On May 20, more than 700 citizen activists took off work and spent a full day in our nation’s capital, because they know that participating in the annual NORPAC mission to Washington, D.C. can give you powerful personal encounters with a few of our nation’s more consequential leaders.

Sheila Wiener of Woodmere commented: “Our day in Washington with NORPAC was nothing short of inspiring. We had the privilege of meeting with Representative Dan Crenshaw’s chief of staff, Representative August Pfluger, Representative Nick LaLota, and Meredith Beresford, legal analyst for Representative Mike Turner—each of them a true friend to Israel. Their unwavering support meant so much to us.

“As I walk through the halls and see the support from congressmen and congresswomen who have posted hostage posters by their offices, and hear people shout ‘Am Israel Chai!’ as they pass and notice our NORPAC badges, I feel a deep sense of unity. We are so lucky to have such unbelievable friends in Congress.”

NORPAC members from towns all across the New Jersey/New York metro area, and some from areas beyond the region, traveled on 18 buses to D.C. and arrived to receive box lunches and attend a plenary session with two prominent supporters of Israel in the United States Senate.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman from Pennsylvania received two standing ovations from the crowd and much applause for his remarks. He was asked by the NORPAC moderator, “Why are you such a strong supporter of Israel?” And he responded, “It’s history; it’s the facts.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz from Texas also received an enthusiastic response from the assembled activists. He began his remarks by stating simply: “Before I start, I want to thank NORPAC. You guys matter.”

For the bulk of the afternoon, mission participants were dispatched in small groups to Senate and congressional offices, to hold meetings with elected officials from all over the country and/or their senior aides. NORPAC leaders arranged 350 such meetings, giving the participants an opportunity to make contact with and make an impact on a large share of the decision-makers on Capitol Hill.

The small groups were all charged with conveying NORPAC’s position on five core issues currently facing the House and Senate:

• Thanking the senator or representative for their support of annual security assistance to Israel and asking for their continued support and to reject any efforts to condition that aid.
• Asking them to cosponsor the U.S.-Israel Partnership Act of 2025 (S. 554/HR 129), which would authorize $150 million a year through 2030 to establish a U.S.-Israel cooperative program to enhance mutual security.
• Asking them to co-sponsor the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 (S. 556/HR 1422), which will choke off Iran’s ability to get and transfer money from oil sales to finance terrorism.
• Asking them to urge the administration to make sure that any potential nuclear agreement with Iran eliminates the country’s ability to enrich uranium and that sanctions relief not be spent on funding terrorist groups.
• Asking them to help fight the dramatic rise of antisemitism on college campuses by co-sponsoring the Antisemitism Awareness Act (S. 558/HR 1007) and to co-sponsor and vote for the Deterrent Act (S. TBD/HR 1048) that compels colleges to provide more transparency about funding received from “foreign countries of concern.”

Reactions from a few mission participants indicate that the small group meetings, and broader experience of the day, were quite impactful.

Aliza Kornblum of Highland Park, who will start attending the University of Florida in the fall, stated: “Today with NORPAC, I had the opportunity to speak with members of Congress about the rise in antisemitism on college campuses—an issue that’s deeply personal to me. Sharing my story and collaborating with lawmakers to push for change was both impactful and energizing, a reminder of the power of civic action in the face of hatred.”

Rabbi Noah Whittenburg, assistant rabbi of Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland Park, a first-time mission participant, said: “I was very proud to take part in this unique opportunity. A special highlight for me was getting to meet with my home state senator, Susan Collins, and thank her for her continued support of Israel.”

Michael Kaplan of Edison commented: “The high point of today’s mission? Right now, on the bus back, sharing a sense of accomplishment with our community members who advocated for the welfare of Jews here and in Israel, and actualized the Mishna that according to the effort is the reward.”

Rivka Sonts of Edison remarked: “This is my third consecutive year attending the NORPAC mission and every year it reaffirms why we show up. We take a day off to defend truth, to stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel, and to make sure America’s strongest ally in the Middle East has a powerful voice in Congress. Hearing from Senator Ted Cruz, one of Israel’s most courageous and consistent champions, was a reminder of what real leadership looks like.”

Tom Goldstein of Edison participated in the mission with daughter Shaindy Fried, granddaughter Ariella Wallerstein and grandson Yitzchok Galler. “We had great meetings and I believe we made positive impacts on a number of congressmen,” Goldstein said. “What was interesting was their reaction to my daughter’s presentation on antisemitism as she pointed to my two grandchildren at the meeting. A congressman from California … said that his children also complained that in schools they are teaching opinions and not historical facts. This bias leads to antisemitic incidents in many California schools.”

Barry Levinson of Highland Park and his small group had an unanticipated “brush with greatness” as they walked to Capitol Hill. (See accompanying photo.) He told The Jewish Link: “Unexpectedly encountering the colorful Senator John Fetterman on the street right after his fireside chat at NORPAC was a stimulating start to our meetings with congressional staff.”

Deborah Soffen, MD, of Princeton, shared with The Jewish Link: “As the women’s and children’s advocate for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, most of the meetings I attend are at the United Nations, where Israel is rarely viewed fairly. It gives me hope when I come to D.C. with NORPAC and meet with representatives, both Democrat and Republican, who understand the threats Israel faces, the critical need for strong support from the U.S. Congress especially in times like these, and the unprecedented rise in antisemitism that requires congressional action. I am grateful that we live in a democratic country where we have the opportunity to meet with our representatives and bring issues of importance to their attention.”

Harry Glazer is the Middlesex County editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes reader feedback.