Celebrating Jerusalem’s Redeemers

Two speakers demonstrated a formidable show of support for Jerusalem and Israel at Ateret Cohanim’s dinner on Yom Yerushalayim. Newsmax radio show host Steve Malzberg lauded Ateret Cohanim’s “fine work to establish Jerusalem as the one and only undivided capital of the State of Israel forever” and lambasted Secretary of State John Kerry for his support of the Saudi “peace plan” and his equating “the death of an eight-year-old boy who was blown up on purpose, with the death of terrorists who were fighting when [Israeli soldiers] boarded the (Mavi Marmara) ship.”

Another speaker, Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army (ret.) Ralph Peters, in an interview prior to his address, commended Israel as “the only civilizing force in the Middle East. The culture of the Arab world, and of Iran, had a great run centuries ago. But over the last several centuries, it has broken down...it has become—and it is not politically correct to say it—barbaric. Barbaric in its treatment of women, in its corruption, in its lack of a work ethic, its lack of respect for education, and in its fundamental tyranny on a political, social, and even familial level....To me, when I look at Israel, I see not only a Jewish state rebuilt on the ancient Jewish homeland, I see an outpost of the civilization in which I believe…. to me, Israel is a beacon of justice, for rule of law, humanity, decency, culture... in short, Israel belongs to the Jews; it belongs to my civilization…. I believe that it is important for non-Jewish Americans to actively support Israel, and to...educate our fellow Americans about the reality, as opposed to the often twisted and perverse version of Israel you get in the press, where the Israelis are somehow the aggressors, and Hamas and Hezbollah, who are raining rockets down on Israeli children, are somehow the good guys... this is madness!”

Yom Yerushalayim—the holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty in 1967—came a day early for many New Yorkers as the American Friends of Ateret Cohanim (also known as “Jerusalem Chai”) celebrated the organization’s 34th anniversary at the Elite Palace in Queens. Among Monday night’s many dignitaries: Rabbi Yaakov and Rebbetzin Elana Kermaier of the 5th Avenue Synagogue, recipients of Jerusalem Chai’s Rabbinic Leadership Award; Jack & Barbara Beyda and Marcus and Sara Lehmann, who were honored as Bonei Yerushalayim (“Builders of Jerusalem”); and William and Mark Langfan, a father and son who received the organization’s Oheiv Yisrael (“Lover of Israel”) Award. The event presented a number of dynamic speakers, including members of Ateret Cohanim/Jerusalem Chai’s senior leadership, talk radio host Steve Malzberg, and a keynote address by political commentator and bestselling author U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters.

Dr. Joseph Frager, chairman of the organization’s executive council, said: “It’s a great privilege for American Jews to help Eretz Yisrael, especially Yerushalayim. The fact is that we do count, and our brethren in Israel, the Israeli public, need our support. They’re doing the hard work of living over there, but we can do a lot of hard work over here, doing what we do. And I think it’s crucial that we continue, and G-d should give us the strength and fortitude to do just that.”

New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind. spoke for his wife, Jerusalem Chai Executive VP Shani Hikind, who was sitting shiva. “There are a lot yeshivot, a lot of hospitals, and a lot of great causes, but there’s only one Jerusalem,” Hikind said. “What Ateret Cohanim does is just amazing... If not for Ateret Cohanim, Jews would not be living in the Old City in the [Muslim, Christian and Armenian] Quarters....What Ateret Cohanim does is to make sure that Jews are living in every part of Jerusalem....You have these young families who move in, who are committed, dedicated, and not afraid … because they believe in the cause and they understand [the importance of what they are doing].”

Following speeches by conservative radio show host Steve Malzberg and foreign affairs expert Lt. Col. (ret.) Ralph Peters, we spoke with Dr. Paul Brody, a member of the Jerusalem Chai Executive Board who, along with his wife Drora helped chair the evening’s event, offered his own reflections on the night’s proceedings. Brody, who led those assembled in the singing of the Israeli national anthem, mentioned how honored he felt to have been selected for the task, and spoke glowingly of the evening’s guests of honor.

“The honorees were magnificent,” said Brody with a smile. “Nobody really mentioned it tonight, but Shani Hikind always likes to say that it really ought to be called the ‘Kotel Quarter,’ not the ‘Muslim Quarter.’” he added. “We’re really trying to re-inhabit something that was ours before. So Ateret Cohanim is striving to put Jews back in places they used to be.” For more information go to JerusalemChai.org.

Daniel Perez is a freelance writer and media consultant based in New York. His work has appeared on Arutz Sheva, Yeshiva World News, and numerous other media outlets in print and online. He can be contacted at Daniel@PerezConsulting.org.