By Rena Osdoba
“Many Voices, One Mission.”
These were the words that I repeatedly heard over the course of my trip to Washington, D.C., as I attended this year’s AIPAC Policy Conference for my second year in a row. While the slogan consisted of four short words, its meaning became a powerful source of inspiration throughout the whole conference.
After spending an inspirational Shabbat in Silver Spring, Maryland, my group of eleven local Memphis teens, along with our chaperones, made our way to the conference. One of the highlights of my first day there was attending a panel-styled session, “Pro- Israel Leadership Across Religious Denominations.”
This session, comprised of two reverends and a Reform rabbi, was eye opening for two main reasons. As the three men spoke about their connections to Israel, I got to see how many of the values spoken about by the reverends were greatly aligned and highly similar to those of the rabbi, as well as many of the other Jews in the room. It was empowering to see so many people coming together, who, from the surface, seem to have completely different world and religious views. It also opened my eyes to see how Israel is a place that people, not just Jews, call home. As Reverend Kenneth Flowers from Los Angeles emotionally expressed, “When I got to Israel for the first time I cried. Not because I am Jewish, but because I am Christian and I knew I was home.”
Another highlight from my first day on AIPAC again correlated with the theme of the convention. I attended a college fair where there were representatives from over 25 universities that shared information about Israel Advocacy and Jewish Life on their campuses. While I got to speak to the colleges I am looking at and was informed of positive support and initiatives toward Israel, on the other hand, it was shocking to hear from representatives from colleges who explained anti-Semitic and anti-Israel comments made on campus. It became real to me that these things are not just made up stories, but rather what will soon be the reality of kids my age. Because of this, it is our duty to learn to combat negative remarks.
On Monday, I was privileged to listen to the new United States Ambassador for the United Nations, Nikki Haley, express her support toward Israel, as she remarked: “The days of Israel bashing are over.”
Haley spoke confidently, as she expressed the strong “friendship” between Israel and the U.S. must continue and we must continue to have each other’s backs. She strongly showed her disapproval of the BDS movement, in addition to the Iran Deal. I felt comforted knowing that Haley, someone so motivated in helping Israel, is the one representing our country in the United Nations.
It was inspiring to hear her say that her high heels are not for a fashion statement. Rather, she vocalized: “it’s because if I see something wrong I will kick it every single time.” She showed that she will fight against those against Israel, even as the minority. The second night of AIPAC concluded with a minute and a half standing ovation for Haley; something I, along with many others in the room, could not be happier with.
Our trip concluded after our group of teens, along with members of the Memphis Jewish Community and Memphis Greater Community, spent the day in the Capitol, lobbying our congressmen, David Kustoff and Steve Cohen, and our senators, Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander. I was impressed by my peers who presented issues of Iran Regional Aggression, Israel’s Foreign Aid Budget, and Delegitimization of Israel, so eloquently to these men. However, I was even more impressed by the Congressmen and Senators who were so supportive of Israel, which made me proud to be from a place with such positive representatives. Despite the different backgrounds and roles of these men, and all of us who met with them, the theme of the conference was displayed again, by us all coming together in unison to support Israel.
This educational trip would not have been possible without the planning and the generous funding of the Baron Hirsch, led by Mr. David Fleischhacker. I would like to express my utmost appreciation for all the time and energy put into planning the trip to making it as wonderful as it was. I know that my peers and I will carry on these valuable lessons and memories that we gained from AIPAC this year through our college years and beyond, acknowledging “our many voices” coming together to complete “one mission.”
Rena Osdoba is a senior at the Goldie Margolin School for Girls at MHA/FYOS where she is the Student Council President. She is also an active member of NCSY, and has attended Baron Hirsch’s Camp Darom for many years.
For the sixth year in a row, Baron Hirsch Congregation has led a subsidized trip for teens to AIPAC’s National Policy Conference