Surely, public service is a never-ending challenge and if nothing else, I believe my accomplishments demonstrate that the Jewish people do indeed have something special and important to contribute to the work of government.
As strong an advocate for public service as I am, often it is those who have witnessed the world at its worst who most clearly deliver the message. I will always remember what Israel Singer, former president of the World Jewish Congress, said to me as part of his emotional testimony at one of the Holocaust assets public hearings I conducted in 1997: “If we do not speak for others, there will be no one left to speak for us.”
I have made it my calling to speak for the Jewish people and for all who seek freedom and justice, education, opportunity – and, most of all, reasonable accommodation from our government.
This is why I chose public life. There is no more rewarding calling than this – but a doctor might disagree.