President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday evening 3 Adar, addressed the opening session in Jerusalem of the 44th annual Israel Leadership Mission of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, led by the organization’s chairman Stephen M. Greenberg, and CEO Malcolm Hoenlein. The Mission was attended by more than 120 leaders representing the 53-member organization.

At the beginning of his address, President Rivlin spoke of the recent events on the border with Gaza, and made special reference of the families of Hadar Goldin and Avera Mengistu who were attending the event and said, “I want to start by saying clearly that the State of Israel will not rest until the return of our fallen soldiers – Oron Shaul, and Hadar Goldin and our citizens – Avraham Mengistu, and Juma Abu Ganima, who are held by Hamas. All of us are with you in your pain. We also send our prayers for the soldiers injured yesterday. No one should think they can test Israel’s will or ability to defend our people.”

In reference to the events in Florida of the past week. He told the delegates from across the United States, “I also want to say, our hearts are with the families of all the victims of the terrible attack in Florida. Let us all remember that hatred is hatred and we must stand united against it.”

The President went on to thank the delegates for their contribution to the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He then spoke about the challenges Israel faced as it neared its 70th year of independence, “The recognition of Jerusalem by America’s leaders was a great diplomatic achievement and a fruit of all of your great work. As we reach Israel’s seventieth anniversary, we take pride in everything we have achieved. But our duty today is to build the future. Today, Israel faces a number of threats and challenges. Iran is reaching out across the region, spreading violence and terror and instability to the entire Middle East. To our north there is Hizbullah, with hundreds of thousands of missiles aimed at Israel. To our south, there is Hamas, who hold our dear sons and the people of Gaza as hostages, as they continue to attack Israel. Israel will not allow Iran or their proxy armies, to disturb the lives of our people. We will defend our borders and continue to call on the whole free world to stop Iran from sponsoring terrorism, and to stop Iran from its race to a nuclear bomb.”

The President also addressed the issue of global anti-Semitism, and the importance of educating about the Holocaust today more than ever. He said, “Whether on the left or on the right, anti-Semitism is always wrong. We all must call out anti-Semitism wherever it is found and when it is hidden as anti-Zionism. We stand together hand in hand in this fight. We have to stand strong for the memory of our brothers and sisters murdered in the Shoah. But today, more than ever, we must work to educate the world, even some of its leaders about that dark time, the terrible crimes committed by the Nazis, and their supporters. Saying that our people collaborated with the Nazis is a new low”.

He stressed, “We are one people. The threats we face, are not small, they are big but so are the opportunities. Let’s continue together to work together for all of us, and all peoples”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/photo credit: Mark Neiman, GPO)