For the past several weeks The Jerusalem Connection has been very busy participating in all it can to help support the Jewish people both domestically and in Israel.
I attended, on behalf of The Jerusalem Connection, several important meetings and events.
On Jan 17, in an event at a Maryland synagogue noted over 100 days since the hostages were stolen from their homes. Eighteen family members of the 129 remaining hostages came to share their stories. Three mothers of young women shared their current heartache and held pictures of their daughters’. One woman shared her sister’s story, also being held captive sharing l the story of their last communication before being dragged and abused on her way to captivity in Gaza. A mother of an IDF soldier who was murdered at the hospital in Gaza during the early days of the IDF’s ground operations. This mother, through tears and choking back heaves of sorrow wanted us all to know that her daughter was not only selflessly defending her nation and civilians in Israel, but she was also defending life and all that is good. This young girl was only in her mid-twenties. A NOVA Festival survivor shared her personal, harrowing experience where her uncle and her friends were murdered right beside her.
In addition, two Zaka members also shared experiences in the early hours of Oct. 7 and the days to follow—Zaka is a volunteer organization of professionals who meticulously gather even the most minute remains of those lost in unnatural death so that the person can have a burial and be mourned properly. While these trained professionals have been doing this since 1995 in the wake of accidents, disasters, and terror attacks, Oct. 7 left the Zaka members traumatized to the point that health problems even death have been a result.
Maryland Senator Benjamin Carden and Israeli Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Eliav Benjamin also offered remarks.
The very next day, on Jan January 18, 2024, I attended an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event organized by the Friedlander group on Capitol Hill. This event on the House side and was to share the initiative of a bill to commemorate the 60 diplomats who, at great personal risk, saved thousands of Jews during the holocaust—often defying orders, risking the lives of not just themselves but also their family members, and most lost their careers as a result. Thousands of diplomats were in their commissions during the late 1930s and into the 1940s, and only 60 looked past the rhetoric and bureaucracy to do the right thing instead of the politically correct thing.
Nearly 15 ambassadors from these nations whose members acted courageously offered remarks to tell the story of what their countrymen and women did to help save Jews. Several hours of representatives also shared their commitment to holocaust education and the current commitment to combat antisemitism in the US—specifically within our educational institutes—and to continue to support Israel. The moderator, Harley Lippman skillfully segued between speakers offering little-known facts and data about the 1930s and 40s and connected those data points to what we see in the world today leading up to Oct. 7 and since.
Mr. Lippman so eloquently noted that history does not repeat itself, people do.
On Jan 23 the Friedlander Group hosted the same event on the Senate side of the Hill. Tim Kaine, Tim Scott, and others offered bi-partisan support and commitment to holocaust education as well as continued support for Israel.
On January 30 I will be at the Israeli Embassy in DC. Responding to an invitation given to strategic leaders, educators, and writers –Jewish and Christian—I will see the raw footage of Oct. 7 that the IDF collected from terrorists’ phones and cameras. This is the footage the Israeli government has been sharing with journalists and lawmakers internationally. This will be a very difficult thing for me to digest, so your prayers are welcome to help my mind and spirit process it.
When this report is published on January 31, I will be at Capitol Hill for Israel Advocacy Day—a coalition of Jewish Rabbis and Christian Pastors and leaders who will advocate for Israel –including appointments with several House Representatives and Senators. We will be briefed and debriefed by policy experts, a member of the Knesset, and a member of the Israeli Embassy in DC. We will be addressing issues such as continued unwavering support for Israel during this time where they must defend themselves and reclaim security. To continue to press Qatar and other players for the release of hostages, combatting antisemitism in the US, and defund the UN/UNRWA since it is now confirmed UN employees were actively part of the Oct. 7 attacks as well as aiding in the hostage-taking and captivity. We have over 20 meetings with lawmakers booked—each meeting will include a group of 6-8 leaders—Christians and Jews (and at least one constituent).
Please be active in contacting your elected leaders, your alma mater, and schools in your state. Please seek ways to support your local Jewish community. If events are occurring in your area with Israeli victims or experts visiting churches, schools, or synagogues—try to attend—many often offer streaming if you cannot get to the venue. Contact your church or local high school to see if they can host a speaker—contact our office (phone: 703-707-0014 or email info@tjci.org) and we will connect your resources to connect you to schedule a speaker to visit in your community.
You can search the internet and social media for the IAC, your local JCC, JCRC, and local synagogues in your area and follow them for information about events on their calendars.
Please consider going to our website www.thejerusalemconnection.com and check our Projects tab and find ways you can contribute to our work. Also follow and share our content you YouTube, Facebook, X(Twitter), and LinkedIn—simply search Jerusalem Connection in the platform’s search bar.
I will be providing you all with a follow-up of the Jan 30 and 31 days in DC soon—so stay tuned!
Am Israel Chai,
Shavua Tov