Bulletin THE BETH TFILOH
A Special BT Experience at AIPAC Policy Conference By Mr. Phil Jacobs, High School Jewish History teacher
When more than 35 Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community High School students converged on the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, DC, it might have been easy to just be a small part of the high-energy pro-Israel confab that attracted some 18,000 to the Washington Convention Center and the Verizon Center. Instead, BT Middle School Principal Rabbi Yehuda Oratz turned what could have easily been a wonderful spectator experience into a memorable learning laboratory. I was fortunate to serve as faculty support for the Saturday night through Tuesday experience with BT Hebrew Department Chair and beloved shaliach, Mr. Haggai Lavie. Indeed, included in the capacity crowds were some 4,000 high school and college students. Speaker after speaker commented on the number and enthusiasm of the young people in attendance. We heard from an allstar cast of stars from the bi-partisan political constellation such as Vice President Mike Pence; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley; both Maryland Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen; Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and others. Speaking to us remotely from Israel was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Each and every speaker underlined the important connections between the United States and Israel. As a former Jewish newspaper editor, I am no stranger to AIPAC’s critically important mission. Indeed, it was an AIPAC Policy Conference some years ago that taught the rest of the world exactly how Iran would seek to militarize nuclear weapons. And its words became prophetic.
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Celebrating the Joy of Judaism, Embracing all Jews. IYAR-SIVAN 5777 MAY 2017
Beth Tfiloh Congregation and School comprised the largest AIPAC delegation in the country.