AZM Biennial Assembly
Remarks by William D. Hess, Incoming President of AZM
William D. Hess, President, AZM
Delivering this speech, I have the sense of walking in the shoes of history and standing on the shoulders of giants. It is awe-inspiring. Shehechianu, v’kieimanu, v’higianu l’zman ha zeh.
Ken Bob and the Nominating Committee he so ably chaired deserve special recognition. The committee developed a strong slate that it is an honor to lead. I admire those serving with me. The willingness of Evelyn Seelig, Ike Blachor, Sondra Sokal, Steve Weinberg to serve as officers is humbling. We have served the cause of Zionism together for many years. The opportunity for us all to work with Marlene Post is particularly welcome as her experience as an international Zionist leader gives new vitality to the Zionist movement in the US.
In my view, AZM is the cradle, the crucible, for the production and implementation of Zionist initiatives and activities in the American Jewish community. Rather than representing the aggregate of its constituent members in a cumulative cacophony, we are on the front line speaking in one voice for Israel and the Zionist movement in the world's largest Diaspora community. AZM brings the Zionist message to all the major arms of the community in one way or another. The Zionist movement has given birth to some of the cornerstones of the American Jewish community. We will continue building bridges to every organization in the American Zionist world to grow the movement.
