Rabbi's Message

It was my honor to be invited to join Congressman Donald Norcross for President Isaac Herzog's historic address to a joint session of Congress. Congressman Norcross is a strong supporter of Israel and a true friend to our Jewish community. I am very grateful for the very meaningful experience we shared and for his very graciously hosting me in his office for a discussion following President Herzog's speech.

More about President Herzog’s address, in a moment.  First, Torah.

This past Shabbat we read the first Parashah of the Book of Deuteronomy—in Hebrew, D’varim,“words:”  “these are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel.”  Moses has gathered the generation that is about to enter the Promised Land, and he begins his address to them with the history of the previous generation. Something strange happens as he recounts the events of the years in the wilderness, events the current generation did not experience. Instead of referring to the past generation as “they” or “them,” he says “you.” 

Commentaries abound. Some suggest that it is merely a function of age. Moses is 120 years old, and he simply loses focus and forgets whom he is addressing. Others, however, claim this is deliberate. Midrash Tanhuma famously holds that Moses was addressing all generations-- “all Israel,” past, present and future.  (Tanhuma on Deuteronomy 29:13-14)  Bible Scholar, W. Gunther Plaut explains it this way: “Even as the text changes frequently from plural to singular and back again—thus reflecting the close relation between individual and collective responsibility - so it views Israels’ past and present as a continuum.”  In Jewish history, past and present are one; we are a people not bounded by time…and that continues on into the future.

President Herzog’s address was a thrilling historic moment that brought together past, present, and future. Everybody felt it. As he entered the room and approached the Speaker’s Podium, he received a standing ovation that went on and on.  Congressmen, Senators, Speaker McCarthy, Vice President Harris, and all of the guests all stood and applauded. (I didn’t think President Herzog would ever get a chance to speak. My hands were exhausted from clapping.) Eventually, he began his address:

Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, on November 10th, 1987, I was sitting at home with my wife, Michal, expecting our first child. We were watching the first Israeli President invited to address a Joint Session of Congress, in honor of the State of Israel’s 40th year of independence. That president was my father. Standing here today, representing the Jewish, democratic State of Israel in its 75th year, at the very podium from which my late father, President Chaim Herzog spoke, is the honor of a lifetime. (Standing Ovation)

Clearly, this was a moment when, for President Herzog, personally, past and present were one.  But he was also feeling the past, present, and future of the Jewish people. He went on to note that he was addressing Congress on the first day of the Hebrew month of Av, a month in which, on Tisha B’Av, Jews mourn the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the end of Jewish autonomy for 2000 years. During that time, the Jewish people never lost their connection to our ancient homeland, never stopped praying and working for return and restoration.  Now, here he was “representing the Jewish, democratic State of Israel in its 75^th year.” (Another standing ovation, there would be 26 of them.)

Of course, President Herzog spoke of the threats to Israel from Iran, terrorism, and attempts to delegitimize its very existence. He promised his personal efforts to lead Israel in the continuing quest for peace with the Palestinian People. However, it was particularly notable that that President Herzog emphasized the “Jewish, democratic State of Israel.” He acknowledged that democratic values constitute the bedrock of the relationship between the United States and Israel, and that those values are under stress in both countries. He expressed his firm conviction that democracy will hold, and he pledged his continuing commitment to work toward a resolution of the conflicts that challenge democracy in Israel. Hope for the future. 

Past, present and future—that is what I felt as President Herzog concluded with remarks that brought a final standing ovation: “Thank you, members of both houses, for celebrating Israel’s independence. Am Yisrael Chai (The people of Israel lives.) God Bless the State of Israel! God Bless the United States of America!” I will be forever thankful to Congressman Norcross for inviting me to join him.

All of this was with me-- as were pictures of hundreds of thousands of Israelis demonstrating for democracy--when we read D’varim, this past Shabbat. That Shabbat  is also known as Shabbat Hazon (The Shabbat of Vision), because the Haftrarah presents a vision of the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah foresees the events marked on Tisha B’Av, but his vision extends beyond, into the future: “Tzion B’Mishpat TiPadeh" - Zion shall be redeemed through justice, and those who have returned through righteousness.

As we come  together to mark Tisha B’Av, beginning this Wednesday evening (one week after an historic address to Congress), let’s pray that the words and vision of Moses, the Prophet Isaiah and President Isaac Herzog be fulfilled. May our history and our heritage bring us together - past, present, and future.