03-24-14 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 24, 2014 on their own. This is one example of something great that the federation is responsible for. There are many other great things that through working with the Russian speaking members of our community and helping them learn English and support them with their needs. Since one of the goals of the federation is to strengthen the Jewish community and its relationship with Israel. That's why I'm here for it. My Israel story, starts with my Great Grandparents came to Israel 80 years ago, even before the creations of the states in 1948. They came alone with no family they came before they were 20 years old. They came from Eastern Europe before World War II, in order to build a new country a new life for themselves and they're grandchildren, like me. Israel was declared as the Jewish country on May 14, 1948 by David, but even before he declared our independence the Jewish country had already out numbered 450,000 people amongst them my grandparents, who came from Eastern Europe. So they had a land and they had a dream and they work very hard to make this dream a reality. Today, Israel is an island of sanity and stability in a very chaotic community. In a few words, we live in a very, very tough neighborhood. Yet Israel is the only close American ally in the middle -east that the U.S. can really rely on. Lebanon is controlled by the terrorist's organization, which is across the other lot, who has murder more than 140,000 of his own citizens. Iraq is in a state of chaos, Egypt is not a reliable American partner anymore. Although Jordan is a friend of the United States its government can be over thrown by its city. Why are America and Israel so close, President Obama Care, the bond between Israel and the United States is rooted in more than our shared national interest its rooted in the shared values and shared stories of our people. Those same values include a commitment to democracy. The rule of law, freedom of religion and speech and human rights are all what make Israel the best and the strongest ally for America in the middle -east both nations have similar histories. Both nations were founded by refugees seeking political and religious freedom. Both were forced to fight for independence against foreign powers. Both have absorbed great immigrants seeking political freedom and economic well-being and both have evolved into democracies that respect the rule of law, the will of voters and the rights of minorities. It is not well known that 20% of the population of Israel is comprised of Arabs both Christian Arabs and Muslim Arabs who enjoy full civil rights, equal access to Israel world -class Universities and in our parliament. Speaking of Israel minority, we as a Jewish federation are very proud of our partnership with one of the most ethnically diverse place in the middle -east it is called the Western Galilee that has a mixed population of 600,000 Christians, Muslims, and Jews. One example that I want to tell you about, the director general of the Western Galilee Hospital and he is also a Christian Arab about 6 months ago, he visited South Bend and in a presentation, he gave a very interesting response to a question that he was asked on how he was treated in Israel. He said if you are a minority living in the middle -east, I think that the best place to be is in Israel. I think that the sentence speaks for itself. The bond between America and Israel is not only in the values that we share it also has a strategic and economic consensus. It is no secret that Israel and America both desire a peaceful middle -east, yet they also face common enemies like Huron. We see it both strategically planning, we see it in the joint the sharing of intelligence, and joint military exercises. Most importantly is the fact that Israel military innovations are helping to take save American soldiers lives in Afghanistan every day. Another major asset of the great relationship between America and Israel is the growing economical operation between the two resources. Many American companies seek to invest in Israel high -tech place. Also, several of the biggest high -tech companies like Google, and Intel have major research in the government affiliates in Israel. Of course Israel companies also invest in America, the food that many of you enjoy, is from an American Israel partnership with two production facilities here in America. The last important thing that I want to talk about is me. In other words solving the Israel Palestinian conflict. Ever since 1993 and the resigning of the late Prime Minister may he rest in peace. Israel has always reached out quickly to our Arab neighbors and support the solution. I hope that with the great help of U.S. Secretary of State John Carey, we will find a solution to the conflict. A solution for once and for all will bring peace to Israel. I want to finish with one story that will give us all hope for the future. On the Israel border of Sierra, Israel military doctors and nurses are providing emergency medical care for wounded Siberian civilians. Now keep in mind that we are still officially at war with Syria, my grandfather fought in 2 wars against Syria. Yet the governors of Israel has already decided that it would be against our values not to provide medical treatment for wounded civilians. As a citizen of Israel, and as a former soldier in the Israel services. This makes me very proud, but in medical treatment, does not end an Israel steel hospital. Compliments to the wounded Syrian civilians, have been transported to the hospitals of Israel for surgery. One of these is a western girl in our hospital named Aaliyah that I mentioned earlier. One Syrian who brought his granddaughter, for medical treatment in Israel said, once 2