A Reason to Rise by Rabbi Jeremy Barras

Author:Rabbi Jeremy Barras [Barras, Rabbi Jeremy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798369401194
Publisher: Xlibris US
Published: 2023-06-21T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 34

Washington, DC

It had been a couple of years since Eitan had been in America’s capital. All of the Israeli lobbying events he traditionally attended in DC had reverted to virtual events during the pandemic. He arrived alone on a flight from Miami and went immediately to his hotel. He had friends he would have liked to visit, but he’d been instructed to keep to himself until it was time to escort Vera to the Holocaust Museum. The flags of Israel, UAE, and Bahrain along the DC streets near his hotel added to the excitement of the mission.

It was just after 5 p.m. when Eitan checked into the Intercontinental Hotel, just a half-mile away from the museum. When he entered his room, an envelope with his name on it was waiting for him on the desk. It was from Yehoshua, and it contained very simple instructions. Don’t leave the hotel. We will pick you up tomorrow at 9 a.m. You may walk around the hotel, but keep to yourself.

Eitan decided to remain in his room, order room service, and watch basketball until he fell asleep. The next morning he walked out of the hotel at 8:55 a.m. and found Yehoshua waiting for him in front of a large black SUV. The two men hopped in, and Eitan noticed two other security men in dark suits sitting in the back seat. He sat in the middle row with Yehoshua.

“The leaders will arrive at the museum in about two hours,” Yehoshua said. His tone was serious, and it was clear that this was not a time for pleasantries.

“We will wait with Vera until the leaders finish their guided tour of the museum. The museum director has been told that you are serving as her escort because you have been caring for her in Odessa, and she feels comfortable around you. The director is a good man and we have worked with him before,” Yehoshua continued.

“When the leaders are done in the exhibit, we will meet them in a conference room. There they will have a chance to meet the survivors. We have arranged for Vera to tell the president her story. The other survivor will share his story with the Arab and Israeli leaders. You will stand by Vera and make sure she is clear and that the president understands the danger Lany Kovalenko presents for Ukraine’s Jewish community.”

“Do I need to say or do anything else?” Eitan asked.

“You shouldn’t have to. The most important thing is Vera’s last line. If for whatever reason she forgets, you must remind her to say it,” Yehoshua said, looking straight into Eitan’s eyes.

“What is it?” Eitan asked curiously.

“She must say, ‘Mr. President, don’t let Ukraine do today what they did to the Jews of my generation.’”

“Okay, I will make sure she says it. But I still don’t really understand why I need to be there. It seems anyone could accompany her and make sure she says the right thing,” Eitan responded.

“That’s not true, Eitan. Vera said she would only do this if you were with her,” Yehoshua added.

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