Rabbi stops in Paradise on Montana tour to support veterans

Rabbi Avraham Goldstein, in conjunction with the Montana Veterans Association, honored Montana veterans last Tuesday at the Paradise Center.

The guest speaker, Rabbi Goldstein, traveled halfway around the world to show respect to veterans, both living and those who have passed on. Goldstein is from Jerusalem, Israel and is the director of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Friendship Center for Soldiers.

He was on his first tour of Montana, visiting seven Montana cities and towns with his first two stops being Missoula and Paradise.

He also planned to stop in Kalispell and was to continue on to meet Gov. Greg Gianforte and elected officials in Helena.

Sam Redfern, president of the Montana Veterans Association, was instrumental in arranging the tour with Goldstein. Redfern’s goal for the tour was to build support for Project Masada. A project for the education and exchange program between Israel and Montana.

Rabbi Goldstein said, “I have come here to express the connection and appreciation the Israeli State and the Israeli (IDF) over here to the Americans. I came over here to pray over American soldiers that died for us to be able to sit down and have a good time.”

He continued saying, “Israel wants to thank the United States for all the support the United States gives to Israel. If it’s money, if it’s votes in the UN, whatever it is, Israel appreciates America. We need to be sure we care about the soldiers, the veterans. To be sure to remember and never forget.”