King Abdullah, the Denver Nuggets, and Me

I have been “on the job” at the Union for Reform Judaism for just over two weeks, and am starting to get the feel for the wide range of responsibilities that come with the position of president of the Union.  That was driven home today, when I found myself in the lobby of a Washington hotel surrounded by two dozen serious looking men with walkie-talkies and earpieces and a dozen of the tallest men I’ve ever seen.  The giants were the Denver Nuggets basketball team, and the security men were there – as was I – for His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan.   At 6’4” I don’t usually feel short but standing amongst these professional athletes I felt quite small.   A moment later standing with King Abdullah of Jordan it was clear that though he may not be tall, when it comes to leadership and courage he possesses commanding stature.

King Abdullah comes to Washington at least once a year, and he often includes a meeting with the American Jewish leadership on his agenda.  Although today was my first meeting with His Majesty, for many in the room, including Mark Pelavin, it was the third or fourth time they had sat down with him.

The substance and details of the conversation were off-the-record.  We had the opportunity to ask about a wide range of issues, from concern over Iran’s nuclear program to support for Jordan’s efforts to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.  The conversation was wide-ranging, candid, and, ultimately, hopeful.

I hope and pray that the current Israeli-Palestinian talks, which are a direct result of the King’s personal intervention, marks the beginning of the next chapter in the Middle East.  As King Abdullah knows all too well (as do we all), the urgency of situation on the ground will only continue to grow absent any real progress.