An 'American' MK
Behind the Scenes in the 19th Knesset
by
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Each new member of Knesset is given the opportunity to deliver an inaugural address. We were told that this is the address which would always serve as the baseline for our accomplishments in the Knesset and would define us to other members and to the broad public. It would also be the very first opportunity to speak at the Knesset podium. I spent more time preparing for that speech than any I had ever given in my life, or any I have given since. I worked to craft a focused message that remained interesting from beginning to end, and, of course, I practiced the Hebrew. The last thing I wanted to do was to commit any serious Hebrew error while delivering such an important and high-profile speech. Walking up to that podium the first time was quite scary. When I got up there, I didn’t even allow myself to pause in order to look around the room. I was afraid of being overwhelmed by the experience. So, I walked right up and began speaking immediately. With the exception of a small, almost unnoticeable stumble on words at the very beginning, the speech flowed and I felt very connected to my message. The speech had emotional components to it – thanking my family and describing my late father whose example helped me reach that podium. I played mental games to make sure I didn’t cry, since I figured it would be a fiasco for a Knesset member to show that kind of weakness while giving an inaugural address. I maintained my composure despite the sadness I felt when talking about my father, suffering internally that he was not there with me to share the experience. Well, so much for my pretending to be so tough. A few days later, MK Yaakov Peri, the former head of the Israel Internal Security Agency (the “Shabak), a position in Israel which defines the person as “Mr. Tough,” delivered his inaugural address and was very choked up as he spoke about this good friend, Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, who passed away earlier that year. On that day I learned that it is most certainly okay for an MK to show sincere human emotions at the Knesset podium.
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About the Book
The Israeli parliament is a unique democratically body, the only such instituion in the Middle East. In this book, former Knesset member Rabbi Dov Lipman tells the story of his experiences as a member of the nineteenth Knesset including a behind-the-scenes look at how the Knesset works, from his perspective as the first American born MK in thirty years.
About the Author
Rabbi Dov Lipman moved to Israel in July 2004 and, less than nine years later, was elected to the nineteenth Knesset, making him the first American-born Knesset member in thirty years. He holds rabbinic ordination from Ner Israel Rabbinical College and a master’s in education from Johns Hopkins University. Rabbi Lipman rose to national and international fame for his role in combating religious extremism in his hometown of Bet Shemesh, where he lives with his wife and four children.