It was standing room only at the St. Louis Airport Marriot Hotel ballroom where Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations spoke Thursday, March 5.

Aish Ha Torah of St. Louis sponsored Hoenlein as part of their 2008 Speakers Series that kicked off in early February.

Hoenlein, a spokesman for the Jewish people internationally and in Washington D.C., regularly meets with world leaders and high-ranking officials giving him unique insight on the perspective of Jews among world leaders and decision makers. In his role at the Conference of Presidents, headquartered in New York, Hoenlein serves as an advisor to many public officials and is frequently consulted on public policy issues. He also appears regularly in the media.

His three key messages were: be educated, be involved and be united.

Although Jews hold different opinions and beliefs on issues of religious observance and politics, Hoenlein suggests that, “what divides us is far less importanta” than the bigger picture of Jewish survival in the face of growing worldwide anti-Semitism. He reminded us that the only way others will support the Jewish community is, “if we are united.”

According to a recent FBI report, “Jews are seven times as likely to be victims of hate crimes — and only one percent of those crimes lead to a conviction,” said Hoenlein.

While Jews may feel like things are safer but in places like Great Britain, anti-Semitism is growing. “Its like a tumor,” Hoenlein said, “anti-Semitism grows slowly but can ultimately be fatal if gone unchecked.”

He went on to cite the Passover Haggadah that says (in the Maggid section), “In every generation they’ve risen up against us to annihilate usa” and only “through increased involvement can we become stronger and gain influence … and ultimately have power” to protect ourselves, our heritage, and Israel; our homeland. “We need to raise the bar on what’s tolerated,” he said citing media examples, depicting Jews and Islamic terrorists in the same way.

The “big lie,” says Hoenlein, “still works when it comes to Jews” and the Internet and technology has made it that much faster and easier to proliferate.

“Among the greatest threats to Jews today are apathy and indifference,” he concluded. “Like every generation before us, we don’t think it can happen to us. Yet, there are people who deny the Holocausta deny Israel as the Jewish State and openly condemn Jews. However, each shovel of earth excavated in Israel is proof of our existence and our survival, as we continue to uncover clues to our past.”

Hoenlein suggests the best way to combat ignorance among those who seek to “annihilate usa” is to become better educated and aware of world events and politics as they relate to Jews.

“Begin teaching your children and grandchildren early,” he suggests, “inoculate them before college so they are Jewishly prepared and remind them that Jerusalem belongs to all of us.”

Motivated by Hoenlein’s comments, Rabbi Elazar Grunberger, Executive Director of Aish St. Louis, added briefly his plea for Jews to unite in St. Louis but also worldwide and to “take responsibility for our shared past and future.” He said, “[As a people] we are in trouble … that anti-Semitism is at our door… and we need to do something about it by educating ourselves and our children.”

Hoenlein then took questions from attendees and spoke about politics. He said that candidates should be scrutinized very carefully — and that equally important should be the scrutiny of their key advisors. It should be positively noted, he said, “that we have had six decades of Israel/US friendship.” He said that Jews should become educated on issues and to get out and vote.

“We cannot complain if we don’t vote.”