AJC On Air: David Harris show

AJC On Air: David Harris

Summary: Since 2001, AJC Executive Director David Harris has produced national radio commentary.

Join Now to Subscribe to this Podcast
  • Visit Website
  • RSS
  • Artist: AJC
  • Copyright: Copyright © AJC 2013. All rights reserved.

Podcasts:

 Every Generation Needs a Churchill | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

January 7, 2013 – New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week’s commentary follows: Eighty years ago this month, a momentous event occurred. Its repercussions are still felt. In January 1933, Hitler became Germany’s Chancellor. At the time, few people saw the coming danger. One person who did was Winston Churchill. And to this day, the world owes Churchill an immense debt of gratitude. In those years, he stood largely alone. He was constantly vilified and mocked for predicting Hitler’s aggression. His detractors were in politics, the media, universities. If you’re going to read one book this year, I’d urge that it be William Manchester’s extraordinary account of Churchill between 1932 and 1940. Tellingly, the author entitles it “Alone,” referring to Churchill’s isolation. Every generation needs a Churchill, who sees what others can’t or won’t – and who speaks up courageously and eloquently. Bless his memory. Visit ajc.org. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Israel: The More You Know, The More You Understand | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

January 27, 2013 – New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week’s commentary follows: I’m speaking to you from Israel. It’s always exciting to be here. It’s a fascinating and beautiful country. Elections were held here just a week ago. Once again, Israel showed the world what a pulsating democracy it is. Thirty-two political parties participated in a country of barely eight million people. That’s one of the reasons why, in its annual report on Freedom in the World, Freedom House just rated Israel as the only “free” country in the region. Israel’s neighbors ranked from “partly free,” to “not free,” to the “worst of the worst.” And there’s much more to Israel. Did you know that Israel is ranked among the top ten happiest nations in the developed world? Or that Israel has the sixth highest life expectancy in the developed world? Or that path-breaking research on cancer treatment and other diseases is going on right here in Jerusalem? Israel. The more you know, the more you understand. Visit ajc.org. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Essence of AJC | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

February 5, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: A listener asked me to sum up AJC’s outlook. One way is by anecdote. Sherlock Holmes is called to a case. He invites his assistant, Dr. Watson, to join him. En route, they spend the night in a field, where they pitch a tent. In the middle of the night, Holmes wakes up, looks around, and elbows Watson. “Watson, what do you see?” Watson opens his eyes, looks at the sky, and says, “I see the universe’s beauty and life’s infinite possibilities.” To which Holmes replies: “Watson, you fool, someone’s stolen our tent!” Since 1906, AJC has seen the universe’s beauty and life’s infinite possibilities. We work tirelessly to help achieve the prophetic vision of a world at peace and in harmony. But we also know there are those trying to steal the tent – of our democratic societies, and our cherished values of freedom and mutual respect. That demands our eternal vigilance. To learn more about and support AJC, visit ajc.org. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Baffling EU Hesitancy on Hezbollah | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

February 19, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck, right? Not necessarily, it seems. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist group, has a lot of blood -- American, French, South American, Arab, Israeli, you name it – on its hands. Most recently, Bulgaria pointed the finger at Hezbollah for a deadly attack there last year, only the most recent against a European target. But the EU hesitates to call Hezbollah what it so obviously is -- a terrorist group. Instead, it waffles, debates and delays. So, astonishingly, Hezbollah is free to recruit and raise funds in a number of European countries. Fortunately, some EU nations, including Britain, Bulgaria and Holland, are calling for action, as is the U.S. But they're still in the minority. Join us in asking the EU to list Hezbollah as a terrorist group and sanction it accordingly. Visit ajc.org and follow us on Twitter @AJCGlobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Bravo to Holland on Hezbollah | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

February 26, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: Has the world fallen on its head? Take Argentina's recent deal with Iran to, get this, investigate the killing of 85 people in Buenos Aires. But Iran was behind the 1994 terrorist assault. Argentina already said so years ago. And Interpol, at Argentina's request, has listed five Iranians wanted in the attack. So, it'd be a bit like America asking al-Qaeda to cooperate in investigating 9/11. Then there's the EU and Hezbollah. Hezbollah kills on European soil. Bulgaria proved it. Hezbollah blows up Europeans in Lebanon. Ask the French. Hezbollah is implicated in Cyprus. The Hezbollah agent on trial there admits it in court. But the EU still won't declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization. One ray of light: The Dutch are calling on the EU to act. Bravo to Holland for moral and political leadership! To help us, visit ajc.org, or like us at facebook.com/ajcglobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Vice President Biden’s Stirring Remarks | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

March 5, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: Vice President Joe Biden gave an important speech on the Middle East this week. Here are a few excerpts: “Let me reaffirm our commitment to the State of Israel… It’s not only a longstanding, moral commitment, it’s a strategic commitment. An independent Israel, secure in its own borders… is in the practical, strategic interests of the United States of America … If there weren’t an Israel, we’d have to invent one.” On Iran, the vice president did not mince words: “It’s not only in Israel’s interest that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon, it’s in the interest of the U.S.… As a matter of fact, it’s in the interest of the entire world… Our commitment is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Period. End of discussion… Big nations can’t bluff… And Pres. Obama is not bluffing.” At AJC, we applaud Vice President Biden’s stirring remarks. Visit us at ajc.org. Like us on facebook.com/ajcglobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Speaking up for Christians | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

March 12, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: When the most recent attack on Christians in Pakistan was reported the other day, AJC spoke out. When Christians in Egypt or Nigeria are attacked in their churches and homes, AJC speaks out. When Christians and Baha’i are persecuted in Iran, AJC speaks out. When a Greek Orthodox church was destroyed on 9/11, AJC extended a helping hand. And when an African-American Baptist church in Georgia was targeted by arsonists, AJC was there to help rebuild it. Whatever our faiths, we believe in standing together against religious bigotry and violence. We must not let the haters win. Perhaps that’s why the late John Cardinal O’Connor said of AJC, “No organization in New York, in this country, in the world, has done more to advance Christian-Jewish relations.” Follow us on Twitter@AJCGlobal. Like us at facebook.com/ajcglobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Passover’s Universal Meaning | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

March 19, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: Next Monday, Passover begins. The holiday celebrates the Jewish exodus from Egypt over 3000 years ago. It’s a powerful story of the Jewish people’s journey from slavery to freedom, from the revelation at Sinai to the return to Israel, the Jewish people’s ancestral home. Passover also has universal meaning. During the civil rights struggle, African Americans, yearning for the full equality so shamefully denied them, sang a spiritual. The words include: “Go down Moses, way down in Egypt’s land, tell old Pharaoh, to let my people go.” And did you know that John Adams, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson closely identified with the Passover story?They even proposed an American seal with an image of the Jewish exodus from Egypt. May the triumph of liberty and religious freedom central to the Passover story always prevail – here at home and around the world. Like us at facebook.com/ajcglobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Obama’s Jerusalem Speech | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

March 26, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: President Obama recently visited Israel. Here's an excerpt from the president's speech in Jerusalem, inspired by the Passover story: "For the Jewish people, the journey to the promise of the State of Israel wound through countless generations," the president said. "It involved centuries of suffering and exile, prejudice and pogroms and even genocide. "Through it all, the Jewish people sustained their unique identity and traditions, as well as a longing to return home... "[I]srael is rooted not just in history and tradition, but also in a simple and profound idea -- the idea that people deserve to be free in a land of their own. "This is the story of Israel. "This is the work that has brought the dreams of so many generations to life. "And every step of the way, Israel has built unbreakable bonds of friendship with my country, the United States of America." Bravo, Mr. President! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @AJCGlobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Holocaust Rememberance Day | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

April 3, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: Holocaust Remembrance Day begins this Sunday evening. It's a time to recall the six million Jews systematically killed by the Nazis. From the letter "A" for Auschwitz, the infamous death camp, to the letter "Z" for Zyklon B, the killing agent used in the gas chambers, the Nazis created an entirely new alphabet of genocide. On this solemn day, we remember not just the deaths of the six million, including one-and-a-half-million children, but also their vibrant lives – and how much they had to offer humanity. We recall those who courageously fought back, and the few righteous souls who tried to help them. We honor the Allied armies who, at such great cost, defeated the Nazis and buried the Third Reich. And we remember the slippery slope that led from the dehumanization of the Jewish people to their targeted destruction. At AJC, our goal is to help ensure that nothing like this ever happens again – to any people. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @AJCGlobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Israel’s 65th Birthday | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

April 9, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: Next week, a vibrant democracy marks its 65th anniversary. In describing Israel’s birth, Winston Churchill said: “The coming into being of a Jewish State … is an event in world history, to be viewed in the perspective, not of a generation or a century, but in the perspective of a thousand, two thousand, or even three thousand years.” Churchill was referring to the age-old link among a land, people and faith. American leaders have long shared that view. As President John Adams said 200 years ago, “I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation.” President Truman took just 11 minutes to recognize the new state in 1948. President Reagan said that “Israel is a land of stability and democracy in a region of tyranny and unrest.” And President Obama declared, “This is a nation of museums and patents, timeless holy sites and ground-breaking innovation.” Happy 65th birthday, Israel. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @AJCGlobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Terrorism in Boston | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

April 16, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: I record these weekly radio commentaries every Tuesday. So, by the time this message is aired, more may be known about the Boston bombings.I certainly hope so. Meanwhile, like so many, I’m anguished and outraged. My heart goes out to the families of the three victims, including an eight-year-old, Martin Richard, waiting for his dad at the finish line. My prayers are for the recovery of the many injured. Yet for some, their lives will never be the same. My admiration is for everyone, from police to medical personnel to volunteers, who responded so quickly and compassionately after the attacks. My bet is on Boston. This great city will come together and stand strong. And my bet is on America. Whoever wanted to damage us won’t succeed. Oh, and if it weren’t for the doctor telling me my running days are over, first thing I’d do is sign up for next year’s Boston Marathon. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AJCGlobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 We’re All Bostonians | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

April 23, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: The Boston tragedy continues to loom large. Our thoughts are with the four families of those killed by the terrorists, driven by their demented beliefs. Our prayers are with the many wounded and now lying in hospital rooms. In a very real sense, we're all Bostonians. And that feeling of solidarity and common destiny has been evident in some other countries as well. In response to repeated acts of terrorism, Israel has developed some amazing medical techniques. Those techniques have been shared with many Boston and other American hospitals. As the emergency services chief at a top Boston hospital said after last week’s attacks, "About two years ago … we asked the Israelis to … help us set up our disaster team, so that we could respond in this kind of manner." What happened in Boston last week is another stark reminder that all countries and all people of good will must stand together. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @ AJCGlobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Hezbollah Belongs on the EU Terror List Now | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

April 30, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: Months have passed since Bulgaria implicated Hezbollah in a deadly terrorist attack last year. Weeks have passed since a Hezbollah operative was convicted of plotting terrorism in Cyprus. Not a day passes that Hezbollah isn’t tied to its terrorist-sponsoring patron, Iran. And not an hour passes that Hezbollah isn’t helping its ally Syria kill more of its own people. Yet, strangely, the European Union can’t do the obvious – add Hezbollah to its terrorism list. All kinds of flimsy excuses are offered – we need more time, more information, more proof. Nonsense! Years of terrorist activity have passed, the information is readily available, and the proof exists in abundance. The Obama Administration has called on the EU to do the right thing, as the U.S. already has. The battle against terrorism demands no less. Join us in advocating that Hezbollah be added to the EU terrorism list. Go to ajc.org, and Facebook and Twitter at AJCGlobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

 Remembering Defeat of Nazi Germany | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00

May 7, 2013 - New York – The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. The full text of this week's commentary follows: Sixty-eight years ago this week, the war in Europe ended. The Third Reich, which Adolf Hitler had predicted would last a thousand years, had been vanquished after a 12-year reign – 12 years too many. Up to 60 million people were killed because of the demented ideology of Nazi Germany and its allies. Countless more were rendered homeless, exiled, scarred for life. A new alphabet of genocide was created for the Holocaust against the Jews – from the letter “A” for Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp, to the letter “Z” for Zyklon-B, the killing agent used in the gas chambers. On May 8, 1945, Hitler’s regime was buried. My eternal thanks go to the victorious Allied forces, among them my late father, Captain Eric Harris. With incredible valor and sacrifice, they destroyed the Nazi machinery of violence and death. May their example always serve as an inspiration for us all. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AJCGlobal. This is David Harris of AJC.

Comments

Login or signup comment.