Being there for history

By MICHAEL Z. CAHANA

article created on: 2011-06-01T00:00:00

Joint meetings of the United States Congress are rare events. While joint sessions are usually called to hear presidential addresses, “joint meetings” are held to hear from U.S. officials or foreign dignitaries. Since the year 2000, there have been only 21 of these joint meetings.

I attended the 22nd.

On May 24, I found myself in the visitor’s gallery overlooking the U.S. House of Representatives.

With great dignity, formality and rousing ovations from all representatives, senators, administration officials and others were welcomed into the chamber. After several House and Senate members were excused to form an honor guard, the chamber and observers rose to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there to deliver an address to both houses of Congress.

While I have strong differences with some of Netanyahu’s policies—and disappointment with some aspects of his speech, I was incredibly moved by the experience.

It was a historic moment.

I had not planned to be in the Washington that day. Although I have long been a supporter of AIPAC and have often lobbied Congress on issues related to Israel, I had never been to the AIPAC National Policy Conference. My schedule was always too busy.

But this week, as I watched protesters massing at Israel’s borders on what Palestinians call “Nakba Day” or “Day of Catastrophe,” which marks Israel’s independence, as I listened to President Obama’s recent Middle East speech at the State Department, and knowing that the president and the prime minister would be joining dozens of our top leaders in addressing the conference, I felt compelled to rush to Washington and hear their words directly.

It is not enough to critique, support or opine from a distance. You have to be there.

I was not disappointed.

The AIPAC Policy Conference attracted more than 10,000 people representing diverse cultural and religious heritages and who support the Israel-American relationship.

We heard from people on both sides of the aisle and multiple perspectives on the pathways to peace. With each member of our congressional delegation we discussed the need to continue financial assistance to Israel—more than 75 percent of which, incidentally, is required to be spent in the United States, the need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and the deepening of the historical partnership between the United States and Israel.

Sitting at dinner in a room with 10,000 people and listening to moving and engaging speeches from major voices in our political world is an experience that cannot be replicated or even described. It has to be experienced.

It was also very meaningful for me to attend a lunch with several hundred rabbis and hear Leon Wieseltier, the literary editor of The New Republic, give a concise and compelling history of the Jewish people’s auto-emancipation.

I also attended a session headlined by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) on the progressive’s case for Israel. Everyone I spoke with or heard from, including the prime minister, supports a negotiated peace with the Palestinians based on two states for two peoples.

Separate from the conference, I was invited to be a guest at the joint meeting of Congress. I cannot help but be moved at the overwhelming welcome and support Congress gives to the leader of the state of Israel. It made me proud to be an American and proud to be a Jew.

I am already registered for next year’s AIPAC Policy Conference.

Michael Z. Cahana is senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Portland.