I will not burden you with what is known. PM Harper addressed the Knesset. "Through fire and water, Canada will stand with you" was his message.
The delegation arrived over an hour before the speech, thus I had an opportunity to have several conversations with some Israeli politicians.
I had a brief conversation with Ruth Calderon, Yair Lapid, Dov Lipman and Yakov Litzman and said hello to Amir Peretz, Nachman Shai and Menachem Moses. At one point I was standing in the wrong place and was almost knocked over by Reuven Rivlin.
For many years people have asked if I am related to Terry Milewski of the CBC. Today I had the opportunity to meet him and have a detailed discussion about his roots.
Terry Milewski & Rabbi Milevsky
As we were standing waiting for PM Harper to enter, I conversed with the Ambassador of the Philippines to Israel. He introduced me to the Ambassador from Vietnam. We talked about the war in Vietnam, a topic I took a course on. He was very excited and invited me for a visit. We shall see....I had a brief word with the Ambassador from Cammeron as well. (we talked soccer)
The event in the Knesset was historical and moving. Like many I was disturbed by the Arab MP Tibi's heckling of the PM. What a Chutzpah!
After the event I asked Yair Shamir- the second ranking member of Yisrael Beytenu- how such a thing can occur. He told me that Tibi is from a tenth world country.
The next day started with a breakfast and a talk from Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States. An excellent communicator and a true intellectual, fighting the PR battle for our beloved state.
We made our way to Yad Vashem (never an easy visit). Prime Minister Harper placed a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance. As we were waking through I had a great conversation with Chungsen Leung, the MP for Willowdale. His father helped Jewish refuges during the war. He was excited to hear the fact that my mother was born in Shanghai.
We followed the PM to the Kotel. The crowed clapped with great enthusiasm. Israelis recognize his greatness.
In the evening JNF hosted a dinner, graced with the presence of two PM's. I had the opportunity to talk with Robert Aumann, recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 2005. A very great and humble man.
On the political side I had a brief talk with Naftali Bennett, Uzi Landau, Moshe Ya'alon, Yitzhak Herzog. PM Netanyahu was gracious enough to shake my hand. We had great entertainment from our rock star PM Harper.
During the dinner I sat with MP Blake Richards from Alberta. It was a great opportunity for me to fill him in on the realities of the Middle East. Like many of the other MP's on this trip he is a great friend of Israel. We developed a good relationship.
I have no doubt that you can get far more details from the media. (Please remember to take with a grain of salt.)
Wednesday started off with a long bus ride from Yerushalaim to the Hula Valley. The event that generated the long trek, to northern Israel was; the laying of the cornerstone for the Stephen J. Harper Hula Valley Bird Sanctuary Visitor and Education Center. On the bus I meet Stockwell Day, a true friend of Israel.
We had a great tour of the area seeing large flocks of the long-legged and long-necked bird known as the crane.
PM Harper addressed the crowd briefly, and with his traditional humility, thanked the Jewish community of Canada.
Our expedition continued to Tel Aviv University, Where the PM was going to receive an honorary doctorate. A short Q&A session followed the ceremony. I was struck by the clarity Mr. Harper has of the complex Mideast region. Few westerners-and clearly no Western leaders- are like him.
In my opinion the PM of Canada is a righteous, humble and brilliant man. We as Jews must proclaim our appreciation without inhibitions.
Right before leaving to the Airport I had the privilege of shaking the PM's hand. I thanked him and noted that it is a pity that we did not have a world leader like him in the nineteen-thirties.
In the airport I opened my bag and pulled out my passports. As a dual citizen I travel with my US and Canadian document. Gazing at my Canadian passport I experienced a great feeling of pride. How lucky is this country to merit such a leader. (Did not feel the same with the other document.)
May Hashem protect our outstanding and remarkable Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
