Ambassador Yechiel Leiter instilled a message of hope and resilience to attendees of Magen David Sephardic Congregation’s Shabbaton March 21 to 22, according to Rabbi Henry Soussan of MDSC.
The Israeli ambassador to the United States, who doubles as an ordained rabbi, led a shiur, or Talmudic study session, as part of the weekend event. He interspersed these Jewish teachings throughout his three speaking opportunities with the goal of inspiring the Jewish community.
Leiter spoke to the “resilience of Israel and the Jewish people,” said George Abraham, a board member of MDSC. After months of the Israel-Hamas war, many Israeli children are now being born, which indicates a “solid belief in the [nation’s] future,” Abraham recalled from Leiter’s speech.
The ambassador’s other primary message was one of unity within Israel.
“The interesting thing he said is, ‘When you’re in a tank, when you’re in a fight, one [soldier] doesn’t ask the other, ‘What did you vote for? Are you pro judicial reform? Are you anti judicial reform?’’” Abraham recalled. “When you get together for the battle of Israel, unity [is] all that matters. None of these other differences, political or other things, really come into play.”
Leiter, who lost one of his sons in combat in Gaza near the end of 2023, praised the Israel Defense Forces soldiers’ “strength despite all the difficulties and hardships,” Soussan said. “They are still fighting,” Leiter told attendees.
Soussan, whose children and grandchildren live in Israel, was grateful to hear this message.
“It was just very impactful because our community is very much affected by Oct. 7, [2023], and the aftermath of the ongoing war, like every Jewish community,” Soussan said. “Maybe even more so because we have a lot of members who have family in Israel who have been on the front lines. Everyone at Magen David probably has a very strong personal, familial connection to Israel in many ways … so it was very welcome to hear from him.”
Leiter also referenced the “shattered pieces,” referring to the broken tablets of the Ten Commandments and connecting the biblical concept back to modern-day Jewish people.
“He was saying that the broken pieces really symbolize a tragic moment in history of hardship for the Jewish people,” Soussan said of Leiter. “They’re still part of our existence. They were put into the sanctuary together with the complete second set of the tablets.”
The fragments serve to remind people that everything doesn’t always work out, thus emphasizing the importance of having a “plan B” in place.
“We just have to take into account that sometimes things will be more difficult than another time, but our resilience will overcome,” Soussan said. “There was overall a message of hope and optimism despite all the hardships, despite his own personal tragedy that he suffered.”
“Everything [Leiter said] had a biblical significance to Israel and where we are as Jews,” Abraham said.
Soussan said he believes the more than 100 attendees appreciated this positive message, which stands in stark contrast with most news regarding Israel: “I think [attendees] enjoyed the steadfast message of optimism and a better future after being bombarded with a lot of negative imagery from the press.”
“Ambassador Leiter delivers a compelling message of unity and pride, urging us to reflect on our identity and use it as a foundation to become ambassadors for Israel advocacy,” Bernard Suissa, MDSC’s vice president, wrote in a statement emailed to Washington Jewish Week.
“[The event] was much more than a visit from a distinguished and highly respected diplomat; it was an inspiring and empowering experience,” MDSC President Elliot Totah wrote in a statement.
“The ambassador truly immersed himself in our community, observing Shabbat alongside us while sharing his powerful message of unity and strength.”
