You lost me, J Street

RJR ADDED: "In light of the statement by J Street denying the removal of "Pro Israel" from its college arm, I am no longer "lost" on the J Street cause. I kept the blog posted here, however, as it encapsulates some key positions I hold about Israel and our relationship to it."

The original posting:

First, there was chatter about creating a more moderate alternative to AIPAC; about creating a pro-Israel, DC-based lobbying type organization that would not be so hawkish and right wing. Maybe there could be something like the New Israel Fund vis-a-vis Federation. There certainly seemed to be a need for the unheard voices in our community to state a case for helping Israel by stopping the "anything Israel does, we support" policies of the Bush and prior administrations. I have never accepted the argument that American Jews have no right to express their opinions about Israel since we don't serve in its army or send our kids there. That kind of argument only seems to appear when American Jews are critical of Israeli military policies (i.e., it never comes up when we criticize the government's stance toward Reform Jewish issues in Israel or the high rate of traffic fatalities in Israel). It also doesn't stop us from criticizing the military policies of Russia (vs. Chechnya), China (vs. Taiwan), North Korea (vs. everyone), etc. In fact, I still opine vocally about American military action even though I have not served in the armed forces and don't have a child in uniform. We have a right - an obligation even - to speak out. All the more so when it comes to Israel, the Jewish homeland.

Next, there was the announcement of J Street and its staff. Timed closely with the arrival of the Obama presidency, J Street attracted both heightened concern and, of course, "Hope." But always, J Street was based on a pro-Israel philosophy, even if its mission was to challenge the dominant, AIPAC-charted course for America's relationship with Israel.

The Reform Movement welcomed J Street's arrival upon the scene. We seemed like natural allies (or at least fellow travelers). Then, URJ President, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, split with J Street over some of its statements during and just after the Cast Lead Gaza War. If liberals like Rabbi Yoffie were unsure of J street.... Oy. (Read Rabbi Yoffie's editorial here and J Street's response here).

Now, according to the Jerusalem Post, J Street has announced that it is dropping the phrase "PRO-ISRAEL" from its slogan (which had been "Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace") for all its college and universities offices and programs. The phrase "Pro-Israel" is "isolating" not "comfortable" and "alienating." In some places, J Street activists say, the words "PRO-ISRAEL" are just outright bad.

I guess you never could have counted me among J Street's vocal supporters, but you have lost me with that one. Perhaps the question comes down to whether or not Israel advocacy groups like AIPAC or J Street have inherently Jewish characters or missions (J Street describes its constituents as "primarily but not exclusively Jewish"). If so, there are certain things that are not negotiable. Being proudly and publicly "Pro-Israel" is one of them, even if our understanding of that term pushes us to criticize Israel. If not, is J Street a more politically savy version of the International Solidarity Movement or ANSWER? Those are hardly among the "friends" of Israel or Jewish people in general. And if not, you've lost me for sure because I need a Jewish voice that is pro-peace and still pro-Israel.

(p.s. J Street addresses these kinds of critiques directly on its myths and facts section of its website, check them out for yourself)

The circus is coming to town!

Don't bring your kids for this one, but the circus is coming to town. Westboro Baptist Church, infamous for their anti-gay, anti-Jewish and generally hateful protests, is coming to New Jersey with its small but loud circus. The NJ Jewish News ran a story about it recently.

Such carnvials also seem to beg the same questions: Why does God create "freaks" like those who attract yet horrify us in the circus? And, how should we reasonably respond?

I'm less sure about the first question and its theological mysteries. The second question, however, is easier to address. There is a blessing to recite, as ArtScroll's Complete Siddur puts it, "upon seeing exceptionally strange-looking people," like circus freaks and Westboro Baptist Church members. We say, "Blessed are You, LORD our God, who makes the creatures different [mi-shaneh ha-bri-ot]."

Some Jewish communal leaders have taken this to heart and written thank you notes to the "church" and others have invited them to come protest outside their facilities. These leaders have cited the significant increase in member turnout for services and/or events that occur while the circus parades outside their building. As a rabbi who is always trying to find ways to engage my temple's members, I too want to thank Westboro for reminding me of a simple lesson: everyone loves a clown.

Seriously, though, you can find guidelines HERE from the ADL about to respond.

Jubilee! The meaning of fifty

The fiftieth anniversary of our congregation is an opportunity to reflect on the values that have been the foundation of our temple these many decades. One day, many years ago, the leaders of our temple adopted a slogan, “Marbeh Torah, Marbeh Hayim – The more Torah, the more life,” from the second chapter of Pirke Avot. From an aesthetic point of view, this was the perfect slogan. Its letters resemble the letters of our name, especially our commonly used “MRT.” This is also a great slogan in terms of our temple mission, to be a house of study, tikkun olam, worship and community gathering (all good Torah values). Throughout our years, this temple has been dedicated to spreading Torah from a Reform perspective in Monmouth County. The Jubilee is a reminder of that centrality of Torah.

In Leviticus, the original jubilee is described as a special occasion that involved shofar blowing, freedom and release and celebration. Rabbinic commentary has come to understand the jubilee, in part at least, as a recollection of Sinai. The shofars are like the shofars heard at the base of the mountain, the freedom like the freedom we newly tasted from Egypt. A jubilee is about celebrating the anniversary and about gathering with friends and family. But ultimately, Jubilee is about Torah. Here's to fifty more years of more torah and more life!

What the Whale Says: Yom Kippur Evening Sermon

Yom Kippur's evening sermon is available below. Just click the play button on the Podbeam menu bar or click here for my audio site. The recording of my Yom Kippur morning sermon was accidentally cut off in the middle. I will re-record and post it soon.

What the Whale Says:

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