Tag: middle-east

The Center for Israel Education inspires and teaches

Posted on by Keith Dvorchik

Approximately 20 years ago at an AIPAC Policy Conference, I attended one of the breakout sessions to learn a bit more about a detailed topic.  The presenter, Professor Ken Stein from Emory University, blew my mind with details and facts that I didn’t know.  I sat there taking notes with tons of questions forming in my mind.  There were so many of them, I had to write those down as well.  After the session, I went up to talk with him and ask some of those questions.  It was an inauspicious start of a friendship and professional relationship that lasts until today.

My friend Professor Ken Stein

I made it a point to always attend Ken’s sessions at AIPAC.  I was amazing that he was the only speaker on Israel that I found nobody had a problem with.  They may ask tough questions, but Ken wasn’t trying to do Hasbara (trying to convince somebody you are correct) but rather shared the facts and allowed you to determine your own beliefs.  As a result of this, I brought Ken to Seattle and then to Orlando to teach about the history of Israel. 

In 2008, Ken created the Center for Israel Education (CIE), a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about modern State of Israel.  Using source documents, CIE provides context to a challenging topic.  A number of years ago, I was honored when Ken asked me to join the board of directors and I have been a member ever since. 

Each week, CIE provides information that is both timely and interesting.  Sometimes it is related to, “This week in Israeli history” while other times it relates to what’s happening in the world.   I find it interesting and learn a lot about people and policies that I didn’t know.  This week’s information was particularly interesting for two reasons.

The first reason relates to ‘This week in Israeli history’.  On Feb. 14, 1896, Vienna journalist Theodor Herzl published 500 copies of a pamphlet entitled “Der Judenstaat” (“The Jewish State”), declaring the need and justice of Jewish sovereignty 18 months before he convened the First Zionist Congress.  I’ve been to Israel 20 times and been to Herzl’s grave at least 20 times.  It’s a powerful place to visit as he was the person who had the vision of a Jewish state.   Whenever I am there, I find myself humbled by his vision and always remember his famous quote, “If you will it, it is no dream.”   That quote has inspired me throughout my career.

Theodore Herzl – the founder of Zionism

Interestingly enough, Herzl’s idea wasn’t limited to the middle east or to the historic greater Israel.  He merely wanted the Jewish people to have their own land where they were in charge and had self-determination.  He wrote about It wasn’t until the First Zionist Congress held in Basel, Switzerland with 200 delegates from across the Jewish world, that the goal to establish a Jewish State in the Land of Israel were explicitly adopted by the new Zionist movement.

Theodore Herzl at the First Zionist Congress in Basel on August 25, 1897

Herzl, as a secular Jew and journalist, was inspired by the Dryfuss Affair to find a way to keep Jews safe.  It was his vision to have a Jewish State, a homeland, where Jews would be in charge and Jews would be safe.  Where Jews would have the power of self-determination.  He didn’t care where it was, only that it existed.   It was at the First Zionist Congress that non-secular Jews, who understood the tie to the biblical land, ensured that the land would need to be in our historic homeland, not just anywhere.

The Dryfuss Affair on the cover of The New Yorker

Captain Alfred Dryfuss, wrongly convicted because he was a Jew.

It ties to the famous Chaim Weizmann quote.  When a member of the House of Lords asked him, “Why do you Jews insist on Palestine when there are so many undeveloped countries you could settle in more conveniently?”

Weizmann answered: “That is like my asking you why you drove twenty miles to visit your mother last Sunday when there are so many old ladies living on your street?”

Wiezmann said, ‘Mr. Balfour, if you were offered Paris instead of London, would you take it?’ … He looked surprised. He said: ‘But London is our own!’ Weizmann said, ‘Jerusalem was our own when London was a marsh.’ He said, ‘That’s true.'”

Dr. Chaim Weizmann, one of the great founders of the State of Israel

Having been to Israel 20 times in my life, there is something special not just because it is a Jewish state and the only place that I am in the majority.  Being in Jerusalem and standing at the Kotel is a direct connection to King Solomon.  It’s a direct connection to the ‘holy of holies.’  To 5,000+ years of Jewish history.  

Being at the Kotel is always such a special feeling

Going to Hebron and visiting the graves of Abraham, Jacob, Sarah, and Leah is a special feeling. (Isaac and Rebeca are also buried there but they are on the Palestinian side so Jews can only go there 10 days a year).  I’ll never forget sitting between the graves of Abraham and Sarah as my friend Harry Rothenberg led us in a discussion focused on the text where Sarah was told by God that she would get pregnant when she was 90 years old, and she laughed.  We explored not just the story but the love story of Abraham and Sarah.  It was incredibly powerful to do this between their graves. It’s something I will never forget.

We also learned that one of times when all of the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs is open to Jews, Christians and non-muslims is during the Shabbat of Chayei Sarah. This is when Sarah dies and is buried in Hebron. There are 40,000-50,000 people who come to spend Shabbat outside the Tomb. They bring in catered meals, tents, and it’s a huge party. Watching the videos of the celebration put this on my bucket list.

In Hebron, the oldest complete building still used for it’s original purpose in the world. Inside are the caves (graves) of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs.

Below is the cave with the grave of Abraham, the patriarch.

Across from the cave of Abraham is the cave of Sarah our matriarch, where Abraham buried her himself.

The grave of Jacob, our patriarch. He wrestled with the angel and got the name Israel. It’s unbelievable to be at his grave.

The grave of Leah, our matriarch. Rachel was buried on the road (her grave is in what is now Bethlehem) while Isaac and Rebecca are on the side controlled by the Palestinians and are only accessible 10 days a year to Jews.

I’ve been the Tomb of Joseph, not too far from Nablus.  There is something unique and special being there, knowing his story and how integral he was to the Jewish people.  It’s hard to explain the feeling of connection, of thousands of years of history, and of peoplehood that occurred for me there. 

The tomb of Joseph in Nablus. When I was there it was packed with Jews praying over his grave.

Being in the Jordan River is another unique experience.  This is where our people crossed over to enter the land of Canaan after leaving Egypt.  The history and connection is amazing.  It was smaller than I expected and reminded me of the Ichetucknee River outside of Gainesville, Florida, that I used to go tubing down in the summer.  I had imagined this powerful river that was both wide and deep.  It’s the same river my ancestors crossed thousands of years ago as they entered ‘the land of milk and honey’ for the first time.

Rafting down the Jordan River is always fun – on one trip we went with a group of Muslim women who were fully clothed while we were in bathing suits. They started a splash fight with us and we had so much fun with them. 

As you drive through Israel you see the field where David slew Goliath.  In Tzfat you see the fields where Lecha Dodi was inspired, the mikvah of the Ari, various ancient synagogues.  In Akko the excavated buildings from the crusades exist.  You can see the Dead Sea Scrolls.  It’s a land filled with rich Jewish history everywhere that you turn.  That’s what Herzl didn’t understand but was smart enough to listen the First Zionist Congress.  It’s why the modern State of Israel is home to all of us.  It’s not just a country of Jewish self-determination.  It is our historic homeland, our past, present, and future.  It is tied to our souls as anybody who has visited there, Jewish or not, will attest.  I’m grateful that Herzl listened to the delegates at the First Zionist Conference and wouldn’t accept just anywhere.  Israel is my mother that I travel 6,500 miles to visit and it’s worth it every time. 

Looking out on the fields in Tzfat. This is what inspired L’cha Dodi and where they would walk out to meet the Shabbat Bride each Friday night.

Looking down at the Mikvah of the Ari from the 1500s. It’s inside the building. He used in the 1500s and I used in in 2021 and 2022. That’s the power of Israel for Jews.

The actual Mikvah itself. The Ari used it in the 1500s, stepping into the same pool (not the same water) as I did in 2021 and 2022.

The second piece of information that I found fascinating goes back to 1993.  During the Knesset debate over the Oslo Accords in September 1993, then Foreign Minister Shimon Peres warned that “There are in Gaza this year between 750,000 and 800,000 inhabitants. Within 20 years, there will be almost 2 million residents in the Gaza Strip. The population density leads to violence, the poverty leads to terrorism.” If you read his full remarks, it is fascinating to apply them to today. 

I met Shimon Peres more than 20 years (and 70 pounds!) ago. A truly special man and leader.

As Israel continues to respond to the horror of October 7th, there are more than 2 million people in Gaza.  Life there has led to violence and terrorism.  Hamas, UNWRA, and the UN have contributed to these problems.  At a JNF lunch event today, Ambassador Michael Oren told us that Israel is figuring out how many of the terrorists on October 7th were taught at an UNWRA school.  I’m afraid to see how high that number will be.  UNWRA ignored or allowed the strategic headquarters of Hamas to be built in tunnels under the UNWRA headquarters.  The textbooks are filled with antisemitism.  Even children’s programming is targeted to hate and kill Jews.  The Hamas version of Sesame Street, Tomorrow’s Pioneers, is focused on murdering Jews.  This clip blames the Jews for a character cheating in school.  Shimon Peres was right about the growth in Gaza and what the consequences would be.  October 7th proved him right.  The question is how do we move forward from here?

The textbooks provided by UNRWA to the Palestinian/Gazan children are filled with antisemitism and Jew hatred. 

In the same warning, Peres stated, “Neither do I propose that we talk of economic cooperation. Why? Because the Arabs believe that the State of Israel wants to dominate the region. We do not want to do the Arabs any favors. I am not even suggesting economic cooperation with the Arabs. All I am telling the Arabs is this: There are problems that will remain unresolved unless we tackle them jointly. We should make a joint effort only when problems are insolvable without such a joint effort.”

Was this Peres foreshadowing the Abraham Accords?  The threat of Iran brought Arab countries together to recognize Israel, forever changing the dynamic.  The Iranian problem was insolvable without a joint effort.  After October 7th, these nations did not abandon Israel.  They understand that Iran is the problem and that it’s insolvable without Israel being a part of the solution.  Could this be the basis for a new government in Gaza and perhaps the West Bank/Judea and Samaria?  Could this be the key to rebuilding Gaza and finally making it into the ‘Singapore of the Middle East’?  Could this be the basis for peace and a willingness to live together?

An incredible picture of the signing of the Abraham Accords as more muslim countries recognize and normalize relations with Israel.

I find myself looking to some of the great Israeli leaders of the past for inspiration on a regular basis.  David Ben Gurion.   Golda Meir.  Shimon Peres.  Yitzhak Rabin.  Moshe Dayan.  Menachem Begin. 

Picture of Ben Gurion reading the Declaration of Independence in Independence Hall

When I saw this statue of Ben Gurion, I had to get a picture with it. The more I learn about him, the more in awe I am of who he was and what he did.

I think of current Israeli leaders such as Ambassador Michael Oren, Ambassador Ron Dermer, and the many Consul Generals I have had the pleasure to interact with and befriend.  We are wise to listen to their insights.  Michael Oren has a substack that I now subscribe to.  Their words are treasurers. 

Michael Oren speaking in Orlando this week at a JNF event. A future blog will talk about what he said.

Talking with and listen to Michael Oren is truly incredible. A brilliant man to learn from

Two of my favorite Ben Gurion quotes are: 

“Dare, Persevere, Succeed.”

“Pioneering is refusing to accept reality as it is.”

As I look back at Herzl and at the words of Peres; as I look forward to ‘The Day After’ and the Abraham Accords, these two quotes inspire me for the future of Israel.  And they inspire me personally.  We change the world by being daring, persevering, and succeeding.  And by being pioneers and not accepting reality as it is, we have the opportunity to create a new reality.  A new dream.  “If you will it, it is no dream.  Dare, persevere, succeed.  Refusing to accept reality as it is.”  Three quotes that sum up Israel and the Jewish people.  Three belief systems that will change your life and change the world. 

On the Map

Posted on by Keith Dvorchik

This week I had a business meeting with filmmaker Dani Merkin in Boca.  I was introduced to him through a friend but didn’t know much about him or his work.  His newest project sounded interesting so I wanted to see if I could help.  He was in Florida for a showing of his 2016 movie, On the Map along with Israeli basketball icon, Tal Brody.  I met Tal a few times in random occasions and it was great to see him again for a few minutes during the meeting.  During the meeting with Dani, we not only discussed his new project but also talked about On the Map, a movie about the 1977 Israeli team that won the European basketball championship.  As a sports fan who is Jewish and that grew up in the 70s and early 80s, I knew the team had won the championship but didn’t know the story.  Dani graciously sent me a screener to watch the film.

Tal Brody and me

I watched the film and something happened that I did not expect.  I got incredibly emotional.  The story, from 1977, had so many links to what is happening in our world today.  In the movie, they talked openly about the Yom Kippur war of 1973, “the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”  Unfortunately, today we know that the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust is now October 7, 2023. 

I knew that in 1977, the USSR was persecuting the Jews who lived there.  We all knew about the Refuseniks and our Jewish hero, Anatoly (now Natan) Sharansky.  We prayed for them in synagogue.  There were marches and rallies in DC. There were local rallies.  We raised money for them.  As a 9-year-old boy, I didn’t know that they refused to play the Israeli team in the European championships because they didn’t recognize Israel’s existence.  They wouldn’t play in Israel and they wouldn’t play in Moscow.  Today, it is South Africa stripping the captaincy from the Jewish player on their cricket team because of Israel.  The International Ice Hockey Federation removed the Israeli team from its competitions until under massive pressure, they relented and just this week restored them.  Israeli and Jewish athletes are facing problems all over the world just to compete.  There are musicians who refuse to play concerts in Israel.  I have a list of actors and musicians that I won’t support, won’t watch their movies or tv shows, won’t listen to their music, because of their hatred of Israel.  Have we really made any progress since 1977?

My friend Todd Sukol and I meeting the iconic Anatoly Natan Sharanksy

In 1977, FIBA, The International Basketball Federation, pressured the Soviet Union to play the Israeli team.  After much negotiation, they agreed on the condition that the game was played in Virton, Belgium, a small out of the way town.  The arena only held about 400 fans, almost all of the Israeli fans.  It was truly a David vs. Goliath match as the powerhouse Red Army team, had won the FIBA Euro Cup Championship in 1961, 1963, 1969 and 1971.  Nobody, except the Israeli team, thought they could actually win against the Russians.  In the film, Ambassador Michael Oren talks about how just getting the game played was a win. 

Ambassador Michael Oren – he will be here in Orlando in February 2024 for the JNF event!

Today it seems like just getting people to remember the hostages held in captivity by Hamas, underground in tunnels, is a herculean effort.  As Kfir Bibas celebrated his 1st birthday as a hostage in the tunnels, the world mainly remains silent.  As Hamas announces the murder of Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky, hostages in Hamas captivity, South Africa is accusing Israel of Genocide.  As Israel dropped leaflets and made phone calls to warn civilians of upcoming bombings, Hamas refused to let the civilians leave, uses human shields, turns hospitals, mosques, schools and homes into military targets, it’s Israel being accused of war crimes.  The groups who support women’s rights and speak out against sexual violence, fail to do so because they are Jewish and Israeli women.  Just as in 1977 when Israel was held to a different standard and not recognized, today it is the same. 

In 1977, there was a lot going on in the world.  As Israel was still dealing with the impact of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the United States still dealing with the impact of Watergate, the Viet Nam war,  and the oil crisis.  Israel was dealing with the Dollar Account Affair scandal while in the United States we had the impact of Elvis dying.  Today there is a lot going on in the world.  The Ukraine-Russia war, the border crisis, the impact of Covid-19 and inflation over the past 3+ years, the Israel-Gaza war.  The more things change, the more they stay the same. 

Tal Brody, Israel’s Mr. Basketball is an amazing story.  A star player who was the first round pick of the Baltimore Bullets, he elected to move to Israel and play Israeli basketball instead.  Both David Stern (z’l) and Bill Walton, talk about how extraordinary what he did was.  It was unheard of.  When drafted by the US army, he served 2 years in Viet Nam to complete his service before returning to Israel to play.   He had decided to retire and everybody knew it.  Just before the championship game against Italy, who had won the championship 6 of the prior 10 years, his father had a heart attack and was in ICU in New Jersey.  He flew home to be with his father.  Nobody knew if he would be back in time for the championship game.  This game was why he went to play in Israel.  To bring Maccabi Tel Aviv from a team that lost in the first round to a team that could compete for championships.  And yet, days before he flew across the world to be with his father.  When his father awoke, he told him to go back.  There was nothing he could do sitting with his father but he had an important role to play for Israel and the Jewish people.  So he went to the airport to pick up his ticket to fly to the game however there was no ticket there.  Luckily, one of the managers of the airline knew who he was from watching him play and put him on the plane, without a ticket, so he was able to get back to the team 24 hours before gametime.

Just like Tal, we all have important roles to play in our life.  As parents, children, siblings, spouses, friends, mentors, bosses, and employees.  Knowing what they are and balancing them is where the challenge comes in.  Tal knew he had to be with his dad.  His dad knew that Tal needed to be with his teammates, playing for Israel and the Jewish people.  We often make mistakes when we confuse our important roles because we think we know best.  Just like Tal had his coach and teammates say go see your dad, he also had his dad to say, no go be with your teammates and play the role you need to for Israel and the Jewish people.  We have those people in our lives, and it is so critical to listen to them.  When my dad got sick, I knew I had to play the role of son first.  I had to do what I could to help my dad and support my mom before anything else.  Once I did what I could, I needed to be husband, father, brother, uncle, employee, and supervisor.  After my dad died and shiva ended, one of the hardest things for me was leaving my mother’s house to come home to mine.  My primary role as my mother’s support had changed and as difficult as it was to return to my life and my other roles, I had to do it.  Our roles are fluid, as Tal showed.  He went from the star of the team and Mr. Israeli Basketball to son to player on the team all in a week.  We do that all the time and again, like Tal, need to use our support system to help us with those transitions.

My role taking care of my dad. When my dad could finally eat non-hospital food, I ordered him this. I can still hear his voice as he enjoyed it and it still puts a smile on my face. 

My rolse as son with my mom

My role as dad. Taking my son Matthew to go watch my son Evan coach college football and the obligitory ‘dad takes college kids out to eat’ photo.

My role as mentor with Shelley Greenspan who is now the Biden Administration’s Liaison to the Jewish community. 

As a huge sports fan who grew up in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the US Olympic Hockey team of 1980 is burned into my being.  “Do you believe in miracles?   Yes!!’ is as loud in my head today as it was coming from Al Michaels through my TV set in 1980.  Mike Eruzione and Jim Craig are childhood heros.  Herb Brooks was the epitome of a coach we all wanted growing up.  Mark Johnson, Dave Silk, and Buzz Johnson were personal favorites.   Dave Christian, Ken Morrow, Mike Ramsey, Neal Broten were future NHL stars I followed throughout their careers.   44 years later, I remember their names and what they accomplished.

One of the greatest, if not the greatest, call of all time. ”Do you believe in Miracles? Yes!!” I still get chills.

As a Jew, the names that were burned into my head were not athletes.  They were Moshe Dayan, who I spoke about at my Bar Mitzvah and was a huge fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv, David Ben Gurion, Golda Meir, Menachem Begin, Anatoly Sharansky, Yitzhak Rabin, Yoni Netanyahu (the only Israeli casualty of the raid on Entebbe and Bibi’s older brother).  They were political and military leaders.  They were the founders of Israel.  Quite different.  Yet now I have new names to match the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team.  They are part of the 1977 Israeli European Champions Cup winning basketball team. 

Ralph Klein, a Holocaust survivor who was the head coach of the team.

Tal Brody, an American who gave up an NBA career to put Israel ‘on the map’.

Aulcie Perry, an American who was the last cut by the Knicks in 1977, resulting in him playing in Israel.  Aulcie, an African American man, converted to Judaism. Dani made a movie about him that I now need to see.

Jim Boatwright, an American who made the key shots in the championship game

Miki Berkovich, an Israeli with an incredibly sweet jump shot

Eric Minkin, Bob Griffin, and Lou Silver, a group of Americans committed to Israel and Israeli basketball.

Motti Oresti, Shuki Schwartz, Eyal Yaffe, Eran Arad, and Hanan Indibo, the Israeli players who were the rest of the team.

When this team won the European Cup Championship, Israel exploded in joy.  While Prime Minister Rabin resigned that same day, the country was filled with pride and joy.  We can learn from the players, coaches, and the citizens of Israel in 1977 that despite, or perhaps because of what happened on October 7, 2023, we need to be proud of being Jewish.  We have an obligation, just like the players on that team did, to show that we belong in a world that often times doesn’t want us and doesn’t think we deserve to exist. 

There are many key moments in Israeli history that I always think of.

The signing of the Declaration of Independence

The Six Day War

The 1972 Munich Olympics

Entebbe

The 1977 visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem

The Camp David Accords

To these I now add the 1977 European Championship winning Maccabi Tel Aviv team.

Tal Brody with the championship cup

Moshe Dayan, a big fan of the team, greeting them before a game

The team photo

The 50th anniversary of the team championship

Sacrifice and the Zac Brown Band

Posted on by Keith Dvorchik

I have loved the Zac Brown Band since I first heard their music.  There is a great energy and it’s fun to listen and sing along.  The lyrics tend to be upbeat and happy just like the music.  As I was listening to one of their biggest hits, Chicken Fried, last night, a section of the lyrics hit me very differently than ever before.  It’s because of October 7th and the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war, the incredible rise of antisemitism and Jew hatred in this country, and what is happening on college campuses.

The lyrics I refer to are:

I thank God for my life and for the stars and stripes. May freedom forever fly, let it ring. Salute the ones who died. The ones that give their lives, so we don’t have to sacrifice all the things we love. Like our chicken fried and cold beer on a Friday night. A pair of jeans that fit just right and the radio up.

I have always loved those lyrics because as an American, I am truly grateful for those who serve in our military.  I do thank God for my life, for the freedom that exists in America, and for the sacrifices those who serve make every day so that I get to live such a wonderful life.  I truly believe in the slogan, “Home of the free Because of the Brave”.

As I listened to them now, I heard something very different because of what’s going on in Israel.  I have many friends who are currently serving in the IDF in Gaza or in the north, recalled from the reserves.  I have many friends who have children who were recalled from the reserves or are currently serving in the IDF.  I have friends whose relatives were taken hostage by Hamas or were murdered by Hamas on October 7th.  I have connections to a number of IDF soldiers who have died in the war. 

The lines “Salute the ones who died.  The ones that gave their lives, so we don’t have to sacrifice all the things that we love.” really bothered me this time.  As I thought of how Israel recalled 300,000 reservists and expected no more than 250,000 to show up, yet 360,000 actually did show up.  When I think of the hostages still kept in Gaza by Hamas and the IDF soldiers valiantly fighting hand to hand combat to try to rescue them, it’s hard to align that with us not wanting to sacrifice the things we love.  In Israel, they are sacrificing the things they love for the future of Israel and the Jewish people.  They are willing to sacrifice their loved ones.  Their parents, children, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends in defense of Israel and the Jewish people.  They’d gladly sacrifice some comfort food, a cold beer, a comfortable pair of jeans and loud music to get their loved ones back.

I started thinking of all the things we take for granted in our lives and all the people who sacrifice in order for us to have them.  The ability to go to a summer camp as a child.  It wasn’t inexpensive and my parents and grandparents had to sacrifice so we could go.  I went to Jewish Day School for a year, my brother for many years.  We all know private school, especially Jewish private schools, are not inexpensive. Yet another sacrifice.  As parents, my wife and I made the decision that we did not want our kids working while in school. This included college.  Their primary job was school and their education, with their involvement in other things as a secondary priority.  They could work if they wanted but only if their schoolwork, their primary job, was strong. It meant we took care of their spending money, car insurance, etc.  Not a huge sacrifice but we felt an important one. 

My CIT year at Camp Airy (with the girls who were CITs at Camp Louise). What a magical summer. My many years at summer camp only came with sacrifice from my parents and grandparents.

Working as a camp counselor after years of being a camper. I’m still in touch with a number of these guys nearly 40 years later. Thanks mom and dad, grandma and grandpa.

As I am contemplating sacrifice and how, as Americans, we are so entitled, I learned about another example.  Idan Amedi, a well-known Israeli singer and actor, who starred in the amazing TV show Fauda’s as Sagi, was seriously injured in Gaza while voluntarily serving in the IDF. Despite having every excuse not to fight, Idan felt it was his duty to protect his country.   Can you imagine Mark Ruffalo, Brad Pitt, Melissa Barrera, Kanye West or Gigi and Bella Hadid doing this? Can you imagine Susan Sarandon letting her children defend the country?  They are happy to take their money and speak out without knowledge but actually make a sacrifice?

Idan Amedi, known by many as the character Sagi from Fauda. 

Highlighting Idan, a celebrity and entertainer, is the American way to view things.  In Israel, Idan is no different that the father or mother who leaves their family, the business owner who leaves their business not knowing what will be there when they return or many other Israelis who put the country first rather than allowing others to make the sacrifice for them.. 

When I think about things like chicken fried, cold beer, jeans that fit right or loud music in this context, I get angry.  Why?  Because of the things that we choose to matter are really so unimportant, so shallow, especially with hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas. These innocent people who were kidnapped and have been held in brutal conditions for over 100 days.  Kfir Babis turned 1 year old this week, having spent a quarter of his life as a hostage, living underground. 

Kfir at 8 or 9 months old just before being taken as a hostage by Hamas. We can only hope and pray he is still alive now that he turned 1 in captivity.

Karin Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, and Agam Berger, all 19 years old, and Liri Albag, 18 years old, brutalized by Hamas for more than 3 months. We can’t imagine how they are being treated. We cannot forget them.

I think about the atrocities on October 7th and the promises to continue to do it again and again and again by Hamas leadership and I understand, as much as I can living in America, the need for sacrifice. I’ve seen the 47 minute Hamas video. This story below is horrifying but shows the evil of Hamas and why we must never allow evil to continue, even at great personal and communal sacrifice

WARNING – this is hard to listen to so before you hit play, be prepared.

The hostages have not been seen by the Red Cross.  They have not been given medicine.  No human rights organizations are crying for their release or to see them.  You can read what the hostages who have been released report it was like and imagine how much worse it is for those 136.  Do they know there are people in the world who care about them, or do they feel forgotten?  They surely don’t care about a cold beer, chicken fried food, a pair of jeans, or listening to music.  They are paying a horrible price in the fight for Israel and the Jewish people.

 A total of 136 people remain as hostages in Gaza, held by Hamas, after being kidnapped.Their names are listed here. We must never forget them and remember their names and that each one of them is a person with a family.


It’s a lesson to us about priorities and taking responsibility.  In the world we live in, with the situation and challenges we face in America, perhaps learning to take personal responsibility and to serve the greater good is what is sorely needed.

I became obsessed with the writing and thoughts of Kareem Abdul Jabbar a few years ago.  He always makes me think just a little deeper.  In his most recent writing, he highlights a quote from Taika Waititi’s recent soccer movie Next Goal Wins. As Kareem writes, “an American coach is being punished for his on-field outbursts by being assigned to coach a team from American Samoa that not only has never won a game but never scored a single goal. The hard-drinking loner lost in grief for his dead daughter is soon welcomed into the local community where their warmth and love heals him. At one point, the coach tells the local man who has helped him understand the Samoan way of life that he can’t win the game. The man’s response: “Then lose. But don’t lose alone, lose with us.”

In Israel, the people are fighting together.  Politics have been put aside.  Personal grievances are not important.  The wants and needs of the individual are not the focus but the needs of the country are front and center.  The required sacrifice of every person who lives there is something to aspire to.  Jew, Muslim, Christian, Druze, it doesn’t matter.  They are all Israelis and will win or lose together.  They are committed to doing everything they can to win because losing isn’t an option, just like losing alone isn’t an option for the Samoan talking to the coach in the movie. It often seems that in America, we’d rather lose alone.

The song Chicken Fried is lighthearted and meant to be.  Yet there is a powerful lesson to be learned about allowing others to make major sacrifices for our personal pleasure.  I’m grateful to those that keep us safe so we get to live the way do, but I won’t ever take them for granted.  One of my favorite camp counselors was a Viet Nam veteran and I personally saw the impact of the war on him as well as the lack of support he, and those who served, got from the public when they returned. Its something I will never forget. I pray for a quick, safe, and successful end to the war in Gaza, I also pray for the families of and those serving in both the IDF and the US military, for the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and for those still held in captivity and their families by Hamas. 

Perhaps the lyrics should really be

I thank God for my life and for the stars and stripes. May freedom forever fly, let it ring. Salute the ones who died. The ones that give their lives, and those who continue to serve, so we can continue to live in freedom. Like our freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It’s not as catchy, but sure rings truer.

I took this picture myself and wanted to end this post with something hopeful and beautiful. Being there and just looking at the picture and reflecting gives me great hope for the future. 

Relationships Matter

Posted on by Keith Dvorchik

Over the past 25 years, I have attended the AIPAC Policy Conference many times.  Having the opportunity to listen to incredible speakers, attend great breakout sessions, and lobby on Capitol Hill always made it a highlight. 

I have great memories of taking 40+ students from The University of Florida to the conference year after year.  Meeting with key Florida politicians and influential leaders for photos.  Our Saturday night dinner in Chinatown became legendary and the donor who underwrote it would fly up for the dinner and not stay for the conference, just to interact with the students.  I met my friend and teacher, Dr. Ken Stein, at AIPAC Policy Conference after attending his sessions and being blown away with the information he presented. That is now close to a 20-year friendship.

Perhaps the most important thing that I learned at the AIPAC Policy Conference came in 2009, when the theme was “Relationships Matter”.  I met my friend Reverend Ken Flowers at that conference.  I was named one of AIPAC’s Campus Allies at that conference.  Neither of them were the most important thing at that conference.  The topic, “Relationships Matter” was the most important thing from that conference.

That was a transformational moment for me as I began to understand the need to build relationships across all levels.  People of different religions, cultures, political beliefs, etc.  What hit me strongly was that in order to be successful we needed to bridge divides, have real relationships with people, and get involved BEFORE you asked for anything in return.  In a country and a world which was already transactional and one that has since become even more transactional, these real relationships matter.  They are what change the world.

Over the past 14 years, that is what I have strived to do.  I have relationships with political leaders of both major parties.  Friendships with these people.  I reach out because of the relationship, not because I want or need anything.  And they reach out as well.  I love getting a Hanukkah card from the White House, regardless of who is the President.  When my Senator sends me a little handwritten note about something, it has special meaning.  When my member of the US House of Representatives texts me a note or a question, it is part of real relationship.  When members of the Florida House of Representatives text or we talk, it is not because I’m trying to get them to vote a certain way but rather because we engage in old fashioned conversation. 

I have friends who are leaders in the Christian and Muslim community.  Leaders in African-American community and the LBGTQ+ community.  I have friends who are Arabs and Christians living in East Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nablus.  I have spent time talking and learning from people who were raised to hate Jews and joined violent organizations that attacked Jews, some of them even murdered Jews in Israel, before undergoing a transformation and striving to learn and build relationships with people they never even considered people.  I’ve previously written about one of them, Ali Abu Awaad, who inspires me regularly with his work towards Palestinian non-violence and finding a new way to build a different relationship with Israel that can lead to a long lasting peace.

Early this morning I got a message from my friend who is a leader in the local Muslim community.  We became friends a few years ago and have done some volunteer work together.  I have visited his mosque a number of times and feel comfortable there.  He has gone through some personal challenges recently and I regularly check on him.  His current volunteer work needs some help and so, as his friend, I am helping.  His note this morning was:

    Good Morning Keith.  I am at the mosque for the morning prayer and I remembered you.  I will

    say a prayer for you.  Stay blessed.

    Thought of the day

    “Love is the devotion to the well-being of others without regard to the cost.”

My heart filled with joy as I read it because my friend not only thought of me on a random Saturday morning but was moved to include me in his prayers and share a little wisdom.

My friends are like a bag of skittles – all colors, flavors, and types.  The commonality they all have is the type of person that they are.  As the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

That’s how I pick my friends.  The content of their character.  That is how I invest in relationships.  The content of their character.  That’s how people inspire me.  The content of their character.

Recently I have been surprised and inspired by the words of a major public figure.  It usually takes a lot to surprise me, but US Senator John Fetterman has done so.  I was not impressed when he ran for Senate.  For the first part of his term, I only saw somebody who appeared to be hanging around, almost mocking what it mean to be a US Senator.  In the aftermath of October 7th, I realize how wrong I was and how I was not judging him by the content of his character but rather the image that was presented.  Senator Fetterman has spoken out powerfully and clearly about the terrorist group Hamas.  He speaks out regularly about the need for all the hostages taken by Hamas to be released.  He hung the pictures of all the hostages in his office.  He doesn’t celebrate the violence and terror of October 7th nor does he celebrate the horrors of the war since then.  He doesn’t demand a cease-fire that will accomplish nothing but more future terror and death but speaks the truth – if Hamas returns all the hostages and surrenders, there will be a cease fire.  But not before.   He is taking major criticism from many in his party because of this yet he continues to hold true to his values.  He is truly showing us the content of his character.

In today’s crazy world where it is easy to judge somebody by the 10 second clip they play on the news (often out of context) or the way a certain news channel may present them, or how a journalist chooses to frame a story, Senator Fetterman has reminded me that relationships matter.  That getting to know people before judging them matters.  That investing time and energy into a relationship, whether your world views agree or collide, is beneficial and important.

As I begin my new career arc, I often get asked what’s my favorite part of the work.  My answer is consistent.  I get to work with people that I like and respect.  I get to help people accomplish their goals and the goals for their organization.  I get to work for clients that I want to work for, and we get to build a relationship together.  I choose to not have them be transactional relationships but something deeper.  It’s meaningful.  And isn’t that what life is all about?  Finding meaning?  That theme in 2009 was so accurate.  Relationships Matter.