C

ongregation Shaarey Zedek’s 
annual Leypsa and Rabbi Irwin 
Groner Memorial Lecture takes 
place Thursday, March 7. 
In as critical of a time as ever, this year’s 
event will feature Israel’s former ambas-
sador to the United States, Michael Oren, 
who has devoted his life to serving Israel 
and the Jewish people around the world. 
The American-born Oren moved to 
Israel in the 1970s where he joined the 
IDF and served in the 1982 Lebanon 
War. He later became an adviser to Abba 
Eban and Yitzhak Rabin and, in 2009, 
was appointed Israel’s ambassador to the 
United States. Upon his return to Israel, 
he was elected to the Knesset and served 
as deputy minister in the prime minister’s 
office in charge of diplomacy.
He is the recipient of the Statesman 
of the Year Medal from the Washington 
Institute for Near East Policy, was named 
by Politico as one of the 50 most influen-
tial thinkers in America, by the Forward 
as one of the five most influential Jews in 
America, and by the Jerusalem Post as one 
of the 10 most influential Jews worldwide. 

He has authored numerous books, several 
of which cover Israeli history and wars, 
and can be regularly seen on CNN and 
CBS.
During the event, Oren will give his 
perspective about Israel in the wake of 
Oct. 7 and the ongoing war. The evening 
will offer in-depth, multi-faceted insights 
into what Israel is facing today. 
“What’s happening internally, politically, 
what’s happening in terms of our interna-
tional relations,” Oren summarizes, “and, 
particularly, our relationship with the 
United States and the role of the American 
Jewish communities.”
Since Oct. 7, Oren has physically been 
to at least 25 different cities in the United 
States to speak. On Zoom, it’s even more. 
Oren has already spoken in Detroit at 
least once since Oct. 7, and has been com-
ing to Detroit for over 20 years. 
“It’s a Jewish community that punches 
well above its weight in terms of Israel 
activism and Jewish giving,” Oren said. 
“It’s a great Jewish community.” 
At these events, there are many frequent 
questions Oren typically receives, such 

as: Can Israel win the war? What can we 
do about the hostage crisis? What can 
American Jews do in light of the political 
situation? How do we fight antisemitism? 
How can Israel better explain its position 
to the world?
Oren says people are being exposed to 
a “tremendous amount of disinformation 
in the mainstream American press,” and 
hopes this event gives them a different 
perspective and insight they would not 
have otherwise, as he is someone coming 
from Israel, who has been involved in 
diplomacy, government and the army. 
Oren hopes to inform and educate those 
in attendance — but also hopes they take 
away something even more meaningful.
“That we are a people, and we are 
responsible for one another’s destiny, 
whether in Israel or in the United States 
or elsewhere in the world, and that it’s 
important we maintain unity,” he said.
The 7:30 p.m. lecture will be followed 
by an informal dessert reception. 
Admission is free and open to the 
community. Register at https://bit.
ly/3STYwZH. 

He’ll give his perspective about Israel 
in the wake of Oct. 7 and the ongoing war.

Shaarey Zedek to 
Host Ambassador 
Michael Oren

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

OUR COMMUNITY

18 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 J
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