Weekly Update: Nachum Segal and Malcolm Hoenlein Discuss the Latest News

Malcolm Homeline is with us. Conference of Presidents of major American Jewish organizations. We call this the weekly update. Mr. Homeline is back in the United States. Mr. Homeline, welcome back to JM and the AM. >> Thank you. It's good to be back, but it was better at home in uh in your talking to you and experiencing an amazing Sukkot and all of the remarkable visitors, the president, the vice president, the secretary of state, again, the secretary of state. Wow. >> And the and the many military visitors as well. >> Yeah. And don't forget >> really endless list. >> And don't forget the negotiators. The negotiators as they're known with a capital N. They were in Israel as well. A reminder to everybody that we have not spoken with Malcolm since the end of Sukkot because last Friday he was attending the funeral of Rabbi Mosha Hower who of course was taken from us suddenly. Um, and I'm sure Malcolm before the end of this discussion uh will note um uh his passing. But I say this, Malcolm, uh, just in terms of the timing because we never really got your review, your feelings about being there on the spot in Jerusalem on Hosanaba uh, as the president of the United States is speaking in the Knesset and as so many of the final living hostages were coming home to Israel. Is there a way I know it's hard to do all regalas, but all these days later, is there a way for you to encapsulate what all that was like in the Holy Land? >> Well, it was it was such a whirlwind that it's only in hindsight that I really can consider and think about the implications which are many, mostly good, but some of concern of all the developments of the last 3 four weeks actually. But the the visit of the president was seen as very significant by most people. There was some concern about you know everybody dash every single word that the president said didn't say much of the speech he he wed you know he had a prepared text and uh and as they kept noting the the teleprompter in Israel worked as opposed to the United Nations >> and he like and he likes to add lib he did and others did. Um uh but the I mean the spirit in the room was really remarkable and the um message by and large was was extremely supportive. Um but you know it pale in comparison frankly to the release of the hostages and there was such a national sigh of relief when the living hostages came home just as there was continued anticipation even today over the release of the remaining 13 of whom Israel says they have identified the kamas knows where they are. There is talk of of several being released today. >> Wow. And you know for the families the return of even of a deceased relative is very significant and the garum says that they that a family doesn't have rest until the deceased uh loved one finds final kur final resting place in Israel and the they're very emotional the funerals and they're they're but it's a a national resurgence and I I noted to people that the difference in Israel is they don't burn the flag they enhance the flag. They embrace the flag even if they're protesting and and there, you know, there there is still such a strong commitment today. One of the hostages released two weeks ago went in uniform and rejoined his his outfit to for a commemoration and and says he wants to join and many of the others say they want to go back and serve. one young woman already reinlisted with her her unit after of course seeing all that they had seen and experiencing what they did and the resilience of these people if you if you look at their comments but most of all if you look at the love that is expressed when they're reunited it should be an inspiration to all of us I once heard Pam Zal talk about the fact when he goes to an air went went to an airport he used to stand for a while at the gate to watch how people greeted their loved ones coming off the planes or coming you know to to meet them and he said that's the way a Rebi should greet his palidam every day and that's the way parents should greet their children and I I was thinking about it many times when you see the love that that should be present all the time and and all the divisiveness in Israel is so counterproductive and so destructive at a time when we still have many extreme challenges today there were many raids in Lebanon there are still challenges in in Gaza the future of Gaza. The we talk about all the the conditions that have been set and the the visitors, the military visitors, the fact that you have army troops inside Israel who are there more to monitor Israel and and the ceasefire, the um uh the the you know the the the all of the developments. It's so overwhelming. and to see how the people of Israel still cherish the US Israel relationship that the flags were waving the people lining the streets waiting for even all the inconvenience with closed roads and at a time when they're building the light railroad everywhere which block streets anyway then to have the streets blocked again but people are very tolerant of it and and accept it and the the feeling towards President Trump was was very evident the and the respect shown him in the Knesset which is not always you know place where you have such decorum and and the cheering crowds uh and the the same to a lesser degree a greater degree to to others. Marco Rubio was certainly received extremely warmly and he gave a remarkable address at the opening of the road from Shiloh the pilgrims road which I hope everybody will get to see once it's fully open but now you can relive the steps that those who are rego those who went to the temple mount you can walk all the way from the shalo pool under the old city wall and come up at the hotel and and this is such an historic development and when I heard both Rubio Huckabe without notes give the most emotional and Bible-based speeches that you can imagine and the the spirit that was there and and leading citizens uh of all kinds Yan Kum and Bill Aman and and people from Mark Lein and I mean such a wide array of people who are invited to and came specially to and what we have talked about so many times on this show that people don't dismiss these things. It's our heritage. These are these are the deeds we are reliving the Bible when when we and Tanakh comes to life in these events. They saw it. They spoke about it too often. We don't and and I want to encourage and and I have to tell you that the spirit there was so unbelievable and the the um you know but there are other visits the vice president's visit also and and he took umbrage at the uh vote in the Knesset which Netanyahu has dismissed and and said was a political stunt and the uh but the damage is done and when the president has to come out and say you know we will never let the man x in these repeated messages doesn't help the cause it hurts Oh, I hear that. Um, just a couple of details. I don't know why I'm so so so curious about it, but is there a way for you to report on the general condition of the most recent living hostages? Are are these folks going to have to spend an inordinate amount of time in the hospital? Are are most of them already home? Like, do you know anything about what's happened in the days since they got back to Israel? Yes, I I as you know, we were in touch with the families all along and um I met with the families. Some of the families uh just in the days before the release and the um the the some of the of the hostages who came home have come home, but that is part of the rehab. It's not that their treatment is over. You cannot be two years in a dungeon and just walk into life. But the the strength and the resilience and the fact that they have demonstrated and how many of them in the tunnels all of a sudden you know started doing being doomed Jewish doing things you know the one who just talked about how they rocked the tunnel every Friday night singos stuff we didn't know before but how many of them found God in the tunnels and and would say shama every day and would do other things which they didn't do for and that the the the parents who lit candles every Friday night and the and you see pictures from this past Friday night of the hostages standing with their mothers as they she they lit candles Friday night and did other things. It's it's these are all stories that will yet be told. There'll be a lot of books written on it. I'm sure Pesro will get a lot of volumes out of it and many others. Um and I say that respectfully that these stories have to be told. They're so inspiring. They're so remarkable. So I don't want to >> Many of them many of them I mean you saw the one whose picture emaciated digging his own grave. He you could see that he's they they fatten them up before they leave. But all of these people will have to go through >> fatten fatten them up. That's poetic license. Fatten them up. >> Well, they do. >> They add pounds to them, but uh they're way way far away from fattening up. Yeah. Yes. And but but the the remarkable statements and look at today even uh guys who went back to their units and and to to thank them um for their support and to thank them for for what I mean it's unbelievable at the when you think of the sacrifice that they made that every reason you know to to to behave in a different way but it's not true that's who they are and I think we can be inspired by it. >> Oh 100%. the the I wouldn't use the word revival for obvious reasons, but the revitalization of Jewish observance and attention uh to ritual throughout the country, not just among the hostages throughout the country has been unbelievable during this war. Pretty remarkable. Uh so you would predict and again I know you don't like predictions, but based on what you know, your educated guess would be the majority of the remaining 13 will likely be home soon. Would that be a safe comment to make? I think that is safe that two maybe today maybe more the pressure on them uh to return them is has to be sustained and that means the allies who are there and nonallies who are there uh operating in Gaza today uh have to keep the pressure on them but it's not just the return of the hostages we have to look at the day after we want to know who's going to be governing how they going to disarm them kamas says they're going to refuse to disarm This is a key component of any the implementation of a deal. The there are other conditions that have to be met as well. We know that a very sorry >> no problem. >> It's that change of season Malcolm >> that that a good percentage of the tunnels still remain maybe 40% maybe more even and that they have still a large supply of weapons including sophisticated weapons. uh and uh so they they have not been disarmed, they have not been dismantled. That has to happen if we're going to have stability in Gaza and the onus should be on the Maza for other countries on Turkey and Qatar and all of those who support them. Not to allow Turkish troops into Gaza. That would be a very big mistake and Israel obviously is objecting to it. but to let all of them hold to account the leadership of Hamas and make him deliver on the promises. And I think there President Trump has been very adamant and very strong. >> Well, the only thing I'd add is far beyond the the refusal to disarm, they're actually killing, you know, gazins in the street, those who they're accusing of uh lining up with Israel. I I would suspect others as well, but you know, we've seen this actually happen uh via video. We've seen it and it is amazing to me and I and I get that the the United States pressure is important and I understand that the disarming is key but the fact that this is being allowed to be done with very little reaction practical reaction from those partners that you just mentioned is very disturbing >> but not surprising and and has stopped. I mean they have put pressure because because of the public exposure especially that picture where they lined up six or seven quote collaborators but many of them >> many of them are leaders of clans and people don't understand the structure of Palestinian society in these areas they really are led by clans and some of the clans have turned against kamas and there are courageous statements being made by people in Gaza you know against kamas's leadership against kamas's role calling for it but they are they're clan-based and um and the whole society and and you know the differences between clans can be very vicious. They fight that they don't even intermar. You know, people in the West Bank and people in the coastal regions of the Palestinians didn't intermar. They they they there were huge divisions. But the clans was the way that it should have been dealt with initially. You empowered them. They they know how to keep control over their areas. Something you know Arabs told me for a long time. Not only there but in other areas as well. And it was behind the attempt at emirating the um the Yehud and Shamron, you know, trying to create mini emirates where where the sheh would be empowered in their area and um you know, there's still people who are advocating it. But it seems the PA really cracked down on those who said they would be part of it, mostly from the area. >> Is it like is it like that in other parts of the Arab world in Syria? Is there you know is there clan grouping as well? >> So that's a good question. The the answer is it's multiple things. There are clans within each of the groups but you have the division really is Drews, Kurds, Alawites um uh Christians um and you have uh Sunni Shi Sunnis uh Shiites now that were imported by Iran and populated a lot of the areas when they displaced the population. Um so you have divisions along ethnic lines and and religious lines but you also do have some clan structure within the society in Lebanon. Of course the big division was Christian Muslim but the Christian population is diminished but you have also there uh Drew's population that is significant. you have other populations um and they they artificially constructed a a a division between giving the presidency to a Christian and the prime ministership to a Muslim but the Muslims really rule and the question is will they exercise the influence over the areas and root out theah influence so farah has not been disarmed Israel today eliminated a number of keyizah activists or or terrorists uh and continues to operate against the violations of the ceasefire agreement hitting arms cashes and other things which shows that they are still active. The people in Lebanon I think largely want them out but the you have huge Palestinian refugee camps. You know the Palestinians there were never allowed to work. They weren't giving work permits. They couldn't become doctors, lawyers, anything. they they're only menial labor but they weren't given citizenship and they were never given but nobody of course were right about that as opposed to going into the hospitals in Jerusalem and seeing how many Arab doctors and nurses and etc that you see there. So the you know the true story about the structure of those societies is really critical because that's how you can construct something and like in Syria I think I would favor certainly a coalition of all of those ethnic groups creating a council and having somebody over it there there's a lot of opposition still to Shara you don't read about it here but I can tell you within the country there's a there's growing opposition in fact uh to Shara and there were some incidents in Idlib which was his home base which has exacerbated that. >> It's America's one and only Jewish moments in the morning radio program heard on listener sponsored digital radio around the world, the webc.com, the school network and of course on the beloved NSN app. I remind everybody that new development for this week and this season is that our interviews are now available on YouTube which is being used by about half the country and half the world as a podcast platform. Uh just go to NHL Seagull Network on YouTube, subscribe and this conversation, all of our conversations this week, you will find on that page. Um, I'll give you leeway on this cuz I I really don't know what the um what your reaction was. As you see the 60 Minutes interview and in general as you see the way the negotiators are describing the process of getting to this point any comment, any feeling one way or the other about the description of this entire thing? It's certainly a complicated process. Uh the 60 Minutes interview uh made headlines particularly because they said that Israel that they were um not to dismayed I think was the word they used. I forgot which what was the exact word but if you look at it they said they were a little bit troubled by it essentially and but the headlines never said a little bit. Uh and the fact is that they're trying to maybe establish the record for the Qataris and everybody else to see that they did not play a role in this. Uh but you know, one of the concerns that you hear analysts and people talk about in Israel is is is are we creating a vassal state? Do will we have to get American approval for every move we make? Correct. >> Stuff like that. I don't believe that that's the intent and certainly not the presence of the troops. Or to put it differently, do these interviews and discussions weaken the power of the prime minister of Israel? >> For those for some it challenges it and and raises concern. Look, basically people really are very uh appreciative of what the president did of the deal getting out of the war. I mean, it's a huge national sigh of relief. Would they have liked a more decisive outcome? In some cases, yes. People would have liked to see and kamas completely destroyed, but they did a remarkable job. And when you remember that it was a seven-sided war against Israel, when you think about this little country did against Iraq together with the United States, these are all remarkable. The USIsrael alliance is really vital for Israel security, for for the stability of the region. And I had the opportunity to speak to some Arab leaders over the last few weeks and they certainly reflected. I do believe that the Abraham Accords can have a a a big future and a lot of stuff is is happening quietly. >> How soon could there be an agreement with another country for the Abraham Accords between now and the end of this calendar year? >> Yes. >> Wow. >> I think there could be more than one and it could be a different structure. But yes, I I do believe and I've been working on ideas with it and talking to some countries, but but I think it should it won't be I think the structure should be different. I don't think it should go for diplomatic relations. I think it should go for economic relations, create facts on the ground, the people will see it and and the Saudis will come along. The problem is that they keep putting the emphasis on the Saudis, which builds local opposition, but also they can raise the price on it. and the MBS, the crown prince is coming to the United States in a little over a week, I think. Um, and it would be a very important visit. Saudi Arabia is still a key country in in the region. They all welcome what Israel did. They want Israel to annihilate the terrorists and and all the terrorist infrastructure and do the work for them. And you know, they don't love Qatar despite the fact that they've learned to live with it. you know the the memories and the fact that they are a Muslim Brotherhood state and it's 300,000 people remember and we have a huge army base there air force base there we have uh and and the linkage between Qatar and Turkey another Muslim Brotherhood of state and the the prominent role and people in Israel officials do acknowledge that Qatar in some degree played made a contribution to this but they're very wary of it because of their declarations because of the philosophy and ideology behind it. Uh the question uh that is debated most is whether the attack on Qatar led to to the further developments or did not did it detract uh you know with the United States being critical of it now but is that a play just to the Qataris and the Arabs to show that they distance themselves they didn't do it. Israel did not violate the sovereignty by flying on on land. they flow they they fired from the international waters uh but they did hit the building uh and you know there's a lot of debate about what was the intent what was the outcome etc and I'm sure we'll be reading many books on this as well so the the Qatara role is still very controversial Turkeykey's role even more controversial they still want to dominate in in Syria I think Shara has um at least publicly diminished that the visibility of their role but it certainly is not going disappear. So, there's still a lot of sources of instability, but it's a remarkable difference from a few months ago. >> I got to do a little bit local uh before we go back, if we have time, to the Middle East. Um I mean, the the race for mayor in New York has really uh created something that I don't think we've seen to this level before. You're a lot more experienced at this than I am, so you'll tell me if I'm right. And I'm curious if you think it's a good thing or not. rabbitic leaders, people who are called rabbi, uh, and I'm not saying that, you know, in a degrading fashion. I'm just saying those who have the title rabbi actually taking a public stand in an election. And again, I think, and you'll tell me if I'm right or wrong, that generally speaking, it is rare to see any type of rabbitic consensus uh when it comes to local elections. Maybe a little bit more on the national scene, rarely on the local scene. And by consensus, I mean the the consensus to actually speak out publicly. Does this make you nervous, especially since we really don't know 100% yet who's going to be the next mayor, etc. And obviously, we want the mayor, whoever it is, to work with the Jewish community, etc. Are these rabbitic and leadership efforts getting too much publicity? >> Wow, that's a lot of questions and and not easy ones. First of all, it has happened before. We used to have competing ads of 200 uh signatorries and 400 and 800 rabbis and that has diminished somewhat and certainly it was less true um it was more on the national level but uh but there have been in previous races similar lists of endorsements by rabbis quote rabbis um many of them you know have adopted titles >> right >> and uh there are still a lot of rabbis who have not come out who should be coming out I think this race is different. We are going to the Flatbush Jewish Community Council which I'm honorary chair is going to come out today and endorse uh Cuomo and I think everybody should it's not a question of endorsing Cuomo. It's a question of defeating Mdano and it I know there are a lot of people have agendas and and concerns or historical grievances. Those are irrelevant today. Right now we have somebody who will become a national symbol and he's not the only one. We have mayors around the country and we've seen the impact of of what it means. People dismiss it and say, "Well, what can a mayor do? He can do a great deal in terms of impacting locally, let alone threatening to arrest Netanyahu or you know what kind of policing there will be, what kind of protection and and I don't think we should shy away because of the possible implications. We are residents here. We we we have a right to demand and to be heard like every other group. And we have a bigger stake in it because of the rise of anti-semitism because this guy as association and we can go through the whole history the litany of things people have heard it so many times. I I think it's a disgrace that some of them have have muddied the waters by greeting them and and you know talking about our friend. There's no evidence that he is a friend. He refuses to condemn the most fundamental things that that he should and uh you know can say that he didn't use that exact word or that another word. I don't think and the large gap in the polls does not have an effect on your opinion. In other words, you >> it's not because we're not going to be driven by polls. This is a matter of principle. This is a matter and I do believe he can be beaten. I believe that if Curtis does drop out, I think if if the voters who sit on their hands, you know, pontificate, but don't go out and vote, if they all turn out to vote, I think he can be bitten. I think there's a huge hidden vote that is not accounted for in the polls. And if you take Curtis's vote and you put it together with Cuomo, it doesn't mean that it will all transfer. But I think that it it's within striking distance and I think that there are a lot of people who will not say how they're voting, but will will in the end not vote for for Amdano if we are able to mobilize. We get people out to votes. We've registered. There have been voter registration drives across the city in Jewish neighborhoods. Um and registered thousands in each neighborhood. There should have been tens of thousands. But I think collectively that there the people will realize that that he he is offering pie in the sky solutions to to fundamental, you know, problems, let alone his appeal to to the most racist elements. And look who he appears with. Look look at the the associations. And we know from around the country that it it has real significance. And there are are many mayors running numerous mayors in New York State and around the country. There are people who who reflect the same kind of point of view. This is not anti-Muslim. This is not anti- anybody. This is not a religious based thing. This is based upon pure politics and and the racist views and and the refusal to to stand up and and defend and to to identify Israel even as a Jewish state. Uh and the the criticism, the accusation of genocide, all the things that he will do that coming out of city hall that, you know, Mayor Adams can be criticized, but he was certainly staunchly uh supportive. And I think, you know, we have to to to take a lot of message lessons out of this. We should begin planning right now for the governor's races. We have to begin to plan to mobilize young people to make sure what the spider community did about not selling seats and not allowing kids into school unless their parents showed they were registered. This has to become the rule, not the exception. And again, I think that those who who who play a duplicitous politics and you know, and think that they're going to gain and benefit and that Mandano is is going to be there, they're not it's not going to be the case. When he's the mayor and the policies that he introduces and the atmosphere that he creates and the tolerance of anti-semitism and the revolving door justice, all these will impact everybody no matter what. And I think it's it's really a different election. And if you hear in my voice that that uh a different message than I normally would give in in a race like this, it's absolutely true. I don't think this is business as usual. And I hope that everybody listens. We'll go to 10 people and make sure that they're register and they turn out. I think we have the last day of registration. I don't know if it passed through them, but but now the key thing is offer people a ride if they're elderly people or others who have a difficulty getting to the to the polling booths. got to make sure that the turnout is there, not just not just the registration and and everybody and if you have children in Israel, they can vote absentee and there are a lot of things to do and that that's thousands and thousands of votes that could be uh registered for against Mandano is this is a really serious thing. people I I know they they they when you're talking about city council races talking about other things. The fact is that they can pass resolutions. They can do a lot that can harm the quality of life that can harm the atmosphere and and exacerbate tensions at a time when they are elevated. Anyway, >> one other thing from this side of the world and that's the discovery in Louisiana by authorities of a man who was involved in the October 7th massacre. And you know, I I I I I I generally uh get a um you know, I generally know your your uh opinion when it comes to immigration policy and uh and and whether um someone like this should have been vetted uh better than he was. But this is pretty frightening that somebody who actually took place took part in a massive terror attack is found here in the United States. It's it's 100% a reflection of the the loose policies that were pursued. We knew and I've talked on this show for how many years? Many many years about the fact that that we know that they're sending sleeper cells. Iran did, others did, other Arab terrorist organizations have been sending Muslim terrorist organizations have been sending people into the United States on an ongoing basis. 10 years ago, guys on the border reported it and I reported on the show and talked about the concerns they were expressing in Laredo and place like that that people were just crossing that they found our military uniforms years ago in the deserts near in near New Mexico or Arizona and the the um you know the lack lacadasical approach to all of this and and resulting in a huge population of undercounted four people. But here is somebody who was so high-profile, was known, how could he possibly slip through and then end up in a key position in a in a school. I mean, it's ridiculous. And the one wonders then how many more there are? And we know they tell us they have sleeper cells. China has Iran has many who could be that can be activated and can either do espionage or actually engage in physical violence. Do you think the Knesset's going to survive all this? Because a couple of people dropped out of the coalition after what happened this week and I know they were, you know, getting toward the uh election campaign period. But you think there'll be early elections? >> Well, what what Charles did is they they they gave up their government positions, but they remained in the government in the coalition. Um and um uh I do believe elections are going to take place. Uh I think maybe next June. uh maybe even earlier depends. I I think that the um you know this has run its course and it was anyway due to to dissolve next year, >> right? So the question is will Netanyahu continue to to lead? Uh you know we see a lot of disruptions within his government. The dismissal of Taki as national security adviser others leaving and or being uh dismissed and the departure I think of Durmer is very significant that you know in terms of his role with the United States and other ways. I'm sure he'll continue to play an important role, but he certainly um has given a lot to to Israel. So, there will be um I think a movement towards an election. >> Yeah, I'm sorry. >> Probably important. >> By the way, the New York Times says that um it's not unprecedented that the president of Israel wouldn't step in and issue some type of pardon. Happened once before, but it's very, very highly unlikely. agree. >> Well, first of all, I don't know if they can issue a pardon before you have a conviction. >> Well, you can. It's just they they say it's shunned upon to actually do. He did it once. The president his father did it once, >> right? >> But that was for security purposes, he claimed, >> right? And that that was an exception, >> right? I mean, I was talking about normal rule whether people issue uh dismissals, but and and you know that Joe Biden did did pro proactive ones meaning that even for crimes afterwards after the issuance. >> So, you know, that's I think it's a little strange one. Um I think that the, you know, the um the president's under tremendous pressure and when the president did it publicly, you know, everybody laughed, but it was a serious uh moment, right? I thought uh for the president to to both in one sense to say they interfere in the other sense to say that you know he was giving a message that why would you introduce this element of instability over cigars and and uh champagne and whether it's more serious or not the fact is that it's totally disruptive that he has to spend days in the court I don't think would happen in other places and um we have to see whether president Herzog and there are a lot of there's a lot of speculation that he would like to run for prime minister after his presidency. Um I don't know that that's true, but he's being much more active and um and he did not speak if you noticed at the event. He was originally scheduled to >> but he did not. And he was also going to announce he was giving the Medal of Honor and then BB announced that he's giving the Israel prize for the first time to a foreigner. This is those you know for people who all of those who like to study the minutia of government is so much it's so overwhelming that you know everybody was telling me and I met with ministers and I met with others you know while while we were waiting for 4 hours to come down you know they had a minion at 6:00 a.m. >> Oh at the Knesset >> oh is that funny people brought people come with their love >> and and they came at 6:00 a.m. I went to shul at 6 a.m. And I went later. I got permission to come. I came there. >> Is there a sukesset? >> Oh, for sure. Yeah, for sure. >> So, you can even have a hashuda if you wanted. >> But I'm sure there I'm sure maybe I did see it on the second level, but that's where they hang out in smoke. The um the the the you know, the um atmosphere was amazing. But first, when I got there, it was 8:30, quarter 9, and we had to wait till 1:00. And then the foreign minister called me down to come and I spent an hour meeting with him and I met with another minister cuz they saying why are you sitting there come down and let's talk was actually very productive for me in that time >> and and then I went back in time and we even got a Knesset made caps that said the president of peace in the back says the Knesset which was really u remarkable. They were all gone by the time I got back up there. And you know, and I'm sure you're going to see them on eBay obviously and people wearing him to sh this job as Malcolm Malcolm may be doing a redirection himself. I may have put his on eBay. >> I'm not talking now. >> I'm kidding around. But boy, unbelievable. You have to leave the building with that one. Um, and then of course afterwards I was concerned about you and others getting to where you needed to get to format Sarah. Did that work out all right? >> Yeah, there was no problems uh actually but getting out of Knesset we were we were delayed because you can't leave until the president and his whole party left and they of course delete Ali and getting out and was there shabas so I I didn't get home till after 4. >> There's always there's always something that I think you and I have in common and that's you know stopping and appreciating the moment. How crazy was it opening up your Shminyat Seras on the high that you just described thinking back to how you felt Shiny at Sarah morning two years earlier. >> It's a subject for a whole show, but but you're 100% right. First of all, I was so exhausted after that whole day of waiting and walking and standing and and getting up and down and up and down to applaud >> and in general Rob is an exhausting day. >> Yeah. Oh yeah, beating those Oshanas was tough there and um so but absolutely and you know that that I was there in in the beginning the day after Yante I was in Ber when they opened it I was in st road I was there and I saw all the blood and everything so for me the memories and I I consciously block it. I don't talk about it much and I I block it and and have a hard time going back there and and all of that and I understand what a little bit of what the people, you know, have to do mentally to to go back to their homes and to I mean I spoke to people from Barry and they invited me to to event but I couldn't get there and get back in time for Yantiff. Um but the resilience and the you know rebuilding and going back to the places where the loved ones were slaughtered is is beyond comprehension. the strength and and we who live here and and you know people really cared about the the hostages the remarkable things done and sustained over the two years you know we don't even come close to to 1% of it >> and I think we should all you know sham celebrate them and remember them and continue to to pray for the release of the rest of the hostages it's not over yet the the bodies being returned is really vital and if you parents and the families families of those. It's it and the Gmorra is right that nobody can find rest until they find proper in Israel. >> Yeah, understood. Uh well, we're way over time, but I got to be fair as I said. I mean, unfortunately, one of the events you attended in Israel was the funeral. One of course took place here in Baltimore, then a short one in New York, and then of course eventually in Jerusalem. uh for Rabbi Mosha Hower who you knew very well off the air. You um spoke with me for quite a long time about what you thought of his his work, his life, his demeanor and his leadership in the Jewish world. Obviously, we don't have that kind of time, but you must tell this audience something about Rabbi Mosha Hower, who we lost so suddenly over Yantiff. >> You talk about difficult assignments to to talk about him. As you know, I was at the Levayan at the Shiba in Israel, >> and his his wife showed such strength, and it was just a reflection of him and his kids as well. >> It it's such a tragic loss. I'm telling you that people do not understand now what a loss it is for our community. The special role he played within the president's conference within the community at large way beyond just the confines of the OU, let alone within the OU, the dignity he brought to it and the his style on every element of of what he was involved in. And when there were real crises, things that I can't talk about, I would call him and say, "Listen, we have a problem." There there arise in different periods of our of certainly in my 60 years of doing this, there were people who who rose above the moment and who who were really critical who could go into any setting and know that they would you would come out okay. And to make the case for the community as he did, earning the respect of the reform, you saw the tribute by the head of the reform move. the other movements, people who were really hostile to us and he turned them around and in a very quiet and dignified way. It came to the point where they asked him to give the devout at the end of our executive council meetings of the conference every week, not others. And he he would often sit and quietly and I I I would get nervous, you know, and then he would at the right time just come in and make the case. And sometimes really saying, you know, we cannot I cannot go along with this. I can't abide it. but make the case as to why he didn't try to dictate. He he convinced and and I'm telling you my son learned with him for 20 years I think in in Isul. I didn't know him well. I had met him once or twice before he came to the OU and I certainly was close to my my son and his family in in Baltimore. But I'm telling you from the first day I met went and took him out for dinner and talked to him about the he had the role and believe me he so far exceeded anything I could have asked for or or or expected. >> Wow. >> And I'm telling you we we don't know. There are giants who rise in time. I was thinking of it at about Rabbi Herman Newberger at his grandson's wedding in in Israel at the the loss of the vacuum that people individuals leave behind and not they're not the people who go to the headlines and don't run to get notoriety and and publicity and often those who do really don't do anything except shoot off their mouth. These are the people who really do and he he did it all hours of the day night would call me and not only just about things related to the conference but to some of the stuff that or issues that arose and asking what because not because he needed my wisdom that he was smarter than me but he was because he would look for experience and he would learn from everybody and take it into account. So I'm just telling people this is a loss for all of Clasro. It'll be a void and and we don't have many like them. We we lost too many people in the last uh couple of months. I mean people who were important to our community and and I would say he above all was such an inspiration and people I'm telling you who are hostile to the from community and and would express it on on meetings and things muted it and and turned around and and some of them even lured with him. >> Amazing. I'm telling you leaders, not not not I'm talking about people who are peripheral to the community. >> Um, respectful personal relationship is a key element to leadership and you've seen that a million times over the years and I'm glad you pointed that and other things out about Rabbi Hower. Uh, thank you Malcolm. We'll speak have a wonderful Shabas and we'll speak please God next week. >> Malcolm homeline with us weekly update conference of presidents of major American Jewish organizations. Friday morning error of Shabas. I know we're way over time but this was an important conversation.