Me to solo the national anthem. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the best attended a. J. C. Global forum in our 110year history. [applause] we are more than 2,700 people here tonight. We represent more than 70 countries. We have diplomats here tonight, and id like quickly to read the countries so that we all know whos here as an exception of friendship with a. J. C. We have diplomats from albania, angola, argentina, armenia, australia, austria. Aber za january. Barbados, belgium, brazil, bulgaria. Brunaldy. Costa rica, cyprus. Equatorial guinea. Ethiopia, georgia, ghana. Greece, hungary, israel and italy. Kurdistan, lithuania. Macedonia, mauricious and mexico [applause] lets hear it for micronesia. [applause] mongolia, morocco, paraguay, the philippines, romania, serbia, slovaka. Slovenia, south korea, spain, sri lanka, swaws land, sweden, in dad and tobago and inidad and to bago and uruguay. Have i missed any countries . France . Bonjour. Im so sorry. The u. K. [applause] we also have here tonight the speaker of the parliament of albania, speaker, thank you for being here tonight. You honor us by your presence. [applause] in addition, we have hundreds of members of a. J. C. s access young leadership program. Please stand up and be recognized. Access, from the u. S. , from israel, from all over. [applause] we have 130 students from american universities across the country. Students, please stand up and be recognized. [applause] and though you heard their enthusiasm, this is a diplomatic first for us. We have representatives from the consulates mexican across the United States. [applause] and they are joined by our mexicanamerican friends and partners and leaders of the Mexican Jewish Community who came here, please stand up. [applause] the president of crete, the umbrella french jewish body recently elected could not be here this evening but sends a very warm letter to a. J. C. And asked to be remembered to everyone. So we thank you. And the last thing i want to point say before asking you to turn your attention to the video is a reminder youve heard it before, youll hear it again. We are a 501c3 organization so nothing we say or do should be interpreted in any way, shape, or form as endorsement or opposition to candidates but thank you all for being here tonight. You honor us by your presence. Please have a look at the screen. Danny bergman is an inspiration. A role model. A leader. A paradigm of a good citizen. A magnificent jew who really gets what jude schism all about, which is to make the world a better place. If there were a nobel prize for dan bergman one the would be the first recipients. Theres something very special about stan. First of all, he has genuine compassion. He cares about the people with whom we works, he cares about the world. He cares about the mission of a. J. C. He cares about the jewish people. Hes on a unique mission. Its a journey of home, a journey of possibility. Its a journey of inclusion. He inspires people to be more than they thought was ever possible for them to be and that, i think, is the gift of stan bergman. He cares about human beings, about the state of israel israel, about the future of the jewish people and everything that he does is about creating a better world. To understand dan and to understand his legacy, one has to understand where stan comes from. Stan is the son of German Jewish parents who had the foresight to leave germany in the 1930s, bringing both sets of their parents along. They found themselves in south africa. Starting a new life with nothing, stans parents worked hard to business, support their two sons support their two sons as well as four elderly parents. Not wanting to bring children in apartheid south africa, stan and i moved to the United States as soon as we graduated college. We are so grateful to have stanley as a role model, someone who has shown us how to do such meaningful, important, impactful work with respect, with vision, and with passion. His parents would be proud of their stanley. Im sure on this special day, they are looking down with great pride. He has always supported and believed in me, guiding and mentoring me to prove myself. Everything hes done in his life, he has always appreciated and accredited those who have helped him along the way. And all his success and the success of the organizations and people with whom he has worked have been the result of teamwork with other people. Stanley is a very decisive person, likes to act quickly. Lane ifn the fast im driving in the fast lane, stanley is buzzing overhead, urging everyone to move on. Bergman is a cosmopolitan leader of the cosmopolitan organization in a cosmopolitan age, and i think thats what makes him so perfect. I think he feels that the ajc is a means by which he can give voice to his own desires to repair the world. He is about as effective a lay leader as i have ever met in my life. He embodies the synergy of the deeply rooted commitment to the jewish people. An ongoing, energetic quest to bring people of different backgrounds together for the betterment of everybody. It has been for me a great pleasure to get to know stan. He has been a worthy president. Indeed, i think he has promoted the cause of all of us, of israel, of america, and of south africa. Our most memorable visit was the meeting with pope francis. We all come here with a deep feeling that you are our true friend. To pope francis, hes very passionate words about what has been achieved in catholicjewish relations for half a century that left an indelible impact on all of us who were grateful to be witnesses to it. Bergey bergmann is a man is a very successful businessman who has built a ampany from nowhere to being 10. 5 billion or 11 billion a s and adustry busines leader in this industry and has still engaged in effective philanthropic thry philanthropy on a regular basis. My dad likes to talk about the fourth key to success, which is people. One of stanleys great leadership traits is his ability to build a team, to collect talent that is very diverse, different skill sets that are all bound together by a value system. What will our great great grandchildren maybe his greatgrandchildren, i aint going to have any. But what will our next generation say about us . This is the obligation we have to the generation that comes after us. My dad has been such a strong believer in the work that agency does and instilled in all of us that ajc does and instilled in all of us the work of standing up for democracy, human rights. In my ajc today, estimation, is at its greatest height. Its never been more together, more effective, more respected worldwide. He would be a hard person to follow. Im glad i preceded him. [applause] a very inappropriate appropriate expression in french i want to apologize to the represents of representatives of poland and south sudan for not having included you in the original list of diplomats here. We welcome you here. [applause] david we pay tribute to stand because tomorrow will be his last official day to stan because tomorrow will be his last official day as president of this organization. There is no high her verbally no hyperbole in this film. If anything, it is an understatement. We have been blessed to have stans inspiring leadership. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the please join me in welcoming stan bergman onstage as we give him a gift and say thank you. [applause] [applause] stan wow, david, everyone, thank you. I dont know what to say. Embarrassing. Im speechless, david. It doesnt happen very often. Thank you for that moving tribute. , to me, when im out of words, i think of president as i was sitting in the back there, i chatted to myself quotes from the late president. After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more to climb. And the work of ajc has been tremendous the last 110 years, but there is more to go. And thank you all for being here tonight. [applause] stan when president obama appointed ambassador susan rice is not additional his National Security secretary advisor just three years ago, ajc praised the president s inspired choice. Andng consulted with her provided platforms for her in the course of her 4 1 2 years as americas ambassador to the United Nations amalie natio a s, we hail the ambassadors powerful defense of our nations vital security and humanitarian interests and the noble ideals of u. N. Charter. And we pointed out that she had, on so many occasions, publicly and privately, stood up for israel whenever needed, which, in United Nations, regrettably, is too often. Just a month after her appointment, david harris had conferred on ambassador rice ajcs distinguished Public Service award at a special luncheon in the u. N. Delegations lounge. In our presentation, we hailed ambassador rice as a staunch defender of Human Dignity and democratic values. Than aears ago and more few foreignpolicy crises later, our respect and affection for ambassador susan rice are at the same high level and really have grown. Ajcs steadfast commitment to American Global leadership, to the protection of Human Dignity, to the unique link between United States and , inel, and to confronting president obamas words, the of antisemitism. At a time when americas engagement and leadership in World Affairs is being tested globe,stioned across the as well as on the campaign trail here in the United States, it is indeed an honor for ajc to be addressed this evening by principal architect of our nations Foreign Policy. Privilege,is my great privilege and pleasure to introduce the United StatesNational Security advisor, ambassador susan rice. [applause] susan good evening, everyone. Stan, thank you so much for that incredibly generous introduction and for your extraordinary leadership of ajc. Can we give stan yet another round of applause . [applause] susan its not easy being president. Im reminded of the time shortly after the establishment of israel, when president truman and president weitzman were comparing their respective burdens of their office. Truman said, mr. President , youre lucky to have such a little country. Howd you like to be the president of 140 Million People, which was then the population of the u. S. Yes, but howed, would you like to be the president of one million president s . [laughter] [applause] susan so, muzzle tov mazel t ov to ajcs incoming president , schapiroj l john oh, and good luck. Hn shapiro, and good luck. I also want to pay my respects to david harris, a deeply thoughtful and tenacious advocate, that so and sounding board, and a true friend who has stood by me during some an excellent sounding board, and a true friend who has stood by me during some difficult moments. Its great to be here with high representative Federica Mogherini of the European Union and foreign secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu of mexico. [applause] susan as stan mentioned, the last time i spoke to ajc was at the womens leadership board luncheon in new york, may, 2013. I was finishing up at the u. N. As our ambassador. In those days, i spent a good deal of time at ajcs headquarters ont 56th street. I had the privilege to join you several times. And that that lunch, i was deeply moved to receive ajcs distinguished Service Award in recognition of the Obama Administration costs staunch support Obama Administrations staunch support for israel. Me for david thanked standing tall, which im pretty sure he meant metaphorically. [laughter] susan so, being here feels a little bit like being with family. [speaking yiddish] [applause] susan now, i dont know how many people know this, but i grew up in shepherd park, a neighborhood in washington, d. C. , which was then a predominantly jewish neighborhood, not very far from here. I watched worshipers walking to synagogue every week. Ar house had a misuse of mezuzah on the doorway. I attended many a seder. We told the story of a people liberated from bondage. At a time when bat mitzvahs were still rare, i went to more than most girls at the National Cathedral school. [laughter] life, i have been inspired by the deep morality of the jewish faith, by the centricity and the urgency of the command in deuteronomy, shallstice, justice, ye pursue. [applause] for 110 years now, ajc has answered that call. You have been americas conscience, fighting for civil rights, reaching out to other faith communities, comforting. He stranger new to our shores more and more, as we recognize tonight, you have become the worlds conscience as well, from battling apartheid in stans native south africa to aiding refugees in europe. I have been truly fortunate, as i have said, to work closely with you at the u. N. And now as the president s National Security advisor. I echo the assessment of my dear friend, madeleine albright, who remainsd i quote, ajc indispensable. No one understands more clearly the need for vigilance and the danger of silence. So, on behalf of president obama, thank you for more than a century of doing the sacred work olam, of building a better world for us all. Stan, where a person like it would be the biggest mensch in the world. [applause] like ajc were a person stan, it would be the biggest mensch in the world. Next week is the festival of some old of sabbaoth. They will read from the book of ruth as ruth pledges herself to her motherinlaw and the nation of israel, wherever you go, i will go. Wherever you stay, i will stay. Your people will be my people, and your god, my god. That profound expression of family and faith, that joining together of faiths is the spirit animating the relationship between the people of the United States and the people of israel. Its an ironclad bond. Its a solemn promise that endures. Generation. Ion to [applause] ever since president , just recognized israel 11 minutes after it declared independence that doesnt mean we always agree on every issue. Like all of us, im sure the biblical ruth sometimes did not see eye to eye with her in laws. [laughter] susan but, as president obama told the people of israel when he visited jerusalem, so long as there is a United States of america, you are not alone. [applause] susan for those of us who care deeply about israel, this is a time of some concern and sometimes of sorrow. I know our hearts ache for the victims of recent violence, including ezra schwartz, an american yeshiva student and a veteran and vanderbilt student, whose tragic losses we mourn deeply. Digsknow this, when hamas tunnels so they can kidnap and kill israelis, israel is not alone. When one country is singled out time and time again on the floor of the United Nations, israel is not alone. [applause] when angry voices attacked israels right attack israels right to exist, israel is not alone. [applause] token,and, by the same when palestinians are attacked by mobs shouting death to arab s and palestinian homes or mosques and churches are vandalized, the Palestinian People are not alone. [applause] susan president obama is deeply and fiercely devoted to israel and to the wellbeing of the jewish people. I know it because i see it every day. I watched him as he slipped a folded prayer into the cracks of the western wall. I stood with him as we ran our hands over the charred remnants of rockets. President obama has met with Prime Minister netanyahu 16 times, more than almost any other leader. Last december, president obama hosted president rivlin as he lit chanukah candles at the white house, the first time an israeli president has done so at the white house. Just a few months ago, Vice President biden visited israel again for a series of highlevel meetings, which Prime Minister netanyahu rightly called proof that our relationship is strong in all areas. Our commitment to israel, as always, transcends partisanship. When israel was barraged by rocket fire in 2014, the vote in the house of representatives to support israel was unanimous. The vote in the senate was unanimous. Now, that doesnt happen very much these days. [laughter] susan but as the members of congress here tonight could tell you, israels security is not a democratic interest or a republican interest. Its an american interest. [applause] so, when president obama calls americas commitment to israels thatsy unshakable, not talk. Its the nearly 24 billion the United States has provided since president Obama Took Office to help israel maintain its qualitative military edge. Its the f35s israel will receive later this year, the only nation in the middle east with this advanced aircraft. Its the billions of dollars we are investing jointly in developing and procuring iron dome and other missiledefense technologies. When hamas was raining down 100 rockets a day on israel, those systems saved untold lives. So, we are doing even more. A few weeks ago, israel successfully tested iron dome aboard ships. As we speak, israel and our department of defense are developing antitunneling technology, the socalled underground underground iron dome. [applause] so, israels enemies are on notice. If you come at israel by land, by sea, by air, or even under the earth, you will lose. [applause] the Security Cooperation between the United States and israel does not stop there. Just ask israels past two defense ministers, who have each raised the closeness praised the closeness of our military ties. Our special forces training together. Drillr forces and navies together. Our American National guard is traveling to israel for a joint exercise. As the person who briefs the president every day on the threats to be faced around the world, including in the middle east, i can attest that our intelligence cooperation is at an alltime high. [applause] president obama is committed to ensuring israels security, not jus