using the anti-Israel tool of BDS–Boycott, Divest and Sanction–have crossed the line from legitimate debate to outright antisemitism. “The President and I stand with you. Israel’s legitimacy is not a matter of debate. It is not negotiable. Preservation of an independent Jewish State is the only guarantee to the freedom of Jews world – wide.”

Closing his remarks with a personal–and iconic–story, Biden recalled when, as a 32-year-old first term senator, he met with Golda Meir. The Israeli Prime Minister proceeded to reveal Israel’s “secret weapon.”

“Our secret weapon,” she told him, “is we have nowhere else to go.”

Almost a half century later, the Vice President of America promised “to make sure there is never an existential choice. Our obligation is to make sure there’s always a place to go.”

The large cadre of young people attending was a visual reminder of the Federation’s recognition that commitment to developing an educated cohort of future leaders is essential to the community’s well-being. Leadership development, both professional and volunteer, and inclusion of Jews of every orientation, were key themes.

The opening Plenary explored the state of the Jewish community from multiple perspectives. Former British Chief Rabbi Jonathon Sachs, Supreme Court Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan, and community leaders whose work effects aspects of Jewish life at multiple points commented on the health of the community. Journalists Andrea Mitchell, NBC’s Chief foreign Affairs Correspondent, Meet The Press host Chuck Todd, and NPR’s Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg considered the political changes that could result from the mid-term elections.

by Maxine Dovere