Dear Friends,
Adina and I had the distinct privilege and honour of being invited to join our Prime Minister on his first official visit to Israel as part of his delegation. We were joined by many other prominent business and community leaders, Rabbis and our Member of Parliament Joyce Bateman.
Some of our trip highlights included a tour of Yad Vashem’s Holocaust Memorial Museum, a visit to the Knesset and the Western Wall (and the Tunnel Tours), laying the cornerstone for the future Stephen J. Harper Hula Valley Bird Sanctuary Visitor and Education Centre, great kosher food - amazing Israeli breakfast :), and meeting up with some local Winnipeggers in the Old City of Jerusalem.
A beautiful welcome reception was hosted by Colel Chabad on Sunday evening, Israel's oldest continuously operating charity, which has been caring for the poor in the Israel since 1788, and co-hosted by Mark Adler MP of York, Ontario. The Canadian delegation learned of the amazing work Chabad-Lubavitch does in both Israel and Canada.
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper has always been a brave ally, true friend and vocal supporter of Israel, but it was especially refreshing to hear his historic speech at the Knesset.
Harper acknowledged our long history of persecution and anti-semitism and recognized that Israel is the national homeland of the Jewish people. He said that Israel stands for universal values such as democracy, rule of law, pluralism and freedom and vowed that "Canada will stand with you through fire and water”.
We are luck to have such a principled man as our Prime Minister who is guided by a moral compass rather than political correctness.
On Tuesday afternoon Chabad-Lubavitch delegates were invited for a brief visit with both Prime Ministers. Netanyahu fondly recalled the wisdom and holiness that he encountered in his interactions with the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—throughout the years.
Winnipeg had the second largest delegation behind Toronto.
In fact, during the state dinner that followed, Netanyahu retold the life-altering words that the Rebbe shared with him nearly 30 years ago, when Netanyahu was newly appointed as Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations. “You’ll be serving in a house of many lies,” the Rebbe said to him. “Remember, that even in the darkest place, the light of a single candle can be seen far and wide.”
"Today," Netanyahu said to Harper, "you lit a candle of truth in the Knesset."
Some incredible moments and a truly memorable few days!
--
Rabbi Shmuly & Adina Altein