[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 153 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2138-E2139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REGARDING A TRIP TO ISRAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 2003

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I recently returned from my first trip to 
Israel, as part of a Congressional delegation led by Minority Whip 
Steny Hoyer that traveled through this remarkable country in August. 
There are simply not enough superlatives to describe all of my 
experiences and emotions or to convey all that I learned.
  Although a small and still relatively young nation, Israel stands at 
the fulcrum of three major religions and its land is holy to all. 
Resolutions of the various conflicts in that region would go a long way 
toward resolving many of the issues we all face today.
  One of the most moving--and interesting--lessons of my trip was to 
further observe how our two nations, the United States and Israel, deal 
with the problem of terrorism. Both pause to express their sorrow and 
mourn those who have been killed or wounded, but then both of our great 
nations also seek ways to move on and work toward conflict resolutions.
  Shortly after the Congressional delegation left Israel, a remarkable 
concert took place in Jerusalem on September 12, 2003. Amid tributes to 
the memories of those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 
11, 2001, in New York and Washington, as well as those who have 
perished in attacks in Israel, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra played 
a special concert in the Rothberg Amphitheater on the Mount Scopus 
campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
  The concert, Antonin Dvorak's Requiem, Opus 89, marked the debut of 
the Jerusalem Symphony's new music director, Dr. Leon Botstein. The 
concert, billed as ``A Concert of Remembrance and Hope,'' was performed 
under the auspices of the orchestra and the Hebrew University and 
included the Philharmonia Singers and vocal soloists. It was made 
possible through the generosity of the American Friends of the 
Jerusalem Symphony and Anne and Marty Peretz. Botstein, in addition to 
his new role with the Jerusalem Symphony, is also the music director of 
the American Symphony Orchestra in New York and is president of Bard 
College in New York.
  In remarks preceding the concert, American Ambassador to Israel 
Daniel Kurtzer said, ``We will never forget the 3,000 citizens of the 
U.S. and 90 other countries who lost their lives on September 11. We, 
Israelis and Americans, also mourn the lives of the 36 American 
citizens who have lost their lives [in terrorist attacks] in Israel. [. 
. .] Tonight, the process of remembering and recovery continues.''
  Hebrew University President Prof. Menachem Magidor said that the 
evening's concert was an expression of ``profound and deep 
identification with the people of the United States.'' The president 
noted that the ``dark forces'' which perpetrated the attacks of 
September 11, 2001, in the United States are the same which are 
attacking Israel. ``September 11 was a declaration of war not just on 
the United States, but on the entire free world,'' said Magidor. But, 
he said, that evil effort would not succeed.
  Botstein, in his brief remarks, echoed the president's words, stating 
that the terrorist attacks were ``an effort to destroy civilization.'' 
He said too that the evening's concert was dedicated to the memory not 
only of those who lost their lives in the United States in those 
attacks but also to those who have perished in terrorist acts in 
Israel.
  As a symbol of the special ties between Israel and the U.S. expressed 
by the event, the national anthems of Israel and the U.S. were played 
prior to the performance of Dvorak's work.
  Mr. Speaker, along with my statement, I would like to enter into the 
Record the remarks of Hebrew University President Menachem Magidor and 
American Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer which were delivered prior 
to this concert:

   President's Speech at the JSO Concert Marking Two Years Since the 
                      Events of September 11, 2003

       Good evening and welcome to the Mount Scopus Campus of the 
     Hebrew University.
       The concert tonight is far from the usual opening concert 
     of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
       First, as we all know, the fact that the Orchestra 
     continues to perform and is opening a new concert season was 
     a few months ago far from being a certainty. The Orchestra is 
     of vital importance to the cultural fabric of Jerusalem. The 
     opening today is a clear declaration that Jerusalem will not 
     allow such an important part of its cultural life to 
     disappear from the scene.
       We also welcome tonight the new musical director of the 
     orchestra, Leon Botstein, and we all hope that under his 
     direction the orchestra will grow and flourish.
       The start of this cooperative venture with the Hebrew 
     University is also a new and important beginning. I have no 
     doubt that this will enrich both institutions as well as the 
     cultural life of Jerusalem.
       This concert is taking place in a uniquely special setting. 
     Every time I find myself in this amphitheater, I am filled 
     with awe at the power of this place. No less deeply moving 
     are Mount Scopus's historical and cultural connections--a 
     place overflowing with symbolism and significance. On April 
     1, 1925, on this exact spot where I am standing now, 
     Weizmann, Balfour, Bialik and Rabbi Kook attended the opening 
     ceremony of our University.
       But most important of all is the subject to which this 
     evening is dedicated. This is an evening of solidarity, of 
     remembrance, of soul-searching, on the second anniversary of 
     the events of September 11. And it is impossible, as citizens 
     of Israel and of this city, not to connect with the same 
     memories, with the same pain, the same soul-searching of the 
     victims of terror attacks that we have been exposed to during 
     the past three years. The past few days have not made things 
     any easier.
       The criminal attack of September 11 was a declaration of 
     war. But it was not a declaration of war on the United States 
     of America alone, it was a declaration of war on the most 
     basic principles of the free world: on the unique value of 
     the individual, on the right of a person to try to attain 
     happiness in their own way, on freedom of speech, on 
     tolerance, on the fact that a humane society can be composed 
     of people of various affinities and different beliefs, and 
     still be a responsible society with a sense of direction. And 
     the victims of September 11 fell not because they were 
     American, but more because they were a random segment of a 
     society for whom these principles are paramount.
       I don't accept the claim that this is a war between the 
     Islamic culture and the West. This is a war between 
     enlightenment and darkness, between openness, tolerance, 
     rationality--and ignorance and blind religious extremism; and 
     the battle lines cut right across cultures, and not 
     between them.
       We, too, are on the front lines of this war. Clearly there 
     are also concrete political issues in this war taking place 
     here at home, but it is impossible to ignore that, beyond the 
     desire to obtain political goals of one kind or another, 
     blind terror and hatred of free and tolerant discourse is 
     nourished by blind extremism. And I have no doubt that the 
     sinister flame which lit the September 11 attack also lights 
     the terror attacks here at home. We cannot forget the attack 
     here on our Campus a year ago, which took place just a few 
     hundred meters from here. We were targeted not just because 
     we are an Israeli or Jewish institution, but also because we 
     are openminded, tolerant, and follow the paths of peace.
       This war between an open society and its enemies is not a 
     simple one. It is not simple because its enemies are hidden. 
     And it is not simple because there is a serious danger to the 
     open society. The danger is that, not by force but through 
     its own volition, the enemies of freedom will compel this 
     open society to give up its principles.
       The enemies of freedom will have won if we cease to believe 
     in tolerance and human rights; and they will have won if we 
     fail to see where are the limits to the use of force, even 
     when there is reason to use it; and they will have won if we 
     cease to believe, here in Israel, that at the end of this 
     bloodletting, there is the possibility of a life at peace 
     with our neighbors.
       This memorial concert which is taking place on the Mount 
     Scopus Campus of the Hebrew University is a declaration that 
     we,

[[Page E2139]]

     the citizens of Jerusalem and of Israel, wish to show 
     solidarity with our friends in the United States of America.
       We remember the victims of the war waged by the sons of 
     darkness against the sons of light, whether they fell on 
     September 11 in America, or during the three years in Israel 
     and in Jerusalem. We, the citizens of Jerusalem and of 
     Israel, are determined to continue to create a free society, 
     thirsty for knowledge and culture, tolerant and enlightened, 
     rooted in our own heritage but open to the cultures of the 
     world, aspiring to peace, committed to its values even though 
     it may seem to some that to give them up would help in the 
     war.
       I truly believe that these principles must prevail.
                                  ____


 U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel C. Kurtzer Remarks at the Jerusalem 
    Symphony Orchestra Concert in Memory of Victims of September 11

 Mount Scopus Amphitheater, Hebrew University, Jerusalem September 11, 
                                  2003

       Professor Menachem Magidor, the President of the Hebrew 
     University, Maestro Dr. Leon Botstein, the Jerusalem Symphony 
     Orchestra, the Philharmonia Singers, ladies and gentlemen. It 
     is always a great privilege to represent the United States of 
     America and the American people here in Israel. And it is a 
     singular privilege to represent my country here tonight, in 
     this evening of solidarity in memory of the victims of 
     September 11th.
       I want to thank the Hebrew University, the Jerusalem 
     Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Leon Botstein and all of you for 
     joining us here this evening. Dr. Botstein's creativity and 
     energy are enviable. As you know, he assumes the role of the 
     leader of this orchestra while simultaneously serving as the 
     President of Bard College, the music director and principal 
     conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra, and having 
     undertaken myriad other tasks.
       Some years ago, Dr. Botstein wrote that, ``Music occurs in 
     time. Its logic is revealed over the course of a 
     performance.'' In 1967, I was privileged to come to Israel as 
     a volunteer after The Six Day War and to help clean up this 
     amphitheater in preparation for a concert conducted by 
     Leonard Bernstein, and the concert played the music of 
     Mahler, ``The Resurrection.''
       The connection to tonight is obvious. For 36 years have 
     passed since 1967, and in some respects what we have 
     witnessed is a single performance performed in time. 
     Tonight's ``Requiem'' by Dvorak complements the 
     ``Resurrection'' of Mahler in 1967. And this single 
     performance is also drawn together by the composer. For not 
     only is Dvorak the composer of tonight's piece, but as you 
     know, he loved America, and his ``New World Symphony'' 
     represents that love in beautiful music.
       Time, however much we see singularity in this connection of 
     performances, will never truly heal the wounds of those who 
     have suffered as a result of terrorism. We will never forget 
     the 3000 Americans, and citizens of 90 other countries who 
     lost their lives in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania 
     two years ago. We will always remember each victim, not as a 
     number, not as faces in the crowd, but as fathers and 
     mothers, sons and daughters, friends and co-workers.
       We, Americans and Israelis, will always also mourn the 
     hundreds of victims of terrorism here in Israel including the 
     36 Americans who have been killed in the Intifada. We mourn 
     tonight those who lost their lives just two nights ago in 
     Tzrifin and Jerusalem, and we mourn those who lost their 
     lives on this university campus one year ago.
       Even after great destruction we strive for rebirth and 
     renewal in a most important connection between ``Requiem'' 
     and ``Resurrection''. And so tonight, the process of 
     remembering and recovery continues, as we reflect on the 
     beautiful music and the unseen audience that it honors. Thank 
     you very much.

                          ____________________