Why You Should Consider Going to the AIPAC Conference This Year

From March 24-26, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the largest American Israel lobby, will convene in Washington, D.C., for its annual Policy Conference. This gathering comes at a particularly interesting and exciting moment: just two weeks before the Israeli general elections on April 9.  

AIPAC, which traditionally stays away from internal Israeli politics, last week made a bold statement by criticizing the current prime minister for his decision to reach out to Oztma Yehudit (Jewish Power), an extremist party, to encourage its leaders to run in the upcoming elections and offering them a promising spot on another party’s list. The20-word message, tweeted by AIPAC late on Friday, February 21, sent shock waves through the political establishment here.

It also was a show of support for an earlier statement made by another powerful group, the American Jewish Committee (AJC). AJC expressed concern about an agreement – fostered by Netanyahu, who is seeking to strengthen his right-wing base for the April 9 general election — that unites three small parties, including a faction comprising followers of Rabbi Meir Kahane, who’s party previously was banned from Israeli politics for its racist ideology and incitement to violence. 

The Policy Conference will be an important campaign stop for the prime minister, who also is contending with an announcement by Israel’s attorney general, who intends to indict him (after a hearing) for numerous corruption charges.

On the American political front, we are seeing an unprecedented move by generally pro-Israel Democratic Senators Bob Menendez from New Jersey and Ben Cardin from Maryland to be outwardly critical of the Israeli premier. This development casts further doubt on the strength of bi-partisan support for Israel, which has been so essential for the State of Israel.

Recently, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-MN, called out the pro-Israel lobby in a tweet of her own accusing the lobby of buying representatives’ support for Israel, which resulted in a storm of criticism of her from the pro-Israel community.

This year, the Reform Movement will have a prominent showing at AIPAC’s Policy Conference and we invite you to these sessions and events:

• Rabbis Josh Weinberg, Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) vice president, and Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism will meet with URJ congregational delegations for a briefing about the Reform Movement’s current situation in Israel. For more information, email Rabbi Weinberg.

• At the Shabbaton, a pre-conference educational seminar exclusively for registered delegates of AIPAC’s Policy Conference, Rabbi Josh Weinberg will be one of the pre-conference Shabbatscholars and will lead Kabbalat Shabbat services with artist Noah Aronson,and Shabbat morning t’filah(prayer) with Rabbi Rosie Haim.

• Don’t miss Noah Aronson leading a spiritual Havdalah on Saturday night!

• On Sunday night at 8 p.m. in Vapiano in Chinatown, register to join all Reform Movement delegates and leaders from North America and Israel at a reception offering a chance to get to know one another, share our love for Israel, and hear from our Israeli Reform Movement leaders.

• On Monday afternoon (time and place TBD), clergy should plan to attend the Reform Movement clergy caucus, which will include leadership from the URJ; the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the professional arm of the Reform rabbinate; and the American Conference of Cantors, the professional arm of the Reform cantorate.

• On Tuesday evening, join us under the chuppah at 6:30 p.m. at Washington Hebrew Congregation, where three Israeli couples, who for various reasons cannot wed legally in Israel, will be married in a traditional Jewish ceremony that promises to be welcoming, inclusive, affirming of their multiple identities, and will call on the Israeli government to recognize Reform, Conservative, and civil weddings. Individuals and congregations are invited to attend – in-person or by live stream – to stand with Anat and Shmuel, Micha and Yishai, and Sahar and Illia and demonstrate support for this important issue in Israel. To reserve a VIP seat at the ceremony, email Karen. We look forward to celebrating with you!

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