If you listen to the media, pundits, and frankly, most
people, Governor Mike Huckabee has “no chance” of becoming the next President
of the United States.
If, however, the reaction that he evinced at last night’s
gala Bet El Dinner is any indication, I would caution anyone from writing his
political epitaph. Looking around the
room, one could not help but be struck by the prevalent longing that this,
wise, good and decent man would assume exactly that role. His combination of passion, humor, strength,
confidence, and humility, coupled with an extraordinary love of the United States,
Israel, and their peoples, was simply breathtaking.
Frankly, I do not know why it seems “self-evident” that Mr.
Huckabee is not a viable candidate.
Watching his performance at the various debates (at those rare moments
that he was given a chance to speak), listening to him speak on the issues, and
having had the chance to converse with him in person, I have been flummoxed
that the opinion makers have concluded that this articulate, and deeply
perceptive man is no longer in the running, despite his excellent performance
at all of the above. One thing, however,
is certain. Governor Huckabee was the
perfect choice as the headline speaker at this wonderful event, an annual
celebration of those who are unreservedly passionate about the State of Israel,
committed to its safety and security, deeply devoted to positively inculcating
Torah values in society, and unabashedly proud of exercising not only our
right, but our obligation to live in all of the blessed land that the Almighty
has given us in our time.
Beginning by noting that it was the first night of Chanukah
– a night in which the Jewish people remind themselves of their task to bring
greater light into the world – Mr. Huckabee noted that far from being a
campaign stop, it was his great honor to speak on behalf of Israel, a country
that he has developed a deep and abiding love for. He hearkened back to his first trip at age 17,
when he immediately sensed that coming to Israel felt like he was coming home,
though he had never been there before.
Upon reflection, he realized that in part this is because the
relationship between the United States and Israel is “not merely organizational,
based on mutual interests. It is an
organic relationship, because both countries were founded by people who had the
vision to give their children the gift of liberty and freedom, including
religious freedom, so that their voices would not be trampled out by forces of
tyranny”.
Furthermore, neither the amazing
and blessed history of the United States, nor the unbelievable history – not
only of Ancient Israel and the Jewish people – but of the modern State of
Israel can be understood without seeing the providence of the Hand of G-d,
directing otherwise impossible events. It is impossible not to see that the ancient
promise of G-d to Abraham that “I will bless those who bless you, and those who
curse you shall be accursed”, has been coming true, and will continue to be
true, since unlike us, G-d always keeps His promises.
I was particularly mesmerized as Mr. Huckabee described the
progress of Israel since 1972, the year that both he and I came to Israel for
the first time. It has been a time that
we have literally seen the “Dry Bones” come back to life in Israel’s
multidimensional and vital multicultural society. We have witnessed how, from
places that we both remember as nothing but rocky wasteland, the desert has
bloomed and developed into beautiful homes, cities and farms. How the Hi-Tech industry of Israel has risen
to be the second most dominant worldwide, (a fact elaborated on later in the
evening by the Modi Rosen, one of Israel’s most successful venture capitalists.) A wonderful country has sprouted that seeks
to live by a higher moral and ethical standard, doing its best to protect its
citizens in a very tough neighborhood, despite the criticism of the world.
Speaking of world criticism, Mr.
Huckabee had harsh words for the current American Administration, saying that
it was not the president's job to prioritize protecting "the reputation of
Islam."
"I believe that the next president should never believe somehow that it is the job of the United States president as commander-in-chief to protect the reputation of Islam more than it is to protect the people of the United States of America from radical Islam," he said to thunderous applause.
Describing the pain he witnessed first had while visiting with the
family of Naftali Frankel, HY”D, a day before the teen’s body was found
murdered by Arab thugs, he spoke of our duty to protect the innocent and to
stand up clearly and forcefully against evil.
Finally, Mr. Huckabee described the
pain and shock that he felt when seeing the cover of the Daily News last week,
in which the local rag criticized those who prayed for the victims of the San Bernardino
massacre, blaring “God Isn’t Fixing This” on its front page headline. “How dare they mock the power of prayer?”
Gov. Huckabee asked. “They obviously know nothing of the miraculous Hand of
G-d, who listens to prayer and does wonder in our world. One need look no farther than to Bet El,
where, most improbably, an amazing and beautiful community is thriving and
providing such light to the world, a very short distance from the center of
hatred that is Ramallah.
One need see only
the story of Jean and Eugene Gluck. Each
of them the sole survivors of their respective families, each of them suffering
the worst horrors of the concentration camps, they have come to this country
and built an amazing family including many children and grandchildren standing
up for the best values of Judaism and of humanity. (He asked that the lights be momentarily
turned on so that the large Gluck family could stand up and be noted, to much
applause.) They have become towers of strength and support to so many wonderful
caused in the United States and Israel, most notably in their monumental work
in helping to build Bet El into the vibrant center of Jewish life and Education
that is for Judea, Samaria, and the entire country.
“Jean & Eugene Gluck, whose prayers to
G-d from the unimaginable depths, have been answered in such spectacular
fashion, show what G-d is capable of as He answers our prayers. The problems facing our country come not
because we pray too much, instead of acting on the liberal agenda of the Daily
News. The problems inhere when we do not
pay enough attention to what G-d has asked of us, and do not sufficiently
recognize His presence in our lives”.
I feel
very blessed to have had the privilege of being in the presence of greatness,
as Gov. Huckabee and the very worthy honorees joined Eugene Gluck in
celebration of Bet El, andindeed all of the Yishuvim in Yehuda and Shomron, and
in appreciation of G-d’s gift that is the State of Israel.
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