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.