Thanking the Maccabees

In honor of “Thanksgivukkah,” here is my latest column from The Jewish Link of Bergen County:

 

Thanking the Maccabees

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

There has been much ado this year about the fact that the first day of Chanukah coincides with the holiday of Thanksgiving.

 

The last time that Thanksgiving overlapped with the first day of Chanukah was in 1888, 125 years ago. According to Dr. Jonathan Mizrahi, a New Mexico-based physicist, the next time that the first full day of Chanukah will fall out on Thanksgiving is in 79811, which is 77,798 years from now.

 

Do not despair, however. According to physicist Dr. Eli Lansey, the first night of Chanukah, as opposed to the first day, will fall out on Thanksgiving in 2070 and 2165, 57 and 152 years from now, respectively.

 

This great anomaly has caused a sense of giddiness amongst entrepreneurs, marketing professionals, people in the food industry, and various individuals whose creative juices began flowing. We have seen the birth of the “Menurkey,” which is a menorah shaped like a turkey, t-shirts with slogans such as “Light, Liberty, and Latkes,” latkes with cranberry sauce, and pumpkin rugelach. It is a veritable bonanza for people hoping to capitalize on this once in a lifetime event.

 

But for all of the excitement that people feel due to “Thanksgivukkah,” the fun and games that people have conjured up are mostly superficial. I would like to take a closer and more analytical view of this calendric abnormality.

 

Thanksgiving is a day full of family, football, and fun. It is an annual American Pastime that is eagerly anticipated and widely commemorated.

 

I have fond memories of our entire family gathering at my grandparents’ house on Thanksgiving for a festive holiday meal. After Grandpa carved the turkey and everyone settled down to eat, we would happily enjoy each other’s company and share some quality time together as a family.

 

Yet, there was always a deeper, more meaningful side to the day. As we consumed the delicious turkey and delectable side dishes, we would go around the table, and one-by-one we would tell everyone what we were thankful for.

 

It was a relatively simple exercise, yet it compelled us to recognize and acknowledge that there were many things for which we had to be grateful.

 

The holiday of Chanukah is somewhat comparable to Thanksgiving in that regard. We generally associate Chanukah with giving and getting presents, consuming latkes and jelly donuts, spirited games of dreidel, and spending time with our family.

 

However, like Thanksgiving, there is a more profound element of Chanukah that warrants our attention and reflection.

 

The religious significance of Chanukah is well-known, yet often overlooked. In 176 BCE, King Antiochus and the Greek Empire attempted to incapacitate the Jewish nation and capture the Land of Israel. Antiochus’ methodical attempt to overwhelm the Jews was done via Hellenization, in which the Greeks exerted their control in an effort to cajole and then coerce the Jews into abandoning Judaism and converting to paganism.

 

The foundations of the Jewish faith, such as observing Shabbos, teaching and learning Torah, and conducting circumcisions were outlawed by the Greeks. In an attempt to strike at the very core of the soul of the Jewish people, the Beit Hamikdash was defiled and decorated with forbidden idolatry.

 

Given the impossible choice of forgoing their religion or facing death, many Jews unfortunately succumbed to a life of Hellenism.

 

And then the Maccabees arrived on the scene. Mattathias and his five sons refused to capitulate to the Greeks and in 167 BCE they rose up and led a rebellion against Antiochus. Led by Judah Maccabee, as he is commonly referred to, this small band of Jews, which was greatly outnumbered by the mighty Greek army, ultimately prevailed and was successful in driving the Greeks out of Israel. It was the unlikely and miraculous victory of the Maccabees that saved the spiritual being of the Jewish people and led to the establishment of the holiday of Chanukah.

 

As we sit here in the 21st Century and enjoy all of the wonderful gifts we have been given, it behooves us as Jews to take a moment to reflect on what we have to be thankful for.

 

We live in an era in which it is very easy to be a Jew.

 

As Jewish-Americans, we are extremely fortunate to live in a country that allows us to practice our religion in accordance with the tenets of our faith, whenever, wherever, and however we choose. We live in a place in which we are free to build shuls in which we can pray and schools in which our children can receive a quality Jewish education.

 

We live in a time in which we have a Jewish State that we can call our own. We live in an age in which we can easily travel to Israel and enjoy unfettered access to the holy sites that play such an integral role in Jewish tradition and history.

 

So, as we celebrate “Thanksgivukkah” and partake in the festivities, we should all make a concerted effort to set aside some time to contemplate what we have to be thankful for.

 

Aside from being thankful for tasty turkey, delicious donuts, and luscious latkes, we should make sure that we thank the Maccabees. Without their intervention and heroism, who knows what might have become of the Jewish people?

 

One thing is for certain. Without the Maccabees, there would be no Chanukah, and thus no Thanksgivukkah.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

We Can Agree To Disagree

The following is an article that I wrote for The Times of Israel blog about the state of the U.S.-Israel relationship in the wake of the Iranian nuclear agreement:

 

We Can Agree To Disagree

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

There is a distinct chill in the air. Contrary to what you may be thinking, it has nothing to do with the unseasonably cold temperatures that we are experiencing in the greater New York area. The chill to which I am referring has to do with the current state of the relationship between the United States and Israel.

 

With the news that an interim agreement was reached between the P5+1 and the Iranian government concerning Iran’s seemingly unquenchable desire to produce nuclear weaponry, the U.S.-Israel relationship, which has seemed somewhat tenuous at times over the past several years, took a nosedive.

 

As the United States chose to engage with Iran in a diplomatic effort to curtail its nuclear capability, Israel did whatever it could to present its case to the world as to why such an agreement is not just counterproductive; it is downright dangerous.

 

Calling it a “historic mistake,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unbridled in his criticism of the accord after it was announced.

 

“Today the world has become a much more dangerous place, because the most dangerous regime in the world has taken a significant step toward attaining the most dangerous weapon in the world,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu.

 

Israel’s opposition to the agreement is understandable. Iran will reap the benefits of sanctions relief totaling nearly $7 billion dollars, yet they will essentially give up very little of substance in return. As a result of the apparent lopsided nature of the agreement, it would not surprise me if President Hassan Rouhani and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are laughing all the way to the bank with this sudden infusion of “free money.”

 

Despite the protestation of the Israeli government, Iran can continue to enrich uranium pursuant to the agreement, although they do have to limit the enrichment to five percent. In addition, Iran is not required to dismantle its centrifuges or its plutonium reactor, which ensures that whatever progress they have made thus far in their nuclear pursuit will remain intact.

 

In a television address to the Iranian people today, President Rouhani spoke about Iran’s continued uranium enrichment under the agreement as an entitlement. “Enrichment, which is one part of our nuclear right, will continue, it is continuing today and it will continue tomorrow and our enrichment will never stop and this is our red line,” said a defiant Rouhani.

 

What will happen at the expiration of the six-month interim agreement remains to be seen. There is doubt on the part of many whether Iran will honor the terms of the deal or whether a final agreement can be reached prior to the end of the six-month period.

 

One of the most telling parts of this situation is that Israel and its Arab neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, have united in expressing their skepticism and unease about the Iranian nuclear deal.

 

In the United States, the reaction to news of the agreement created new headaches for the White House.

 

Many Jewish groups, including those who have a tendency to tread lightly when it comes to critiquing the White House, publicly expressed concern about the agreement, including the Anti-Defamation League, AIPAC, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the World Jewish Congress, and the American Jewish Committee, among others.

 

On Capitol Hill, in addition to the Republican lawmakers who condemned the agreement, a number of prominent Democratic leaders took the unusual step of breaking ranks with the White House to voice their displeasure.

 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made their opposition public. Congressman Eliot Engel of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was one of a number of congressional representatives to question the terms of the interim agreement.

 

There is no question that Israel has strong and supportive allies in Congress who have demonstrated time and time again that they will look out for Israel’s best interests. The issue is whether the White House will do the same.

 

The general sentiment amongst those in the pro-Israel community is that this was a bad deal not just for Israel, but for the world. By agreeing to provide a respite from some of the sanctions that many believe caused Iran to come to the table in the first place, it is widely believed that the leverage that the United States had over Iran has now dissipated.

 

Although the White House is going to great lengths to defend the agreement and to reassure Israel, its only democratic ally in the Middle East, the damage was done when the U.S. signed on the dotted line and threw Iran a lifeline.

 

Let us not forget that as the parties were negotiating the terms of the agreement in Geneva, the Iranian Supreme Leader reminded the whole world of how much Iran detests the Jewish State when he referred to Israel as a “rabid dog,” a “threat to the world,” and a “fake regime.”

 

The Iranian regime’s longstanding desire to annihilate the State of Israel just makes the interim nuclear deal all the more perplexing. By extending a hand to Iran and providing them with a reprieve that they clearly desired but did not deserve, the White House drove a further wedge between the Administration and the Israeli government.

 

While some are cautiously optimistic that the interim agreement will ultimately lead to a permanent agreement that puts an end to Iran’s quest to obtain a nuclear weapon once and for all, many others, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, believe that it will further exacerbate what was already a very perilous situation.

 

It is not unusual for good friends to feud now and again. Having a disagreement does not necessarily signal the end of a relationship. Like any friendship, the relationship between the United States and Israel inevitably has its ups and downs. It is important to remember that friends can agree to disagree at times.

 

We will have to wait and see over the coming weeks and months if the chill that has descended upon the U.S.-Israel relationship will thaw. For both Israel’s sake and the United States’ benefit, let us hope that it does.

 

Shades of Red Amidst A Sea of Blue

The following is my current column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I take a closer look at New Jersey’s recent gubernatorial election and look ahead to Governor Chris Christie’s 2016 presidential prospects.

 

Shades of Red Amidst A Sea of Blue

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

As New Jersey voters went to the polls on Election Day, there were those who questioned whether the race at the top of the ticket could even be considered a “race.” The gubernatorial contest, which ordinarily would be replete with intrigue and suspense, was totally devoid of any drama. The race for governor was, for all intents and purposes, over before it even began.

 

Riding a wave of popularity that propelled him to rock-star-like status, Governor Chris Christie garnered 60 percent of the vote and easily cruised to a 22-point victory over Democratic State Senator Barbara Buono. In doing so, Christie became the first Republican in New Jersey in twenty-five years to get over 50 percent of the vote in a statewide election.

 

As for Barbara Buono, she found herself in the unenviable position of being in a political Catch-22. She had virtually no name recognition and therefore had difficulty raising money, yet without adequate funds she was unable to boost her profile statewide.

 

What makes Governor Christie’s colossal win so remarkable is that he achieved this historic feat in a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republican voters by a whopping 700,000. Despite the enrollment advantage that Democrats have in this overwhelmingly “blue state,” Christie scored an easy victory.

 

In retrospect, it appears that Christie fared extremely well among voting groups that tend to favor Democratic candidates, rather than Republicans.

 

According to the exit polls, 57 percent of women voted for Christie, versus just 41 percent for Buono. 21 percent of African-Americans, a group that traditionally favors Democrats, cast their ballots for Christie, a noteworthy number considering that when he ran in 2009, only 9 percent of African-American voters supported him.

 

In an extraordinary show of support from Hispanic voters, who typically vote Democratic, Christie got an astounding 50 percent of the vote.

 

Christie also did extremely well among independent and moderate voters, union members, and young voters. Even 33 percent of Democratic voters cast their ballots for the Republican governor.

 

How did Governor Christie perform so well among voting groups that customarily back Democrats? How is it that the Republican candidate turned the gubernatorial contest on its head by running so strong across the board?

 

Chris Christie bucked conventional wisdom by very skillfully and deliberately building a broad bipartisan coalition that swept him to victory. He successfully cultivated strong relationships and alliances with various constituent groups that generally tune out Republicans. Christie masterfully assembled a groundswell of support that was just too much for Buono to overcome.

 

It is quite clear that Chris Christie is not your typical politician. The popular governor is a “tell it like it is,” “say what he thinks” type of person, and it certainly appears that the overwhelming majority of New Jersey voters appreciate his outspoken and brash personality and actually find it refreshing.

 

In addition, New Jersey residents cannot forget the fact that Governor Christie was there for them as they struggled to pick up the pieces after Superstorm Sandy. The images of a concerned, caring, and courageous Chris Christie consoling storm victims were extremely powerful and they undoubtedly left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of New Jersey voters.

 

On Election Day, Chris Christie did not just win a second term as governor; he catapulted to the front of the pack of likely 2016 Republican presidential candidates.

 

Christie’s record-breaking win sent a loud and clear message to the national Republican Party that he just may be their guy in 2016. The crossover appeal that he demonstrated in New Jersey may be exactly what the Republicans are looking for as they struggle to overcome a barrage of negative publicity relative to the Tea Party movement’s rise within their ranks.

 

The recent government shutdown in Washington, DC adversely impacted the Republican Party’s desperate attempts to get back on track. Many people placed the blame for the shutdown squarely on the GOP and the consensus tends to be that the conservative arm of the Republican Party forced the hand of their congressional leaders and essentially boxed them into a corner.

 

With his inimitable style, Chris Christie may be the cure for what ails the national Republicans. The question is, however, whether Christie’s unique brand of bipartisanship outreach will resonate with more conservative voters throughout the nation. It also remains to be seen how Christie will fare in the context of a national Republican campaign if and when the ultra-conservatives who may be angling for the GOP presidential nomination, such as Senators Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, try to paint him in a more liberal light.

 

With his celebrity status and widespread appeal, Chris Christie has definitely claimed his spot on the national stage. The question is how well he will do as the GOP’s guy in the spotlight.

 

On Election Day, Chris Christie swept into the governor’s office for his second term with a powerful mandate that is virtually unprecedented. The meteoric rise of a Republican governor is something that one would expect to see in a “red state,” not in an overwhelmingly Democratic “blue state.” Chris Christie, however, has proven that there can be shades of “red” amidst a sea of “blue.”

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

The End of an Era

Here is something that I wrote in June 2013 following the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg:

 

THE END OF AN ERA

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

The passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg on June 3rd marked the end of an era.

 

At the age of 89, Lautenberg was the oldest member of the Senate and the last surviving World War II veteran in Congress. He represented New Jersey in the Senate for approximately 30 years, serving from 1983-2001 and then again from 2003 until his passing.

 

An effective lawmaker who worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents, Senator Lautenberg’s three decades on Capitol Hill were marked with great legislative accomplishments.

 

From authoring the bill that raised the drinking age to 21, to fighting for legislation that prohibited smoking on airplanes, to advocating for greater benefits for veterans, to working to bring billions of dollars in federal aid to New Jersey for a wide range of transportation, infrastructure and environmental projects, Senator Lautenberg was at the forefront of an array of significant public policy issues.

 

But it was his advocacy on behalf of Jewish issues and causes that really made Senator Lautenberg stand out and earned him acclaim from the Jewish community.

 

Lautenberg’s intimate involvement in Jewish communal life spanned almost a half-century. In 1974, at the age of 50, he became the youngest chairman in the history of the United Jewish Appeal, which later came to be known as the Jewish Federations of North America.

 

A successful businessman, Lautenberg established the Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology at Hebrew University in Israel, which is a major cancer research facility. In addition, Lautenberg served on Hebrew University’s board of governors, was a member of the American Jewish Committee’s national board of directors, and was on the executive committee of the Jewish Agency for Israel.

 

Locally, Lautenberg served as fundraising chairman of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest in New Jersey. Just recently, Lautenberg received the Renaissance Award from Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, in recognition of the impact that his work has had on Jewish life.

 

In a testament to Senator Lautenberg’s enduring support for Israel, we witnessed a rare display of bi-partisanship upon his passing, as both the National Jewish Democratic Council and the Republican Jewish Coalition issued statements praising Lautenberg’s pro-Israel views.

 

Lautenberg was “a stalwart advocate for the state of Israel and the American Jewish community,” said the NJDC. He was a “staunch supporter of Israel and a leader in Jewish communal life,” said the RJC. “He was a proud Jew and a proud American.”

 

One of Senator Lautenberg’s signature pieces of the legislation was known as “The Lautenberg Amendment,” which relaxed restrictions for people seeking refugee status in the United States by allowing individuals who could demonstrate that they were the subject of religious persecution to apply for immigrant status. As a result of this landmark legislation, tens of thousands of Soviet Jews were permitted to emigrate to the United States.

 

Over the years, Lautenberg often took to the Senate floor and the public airwaves to express his love for Israel, a country that he visited more than 80 times, and to articulate his desire to see a sense of security and stability achieved in the Middle East region.

 

When Israel launched Operation Cast Lead in December 2008 with the intent of suppressing rocket fire from Gaza, Senator Lautenberg stood with Israel.

 

“[N]o country should be forced to tolerate attacks on its people,” Lautenberg said at the time. “Israel is doing all it can to prevent future terror attacks, and the United States supports the Israeli government’s efforts to protect its citizens. Hamas is abusing the people of Gaza by using their homes as a base for terror operations. The world should no longer tolerate a terrorist government in the Gaza Strip.”

 

In 2011, Lautenberg used a speech by President Obama on Middle East policy as an opportunity to express his support for Israel.

 

“It is time for all people in the region to recognize that Israel can no longer be used as a convenient scapegoat for problems in countries where corruption and suppression routinely existed,” said Lautenberg. “As the President clearly declared, the path to peace in the Middle East starts with recognition of Israel’s right to exist, defend itself, and protect its people.”

 

In November 2012, Lautenberg was one of the sponsors of a resolution that declared the Senate’s unwavering commitment to the security and survival of the State of Israel.

 

“No country should be forced to withstand attacks on its own people,” Lautenberg said at the time. “We cannot expect Israel to stand idly by while its citizens are the targets of continued rocket attacks. We support Israel’s right to defend itself and call on Hamas to immediately renounce terror and recognize Israel’s right to exist.”

 

In 2005, after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared that the State of Israel should be “wiped off the map,” Lautenberg authored a resolution which called on then-President Bush to condemn the remarks.

 

After Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad made anti-Semitic remarks in 2003 and urged Muslims to unite against Jews, it was Senator Lautenberg who spearheaded a resolution strongly condemning the remarks.

 

Just two months ago on Yom HaShoah, while remembering the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust, Lautenberg made certain to address the U.S.-Israel relationship.

 

“I am proud of America’s unbreakable bond with Israel and know that we must do everything we can to ensure her security. We must continue to fight the forces of hate, bigotry, and violence across the globe, and we must continue our vow to never forget the atrocities brought on the Jewish people and the world more than 60 years ago. Let us vow, never again.”

 

With Senator Frank Lautenberg’s passing, not only have New Jersey families and all Americans lost a well-respected and accomplished public servant, but the Jewish community and the State of Israel have also lost a true friend and ally. Sadly, it is the end of an era.

 

When Election Day Becomes Groundhog Day

Here is a column that I wrote for The Jewish Link of Bergen County in June 2013:

 

WHEN ELECTION DAY BECOMES GROUNDHOG DAY

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

You may remember the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, in which Bill Murray’s character, meteorologist Phil Connors, relives the same day over and over. The way things are shaping up politically, voters in New Jersey will soon be experiencing their own version of Groundhog Day.

 

After the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg, the rumor mill immediately began churning as the political establishment in New Jersey and inside the Washington Beltway speculated what would happen next. With Republican Governor Chris Christie essentially holding all the cards, whether it be through his power to appoint an interim successor or to determine the timing of an election to replace the long-time Democratic senator, the political pundits had a field day contemplating all the possible scenarios.

 

Complicating the situation was the fact that Governor Christie, who has made no secret about his presidential aspirations, is up for re-election this November. A huge win over his Democratic challenger, State Senator Barbara Buono, in an overwhelmingly “blue state” would theoretically propel him to the front of the pack of Republican presidential hopefuls for 2016.

 

Christie had several options. Pursuant to New Jersey law, he could order that the Senate seat be filled this November on Election Day. There was also talk that Christie might delay the election until November 2014. According to the statute, the governor is permitted to make a temporary appointment to the Senate seat until such time as an election has taken place. The law gives the governor great latitude in determining the time frame for setting an election date, stating that the governor has the power to call a special election if he “shall deem it advisable.”

 

Well, Governor Christie apparently “deemed it advisable” to call a special election for October 16, 2013, just three weeks before Election Day, which will be preceded by a primary election on August 13. While discussing the rationale for his decision, Christie explained that, “I want to have an elected senator as soon as possible.”

 

The decision was fraught with political pitfalls for Governor Christie.

 

Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who has achieved celebrity status in New Jersey and across the nation, declared his interest in the Senate seat last December, before Senator Lautenberg announced in February that he would not seek reelection.

 

With all of the hype that would inevitably surround a special election and the prospect of being on the ballot together with a well-known commodity like Cory Booker, setting the election to fill Lautenberg’s seat on Election Day in November would virtually ensure that New Jersey Democrats would come to the polls in droves, thereby affecting Christie’s desired electoral outcome by perhaps cutting into his large expected margin of victory.

 

Had Christie delayed the election until November 2014, he could have given a gift to the national Republican Party, whose support he covets for a possible presidential run, by naming a Republican to the Senate for a year and a half, as opposed to a much shorter period of time. The prospect of having a Republican senator fill what has historically been a Democratically-held senate seat undoubtedly left the GOP giddy.

 

Instead, Christie ostensibly sought to protect his own political interests. When he named his long-time friend and confidant New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa to fill Lautenberg’s seat on interim basis until the election this fall, he gave the Senate Republicans an extra vote, albeit temporarily.

 

And he all but assured himself a big win on Election Day, with no other heavily contested statewide contest on the ballot which might have attracted more Democratic voters to the polls.

 

Governor Christie did take some heat in the press for the hefty price tag that is associated with his decision. By calling a special election, the state will incur costs of approximately $24 million. When asked by the media about this new and perhaps unnecessary expenditure of taxpayer funds, the governor, in typical “Christie-esque” style, replied, “I don’t know what the cost is, and I quite frankly don’t care.”

 

The bottom line is, New Jersey voters will be going to the polls during the dog days of summer.

 

With the primary less than two months away, it appears that it will be a four-way race on the Democratic side. Cory Booker will square off with Representatives Frank Pallone and Rush Holt, and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver.

 

With an abbreviated election cycle and an accelerated timetable, the candidates are under intense pressure to demonstrate their fund raising prowess and to line up key supporters rather quickly.

 

The question is, will New Jersey voters show up to the polls?

 

With the regularly scheduled primary election that took place earlier this month, the Senate primary in August, the special Senate election in October, and Election Day in November, New Jersey voters will have gone to the polls four times in just six months.

 

It will certainly feel like Groundhog Day, with voters being told they need to go to the polls and vote again and again.

 

Rather than feeling resentment at the overabundance of elections, our community should embrace the opportunity to make our voices heard at the polls at every available opportunity.

 

With so much at stake, we cannot afford voter fatigue. We may be inclined to tune out politics while we are enjoying our summer vacation, but to ignore a gubernatorial race or a Senate race would send a dangerous message to our elected officials that our community simply does not care.

 

 

So, in the midst of summer camp and trips to the beach, get ready for a flurry of political activity. And when the calls come to go to the polls on multiple occasions and vote, let’s be sure that we answer the calls accordingly and do our civic duty each and every time.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at www.PaulReverePR.com or at www.JewishWorldPR.com or follow him on Twitter: @troodler