Israeli rabbis to U.S. Jews: Sway Obama administration in our favor

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"A group of Israeli rabbis, headed by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, have sent a letter to U.S. rabbis and the President's Conference, urging them to exert political leverage in Israel's favor, Israel Radio reported on Wednesday.

"The American government pressures Israel to prevent Jews from building houses in extensive areas in the Land of Israel, which is very unfortunate," the rabbis wrote. "We ask you to make use of your political power to lobby the American authorities to reconsider this policy in the spirit of truly democratic justice, and give weight to halakhic considerations that are binding for the Jews."

Israel's previously cordial relations with the U.S. have been damaged by the Israeli government's insistence, in the face of U.S. opposition, that it can continue building within existing settlements."

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U.S. plaints on Jerusalem trouble Presidents Conference

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"The umbrella foreign policy body for U.S. Jewish groups says U.S. complaints about Israel's plans to build in eastern Jerusalem are "disturbing."

"We find disturbing the objections raised to the proposed construction of residential units on property that was legally purchased and approved by the appropriate authorities," the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said in a statement released late Tuesday."

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[madaboutharry]

1. The majority of rabbis in Israel are right wing nuts.

They are anti-modern and want things to be as they were in the middle ages.

Most American Jews know this.

[MarjorieG]

2. It's the American Jews and Rabbis extending this problem with contributions for settlements.

[Meshuga]

8. What do you mean by "contributions for settlements?"

Below is the position of the Reform Movement (Largest American Movement) and I don't think the Conservative Movement (the second largest) differs much however, unlike the Reform movement, they are a big tent movement.

Anyway, here is the letter sent by the president of URJ to Obama:

As I mentioned, our Movement, in both its congregational and rabbinic bodies, representing 900 congregations with over 1.5 million members and 1800 rabbis, recently reiterated their support for your Administration’s views on halting settlement construction. I am enclosing for your review copies of these resolutions, which also address a variety of other issues related to Israel’s security.

As I also said, I am grateful that your Administration has decided to turn its attention to promoting peace in the Middle East at the very beginning of its term...

...I applaud your leadership in seizing the moment and taking vigorous action in your first year in office. I also appreciate your clear statements that all parties – including most definitely the Palestinian Authority and the Arab states – will be asked to take positive steps to demonstrate that they are serious about peace.

http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=3553&pge_prg_id=10987

[Liberation Angel]

12. I really must confess that this kind of language is just so much tripe

So its okay here to taint all American jews and Rabbis with a pro-right wing smear like this?

Settlements in general get support and so do some in the west bank.

But to imply that "Jews" and Rabbis support the occupation or settlements on Arab/Palestinain lands is completely nuts

some do, some don't.

your critique is telling

[MarjorieG]

15. I live in NY, Jewish and worked 10 years for Jewish institutions, so I know how the heart strings

of the promised land color the older Jewish support. They don't live in danger, nor have the same urgent sense of peace for the entire area. J Street and the more progressive group, is not the more hawkish supporters I'm talking about. Just read here about a Rabbi in CA who runs a bingo parlor, supporting settlements in Israel with the fees from poorer residents, unknowing of what they're donating to.

Sorry, sometimes I'm tired of PC.

BTW, I worked in Development and Communications at those institutions of higher learning, a museum, so I've listened very closely to the arguments.

[Liberation Angel]

16. Fair enough, but still painting with too broad a brush gives ammo to antiSemites

I always object (if I have the energy and time) when i hear a statement that makes it seem as if ALL Jews or ALL rabbis or ALL Israelis etc support a given position.

Usually i chalk it up to naivete.

I see that is not your problem.

But it still feeds the sort of mind that sees ALL jews or Rabbis etc as the problem instead of focussing on the specific and narrow architects of oppression, stupidity and war (on all sides of these issues).

BTW I toured the Museum on the Holocaust (Museum of Jewish History i think) downtown on the waterfront recently and worked on an exhibit that appeared at both Ellis Island and the jewish Museum uptown . I do museum exhibits on Holocaust issues (rescue) hence my name (rescuers are righteous liberation angels)

[MarjorieG]

18. Definitely appreciate your point of view and conscience on this.

I worked for 8 years at the Jewish Theological Seminary (having problems along with the Conservative movement)(partner to/with Jewish Museum) and 2 at the Center for Jewish History. A utopian idea of different organizations coming together in financial and working together, but really working at cross purposes. We had Leo Baeck Institute for German history and the Holocaust.

[Liberation Angel]

26. Interesting - I just don't like it if antiSemites get more ammo

from anyone painting with too broad a brush.

From your work and experience you know where that goes.

I worked on the Varian Fry exhibit at the Jewish Museum about a decade ago. Great Museum and wonderful exhibits.

[Liberation Angel]

10. what do you know about Rabbis in Israel and their politics?

what is the basis for this bs?

[madaboutharry]

19. I lived there.

n/t

[Liberation Angel]

20. and how many rabbis did you discuss this with?

just curious

[Meshuga]

22. It doesn't matter

You will always get the "I know a Jew" argument (as opposed to facts) to make the broadbrush charges. Reality doesn't really seem to matter and the willingness to smear is disturbing.

[Liberation Angel]

23. somebody who lived there does make a difference though

and perspective is everything.

If a nonIsraeli then its one thing. Palestinian another. American gentile another.

Perspective is anything.

an orthodox rabbi I met in Israel said Zionism was the worst thing that had ever happened to israel (and he was a Sabrah).

So my limited experience is different.

The ultra orthodox to me are spiritual and fundamentalists (which to many may seem crazy by itself). But secular Zionism is not their thing at all. But living in their homeland is. I appreciate that and feel they should live wherever they want. I also support the right of Israel to exist alongside a Palestinian state but accept to that it is essentially a neoolonialist state takenby force from the locals (Jews AND Palestinians).

Anyway, I find the discussions inteesting and enlightening.

I do worry that antiSemitism is too acceptable here on this forum though

[GoesTo11]

3. Orders received!

Time to exert control over the US.

Bwa ha ha ha ha.

[Sezu]

6. I'll see your Bwa ha ha ha ha

and raise you a Muh-ha ha ha ha.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Do thety seriously think US Jews have that much power?

Must have been reading too many hate-sites.

[Meshuga]

9. No kidding!

And "good luck" to them as far as the major American movements actually falling in line.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

17. My impression from reading Israeli news sites is that they do.

Many Israeli Jews - at least those who write in the Jpost, Ynetnews and Haaretz - appear to have a very high opinion of the ability of US Jews to influence American policy, and many of them appear extremely bitter about those who don't exert as much pro-Israeli (as they see it) influence as they can.

[Liberation Angel]

25. that is gross hyperbole at least with respect to ha'aretz

Many also are far more progressive than you represent and they understand very well the relative influence or lack thereof.

[GeorgeGist]

5. Since Israel wouldn't exist without US approval ...

rejecting religious demands would be wise.

[Meshuga]

7. Which halakhic considerations would these be?

I wonder.

[IndianaGreen]

11. FRAK these rightwingers!

Any organization that does their bidding should be forced to register as foreign agents.

[shira]

13. yeah, maybe they should take loyalty oaths to the USA

Avigdor Lieberman was really onto something, eh?

:eyes:

[Liberation Angel]

14. Oh baloney - this is democracy in action

and if they want to lobby for this bit of dirt let them. Nothing like overreaction.

I myslef favor shared use of Jerusalem as it is in the Old City. If Palstine gets its capital in East Jerusalem then this would be IN the Palestinian land --- so letting them build there is not a problem if they are wiling to be inside the Palestinian sovereign.

But I support to some extent the right orf return/reparations as well for Palestinians on the West side of Jerusalem.

Rabbis and those who follow some Halkhic law and not others are hypocrites (they are suppose to WELCOME the strangers among them not murder them).

But I have no real problem with the Rabbis. They are not really the problem so much.

The problem is with right wing secular groups who could give a shit about Halakhic law but use it to divide the land and consolidate their power.

Blaming the religious for the policies of the irreligious is naive and uninformed.

[azurnoir]

21. Well I am sure Abe Foxman is on it already

but really crap like this only feeds the "dual loyalty" BS that American Jews are accused of

[Liberation Angel]

24. agreed but

frankly i do not think socalled dual loyalty is not a problem where some folks are in fact citizens of two nations. Of Course there will be issues where one is a citizen or qualified to be a citizen of another country. It is inherent in the way Israel is set up that it reinforces the idea that ALL jews are essentially israelis in waiting and should be loyal to Israel no matter where they are in the diaspora.

That does not mean they cannot be totally loyal to the US BUT it begs the question of whether they can be truly objective when such issues arise. .Just like any other nationality or citizen who has roots and rights and duties in their home countries.

For me it is more about overall politics. Most Jews are progressive and liberal democrats in my experience. Most voted for Obama.

i do not think there is any more difficulty with Jews being loyala to Israel or Judaism in general than there is with WASPs being loyal to WASPS and aryanism (Nordism) and corporofascism.

ANYONE, Jew or Gentile, can be a fascist.

It is not as simple as broad brush applications and smears.