Page 38 - issue
P. 38
Embassy Row
DAVID J. COHEN ©WWW Ron about his experience with the American Jewish commu-
nity where he grew up. When he was 15 years old, he and his
Private Investigator friends were on the streets looking for a place to play basket-
ball. Because they were immigrants, nobody wanted to let
DJC Investigative Group them play. In the end, the only place that opened its doors to
them was a local synagogue that happened to have an
Licensed And Bonded - NY • Licensed - Maryland attached gym. They welcomed them in and befriended them.
Nearly 40 years later, that Congressman hasn’t forgotten.
Specializing in Civil and “The Jewish people stood with me,” he told Ron, “and I will
Criminal Investigations always stand with the Jewish State.”
Cell Phone: 917-301-0430 WWW: How do you balance your responsibilities as Mrs.
E-mail: djc@djcinvestigativegroup.com Ambassador with mothering?
RD: Not always very well, I’m afraid! A good friend once
www.djcinvestigativegroup.com described parenting to me as “hazorim b’dima b’rina yikt-
zoru” (He who sows with tears, will reap with joy), and if that
is true, then I will bli ayin hara eventually be overflowing with
rina! When you’re the wife of the Ambassador but you’re also
the mother of five children ages three through twelve, things
are simply bound to go wrong! We hosted a dinner once for
a group of Congressmen and women, and my boys decided
that that was the perfect time to practice catapulting in the
bedroom overhead. Another time, we were held up on our
way to a family State Department reception because my ten-
year-old insisted that bright green crocs should count as
dress shoes! And then there was the time one of my kids
asked in a very loud “whisper” when our guests were going to
go home already!
But as difficult as it can be sometimes to raise our chil-
dren while Ron is serving as ambassador, I know that this is
a once in a lifetime experience for all of our kids, and I hope
that it will have a positive and lasting impact. They’ve met so
many people from so many different countries, and the older
ones especially have learned so much about politics and his-
tory – plus, they’re getting much needed experience practic-
ing table manners! And it’s not just what they’ve experienced.
During the last few years, they’ve seen their father really ded-
icate himself to Israel, and I think that having that kind of
personal example in a parent is priceless in terms of the val-
ues we are trying to instill in our children.
Finally, I hope that it’s not only that our children have got-
ten something out of this experience but that they’ve con-
tributed to our efforts to represent Israel in the U.S. as well,
even if only in a very small way. Israel has the highest birthrate
in the Western world, so large families like ours aren’t unique
there. In fact, I’ve noticed that when I’m outside of Israel and
I tell people that I’ve got five kids, I’m greeted with stunned
silence followed by a very timid “So are you done yet?” But
when I’m in Israel and I tell people I’ve got five kids. I get a
huge smile, a pat on the back, and a “Call me when you’ve got
eight, then we’ll talk!” You see children everywhere in Israel –
even in fancy restaurants and at solemn memorial day cere-
monies – and I think it’s because children are something that
34 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
DAVID J. COHEN ©WWW Ron about his experience with the American Jewish commu-
nity where he grew up. When he was 15 years old, he and his
Private Investigator friends were on the streets looking for a place to play basket-
ball. Because they were immigrants, nobody wanted to let
DJC Investigative Group them play. In the end, the only place that opened its doors to
them was a local synagogue that happened to have an
Licensed And Bonded - NY • Licensed - Maryland attached gym. They welcomed them in and befriended them.
Nearly 40 years later, that Congressman hasn’t forgotten.
Specializing in Civil and “The Jewish people stood with me,” he told Ron, “and I will
Criminal Investigations always stand with the Jewish State.”
Cell Phone: 917-301-0430 WWW: How do you balance your responsibilities as Mrs.
E-mail: djc@djcinvestigativegroup.com Ambassador with mothering?
RD: Not always very well, I’m afraid! A good friend once
www.djcinvestigativegroup.com described parenting to me as “hazorim b’dima b’rina yikt-
zoru” (He who sows with tears, will reap with joy), and if that
is true, then I will bli ayin hara eventually be overflowing with
rina! When you’re the wife of the Ambassador but you’re also
the mother of five children ages three through twelve, things
are simply bound to go wrong! We hosted a dinner once for
a group of Congressmen and women, and my boys decided
that that was the perfect time to practice catapulting in the
bedroom overhead. Another time, we were held up on our
way to a family State Department reception because my ten-
year-old insisted that bright green crocs should count as
dress shoes! And then there was the time one of my kids
asked in a very loud “whisper” when our guests were going to
go home already!
But as difficult as it can be sometimes to raise our chil-
dren while Ron is serving as ambassador, I know that this is
a once in a lifetime experience for all of our kids, and I hope
that it will have a positive and lasting impact. They’ve met so
many people from so many different countries, and the older
ones especially have learned so much about politics and his-
tory – plus, they’re getting much needed experience practic-
ing table manners! And it’s not just what they’ve experienced.
During the last few years, they’ve seen their father really ded-
icate himself to Israel, and I think that having that kind of
personal example in a parent is priceless in terms of the val-
ues we are trying to instill in our children.
Finally, I hope that it’s not only that our children have got-
ten something out of this experience but that they’ve con-
tributed to our efforts to represent Israel in the U.S. as well,
even if only in a very small way. Israel has the highest birthrate
in the Western world, so large families like ours aren’t unique
there. In fact, I’ve noticed that when I’m outside of Israel and
I tell people that I’ve got five kids, I’m greeted with stunned
silence followed by a very timid “So are you done yet?” But
when I’m in Israel and I tell people I’ve got five kids. I get a
huge smile, a pat on the back, and a “Call me when you’ve got
eight, then we’ll talk!” You see children everywhere in Israel –
even in fancy restaurants and at solemn memorial day cere-
monies – and I think it’s because children are something that
34 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
