For many Americans, our alliance with Israel is seen solely through the lens of the security benefits it provides. However, our ties to Israel are deeply rooted in so many ways. Sadly, as evidenced by the ignorant and uninformed protests we saw on college campuses and will likely see again, most Americans know that Israel is the Jewish homeland and our strategic ally in the Middle East. That does not begin to tell the story of Israel.
As we close in on the somber anniversary of the horrific attacks of October 7, with U.S. and Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, we must not lose sight of all the ways the tiny state of Israel is truly a modern miracle.
The importance of Israel to the world cannot be overstated — from freedom of religion, speech and the press to human rights, women’s rights and LBGTQ rights, to the rule of law, to all the technological and medical advances Israel has contributed to the world. This is why we need Israel Appreciation Day to begin to educate our country on all the ways Israel has touched the world and made the world a better and safer place.
Israel Appreciation Day has never been done before. It is a non-partisan, interfaith and grassroots live TV broadcast event bringing together voices from across America, Jewish and non-Jewish, to give depth and breadth to all that makes Israel special.
There will be speakers from political leaders and faith leaders to law enforcement and the entertainment industry — all focused on amplifying the good that Israel does as an oasis of Western values in the Middle East. Rather than condemn Israel, it is time we express our gratitude for all that Israel has done and continues to do for the betterment of mankind.
As opposed to the politicians talking to the country, a day that celebrates all that makes Israel a modern miracle is about the country talking to our political leaders. Over the last several months, as we began planning for Israel Appreciation Day 2024, the outpouring of support for all that is good and decent about Israel has been overwhelming. Until now, there has been no way for those who love Israel to express that support.
Israel Appreciation Day 2024 will reach across the country and the world to educate and inform many less aware of the breadth and depth of Israel’s myriad contributions to the world. While continued funding for Israel and its ability to defend its people is imperative, so, too, is winning the battle for the hearts and minds, especially among young people, which is sorely lacking.
The love and support for Israel across a broad spectrum of people has been heart-warming and nothing short of awe-inspiring. Simply stated, Israeli values are American values. Without an event like Israel Appreciation Day, “never again” is now!
