Christie Addresses Jewish Leaders in Bridgewater

When I pulled up to the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center in Bridgewater late yesterday morning, the parking lot was full.  Cars overflowed onto the front lawn and lined the sides of the driveway.

The Israeli Prime Minister appeared on Greta
Van Susteren's show, On The Record, March 7, 2012.
(TV Screenshot by Dick Bergeron)

For a moment, I almost turned back – I’ll never get a lap lane today, I thought.  But the desire to get into the pool overcame any lingering doubts when a parking spot turned up.

Still, I wondered what activities were taking place that it should be so crowded. 

It was a brisk spring morning – more on the cold side – when I walked from the car towards the main entrance.  Inside, I didn’t see a lot of people.  But, as I walked down the main corridor, a closed and windowed double door leading into one of the large rooms caught my attention.

Peering through the glass I viewed a room full of people listening to Governor Chris Christie.  Media types lined the back wall.

Should I go in or not?
 
Slowly and quietly opening one of the doors; making myself as inconspicuous as I could (everyone had their backs to me – only Christie and his security people were facing in my direction), I put down my gym bag and had the privilege of listening to the remainder of his informal briefing to Jewish leaders about his recent visit to Israel.

I only caught the last five minutes of his talk.  He spoke of his surprise at how so many people at the Wailing Wall recognized him that far away from home, and asked to have their picture taken by his side. He also mentioned that he had apprised Mitt Romney about his trip to The Middle East. 

But perhaps the most trenchant point of the morning is what he uttered as part of his concluding statements when, comparing the Jewish nation to the United States, he succinctly encapsulated the relationship between our two nations.

“We can talk about The Middle East in general, but Israel is the only country (in the region) that shares the same core values that are the bedrock of this country.” 

As usual, Christie does not mince his words.  On this one, he is spot on. 

p.s. I had no difficulty in finding a lap lane!