The attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump on July 13, 2024, near Butler Pennsylvania, can only be viewed as an attack on the entire leadership of the free world.
It's not just a threat to one individual, but a direct assault on the democratic principles and values that the United States and other free nations globally stand for. An attack on a leader is an attack on the very essence of what it means to be a free and democratic society.
The leader of a country represents not just themselves, but the entire population and the ideals that their country was founded upon.
The attempt on Trump's life should serve as a wake-up call to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to come together in defense of our democratic values.
It's a reminder that we must not take our freedoms for granted, that we must be vigilant in protecting them.
The right to choose our leaders through free and fair elections is one of the most fundamental rights that we have as citizens.
When that right is threatened, it threatens the very foundations of our society.
We must denounce any attempts to undermine the principles that our country was founded upon, standing firm in defense of our rights and liberties.
This means also, that new generations must learn from the lessons of the past and understand the importance of democracy and freedom.
We cannot allow self-entitlement and a sense of complacency to cloud our judgment, and lead us astray from the values that our nation was built upon.
It's important to educate youth about the sacrifices made by previous generations to secure the freedoms we enjoy now.
Morris Katz, a Holocaust survivor and world-famous artist, understood the importance of democracy and the role that leaders play in upholding democratic values.
Katz painted a portrait of President John F. Kennedy immediately after his assassination on nov. 22, 1963.
He did so as a symbol of his love for his country, and his appreciation for the leaders who fought for his freedom.
Katz's painting became an iconic symbol of unity during a time of national grieving.
Morris, witnessing how the portrait united our country, undertook the project of his lifetime and continued to honor U.S. presidents by spending six years painting each president with meticulous detail (and patriotism!) in the style of the old masters.
This collection became a piece of history and is recognized as an institutional level collection.
The Morris Katz President Collection is available at its new online gallery established by the Morris Katz Foundation to help share the artist message of appreciation to our great country while saying Never Again.
Addtionally, the Morris Katz President collection and its story have been incorporated in the New Jersey Department of Education and is in middle of being introduced by Congress to incorporate the Morris Katz President collection message by the U.S. Department of Education.
In today's world, where the values of freedom and democracy are under attack, we must look to the lessons of previous generations, such as Morris Katz, to guide us.
Katz's message of unity and patriotism through art is a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right and preserving the values making America great.
To promote and honor those who stand up for democracy and appreciation to Americans Leaders, The Foundation created the Morris Katz Legacy Award with President Issac Herzog of Israel being thr recipient of the 2023 Morris Katz Award presented to him on U.S. Presidents’ Day by the Morris Katz Foundation and the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce leadership at the president’s residence in Jerusalem.
The lessons of the past must be remembered, and new generation musts be educated about the importance of democracy and freedom. Only then can we ensure that our country remains a beacon of freedom and democracy for generations to come, and that our leaders stay safe and secure.
Let's well-remember the words of Ronald Reagan, "Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction."
Duvi Honig is founder and chief executive officer of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber Of Commerce. The Orthodox Jewish Chamber Of Commerce is a global umbrella of businesses of all sizes, bridging the highest echelons of the business and governmental worlds together stimulating economic opportunity and positively affecting public policy of governments. His work has been recognized by both Presidents Obama and Trump. Read more of his reports — Here.