Governor Mike Huckabee on Israel, Faith, and the Power of Giving

[Music] please join me in welcoming Governor Mike [Applause] [Music] hakabe he is deeply committed to the Safety and Security of the state of Israel and he knows better than anyone that whatever is good for Israel is good from the United States it is it has long been a tradition for American ambassadors to go to Kel kabad Pantry Packers as part of their official state visit we look forward to seeing pictures of the new Ambassador in a hair nut and apron participating in this medal project [Music] we wish you much success in this Monumental task and challenges that lay ahead may God bless you with the strength and wisdom to make the right decisions and to stand as a strong voice and reason for the people of Israel please join me in welcoming Governor Mike Huckaby thank you well I have some good news for you I'm a little bit bit on the horse side that means I'm not going to talk a long time there is an old statement that says blessed are the brief they shall be invited again I want to express my gratitude for including me in this exceptional celebration of helping people tonight as several families have come to the stage and they have honored what cola kaban is done it it blesses me to know that there are people who generously give not just their money but they give their time they give their service and they give their children an opportunity to understand what it means to help someone who may not be able to reciprocate and that is a blessing I come here tonight knowing that in the coming weeks I hope that the United States Senate will see fit to confirm me and give me the extraordinary privilege of serving as the ambassador of the United States to the state of [Applause] Israel for me this is a lifelong hope dream even though I never thought I would be the ambassador I need to just express to you that my love for for Israel started in July of 1973 that was when I made my first trip I was 17 years old a month away from my 18th birthday for those of you doing the math this year marks my 52nd year of going back and forth to Israel my Jewish friends tell me I've been more than they have and that probably is correct but it's not about how many times one goes it's about the connection that one feels for this incredible piece of real estate that I believe God gave to the Jewish people 3500 years ago when he handed to Abraham the title deed and says you're going to be the leader of a great people that I have chosen and I give you a land that I have chosen I don't come here tonight as a person who is Jewish that's why the yamaka doesn't say on my head too well I have thought about converting primarily because the ball spot on the top of my head would be perfectly covered by a yamaka if I just had the sense to convert permanently but in the meantime I must say to you that from my very first trip in 1973 I fell in love with the land of the Bible and I fell in love with the Jewish people who have continued to carry God's word his law from generation to generation and who have modeled something that quite frankly I think many of us truly not just respect maybe it would be fair to say we Envy the incredible connection to family the observance of Shabbat is something that I've had been a part of in many Jewish families who have invited me to their homes and I always am a little bit overwhelmed with the sense that when God gave his law to his people and they followed it there is a closeness with family that really does create a unity and a sense of purpose the likes of which we all should want to have over the years I've taken my children to Israel many times I've taken thousands and thousands of people on a trip to Israel so they can see for themselves one of the great Joys I have now is watching Israel Through The Eyes of people who have never been there before and who are seeing it for the first time and one of the things that becomes very evident is that it is impossible to walk through the land of Israel and not feel a magnetic connection to God himself I come tonight with a deep sense of gratitude for all of you in this room whose generous contributions help people who are not able to always return the favor it is the greatest Act of love and charity to give when there is nothing in it for the giver except the simple joy of having given feeding people caring for them at their moment of need is something that is as close to the heart of God as one can find in all of the law I also would say that in my many trips to Israel I've been there in some of the best of times I've been there in some of the worst of times not long after October 7th I was there I I was beyond overwhelmed with the gut-wrenching anger and sense of bewilderment as how could anyone do this to innocent civilians and I thought if there ever has been a time when every human being on the face of this planet should stand with our Jewish friends it is right now now and I feel that way more strongly than I have ever felt it in my life it's hard for me to understand anti-Semitism and the rise of it most particularly in this country it makes no sense it's irrational and especially when I see those who should be well-educated young people on a college campus an expensive college campus for which their parents are paying a premium price for their Little Darlings to get an education and when I see them on the campuses waving Hamas flags and shouting statements of annihilation to the Jewish people from The River To The Sea I think some parents have sadly failed their children by not helping them to understand what it is to hate someone you don't even know this isn't evil this isn't a political problem it's not a social problem it is not an economic problem it's not a geographical problem it is a spiritual and a moral problem that can only be resolved when we raise up a generation of people who recognize what you in this room recognize by your gifts of kindness to the people who are hungry to the people who are hurting that if you want to resolve conflict and problems one of the ultimate ways of doing it is showing the kind of love and kindness that every one of you in this room have shown it's been said that every Ambassador is supposed to go and show up and do a little Pantry packing well I want to go ahead and announce tonight that I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to get there I would ask you to pray for me my future is in the hands of the United States Senate that is frightening but if and when I am confirmed and I make it to a land I love then I hope you'll know look for me knocking on your door and yes I'll wear the hairnet reluctantly but I will wear it and I will be glad to stand next to many of you and your Israeli friends and packed wonderful Gifts of food and kindness as a way of saying I'm not just here to sit in the embassy or to experience life in the ambassador's residence I want to walk the streets the people of Israel walk I want to sit in the homes where they live I want to let them know that here stands an American who doesn't have to connect doesn't have to love Jewish people I'm not Jewish but I love Jewish people because God loves Jewish people I love Israel because God has chosen Israel and I also know that when we finally have peace in Jerusalem we will have peace all over the world and I want that for your children and your grandchildren so that instead of having to take up arms to defend the sovereignty of a nation that should be recognized without question instead people can take up spoons and forks and knives and baskets of food and show a level of love that I've come to understand for my Israeli and Jewish friends what a delight it is to be able to share this evening with you I hope that when you come to Israel and I know most of you have and will I'll say what we say down south y'all come and come see me I look forward to it I would say next year in Jerusalem but I'd rather say it this way optimistically this year in Jerusalem God bless you thank you [Music]