Rabbis urge Lieberman not to block health reform

[ensho]

http://www.theday.com/article/20091218/NWS12/312189942/1018


In letter to senator, they cite Jewish teachings

Hartford - Invoking a fundamental moral principle of Judaism, more than two dozen Connecticut rabbis have written to urge U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., to reconsider his position on health care reform.

"I think the basic message is that taking care of those in need is really one of the basic tenets and principles of the Jewish religion," said Rabbi Carl Astor of Congregation Beth El in New London. "That's what we've been taught since childhood. And he's an observant Jew. He's got to make a decision as a United States senator, but there are just certain values that transcend politics, and we thought in this case maybe, as rabbis, it would be good to remind him of that."

Astor was one of 29 rabbis who signed the letter, which says, in part, "As rabbis and Jews, we are commanded to seek the welfare and healing of all those in our midst, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable. We are taught to care for justice - and a system that leaves millions of Americans uninsured and under-insured is far from just."

-long snip-

The rabbis were not confident they could get Lieberman to reverse himself, or to help restore the public option now that the language has been dropped from the Senate version of the bill.

"He's dead set against it," Astor said, "and he'll probably succeed in killing it, which I think is a tragedy."
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thank you rabbis

[charlie]

1. "And he's an...

...observant ostentatiously pious Jew."

Fixed that for you guys. Otherwise, you're bang on.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

9. MAY THOSE WHO BLOCK IT BE FIRST TO NEED IT

[jillan]

11. [phone]

[babylonsister]

2. Thank you rabbis, indeed. So what's bigger, Joe's faith or ego? nt

[tridim]

10. Ego, by far.

I'm sure he thinks his shit doesn't stink.

[roguevalley]

14. he uses his religion as a cloak. a Jewish life is a life of works, of

caring. His synagogue should throw him and his hag out.

[vadawg]

3. i guess this is no different than the bishops advising catholic lawmakers

i wonder if people will agree that its the same and if they support the religious leaders doing this...

[ensho]

4. I don't think the rabbies used any money

nt

[BurtWorm]

7. The rabbis aren't banning Lieberman from temple.

They're not even anywhere close to pretending they could do something like that. They're arguing with him, reasoning with him. Nothing at all like what Catholic bishops try to pull on pro-choice politicians.

[GodlessBiker]

12. +1

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Right. I think this is more in line with the Council of Churches pleading with ** not to go to war.

[Indenturedebtor]

22. Completely different. If Catholic lawmakers were being pressured to pass HC Reform

that would be the same thing.

[LeftishBrit]

25. Not really.

The bishops were threatening to excommunicate Catholic politicians who did not vote to ban abortions. These rabbis are not threatening Lieberman with exclusion from the synagogue or any other consequence, just expressing an opinion. Just as the late Pope and other Catholic clergy spoke in opposition to the Iraq war, but this didn't prevent Tony Blair from being accepted into the Catholic Church.

[ensho]

5. kicking back to pg. 1

nt

[Tess49]

6. Joe will respond that he has become a Southern Baptist and

has no obligation to adhere to the teachings of his previous religion.

[PopSixSquish]

8. I Would Not Be Surprised by Anything "Holy Smoe" Says at This Point

the guy is a real piece of work...

[Behind the Aegis]

15. mixed feelings.

[slampoet]

16. A jew that even other jews don't like the actions of....Isn't there a term for that?

Well yes there is.

[Behind the Aegis]

17. There is? Is it Yiddish?

I am not familiar with such a term.

[Hekate]

19. Well, Jonathan Alter called him a putz. As in: "When did Joe Lieberman become such a putz?"

I'm sure there's other expressions that would apply as well. My late FIL had a number of salty sayings from the Old Country.

Hekate

[Behind the Aegis]

21. But 'putz' isn't just for Jews.

While I agree with the use of the word, it isn't an example of something the other poster suggested.

[Indenturedebtor]

24. Heh why be subtle Aegis? n/t

[MurrayDelph]

30. Shonda? (shame)

A "shonda for the goyim" means to do something shameful, publicly witnessed by non-Jews, thus bringing shame upon Jews in general (because, the theory goes, we are all held accountable for the worst deeds of the worst of us).

[Hekate]

32. Shonda sounds about right, no need to even toss in the goyim. nt

[Indenturedebtor]

23. Oh? A JEW that even other JEWS don't like the action of? Is that like a rat that other rats

find disgusting? Is that what you're getting at? I can think of no other possible explanation for your post than such an implication.

Back-peddle, squirm, avoid, or be really creative please.

[Contrary1]

18. What to do, what to do?

Follow the advice from leaders of your chosen faith or the lobbyist's money?

Survey says...

[Hekate]

20. Good for them for trying to reason with him and show him the error of his ways.

I don't hold out much hope that they'll change his shriveled little soul at this point, but I appreciate their effort.

Hekate

[Username 12]

26. Too bad Lieberman only worships himself

[Festivito]

27. Rabbis!!! Ha! What kind of a lobbying job are *Rabbis* going to give him?

One does not make seven figures dropping spittle over a Torah.

One needs to leave office after courting a grateful corporation at which point you can drop spittle on a desk for all they care.

[janx]

28. Why, again, is Lieberman in Connecticut today?

:shrug:

[Stevenmarc]

29. He wasn't much of a Democrat do they expect him to be a Mench

[rockymountaindem]

31. When I called him a bad Jew the other day my post got locked

but I see I was ahead of the curve :)

[B Calm]

33. Then why did they work so damn hard to buy his reelection?

[Indenturedebtor]

34. Link to where these Rabbis worked to buy Lieberman's reelection? n/t