On Saturday, November 23rd, sitting among a crowd of some 500, I, an intern at Manhattan Jewish Experience, had the distinct pleasure of listening to esteemed Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz speaking at MJE’s annual Ruth B. Wildes Memorial event.
Professor Dershowitz’s speech ran the gamut from serious to comical, as he waxed nostalgic of conversations he had had with everyone, from OJ Simpson, Bill Clinton and Bibi Netanyahu to Leon Wildes, husband to Ruth and father to Michael and Mark (about his client John Lennon).
What spoke to me personally were the words of encouragement he offered to the young, college and post-college youth within the Jewish community. I was touched by his words on the struggle to stand up for Israel that many of us face daily on campus in a sea of misinformation and bigotry. He offered us a hopeful outlook on the many obstacles the Jewish community currently faces and how we must not be afraid to stand up for Israel and for what’s right for the Jewish community and beyond.
His words were inspiring, as was being in his presence, and I’m so grateful that Manhattan Jewish Experience was able to arrange for bringing such a prestigious and insightful figure to our door.
Sara Hall
Sara Hall is a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations with a double concentration in Global Conflict Negotiation and the Middle East. It is her dream to work for better Israel-U.S. relations. She is currently an intern at Manhattan Jewish Experience, where she engages in public relations campaigns and social media management for both MJE and its Founder and Director, Rabbi Mark Wildes.
husband to Ruth and father to Michael and Mark
