Iwas standing with a group of students outside the West Wing of the White House campus when a Chassidic man walked out of the White House’s Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Seeing the teens wearing kipot , the man asked what we were doing there. I explained that we were on a trip to learn about and lobby for the U.S.-Israel relationship.

I was curious about what a Chassidic man was doing at the White House and asked him what he was doing there. He explained he was advocating for many Jewish issues, but quickly qualified his response by emphatically stating, “But not Israel!” His enthusiasm and gusto made it clear that he didn’t view Israel as a “Jewish issue.” I politely wished him success and returned to talking with my students.

Israel’s Declaration of Independence reaches its c

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