Karen and I attended this 2011 Republican Jewish Coalition dinner in Beverly Hills where Andrew delivered a barn-burner of a speech.
There was no teleprompter. Andrew had no notes. He just got up on the stage and shmoozed with the audience. This talk is notable because Andrew identifies his Conservative awakening with a Reform rabbi so dopey, so liberal, that he delivered a pulpit speech in support of race-hustler Jesse Jackson in the immediate aftermath of Jackson’s ghastly Hymietown comment.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8far32isyYc[/youtube]
After the speech, Andrew and I chatted for a few minutes. Graciously, Andrew thanked me for my contributions to Big Hollywood. And once again he talked about his plans to start Big Jerusalem, a website devoted to supporting Israel and unmasking the bias and Jew-hatred that infects the mainstream media. I told Andrew that I looked forward to writing for such an important endeavour.
I was amazed that Andrew took so much time to talk with me when there were important politicians and high-rollers waiting to have a word with him. Andrew smiled and laughed and seemed to have all the time in the world as he joked with me about the oh-so-tolerant Hollywood liberals who routinely make common cause with butchers like Castro, Chavez, and Ahmadinejad.
As Karen and I drove home I remember thinking to myself what a shame it was that our late son Ariel, a huge admirer of Dennis Prager, Larry Elder and Hugh Hewitt, never had the chance to meet Andrew.
But now, too soon, that encounter will take place.
Baruch Dayan Emet. Blessed be the true judge.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a meaningful Shabbat.