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Rabbi Isaac Jeret's Speech
Republican National Committee Dinner
Washington, D.C.
May 11, 2010
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you Chairman Steele for your generous introduction - it is indeed my great honor to be here with all of you this evening. I address you this evening not only not only as a leader in the Jewish community, but, most importantly, as the son of a father who survived five treacherous years in Nazi Death Camps, his entire family - my family - tortured and murdered simply for their faith. Sixty-five years ago this month, my father was liberated from the Matthausen Death Camp by courageous young men serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Had my father's life not been saved by the American Army, we should all understand that I would not be here this evening, privileged to address this distinguished gathering. I thank God for America - the torchbearer of light, in a world of darkness!
Indeed, the Jewish community has learned over the course of the last 2,000 years that when tyrants speak words of hate and genocide and then succeed in attaching such menacing rhetoric to the technological means to bring them to fruition, they do keep their word; they perpetrate evil unimaginable and unfathomable to decent people, leaving in their wake a world of wreckage and despair that can never truly be repaired but can only be prevented from recurring in the future.
Sixty-five years ago, we defeated just such an evil. In its wake, a new evil with similar designs has emerged. And, we can intervene to stop it; the future is now!
There is a cold wind blowing in the world, emanating from the evil regime that rules Iran. It threatens not only the State of Israel, not only our own country, but the entirety of Western Civilization. We stand at an historic moment of truth. History is watching us, relying upon us to prove that we have learned its important lessons. Will our country allow Iran to procure the capability to develop nuclear weapons? Will we stand in the way of Israel's military efforts to deter Iran if and when Israel deems such intervention to be necessary for its preemptive self-defense? If challenged, by Iran or anyone else, will we act in our own defense or in defense of any of our allies the world over who depend upon us for their safety and security?
This night, as every night, I pray, ladies and gentlemen.
I pray that our country recommits itself to the doctrine that peace with our enemies results from an unmistakable understanding on their part that we are willing to use our superior strength whenever and wherever necessary to protect and defend ourselves and our allies;
I pray that our allies will thereby, once again, have every reason to know and trust that the United States of America will stand by their side unflinchingly, not because of what benefit they may offer to us materially, however great their contributions might be, but rather because of who they are; because the world's beacon of Freedom defends causes of Liberty and defeats those who cast shadows upon its inspired light;
I pray that a majority in the House and the Senate emerges in November that champions these traditional and historic American values and principles and calls upon the President of the United States to abide by them in the discourse and conduct of American foreign-policy;
And finally, I pray that neither we, nor our children, nor our children's children after them ever again revisit the day, that a President of the United States, the leader of the free-world, bows down to another human being, let alone to dictators, despots, and even kings who sponsor terrorism and brutalize the men, women, and children of their own nations; thirty months from now, when we elect a new President of the United States, we will ensure that the torchbearer of light never again bows to perpetrators of darkness.
Together, today, we can begin to bring about such change - with God's help - we can remember who we are!
Rabbi Isaac Jeret
Spiritual Leader
Congregation Ner Tamid of South Bay
www.nertamid.com/rabbi
