Dear A.,

On behalf of AIPAC’s Board of Directors, I wish you and your family a Shana Tova and thank you for your incredible support of our work.

Over the past year, our community has led the fight in Washington and across the country to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship and ensure Israel remains safe, strong, and secure.

Together, we helped elect an overwhelmingly pro-Israel Congress—98% of AIPAC-backed candidates won in November—and helped defeat anti-Israel candidates committed to undermining America’s partnership with Israel.

Our work on Capitol Hill ensured Congress approved $3.3 billion in vital security assistance for Israel and $500 million for missile defense programs like Iron Dome.

This aid proved essential to protecting Israeli families this year as the Jewish state faced attacks from Iranian-backed terrorists in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon. Tragically, 2023 has been the deadliest year of terrorism in Israel since the Second Intifada.

Iran’s dangerous actions—pursuing nuclear weapons, arming terror groups, backing Putin—continue to be the greatest threat to Israel and America in the Middle East.

Working together, we lobbied Congress to support legislation to impose new sanctions on the Iranian regime. Just this week, the House passed the Fight CRIME Act by an overwhelming vote of 403-8, imposing new restrictions on those who buy, sell, or transfer Iranian drones and missiles.

We also worked to strengthen Israel’s budding partnerships with Abraham Accords countries. Unprecedented trade and security relationships are ushering in a new era of peace, progress, and opportunity, and we hope to see more countries join these partnerships in the year ahead.

As Israel celebrated its 75th anniversary, we saw the remarkable achievements and great progress the Jewish state has made, especially in arenas that will define the next 75 years.

We also saw Israel's democracy in action, as the country works through a difficult, intense, and passionate debate. As the Knesset considered and introduced legislation to reform the judiciary, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets—week after week—to fight for their vision of Israel. Israeli citizens are powerfully exercising their free speech rights and Israel’s Supreme Court is expected to weigh in regarding the judicial reform process.

These High Holidays mark 50 years since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when Israel’s very survival was in jeopardy. Thanks to a massive, last-minute airlift of weapons from the United States, Israel was able to turn the tide. It is a reminder of what we fight for every day. We learned then, and remind ourselves always, that Israel can never afford to see American support waver.

I look forward to continuing our vital work with you in the new year.

Shana Tova,