Tonight I want to talk to you about Israel. Some of you might be wondering why it is that I and so many other rabbis return to the subject of Israel year after year, the answer simply is because Israel is so important, so essential to the Jewish people that I want all of you love and care about Israel as much as I do, to be as concerned with her welfare as I am and to pray for her future as Jews have done for generations.

Without question the two most seminal events of the twentieth century for the Jewish community was the destruction of the Shoah and the birth of the State of Israel. The Holocaust has made us vigilant in opposing anti-Semitism, but our response to and our relationship to Israel has been much more complicated. The sociologists who study the Jewish community tell us that there is a generational divide regarding Israel. That those old enough to remember what it was like to live in a world without an Israel, feel tremendous pride in the State of Israel and all that it has accomplished in its short tenure as well as a persistent fear that Israel will ultimately be eradicated by her implacable enemies.

While the younger generation, specifically, those in their 20s and 30s have grown up in a world where Israel was a fact of life and constantly portrayed in the media as a powerful oppressor of the beleaguered Palestinian people. While there are young ardent Zionists, many in the younger generations have feelings and opinions that range from weakly supportive to openly hostile towards the Jewish homeland. It is sad to note that some very passionate but misguided young Jews can be found among Israel's most vocal and persistent critics.

Every democracy is open to criticism from its citizens, its friends and neighbors and even from those who disagree with it. It goes with the territory. But I can remember a time, not so long ago, when the American Jewish community would only criticize Israel in private, behind closed doors, lest enemies of the state get a hold of our perhaps legitimate criticisms and use them against Israel in a way that we would never have intended or agreed with. But then things changed, the next generation of Jewish leaders came into their own and many in my age group, myself included, saw Israel as an undeniable fact, we didn't live with the fear that the Jewish state could be eradicated. Israel was strong; she could and would defend herself against all Arab hostilities. There was nothing to fear, only an imperfect democracy to improve, to hope and perhaps to help Israel to be an Or LaGoyim, a Light unto the Nations; not only the most Jewish, but also the most moral and the most ethical country in the world.

But the world changes as it always does. Anti-Semitism is on the rise again in Europe. Everyone I know was horrified when a shooter opened fire at a French Yeshiva killing three children and an adult in Toulouse, last March. More recently, there was an attack on a German rabbi in Berlin and a warning to German Jews not to wear a kipah in public. And then just last week a bomb exploded in a kosher store in a Paris suburb as people were doing their Rosh Hashanah shopping.

In this country, just last month, we read of a vicious attack on a Jewish college student at Michigan State who was at a party when he was asked if he was Jewish, he replied yes. It was then reported that two young men did a Nazi salute, broke his jaw and then stapled his lips to his gums. It is not clear that things happened exactly as reported, however, the matter is currently under investigation. In truth, anti-Semitic attacks are very rare in this country and the ADL reports that they are at an all time low. Let's hope it stays that way. But even if we mostly escape physical attacks, we have seen the success of the BDS movement in this country. Boycott, Divest & Sanction is an anti-Israel campaign started by Palestinian NGOs calling upon individuals to boycott products from Israel and companies doing business with Israel; calling upon businesses and investors to divest their holdings related to Israel; and calling upon governments to sanction Israel. The problem with the BDS movement, like much anti-Israel activity, is that it does not target policies of Israel, but rather seeks to delegitimize Israel.

In the last year, a Harvard University conference at the Kennedy School of Government called "Israel/Palestine and the One State Solution" was held. It has been clearly demonstrated that at current birth rates a single democratic state would soon cease to be Jewish which is why Israel has come out in support of the two state solution, two states for two peoples living side by side. A national BDS conference was held at the University of Pennsylvania where students, academics and others came together to promote the boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. Also this year, the General Assemblies of both the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church voted on divestment resolutions written and supported by committees of their church bodies. Thankfully, all the measures were defeated and no divestments took place. But again, the very fact that it happened and we had to respond to it is disturbing.

This anti-Israel programming is something that our college students on some campuses have to face on a regular basis. Right here in NJ, Rutgers University is a hotbed of anti-Israel activity here on the East Coast. My children have all gone to Rutgers and have all been active at Hillel, but last year, my son Raffi, became one of the student activist leaders fighting to preserve Israel's good name on campus. It is an ongoing challenge. Jewish students often face anti-Israel prejudice from professors in the classes they take. It is a very challenging time to be a pro-Israel college student. All of this has been going on and increasing for years, especially since the UN World Conference against Racism held in Durban, South Africa in 2001. Many enemies of Israel now employ a strategy of deligitimization that has unfortunately rather effectively isolated Israel on the world scene. No other country in the world has to defend its right to exist, only Israel; no other nation has the location of its capital questioned, only Israel.

I am a huge fan of the Olympics, every four years I love to watch the track & field, the swimming & diving and the gymnastics. I also love the pageantry of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, so I was very disappointed when the International Olympic Committee again voted not to recognize the Munich Massacre of the 11 Israeli Olympians on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of that tragic event. What's more the BBC's Olympic country profile listed the capital city of every country competing in the Olympics except Israel. If that wasn't bad enough, they listed East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

Recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was a painful event for Jews in this country during the Democratic National Convention. I think it was reprehensible that it and other pro-Israel statements found in the 2008 platform had been dropped. Further, it was scary and depressing to see the way its reinstatement was handled. But the most disturbing part is that 30 years after Israel annexed Jerusalem and declared it to be its capital that any foreign group or power has to make a statement about it at all. I find it very sad that the US Embassy, like all other foreign embassies, is still in Tel Aviv.

But far and away the most serious threat to Israel's survival comes from Iran. Tomorrow as we fast and pray, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will once again be in NYC addressing the UN General Assembly. Yesterday, on a CNN Interview he reiterated his call that Israel be "wiped off" the map. He presents a narrative where Israel is the aggressor who must be stopped. He may very well be the most dangerous man on earth. Iran with nuclear weapons at her disposal would be a danger not only to Israel, but to the entire civilized world. When someone of his stature threatens the existence of the Jewish homeland; that is something to take seriously. Anyone who argues that it is simply posturing, meaningless rhetoric; ignores history. When someone is an existential threat to your existence, then you have to make certain to eliminate that threat to protect yourself.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama can publically debate "red lines" regarding Iran, but the important fact is that both leaders have clearly stated they are opposed to allowing Iran to gain access to nuclear weapons and both have acknowledged that each has the right as sovereign nations to protect themselves in the way that they see fit.

In the time of the Talmud there were two great centers of Jewish life and learning – Israel and Babylonia. Today, once again we have two great centers of Jewish life and learning – Israel and America. So what is it that we must do as American Jews? We must support Israel, unequivocally. In word and in deed, we must show the American people and the world that we support the State of Israel. We must continue to send our children and our grandchildren, so that they can develop the same love and passion for the Jewish homeland that we feel. There are almost a dozen different USY summer Israel Pilgrimage tours to choose from for high school students and for those 18-26, we must encourage them to take a Taglit/Birthright Israel trip, if they qualify; 10 days all expenses paid trip to Israel, I wish I could go on one. I would love to have us take a congregational trip to Israel, to walk the holy land together as a community. On Rosh Hashanah, you heard Barry Blecherman give an impassioned pitch to purchase Israel Bonds, if you haven't done it yet, then do it now, as soon as Yom Kippur is over. Eric Weis, our Israel Connections Chairperson, will be happy to involve you in our Israel programming and we both encourage you to support the development of liberal Judaism in Israel which you can do by paying only $36 to join Mercaz – I'm a member, won't you join me? And finally, we can learn more about Israel to better be advocates for Israel. On nine Tuesday nights starting right after the Chagim are over, I will be one of a group of community rabbi teaching in the Hartman Institutes iEngage Israel education program at the Wayne Y. You might argue that you don't want to go there to take the course because the Y isn't Jewish enough anymore and I'm one who isn't happy with the changes, but if we don't support what programming is being offered, then even that will disappear. Let's make a difference locally and globally; after all the message of the High Holy Days is that each individual can change and make a difference – let's make a difference together.

Gemar Hatima Tova – May we all be Sealed in the Book of Life for a Good Year!