Editor's Letter
A Bond Worth Sustaining
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n Nov. 29, 1947, President Harry Truman boldly told
world leaders at the United Nations that America sup-
ports creation of a modern Jewish state in Palestine.
It was "a resounding and unapologetic proclamation that
was heard around the globe American Israel Public Affairs
Committee President Lee Rosenberg said last week on behalf
of the American Jewish community at
a Washington event hosted by Michael
Oren, Israel's ambassador to the U.S.
The event celebrated Israel's 62nd
year of independence (5 Iyar), certain-
ly an incredible milestone given the
embattled nature of the Middle East.
"I had faith in Israel before it was
created:' Truman told the U.N. "I
believe it has a glorious future before it
— not just another sovereign nation,
but as an embodiment of the great
ideals of our civilization:'
By U.S. standards, Israel is the only true representative
democracy in the region and unquestionably our closest and
most enduring and advantageous ally there. It's a strategic
partner in the pursuit to slow Iran's nuclear arms hopes.
The bond resonates despite the current unsettling standoff
between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
American President Barack Obama.
The U.N. General Assembly voted to partition the British
Mandate of Palestine and carve out a Jewish state in the wake
of the Holocaust. On May 14, 1948, the
people of Israel declared the creation
of the sovereign and independent
State of Israel; the U.S. government
extended full diplomatic relations
to the fledgling Jewish state. At long
last, Theodor Herzl's Zionist dream,
conceived at the First Zionist Congress
in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland, was
fulfilled.
Establishing Roots
At the outset, Israel sought to extend olive branches to Arabs
within the new state, giving them full and equal citizen-
ship and representation, and to neighboring states and their
peoples in the search for a better Middle East. Israelis sought
diaspora Jews "to rally around the immigration and develop-
ment and to stand by them in the great struggle for the fulfill-
ment of the age-old dream — the redemption of Israel."
The struggle still rages.
There's a reason we solemnly observed Yom HaZikaron,
Israel's Memorial Day, on Sunday night, then turned imme-
diately to Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, on
Monday night: It was to affirm the strong, unshakable bridge
between the heroes who gave their lives in defense of our
beloved ancestral homeland and Israelis today who yearn to
live fruitfully despite the risk of living in a region often hostile
to Zionism and Jews.
The modern state is now 7.4 million residents strong, 75
percent of whom are Jews. It's rooted in the historic king-
dom of Israel that emerged in Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel)
more than 3,200 years ago with Jerusalem as its eternal
capital; Jews have lived here continuously since Joshua's con-
quest of the land.
Wonderful Growth
Buoyed by its inspiring heritage, Israel has stirred a thriving
economic, political, cultural and intellectual life despite war,
terror and boycotts.
Israel is home to major universities, an advanced high-tech
industry and significant research and development in the field
of renewable energy. Innovation and know-how are bywords.
Israel has produced nine Nobel Prize winners. It provides
humanitarian aid, search-and-rescue teams, mobile hospitals
and other emergency hospitals to help victims of disaster the
world over. It has absorbed millions of Jews from countries
around the world.
We celebrate the historic miracle of the Jewish people's
survival and the modern miracle of Israel's democratic prin-
ciples and practices despite unremitting attempts by Arab and
Muslim terrorists to destroy the Jewish nature of the state and
claim the land for themselves.
Israel's quest for peace with her neighbors is so ingrained
that it crosses political, ethnic and religious lines. But Israelis
and Jews should never take the Israeli government for grant-
ed. Corruption unfortunately is no stranger to Israeli politics.
On the battlefront, Israeli overzealousness has been uncov-
ered, but is very unusual and is quickly addressed.
Rich Rewards
The benefit of the U.S.-Israel alliance indeed is incalcu-
lable. At the U.N., a house of horrors, no nation has stood
with us more consistently than Israel. After 9-11, as both
nations sought traction in the war on
terror and Islamism, Israel unflinch-
ingly stood up to be the outpost of
American interests in an anti-Israel/
anti-West danger zone. Israel shares
with us its fighting expertise, protec-
tive armor and intelligence.
Israel's amazing string of successes,
where defeat at any turn could have
doomed this fragile crucible of liberty,
must not overshadow the unfulfilled
dreams of peace and hope sung about
in Hatikvah, as AIPAC's Lee Rosenberg stressed.
Rosenberg, a Chicago native, aptly caught the spirit of
Yom HaAtzmaut: "We will work tirelessly to ensure that
the bonds, eternally forged by President Truman 62 years
ago, will be strengthened so that when we meet again to
celebrate Israel's 63rd year of independence, we can say the
United States and Israel remain standing, as always, stead-
fast — together."
I pray the profound political gaps between these two
nations with most of the world's Jews somehow are closed
before they become irreparably damaging to any new
Israeli-Palestinian peace plan.
President Obama holds the next move in a high-stakes
duel that will sharply influence Israel's fate. ❑
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Is Israel's dream of a peace
1tn 'XI that lingers achievable?
Z Z: Can President Obama kindle
0 ° a true peace process?
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A
I
ELAST
FIFTH THIRD BANK
We went from slamming
doors to opening doors.
JARC's Respite Program
has allowed us to start
living life again.
Before Respite,
ordinary outings would
be out of the question.
Now they are everyday
occurrences. Jayden's
laughter and smiles tell
the whole story.
Lisa, Jayden's Mother
SpringElation is the major source of
funding forjARC's Merle and Shirley
Harris Children and Family Division,
which serves more than 450 families
with children with any disability,
including those with developmental
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May 27, 2010
6 - 9 PM
A Private ARC Evening At The Detroit Zoo!
AU Inclusive Tickets $25 Each
Age 2 and Under Free! —
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ONLINE!
www.jarc.org
For Sponsorship and Additional Information:
Carol Kaczander 248.538.6610 x 343 or
carotkaczander@jarc.org
ar
Enriching Lives.
Erasing Barriers.
April 22 • 2010
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