editorials
P resident Joe Biden’s visit to Israel
last week, for the first leg of his
four-day visit to the Middle East,
reflected the remarkably strong bonds
that have developed between Israel
and the United States. Israel rolled
out a warm and embracing welcome
for their returning “brother Joseph,”
and Biden clearly reveled in the joy of
reuniting with dear friends.

Biden has a half-century rela-
tionship with Israel and had visited
the country nine times before. This
was, however, his first visit as pres-
ident. Visits to Israel by the presi-
dent of the United States are not
a common occurrence. Indeed, in
Israel’s early decades U.S. admin-
istrations kept the Jewish state at
arm’s length. It wasn’t until 1974 that
Richard Nixon became the first U.S.

president to make the trip, followed
by visits by Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton,
George W. Bush, Barack Obama and
Donald Trump.

And now Biden — a man who
declared on the welcoming tarmac
at Ben Gurion Airport that “the con-
nection between the Israeli people
and the American people is bone
deep.” He showed that sentiment
and emotion throughout his visit.

For example, when Biden met two
Holocaust survivors at Yad Vashem,
he asked them to sit when they
rose to greet him. And he then knelt
before the survivors as he spoke
with them.

Biden left a wreath at Yad
Vashem’s Hall of Remembrance
where he wrote a deeply touching
message in the visitor’s book: “It is
a great honor to be back — back to
my emotional home. We must never,
ever forget because hate is never
defeated — it only hides. We must
teach every emerging generation
that it can happen again unless we
remember. That is what I teach my
children and grandchildren — never
forget.” Biden attended the opening cere-
mony of the Maccabiah games and
spoke with the U.S. delegation of
players. And he got a chance to see
some of Israel’s defensive technol-
ogy, including the new laser defense
system, Iron Beam.

There were politically significant
events, including meetings with
Prime Minister Yair Lapid, former
Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett
and Benjamin Netanyahu and with
President Isaac Herzog. During one
meeting with Lapid, Biden signed a
declaration that the United States
will do all it can to prevent Iran from
obtaining nuclear weapons.

Biden also extended a very public
and inviting hand to the Palestinians.

He toured a Palestinian hospital in
East Jerusalem, where he announced
$316 million in aid for Palestinians.

And he met with Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas where
he expressed support for the cre-
ation of a Palestinian state, even as
he acknowledged that the time was
not right for peace talks.

In contrast to other aspects of
his Middle East trip, Biden’s Israel
visit had no drama, had no tension
and was an easy lift. We join in
celebrating the success of the visit
and its reflection of the extraordi-
nary relationship that has developed
between the U.S. and Israel. May it
continue to grow and strengthen. JE
Joe Biden’s Saudi Adventure
P resident Joe Biden’s visit to Israel
had all the joy and good feelings
of a family simcha — including visits
with all of the feuding relatives who
make up the intricate web of Israel’s
complex political tapestry. But the
second leg of his trip, to Saudi Arabia,
had neither joy nor good feelings.

Instead, Biden’s closely watched
visit to the kingdom was more akin
to an obligatory, solemn tribute visit
to a Mafia boss who demands fealty,
respect and deference, but provides
nothing in return.

We are not accustomed to seeing
our nation’s president put in that
position, especially on otherwise
friendly foreign soil. And it makes
us wonder what the Biden team was
thinking in planning for the Saudi
visit and what they think they accom-
plished while there.

12 JULY 21, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
Before his visit to Riyadh, Biden
pledged to confront Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman — the
36-year-old de-facto leader of Saudi
Arabia, colloquially known as MBS
— for ordering the brutal killing and
dismemberment of journalist Jamal
Khashoggi. And he promised to make
Saudi Arabia “pay the price, and make
them, in fact, the pariah that they are,”
over that murder and the kingdom’s
dismal human rights record.

As to the former, Biden claims he
challenged MBS over the Khashoggi
murder, and the Saudis say that he
didn’t. And as to the latter, there is
little evidence of any serious efforts
to address human rights concerns
and absolutely no evidence of pariah
treatment. Indeed, the opposite
appears to be the case.

Biden wants the Saudis to raise
their oil output so increased sup-
ply will drive down prices — includ-
ing, hopefully, the price at American
gas pumps as midterm elections
approach. And Biden has apparently
concluded that the United States
cannot walk away from the Middle
East entirely, because the vacuum
left by America will be filled by Iran,
Russia and China. So, he sought to
reassure Arab countries that they’re
doing the right thing by remain-
ing with Team America. As such,
although MBS may be a murderous
thug, we don’t want him to be some-
one else’s murderous thug.

And knowing that a handshake,
respectful bow or other embrace
of the Saudi leader would convey
either too much respect or a per-
sonal closeness, Biden went for the
fist bump — a move that generated
even more criticism for its perceived
friendly gesture between two sym-
patico bros. Perhaps he should have
bumped elbows, instead.

Biden left the kingdom with an
unclear commitment on oil pro-
duction. On human rights and the
Khashoggi murder, he got nothing.

Yet, despite the disappointments,
Biden came away from the meetings
as the nice guy we all know him to
be. There were no grand gestures.

Nor was there finger pointing or
demands. Instead, he pursued work-
manlike efforts to solidify common
international concerns — particularly
focused upon Iran, but also relating
to Russia.

We continue to wonder why Biden
made the trip. At the end of Biden’s
Saudi adventure, there was only one
winner: Mohammed bin Salman. JE
flickr, Haim Zach, GPO
Joe Biden Comes Home to Israel



opinions & letters
My 20th Anniversary in Zionism:
A Brief Look Back, a Sustained
Look Ahead
BY STEVE FELDMAN
W hat does it mean to be a Zionist today?
What is it like to be a proponent of a
movement; a cause; an idea that international
media, Jew-haters and others would lead one to
believe is despised throughout most of the world
— although you know that it is a righteous and
noble movement, cause and idea?
These are questions to consider as I have
reached my 20th anniversary as a “professional
Zionist.” It was July of 2002 when I began working for
the Zionist Organization of America. BDS had yet
to be unleashed; the destructive, anti-Jewish tac-
tic of “intersectionality” was still the positive “coa-
lition-building” that helped Jews and our allies;
anti-Zionist/anti-Israel activities and rhetoric were
unwelcome on most American campuses and in
Congress; and efforts to weaken and delegitimize
Israel and Zionism from within Jewry were rare
and its practitioners were outcasts.

Theodor Herzl’s dream that there would be an
internationally recognized Jewish state where
one had existed millennia ago and where it must
be located again — known as political Zionism
— had been fulfilled on May 14, 1948 when Israel
declared its independence, but the Zionist mis-
sion was not completed.

I was determined to see to it that Zionism — the
liberation and social justice movement for Jewish
self-determination in a nation of our own in our
rightful homeland — thrive and be perpetuated,
and that support for Israel and Jewish communi-
ties throughout Israel be strong and secure.

My determination continues and, in many
respects, the persistence of opponents of Zionism,
Israel and Jewry has compelled me to be at least
as persistent.

Imagine crossing the finish line of a race — only
to be told that the finish line has been moved
further away again and again, so you must keep
running or pedaling, swimming or driving. This is
the frustration every Zionist faces. In short:
• The territory for a restored Jewish homeland
promised by world powers and then by the
League of Nations was reduced by 78% (to
create what became the Arab kingdom of
Jordan) -- with continuing demands to reduce
Israel further to create a Palestinian-Arab
state in Israel’s midst.

• Israel survived Arab wars of annihilation
waged against her in 1948, 1956, 1967 and
1973, plus nonstop Palestinian-Arab murders
and terrorism. Ongoing campaigns to weaken
and delegitimize Israel and to deny Jewish
history and rights are pervasive in media,
education, governments and within interna-
tional bodies and forums.

• The United Nations voted that Zionism is
“a form of racism and racial discrimination.”
Though this despicable lie was revoked,
efforts to eliminate Zionism and Israel con-
tinue. • Looming is the existential danger of Iran
developing nuclear weapons, with its vow to
“wipe Israel off the map.”
Israel is the only country where world lead-
ers and politicians to this day feel compelled to
announce “I support Israel’s right to exist” as
though it is still in doubt.

It is clear to see why a Zionist’s work is never
done. This work must include proactively stating
clearly what Zionism actually is; what Israel is; how
the two are intertwined; and that both are essen-
tial to the Jewish People and the Jewish religion.

The Jewish people have a heritage to be proud
of and rights we must exercise; Zionists have a
history to be proud of; Israel has a list of achieve-
ments and efforts to improve the world that is
unparalleled given its tiny size, relative newness
and persistent threats.

It is essential that this information reach all
Jewish eyes, ears, hearts and minds to rebuild
Jewish unity on Israel and Zionism. It is crucial
that it also reach non-Jews. We must emphasize
reaching younger segments of both populations.

We must use brief videos and new media, comic
books and graphic novels, trading cards, pop cul-
ture and electronic games.

Zionism is and must remain an eternal move-
ment so that Israel can remain an eternal Jewish
state with an undivided Jerusalem as its capital.

For as long as there will be Jewish people, this
desire and need to have a homeland; to be able
to perform mitzvot that can only be done in Israel
and/or when a majority of the world’s Jews live in
Israel; and to have a refuge will always exist.

Zionism is more than a concept. Its ultimate
fulfillment is living in Israel, and as the League of
Nations declared in its Mandate for Palestine 100
years ago: that Jews participate through “close
settlement of the land.” With the dedication and
hard work by me and my colleagues, lay lead-
ers, volunteers and others of good will — and, of
course, G-d’s blessing — the Zionist movement
and the Jewish state of Israel will continue to
flourish. JE
Steve Feldman is executive director of the Greater
Philadelphia Chapter of the Zionist Organization
of America.

letters Story Left Out Part of History
I enjoyed Sasha Rogelberg’s piece on Beth Sholom
Congregation (“Beth Sholom Congregation
Celebrates Storied Roots,” June 8). However, I
was disappointed that there was no mention of
Beth Sholom’s merger (acquisition) of the West
Oak Lane Jewish Community Center. Isn’t that
also a part of Beth Sholom’s history?
I grew up attending the JCC, where I had my bar
mitzvah, and where I attended services before it
“merged” with Beth Sholom. At one time, it was
a strong, vibrant temple and an important part of
Jewish Philadelphia. Unfortunately, it was forced
to close because of “problems” in the neighbor-
hood, and it was taken over by Beth Sholom.

Indeed, in all the years that I have been reading
the Exponent, I cannot recall any mention of the
West Oak Lane JCC, which was an important part
of my life and my family’s life. It is almost like it
never existed. Sad.

Jeffrey Philip Paul
Lancaster Rabbi Was Right
The opinions expressed by Rabbi Charles Arian
(“How Voluntary Were Those Voluntary Prayers?”,
July 7) were spot on. I wonder if the justices on
the Supreme Court would have issued the same
ruling had the coach been Jewish. JE
Abbe Miller Pescatore
Havertown Letters should be related to articles that have run in the print or
online editions of the JE, and may be edited for space and clarity
prior to publication. Please include your first and last name, as
well your town/neighborhood of residence. Send letters to
letters@jewishexponent.com. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
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