A Dizzying Emotional Roller Coaster

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the January 9, 2025, editions of the Washington Jewish Week, Philadelphia Jewish Exponent and Baltimore Jewish Times:

Hostage posters line the streets in Israel. (Photo credit: Aaron Troodler)

It is extremely difficult to sleep through a siren. During my recent trip to Israel, I was awakened in the middle of the night on three different occasions by the wail of a siren that has become all too familiar to Israelis. After the warning of an incoming missile fired by the Houthis in Yemen roused me from my slumber shortly after 2 a.m. and I ran to the shelter in the Jerusalem building where I was staying, I looked around the safe room at the other people who gathered there in their pajamas, which included a family with two young children and another family who tried to keep their dog calm amid the tension that permeated the air. It was a stark reminder of what Israelis must contend with daily, trying to go about their lives even as enemies from near and far actively seek to destroy the Jewish state.

The next morning, while still feeling the aftereffects of having been woken up at an ungodly hour and then having to struggle to fall back asleep as I waited for the adrenaline to abate, I walked to the synagogue for Shabbat services. It only took a short while before the beautiful tefillot helped me forget the previous night’s siren, and as the entire congregation sung the various prayers, including a beautiful rendition of the prayer for the soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces, I felt spiritually uplifted and experienced a sense that everything was once again normal.

Shortly thereafter, as I walked to my daughter’s apartment for Shabbat lunch, my family and I came across a vigil for the hostages still being held in Gaza. As we passed through the large crowd, which included Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, the parents of murdered American Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, I was immediately reminded that things in Israel are not yet OK. The exuberance I had felt earlier that day in the synagogue was replaced by a sense of unease and a disconcerting feeling that life in Israel is anything but normal in our post-Oct. 7 world.

Reminders of the hostages’ horrific ordeal are everywhere. The all-too-familiar hostage posters are still ubiquitous — in the airport when you arrive in Israel and on city streets throughout the country. One sign, which was particularly powerful, had photos of two male hostages and a question in large, red Hebrew letters: What if this was your father? The message was clear: We need to do everything in our power to bring the hostages home.

At a concert that I attended in Tel Aviv featuring Ishay Ribo, the famous Israeli singer-songwriter, the largest ovation of the night came when Ribo welcomed to the stage Moran Stella Yanai, who was abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7 and held hostage for 54 days. Watching them light the second Chanukah candle together was an emotional moment which I will not easily forget.

As I contemplated the current situation and ruminated on the fact that too many of our brothers and sisters have been held captive for approximately 450 days, it was impossible not to think of the brave men and women of the IDF who put their lives on the line every day to protect Israel and its citizens. It is the IDF soldiers who are literally on the front lines and making tremendous sacrifices on behalf of Jews both in Israel and around the world. It is our soldiers who are selflessly risking everything for others.

One of the highlights of my trip took place in an unlikely location: the Ofer Prison, where terror suspects in Israeli custody are detained. My family, together with my daughter-in-law’s family and some others, helped sponsor and organize a barbecue for the soldiers housed at the base located on the prison grounds. The goal was to not only thank the soldiers for their incredible service but also to provide a bit of respite from the countless challenges they face in the course of their military duties.

As several hundred soldiers gathered on the first night of Chanukah in the large tent that serves as their dining hall, I had the privilege of lighting the first Chanukah candle and leading them in the brachot, which was followed by festive singing in conjunction with the holiday. My children helped give out cards to the soldiers that were prepared by the middle school students at my wife’s school, which were thank you cards and messages wishing the soldiers a happy Chanukah. Aside from the cards, we also distributed chocolate Chanukah gelt, a staple of the holiday.

In addition to the sumptuous feast that volunteers prepared for the soldiers, which included fresh sufganiyot, the traditional doughnuts that are consumed on Chanukah, which were fried on site, we also brought in a DJ to augment the celebratory atmosphere and enable the soldiers to further enjoy themselves. As upbeat Israeli music filled the air, we danced together with the soldiers, all of whom thoroughly enjoyed the impromptu dance party.

At the end of the evening, numerous soldiers came up to us to express their thanks for what had been a magical night. At the same time, we thanked the soldiers and offered them our deepest gratitude for everything they have done and continue to do for our people and our Jewish homeland. We exchanged hugs and heartfelt thanks and left that night feeling fortunate that we were able to give the soldiers a Chanukah gift that they truly relished.

My trip was essentially a dizzying emotional roller coaster, with the moments between concern and contemplation and pleasure and positivity waxing and waning at a seemingly frenetic pace. The fact is that witnessing the resolve of the Israeli people — whether it be soldiers, civilians or families of the hostages — was inspiring. Yes, we are still facing incredible challenges on multiple fronts. Yet the reality is that through our faith and fortitude we will ultimately prevail.

As He Prepares to Bid Farewell, Sen. Ben Cardin Reflects on Over a Half-Century of Public Service

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the December 19, 2024, editions of the Washington Jewish Week, Philadelphia Jewish Exponent and Baltimore Jewish Times:

Sen. Ben Cardin
(Courtesy of Office of Sen. Ben Cardin)

There are noticeable signs that change is in the air. Moving boxes are visible and there are empty spaces on some of the walls where photos had been hung. Yet the mood in Sen. Ben Cardin’s office is anything but glum. In fact, there’s a sense of buoyancy even though Cardin’s time as a U.S. senator from Maryland is coming to an end.

The sense of optimism comes right from the top — from Cardin himself. The longtime senator’s warm smile and gregarious demeanor set the tone and infuses his office with the feeling that anything is possible. And as one of the highest-ranking Jewish lawmakers in the nation, Cardin proudly wears his Judaism on his sleeve and embraces it at every turn.

For Cardin, a Baltimore native and graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law who has served in elected office for 58 years, including tenures in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and Maryland House of Delegates, public service and helping others is ingrained in his DNA.

Even before seeking elected office, Cardin was engaged in student government and fraternity life and was deeply involved in politics at the University of Pittsburgh as an undergraduate student in the early 1960s.

Noting that his family always has Shabbat dinners together, Cardin remarked that “there are interesting conversations that take place at our Shabbat dinners, and politics was very much part of it growing up.”

Cardin’s decision to pursue a career in politics largely stemmed from a family legacy of public service. His father and uncle were members of the Maryland state legislature and his father was also a Circuit Court judge. “I worked polling places from the time I can remember and attended political meetings with my father from a very young age,” he said.

In addition to political involvement, Cardin’s parents were both involved in Jewish communal activities. His mother was very active in Hadassah and his father was involved in Jewish National Fund, Israel Bonds and the Zionist Organization of America.

As he sets to depart the Senate after 18 years, Cardin ruminated on how the Senate has evolved as an institution during his tenure.

“The collegial atmosphere among senators has remained strong,” he said. “I’ve always had close relations with almost all the members of the United States Senate — not all, but most — and that includes Republicans and Democrats, and have had working relations with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get major bills enacted. But the partisan division of our nation has also been reflected in the way that the Senate operates. So more and more of the agenda is set on a partisan basis, rather than on a collegial basis, on a collaborative basis, and that’s unfortunate.”

Cardin lamented the fact that there are less opportunities to bring issues to the Senate floor for a vote, vigorously debate those issues, and then vote on them accordingly.

Referring to that “great tradition of the United States Senate when I started,” Cardin said he finds the “actions … by both parties to restrict the opportunities for votes on the floor of the United States Senate … to be regrettable.”

He pointed to the use of the filibuster as something that has become an obstacle to advancing legislation in the Senate.

“The use of the filibuster has been abused by both Democrats and Republicans, and it now becomes almost a foregone conclusion that you need 60 votes on every issue,” Cardin said. “It shouldn’t be that way. The routine business of the United States Senate should be done by majority vote. It should not require 60 votes.”

Despite his concerns about several of the changes in the Senate’s parliamentary procedures, Cardin was quick to reiterate that notwithstanding the political divisions that exist, bipartisanship remains an integral part of his work, even telling a story about his bar mitzvah to illustrate his family’s history of working across the political aisle.

“Maryland has a proud history of Democratic and Republican leadership. … Theodore McKeldin [former governor of Maryland and former mayor of Baltimore], a Republican, was a dear friend of our family and actually helped my father politically. He attended my bar mitzvah. It was the only time that Rabbi [Samuel] Rosenblatt at Beth Tfiloh allowed the doors to be opened in the middle of his sermon so the governor could walk in. I’ll never forget that moment.”

Sen. Ben Cardin during an official visit to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria, on July 6, 2021. (Photo credit: wikicommons/IAEA Imagebank)

On Dec. 10, Cardin took to the Senate floor to deliver a farewell speech to his Senate colleagues, Marylanders and the American public.

“I come to the floor today to say ‘goodbye,’ as difficult as this may be,” he said. “Let me thank Marylanders for giving me your trust to represent you in this august body. You have supported me in 18 elections. The Hebrew letter for 18 is ‘chai,’ which also means life. Fifty-eight years of my life.

“In my family, I was taught from a young age that it’s our responsibility to make the world a better place — tikkun olam, repair the world — and help those who are less fortunate and are in need — tzedakah, charity,” Cardin said in his Senate address. “These principles were demonstrated to me by the communal activities of my parents. Their principles, these values, have been my North Star that have guided my public service as a legislator.”

Cardin’s speech touched on some of his proudest accomplishments as an elected official, including legislation focusing on seniors, health care and the Chesapeake Bay.

In an interview, Cardin expanded on his legislative achievements and spoke about some additional monumental moments in his storied career, citing the enactment of the first ethics bill that he led as speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates and his work in the House of Representatives on behalf of Soviet Jewry and human rights globally. He also spoke with pride about his work to fight antisemitism and representing the U.S. at the Berlin Conference on Anti-Semitism in 2004, as well as his efforts to counter the BDS movement, which he noted was “started by those who are very much anti-Israel and antisemitic.”

Jewish values play an integral role in Cardin’s life and truly define who he is as a person and how he and his wife Myrna raised their family. Referring to the importance of giving to others, Cardin said his family “always talked about tzedakah — not only what we could do to help, but also giving money.”

“It was expected that part of our money as I grew up was going to go into a tzedakah box, and we talked about where we wanted that money to go,” he said. “To this day, every Friday night, we give money to tzedakah, and we talk about, as a family, where we would like that money to go. So, tzedakah was always part of our family. … This is a crazy world, we recognize that, but we have a lot to be thankful for, and we know that others are not as fortunate, and we can help them.”

One of Cardin’s passions is foreign policy and he has been at the center of a multitude of foreign policy issues in his capacity as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including those concerning Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and Syria. Cardin spoke about the need to counter autocratic countries that govern through the use of force, calling the U.S. “the beacon of that opportunity” to counter rogue nations and noting that the U.S. must consider “how do we promote our values with reliable alliances?”

Among the issues on which he been especially active and vocal is Israel and the importance of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.

Cardin expressed his profound disappointment with recent efforts by some lawmakers to condition aid to Israel, and even withhold aid to Israel, while Israel is facing battles against several enemies on multiple fronts simultaneously.

“I think those efforts are misguided. I strongly oppose them,” Cardin declared emphatically. “As chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I led successful efforts on the floor of the United States Senate to oppose those types of efforts, and we won by overwhelming majorities. … It’s misguided because it misses the point that Israel is a strong, democratic country that has a special relationship with the United States because of those values … because it’s the only democratic state in the Middle East. It’s a country that we can rely upon for intelligence information, for sharing military strategies, technology. So, that special relationship benefits not just Israel but the United States.

“I don’t agree with everything that the prime minister of Israel is doing,” Cardin said. “I think the prime minister needed to be more strategic in dealing with the use of his military force as it relates to civilian casualties. And I think that we all, including Israel and the United States, need to do more for humanitarian assistance for innocent people who have been hurt by the military campaign. But it does not at all affect my strong belief that the United States has to stand side by side with Israel and has to make sure they have everything they need to defend themselves, and that the villain in this is not the prime minister or Israel — it’s Hamas and Iran — and that we have to focus that spotlight and can’t be distracted. These votes had nothing to do with Israel or with the plight of the Palestinians; it had everything to do with Israel’s ability to defend itself moving forward. And that’s why I say it was misplaced. And I just think it was the wrong message. And I’m glad that the overwhelming majority, including the majority of both parties, opposed those resolutions.”

Sen. Ben Cardin at the groundbreaking of Red Run Overlook, a mixed-income residential community in Owings Mills, Maryland, on Nov. 1, 2018. (Photo credit: wikicommons/Baltimore County Government)

When it comes to addressing the rise of antisemitism and the isolation of Israel globally, Cardin has consistently been at the forefront of these issues.

“People really do not have a good grip of history,” he said. “They don’t know the circumstances. They don’t recognize the risk factors that Israelis confront every day. They lose sight of the fact that Hamas took hostages, which is outrageous to start off with, and has not released them, which is even more outrageous, executing some. It’s horrible what Hamas has done. And yet they put a focus on Israel. The focus should be on Hamas and should be on the terrorists.”

“Take a look at the United Nations Human Rights Council prior to Oct. 7,” Cardin added. “The only standing issue they have is Israel? There is such international bias against Israel, a lot of it rooted in antisemitism. I find that good people fall prey to disinformation and follow these individuals who are just trying to promote antisemitism and isolation of Israel, and that’s frustrating. So yes, I’ll speak out against those efforts.”

Cardin is a student of history who believes in the power of government to help people and he wants to use his extensive experience to help new and future elected officials understand what government service is all about and what their primary areas of focus should be.

“First, I would tell them to be learned,” he said. “What I mean by that is to understand history, to try to be as knowledgeable as you possibly can about issues, to guard against disinformation. Secondly, I would urge them to listen, particularly to people who may have different views, because we all can learn from that type of participation. And third, I would suggest that we always practice civility.

“Understand how the system works,” he added. “Know how you can participate in it, be knowledgeable, but always act with civility, and then be willing to compromise, not your principles or your values, but compromise in order to get results done. … We can come up with better solutions when we listen to each other and take the best information available, and those solutions will be more long-lasting if we have broader consensus in developing them.”

(Photo credit: wikicommons/MDGovpics)

As for his postretirement plans, Cardin indicated that he is still working on figuring that out, despite the impending conclusion of his Senate term.

“My colleagues who have gone through this, the one consistent advice I get from every one of those colleagues is not to make commitments for a period of time … take a little bit of time before you make those judgments. But I want to follow my passion, and I want to stay active. … And my passion, quite frankly, deals with foreign policy, it deals with the environment, it deals with good governance. So, those are the areas that I would like to be able to pursue and I hope I’ll have the opportunity to do that.”

As Cardin prepares to leave the Senate and step away from elected office after well over a half-century, he has no regrets.

“Certainly, there are mountains I’ve yet to conquer that I would like to have conquered. … But generally, I am extremely proud of what I’ve been able to get done and have no regrets about leaving the United States Senate from the point of view of leaving unfinished business that I think I could have done more to accomplish.”

The WJW Podcast: A Conversation With Ambassador John Bolton (12/19/24)

Ambassador John Bolton, a former national security advisor and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has spent many years in public service and served in high-level positions for several U.S. presidents.

Bolton, who has written several books, is a well-known and well-respected commentator who offers insightful and informative perspectives on some of the complex issues facing our nation and our world. 

On the WJW Podcast, Bolton spoke about the U.S.-Israel relationship, Syria, Iran, the hostages in Gaza, the U.N., and President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks.

Star Power in Philly in Support of Israel’s National Emergency Medical Response Organization

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the November 28, 2024, edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent:

Lior Raz of the hit Netflix series “Fauda” speaks with Emily Austin in Philadelphia on Nov. 21.
(Photo credit: Jack Hartzman/Washington Talent)

The hit Netflix series “Fauda” drew widespread acclaim when it debuted nearly a decade ago. The action-packed show, which has aired four thrill-filled seasons thus far, chronicles the adventures of an elite Israeli counterterrorism unit that conducts covert missions that often keep viewers at the edge of their seats. Fauda’s leading star, Lior Raz, not only plays the main character, Doron Kabilio, he also co-wrote and co-produced the popular series.

Raz was one of the headliners at a Nov. 21 event in Philadelphia to benefit American Friends of Magen Adom, the American arm of Israel’s national emergency services organization. A crowd of approximately 225 came to pay tribute to several well-deserved honorees — Hilary Sennett, Jim Showers and Gershon Trimpol — and support an organization whose sole mission is saving lives.

The event was emceed by Emily Austin, a TV personality who has extensive experience interviewing athletes and stars in the entertainment industry. With a social media following of over two million, Austin has become a well-known influencer who often speaks about her strong support for Israel and the importance of combatting antisemitism.

In an interview with the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, Austin, who became an Israeli citizen the week before Oct. 7, 2023, talked about why she feels it’s so important to be outspoken in support of the Jewish state.

“I consider myself an advocate for the truth and for what’s right … I always take the moral high ground,” Austin said. “And I find it really unfortunate that everyone’s on the same page, except when it comes to the Jews. Christians can have a country. Muslims can have a country … But when it comes to the Jewish people, after enduring a massacre, the world turns a blind eye, or even worse, sides with evil. So, I’m just trying to open people’s eyes.

“I go by a saying — don’t tell people they’re wrong but show them why you’re right. And I believe Israel has so many ‘rights’ to show the world that we have, and if I can be the one to show them the truth, then what an honor,” she added.

As for her huge social media following, Austin doesn’t shy away from using her platform to voice her pro-Israel views.

“I’m very blessed to have a platform that’s not preaching to the echo chamber of Jewish people who already support Israel. I work in sports. I work in entertainment. And I would even argue that my audience is mostly non-Jews. And … I don’t want to be proselytizing. I don’t want to shove Israel down your throat to the point that it’s nauseating, like the pro-Palestinians do. They shut down bridges and tunnels and they make you almost nauseated by the cause. I try to show a positive light and the truth without completely overwhelming my [social media] feed with it — like I know you follow me for sports, and you’re still going to get it. But I also love Israel, and I’m going to show you why I love Israel. And I think I try to balance the two.”

American Friends of Magen David Adom CEO Catherine Reed introduced one of the evening’s honorees, Gershon Trimpol, noting that Trimpol, who serves as chairman of the International Magen David Adom Committee and vice president of American Friends of Magen David Adom, has 26 years of experience working with the organization.

As he addressed the crowd, Trimpol, a resident of Southampton, quoted the famous Talmudic passage “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh” (All Jews are responsible for each other), noting that “few organizations embody that principle more than Magen David Adom.”

In addition to Magen David Adom’s efforts to supply blood to the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli hospitals, Trimpol underscored the Herculean efforts of the organization’s first responders.

“The heart and soul of Magen David Adom are its paramedics,” he said. “On Oct. 7, while others were running from the danger, the brave paramedics of Magen David Adom ran into the danger to help others.”

Attendees watched an emotional video that spotlighted the bravery of Magen David Adom paramedics as they responded to various terrorist attacks, including Oct. 7 and in July 2024, when a rocket hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a city in northern Israel, which left 12 children dead.

During the event, Sue and Bruce Epstein of Margate City, New Jersey, stood up and pledged to make a sizable donation that Magen David Adom could use to buy a new ambulance for its fleet in Israel, drawing applause from the crowd.

Ambassador Gilad Erdan, left, Emily Austin, center, and Gershon Trimpol, right, at an event for American Friends of Magen David Adom on Nov. 21. (Photo credit: Jack Hartzman/Washington Talent)

The evening’s keynote speaker was Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who assumed the role of global president of Magen David Adom in September 2024. Prior to his new role, Erdan served for four years as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, where he vigorously defended Israel on the world stage. Erdan also served as a member of Knesset for 17 years and had a tenure as Israel’s ambassador to the United States.

In an interview with the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, Erdan spoke about the challenges currently facing Israel and the heightened role that Magen David Adom plays post-Oct. 7.

“Our enemies know that they cannot defeat the IDF. You see what’s happening in Gaza and Lebanon — we are destroying them. So, what’s their strategy? It’s a twofold strategy. They are focused on attacking our civilians … They want to terrorize our kids, frighten them, make sure that they maybe drive us out of our homeland in fear for the long term,” Erdan said. “And then the other part, how do they plan to survive? They are trying to exploit my last battlefield, the U.N., to pressure us to a cease-fire, to tie our hands, to portray us as baby killers. So, this is why it’s twofold. Now focusing on the civilian side, they’re attacking the home front. As [there are] many more people that they will be able to kill there, it most likely will succeed to terrorize our citizens.”

Erdan cited those challenges to make the case that Magen David Adom is indispensable.

“The Israeli resilience, it is dependent on us [Magen David Adom]. So yes, I believe that the Jewish world came to the understanding that of course the IDF is the most important organization, but other than the IDF, when it comes to the first responders like Magen David Adom … we cannot afford for Magen David Adom not to be the No. 1 emergency medical service in the world. I feel that the Jewish communities really came to this understanding, and they’re behind us.

“There’s only one national organization in Israel, which is Magen David Adom — this is the emergency national organization that is obligated to supply services everywhere, be it rural areas, Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights. We are the ones that the resilience of Israel is dependent upon,” Erdan added.

Erdan had much to say about what sort of strategies could be employed to try and counter the anti-Israel animus that is prevalent at international bodies such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, which recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of “crimes against humanity” relating to the war in Gaza.

“Always be on the offensive. That’s what I did at the U.N. — never be apologetic. I knew I represented the most moral military and country in the world, so I exposed their lies, their hypocrisy,” Erdan said. “I need to preserve our allies’ support for us, and that’s what we’re doing by always being there on the offensive, fighting and exposing the lies.”

In his remarks to the audience, Erdan focused on the threat posed by the U.N. to Israel, opening with a line that drew laughs from the Philly crowd.

“It’s really great for me to be here in Philadelphia, a city that cherishes so much both liberty and loyalty, though I must confess that being here during Eagles’ season without being an Eagles fan feels almost as lonely as defending Israel at the U.N.,” he said.

“Today, dear friends, the U.N. is not just biased, it’s a weapon in the terrorist arsenal to help them survive,” Erdan said. “What would the U.N.’s founders say if they saw their creation today, an institution founded after the Holocaust to prevent genocide has been hijacked by those who plot it?”

Erdan noted that although Israel represents less than one-tenth of 1% of the world’s population, it receives 70% of the U.N.’s condemnations every year. “We receive more condemnations than Syria, Russia, North Korea, and Iran combined,” he said.

After declaring that the “U.N. has become a stain on humanity,” citing the U.N.’s $75 billion annual budget and noting that the United States, as the biggest funder of the U.N., is “literally financing an institution controlled by dictators that works against our values,” Erdan emphatically declared that “the time has come for us to understand that the U.N. is lost” and stated that, “The U.N. must be defunded. Completely defunded,” which drew rousing applause from the crowd.

Referring to Magen David Adom, Erdan painted a far more positive and promising picture than he did when speaking about the U.N.

“We are in the life-saving business. It’s sometimes very hard, very sad, very challenging, but the future is bright, I promise you … Our sages, as you know, teach us that whoever saves even one life, it is as if they saved an entire world. So many lives have been saved, thanks to you. So many worlds have been saved, thanks to you … I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Erdan said, asserting that “a stronger Magen David Adom means a stronger Israel.”

The crowd watched excitedly as Raz and Austin engaged in an armchair conversation, in which Austin interviewed the “Fauda” star about his upbringing and the hit series.

Noting that his father was born in Iraq and his mother was born in Algeria, Raz said that Arabic was frequently spoken in his home. Raz’s father served in Shin Bet, Israel’s security agency, and Raz’s military service consisted of service in Duvdevan, an elite counterterrorism unit.

“What you’ve seen in ‘Fauda’ is what I used to do,” Raz said, referring to his time in the IDF.

After his army service, Raz said he went to the United States, where he served as a bodyguard to Arnold Schwarzenegger and actress Nastassja Kinski. He then returned to Israel and began pursuing an acting career. Raz, who was experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder following his IDF service, eventually met journalist Avi Issacharoff. Together, Raz and Issacharoff began writing the script that ultimately became “Fauda.”

“So many things that you see in ‘Fauda’ are from our real lives,” Raz said, referring to Issacharoff and himself.

Event organizers said it was a successful evening for Magen David Adom, which Erdan proudly referred to as “the backbone of Israel’s resilience.”

Israel, the United States and Lebanon

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the November 14, 2024, edition of the Washington Jewish Week:

As Israel continues defending itself against the Hezbollah threat emanating from Lebanon and the United States explores ways to help defuse the conflict, I cannot help but think of another time — 41 years ago — when these three countries were linked in conjunction with an incident that became ingrained in the psyches of many Americans.

In this month’s installment of “Remember When,” we look back at our issue from the week of Oct. 27–Nov. 2, 1983, when a story by Wolf Blitzer titled “U.S. refuses Israeli aid for Marines” appeared on the front page.

In the aftermath of the deadly bombing on Oct. 23, 1983, in which a suicide bomber killed 241 U.S. servicemembers at the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, the Israeli government offered the U.S. access to Israeli hospitals in relative proximity to the attack in order to help treat those wounded in the terrorist attack. According to Blitzer’s article, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Arens was “extremely disappointed” that the Reagan administration rebuffed Israel’s offer, choosing instead to fly the wounded servicemembers to medical facilities in West Germany and Italy, which were much farther away from the Israeli hospitals.

The article noted that Israel also offered the U.S. “sophisticated bulldozer and engineering equipment to help remove the rubble,” yet that offer was similarly rejected. The U.S. did accept “plastic bag covers for the bodies of the Marines” from Israel, according to the article.

Blitzer offered some context for the reasons behind the United States’ rejection of Israel’s offer of assistance.

“U.S. officials suggested that Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and some others were still extremely sensitive to any military or strategic relationship with Israel that was publicly seen as too close. Such steps, he is said to fear, would upset America’s friends in the Arab world.”

Officially, the White House said, “the U.S. deeply appreciated the Israeli offers for assistance but found they were not really necessary,” noting that “The Pentagon’s contingency procedures for the removal of the injured soldiers worked well.”

The article went on to quote President Ronald Reagan, who said the deadly attack was “a horrifying reminder of the type of enemy we face in many critical areas of the world today — vicious, cowardly and ruthless.”

Fast-forward to today’s post-Oct. 7 world, in which Hezbollah’s constant bombardment of northern Israel has led to the displacement of Israelis from their homes and forced Israel to undertake a military operation in Lebanon in an effort to neutralize Hezbollah’s relentless attacks. The U.S. is playing a central role in seeking an end to the current conflict, and it regularly meets with Israeli and Lebanese officials in pursuit of a peace agreement.

Second Gentleman Visits Montgomery County To Mobilize Jewish Voters

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the October 17, 2024, edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent:

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff at a Get Out the Jewish Vote event in Narberth on Oct. 13.
(Photo by Aaron Troodler)

With Pennsylvania playing a pivotal role in the upcoming presidential election, each campaign is making a concerted effort to mobilize voters. Montgomery County, with its sizable Jewish population, figures prominently into the equation, and the Harris and Trump campaigns are making their respective cases to local Jewish community members in the hopes of winning their support.

It was against that backdrop that approximately 175 people gathered in the Social Hall in Narberth Borough Hall on Sunday morning, Oct. 13, for a “Get Out the Jewish Vote” event organized by Kamala Harris’ campaign, which featured Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

As attendees munched on bagels and sipped coffee, upbeat music, including “Eye of the Tiger” and “Born in the USA,” played on the sound system as the excitement built while the crowd awaited the arrival of the campaign’s special guests.

Katie and Frank McGlade of Ardmore have been following Kamala Harris’ career since she was elected to the Senate.

“She’s a tough inquisitor and she holds people accountable, and that’s why we’re voting for her,” Katie McGlade said in an interview. “This community is predominantly Jewish, and we feel very strongly that our community needs the right leadership.”

“In a race that’s a statistical dead heat, every single vote counts,” added Frank McGlade.

“I’m honored that they wanted to come and make sure we understand that the Harris campaign is very pro-Israel and is very protective of Israel’s right to exist and defend itself,” said Andrea Deutsch, who is the first Jewish mayor of Narberth, in an interview. “I’m very confident that the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz administration will do the right thing on behalf of the people of Israel. As a Jewish mayor and a Jewish citizen, I’m very comfortable with how they would represent us.”

Ellie Goluboff-Schragger, president of the Penn Dems, addressed the audience, as did Eva Wyner, the Harris campaign’s director for Jewish outreach for Pennsylvania, who noted that “the path to the presidency runs through PA,” adding that she attended preschool and had her bat mitzvah at the Kaiserman JCC and graduated from Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy.

Comedian and actor Alex Edelman then addressed the crowd, along with composer Benj Pasek. They were followed by actor Ben Stiller, who exhorted the crowd to get out and vote and to “tell our friends to vote.”

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., who wore a yellow ribbon on his lapel in support of the hostages, began his remarks by referencing Oct. 7.

“This has been a very difficult year for the Jewish community … We hope that this will be a good, sweet year where we can find peace and the hostages are returned,” said the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“I very much appreciate what she [Harris] and Doug [Emhoff] have done in bringing our Jewish traditions to the American public to understand our love of Judaism,” Cardin said. “They have taken our Jewish values, tikkun olam, to make this world a better place, and those have been their values.”

Cardin spoke about the efforts of the Biden-Harris administration and Emhoff to combat antisemitism and discussed Harris’ “commitment to the special relationship between Israel and the United States.”

“Since Oct. 7, she’s made it clear that Israel needs the support of the United States and that the United States has Israel’s back. She has said over and over again that Israel will get whatever it needs to defend itself from Hamas in Gaza, or Hezbollah in Lebanon, or the Houthis in the Red Sea, or Iran and its proxies … She recognizes that the United States will stand strong, must stand strong, with Israel.”

Jewish voters show support for the Harris-Walz ticket at an event in Narberth on Oct. 13.
(Photo by Aaron Troodler)

Emhoff’s presence at the event generated a lot of excitement.

“To me, this ticket with Kamala, and Doug being her husband, represents what America is supposed to be like. It’s like the ultimate melting pot,” Adrian Seltzer of Wynnewood said in an interview.

“It’s exciting,” Karin Fox of Narberth said in an interview about the prospect of Emhoff becoming the first Jewish first spouse if Harris is elected. “Of course, it’s exciting to have somebody Jewish in the White House. It’s awesome.”

Emhoff’s appearance at the event came on his 60th birthday, and as he took the stage, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday,” followed by “Yom Huledet Sameach.”

“I stand before you as the first Jewish principal ever in the White House, hopefully going to be the first first gentleman, the first Jewish first gentleman,” Emhoff said before turning to the one-year anniversary of Oct. 7.

“These weeks are heavy, but when you have Oct. 7 fall within the High Holidays for the first time, it just made this time particularly heavy, meaningful, emotional, raw … So many of us still feel this rawness, this rage, these emotions that will never go away,” he said.

Emhoff discussed some of the ways he and Harris marked one year since the Hamas attacks on Israel.

“Very meaningfully, the vice president and I planted a pomegranate tree to honor the victims, the pain, the hostages, but also as an act of hope, an act of resilience, something that’s permanent, something that’s going to stay at that residence [the vice president’s official residence] forever.”

Actor Ben Stiller speaks at the Oct. 13 event in Narberth.
(Photo by Aaron Troodler)

Emhoff spoke extensively about Harris’ connections to, and efforts on behalf of, the Jewish community.

“All the work that I’ve done fighting against antisemitism, which led to a national strategy to counter antisemitism, all the work that I’ve done since Oct. 7 and will continue to do, this is because of her.”

“She goes way back with the Jewish community, including in her childhood, when she used to collect money in those little blue boxes that some of us remember,” he said, ostensibly referring to the iconic Jewish National Fund tzedakah boxes. “She was doing that as a kid.”

“She knows how important Israel is to us and to me,” Emhoff said, noting that Harris “was the one who put the kippah on my head while we visited the Old City [of Jerusalem] for the first time.”

“She has been working relentlessly on the release of the hostages … she’s not going to rest until all the hostages are released and home … She’s always going to support Israel and its right to defend itself, especially as it fights Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and whatever else comes its way. She’s going to be there for them.”

In an interview, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) noted that she has “been up to Pennsylvania a couple of times for multiple days” to campaign for Harris and stated she believes that “the overwhelming majority of Jews will vote for Kamala Harris.”

“The reason I’m here in Pennsylvania instead of in Florida is because I feel so strongly about making sure that she becomes president of the United States because I’m a Zionist, because I’m a Jew, because I represent a district in Congress that has a large Jewish population, and I’m raising Jewish children, two of whom are in college,” Wasserman Schultz said. “So, if I want to make sure that we have someone we can count on in the White House, who’s going to have Israel’s back and who’s truly going to fight antisemitism because she not only talks about it but has done it, then it’s important that we make sure that we commit to, and put skin in the game, to help get Kamala Harris elected.”

A Resolute Voice for Israel in the US

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the October 10, 2024, edition of the Washington Jewish Week:

Ambassador Michael Herzog
marking Yom HaZikaron,
Israel’s Memorial Day.
Photo by Shmulik Almany.

Service to the state of Israel is the Herzog family business. It’s therefore no surprise that Michael Herzog, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, has committed himself to representing Israel in Washington, D.C., throughout the U.S. and around the world.

His father, Chaim Herzog, was the sixth president of Israel. His grandfather, Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, served as the chief rabbi of Israel from 1936-1959. His uncle, Abba Eban, served as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, ambassador to the U.S. and Israel’s foreign minister. Another uncle, Yaacov Herzog, served as Israel’s ambassador to Canada. His younger brother, Isaac Herzog, currently serves as Israel’s 11th president.

“I’m very proud to be part of that family. I’m very proud of that heritage,” Ambassador Michael Herzog said, noting that “it also comes with responsibility.”

“We were all educated on public service, so most of our family members have been in public service in one capacity or another. We could have all gone into business or do other things, but we decided to devote our careers to public service and to me, representing the Jewish state here in America, our closest ally, is a big privilege.”

A retired brigadier general in the Israel Defense Forces, Herzog’s military service also includes a tenure as head of the IDF’s Strategic Planning Division, deputy head of the Strategic Planning Division and a member of the Intelligence Corps. Additionally, Herzog served in several senior roles in Israel’s Ministry of Defense.

Ever since his appointment as Israel’s ambassador to the United States in 2021 by then Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Herzog has been a resolute and respected voice for the state of Israel in the U.S. and beyond.

Like all Israelis, Herzog has been deeply touched by the barbaric attacks carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7, and he agonizes over the fact that Hamas is still holding 101 hostages one year later, some of whom already lost their lives.

“This is a very big issue and a very high priority,” he said, referring to the hostages. “We all understand that every day that passes by endangers their lives … We have to do our utmost to release them as soon as possible.”

Herzog spoke about the Israeli government’s continuing efforts to bring the hostages home, noting that “we’ve been working very closely with the U.S. administration about this.”

After discussing the various proposals that have been put forth to bring about a resolution, including the United States’ “final bridging proposal” in mid-August that Israel endorsed, Herzog stated that “Hamas is still not on board with the U.S. framework.”

Notwithstanding Hamas’ reluctance to reach an agreement, Herzog said Israel will keep doing whatever is necessary to secure the hostages’ release.

“I strongly believe this is an open wound in our society and remains so for as long as they are there and don’t get back home. It’s a very big and painful issue. But we are committed and doing what we can to bring about a deal.”

Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah has intensified significantly over the past several weeks, including the elimination of Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, and multiple efforts to neutralize the serious threat that Israel faces from its neighbors to the north.

In discussing the current circumstances, Herzog was quick to put the situation into what he called “the right context.”

“Hamas launched war on Israel on Oct. 7, and Hezbollah started firing on Oct. 8 in an unprovoked manner,” he said. “We didn’t provoke them. We didn’t take action against them. They just decided being part of the Iranian axis, that they want to support Hamas in Gaza and open fire.”

Referring to Hezbollah, Herzog said “they’ve been firing on a daily basis into Israel.”

“As a result of what they’ve done, tens of thousands of Israelis, over 60,000, had to leave their homes in northern Israel. Part of the area is deserted. You have ghost towns there. And this is an intolerable situation that no sovereign country can agree to accept. It infringes on our sovereignty and the ability of people to live their normal lives in their own country.”

As Herzog spoke about the people who had to flee the north due to the incessant rocket attacks from Lebanon and discussed Israel’s decision to increase the military pressure on Hezbollah, he emphasized that “people have to understand we did not start this war, and we cannot, will not, allow ourselves to remain in that situation for a very long time. We owe it to our citizens.”

Ambassador Michael Herzog visiting Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel after the
Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack. Courtesy of Embassy of Israel in Washington.

As Israel battles Hezbollah on the northern front, the fight against Hamas in Gaza rages on. According to Herzog, Israel’s ongoing war with a terrorist organization whose primary objective is the destruction of the Jewish state is achieving many of its military and strategic goals.

“After Oct. 7, when we were shaping our response to that invasion, Israel defined three major goals for Gaza. The first was to destroy the Hamas military machine that attacked us. The second was to, of course, release the hostages, and then to prevent a situation where Gaza can threaten Israel in the future, meaning we have to remove Hamas from power and seal the border with Egypt and make sure that either Hamas or anybody else in Gaza cannot regroup and pose a threat again and again. They themselves said that, if possible, they would like to carry out an Oct. 7-like attack again and again and again. That was our goal,” Herzog said.

“We have been very successful militarily,” he added, noting that Israel “dismantled almost all, I would say, of their organized force … an army of terror.”

While acknowledging that there “are still quite a few armed people in Gaza,” Herzog said, “We secured for ourselves freedom of action so we can go in and out whenever we see a terror or military threat in Gaza.”

“Now we have to implement the other goals, which are to release the hostages and to make sure that Gaza as an entity can no longer threaten Israel,” he said. “We have taken the corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border, and we are working on plans for what people call ‘the day after,’ meaning a transition to a post-Hamas Gaza, in which Gaza will be governed by local Palestinians with some kind of a regional, international umbrella. And in order to implement such a plan, you had to bring Hamas to a breaking point militarily, so that they cannot destroy whatever you try to build there. But we are nearing a point where I think we can present a plan and advance it with the U.S. government and with regional and international partners.”

As the world marks one year since Oct. 7, Herzog reflected on the horrific events that led to one of the darkest days in Israel’s history.

Recognizing that “we in Israel have to do a lot of soul-searching about what happened and how come we were surprised,” Herzog looked back at what has happened over the past year from a broader context and a strategic perspective.

“We found ourselves thrown into a situation, a challenge of existential dimensions, not because Hamas in and of itself threatens the existence of Israel, but because Hamas is part of the Iranian axis, and we have been confronted not only by Hamas in Gaza, but by the whole axis,” he said.

Herzog noted that Israel is now challenged on multiple fronts, including Lebanon, the Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen and Iran, which carried out an unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel in April 2023 and fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Oct. 1.

“On top of all of that, there is an international front, an international campaign against the Jewish state and the Jewish people to delegitimize Israel or question the right of the Jewish people to self-determination and to question, to criminalize, the right of the Jewish state to self-defense,” he said.

“Essentially, that’s what we are facing, and everybody has to wake up and understand,” Herzog added. “My own simplistic summary of what happened over the past year is that Hamas hit us to the point of bleeding, and our enemies smelled the blood and banded against us. That explains how come, hours after Oct. 7, there was an eruption of such an unprecedented wave of antisemitism. Think about it, the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust sparks an eruption of antisemitic waves. How can you explain that? And that was weeks before we launched our ground operation in Gaza. Nobody can say that is because of what we were doing in Gaza. So, I think we have to look reality straight in the eye and understand that and internalize that.”

Ambassador Michael Herzog lighting a memorial candle at the Israeli Embassy
in Washington, D.C. Courtesy of Embassy of Israel in Washington.

Over the past three decades, Herzog has played a pivotal role in Israel’s efforts to pursue peace agreements with Israel’s Arab neighbors. In 2020, we saw the birth of the Abraham Accords, which resulted in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan establishing ties with Israel. At the time, there was a sense of optimism that perhaps more Arab nations might normalize relations with Israel. Yet additional peace agreements failed to materialize, and last month, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declared that Saudi Arabia would not recognize Israel without a Palestinian state.

However, Herzog remains optimistic and is proud of what has been accomplished thus far, despite some bumps in the road.

“If you look at the balance of what happened over the last year since Oct. 7 in terms of our relations with the region, with our new Abraham Accords partners and others in the region, I think you see a mixed picture, where on the one hand, because of the war and the political pressures and the pressures of public opinion, a lot of things slowed down between us and our peace partners and neighbors. There was a lot of eruption of public sentiment against Israel because of what they see on TV. And some projects were put on hold, and multilateral fora which we established before the war were frozen.

“At the same time, let’s not forget that all the peace agreements that we have withstood the pressures of this war — all of them. That below the radar there is a lot of cooperation on many issues, including security cooperation, because we all share similar interests, first and foremost against Iran, the biggest destabilizing force in the region.”

According to Herzog, “the fact that these countries now have relations with Israel also has enabled and enables them to play a role in Gaza,” whether it be related to humanitarian aid or serving as likely partners in helping to shape the post-Hamas Gaza.

As for Saudi Arabia, Herzog said, “the door for a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia is still open … There are several conditions that the Saudis need for that to happen, but it’s still open. It’s not closed. It would be a major game-changer in the region.”

As he serves as Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Herzog is acutely aware of the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship and part of his role is helping to successfully navigate the hyper-partisanship that has become so pervasive in American politics.

“It is our policy that we should keep Israel a bipartisan issue,” he declared. “The last thing we want or need is for Israel to become a political football. We’re trying to avoid that to the extent possible.”

Herzog was quick to recognize the tremendous support that Israel received from the U.S. after Oct. 7.

“I was positively surprised by the amount of support and solidarity that we have received from the American people,” he said. “We received important support from the U.S. administration. We received important support from Congress on both sides of the aisle.”

“The U.S. supported Israel … and stood with us when Iran tried to hit us and stood with us against the blood libels in the ICC [International Criminal Court] and ICJ [International Court of Justice] and many other arenas,” he added.

But for Herzog, the big story is the support Israel received from the American people. Noting the divisions and polarization in American society and the antisemitism we are seeing on college campuses and on social media, Herzog said, “if you look at the broad picture, I believe that most of the American people basically support Israel. Yes, there is a lot of noise and aggression out there against us. I don’t think that this is the majority of the American people. The majority support us, and that was one of the positive surprises for me over the last year.”

For Herzog, one of the notable and heartwarming things of the past year has been the open display of Jewish unity.

“When people see a threat of existential dimensions, they join hands and they get closer, and that’s what happened in Israel,” he said. “Yes, there are political differences and there are debates in Israel like in any democratic society, but I think the Israeli society has shown an amazing resilience over the last year. Part of that, I think, is the unity among the Jewish people, the solidarity. What happened after Oct. 7 is that many people here in the U.S. woke up feeling threatened, and a lot of them understood the situation, decided to be more active, either here in the U.S. or as relates to the U.S.-Israel relations.”

“People don’t understand how important this unity, solidarity and support of the American Jewish community is for the people of Israel,” he added. “Every delegation that comes to Israel, any expression of support in any way, people just need it, and it gives them strength. And I think what happened over the last year is that many in the community rose to the commandment of Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh (all Jews are responsible for one another).”