We Stand For Religious Freedom and American Values

Rabbi Portnoy and I joined with several other clergy from across the religious spectrum to denounce violence against Muslims and the rising rhetoric of hate against all things Islamic.  Here is a clip of the local Fox 5 coverage:



And here is TribalChurch's announcement of the event:

A group of prominent Greater Washington D.C. area religious leaders will hold a press conference today, Monday, August 30, 2010 at 1:00 p.m., to denounce the upsurge of anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions in the U.S. The leaders represent many of Washington’s largest Jewish congregations, Muslim organizations and Christian congregations with histories of social justice advocacy. “When one part of Washington’s wonderfully diverse religious community is attacked, we are all attacked. We will defend the rights of and demand respect for our Muslim brothers and sisters,” says Rev. John Wimberly, senior pastor, Western Presbyterian Church.

Confirmed Participants as of 8/27/10:

Nihad Awad– Council on American Islamic Relations
Naeem Baig– Islamic Circle of North America Council for Social Justice
Rev. Canon Timothy Boggs– The National Cathedral
Rev. Karen Brau– Luther Place Church
Imam Mehdi Bray– Muslim American Society Freedom
Jean Duff– Center for Interfaith Action
Rev. Jeffrey Haggray– First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C.
Sr. Asma Hanif– Council of Muslim Organizations
Rabbi Mindy Portnoy– Temple Sinai
Rabbi Jonathan Roos– Temple Sinai
Rabbi Ethan Seidel– Tifereth Israel Congregation
Haris Tarin– Muslim Public Affairs Council
Rev. John Wimberly– Western Presbyterian Church

Rabbi Oleon participated in an interfaith service on Saturday organized for the same message under the banner of several other groups.

What Kind of Rabbi Are You?

I think Ovadia Yosef's words speak for themselves so I won't even make explicit judgement.  It has been reported that Yosef, in his sermon this past Shabbat about upcoming peace talks, called for death for Palestinians.  Yosef, is the so-called "spiritual leader" of Israel's Shas party, a political party of mostly religiously observant Jews from Sephardic heritage.  Because Israel lacks American style separation of "church" and state, a demagogue (...and I said I wouldn't judge) like Yosef not only has the "bully pulpit" but direct political power through Knesset seats and government ministry control.

Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, reported on Yosef's sermon:

"Abu Mazen (Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas) and all these evil people should perish from this world," Rabbi Ovadia was quoted as saying during his weekly sermon at a synagogue near his Jerusalem home. "God should strike them with a plague, them and these Palestinians."  The Shas spiritual leader also called Palestinians "evil, bitter enemies of Israel" during his speech.

Israel's Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, is a member of the Shas Party.  His office is a key player in any decision about settlement activity and other issues that will be at the heart of any peace talks.

The U.S. State Department has publicly condemned Yosef's sermon.  The Israeli government has, so far, 'distanced' itself from the remarks but has not condemned them.  How would we react if a Palestinian Muslim cleric gave a Friday sermon that called for death to the Jews and Abbas refused to condemn the sermon? 

Ovadia Yosef

JR's note: I changed this posting on Sept. 1st to remove a line that insulted Yosef's appearance because, as Helene M. pointed out, it did not advance my argument.

On the "Mosque"

We should not oppose the Cordoba House project for Lower Manhattan.  There are plenty of reasons and lots of ink and hot air out there on the subject.  One of the best arguments I've seen for NOT opposing a mosque at Ground Zero is that this is neither a mosque nor is it at Ground Zero.  I have kept out of the fray until now mostly because I've been on vacation but I also wanted be more sure of the facts about the proposed Islamic center in Lower Manhattan.  Jon Stewart offered one of the best rebuttals of opposition to mosque:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Mosque-Erade
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

I do believe that opposition to this project is contrary to the values of America and the principles of the Constitution.  I also believe that Jewish teachings keep us from opposing the Islamic center.  Chapter 2 of Telushkin's Code of Jewish Ethics, Vol. 2, offers a good concise review of traditional Jewish teachings on the subject of "Jews and Non-Jews."  The entire volume explores the commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  Some of the teachings, laws and principles he cites include:

You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt (Exodus 22:20)
Do not stand by while your neighbor's blood is shed (Lev. 19:16)
The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens, you shall love him as yourself. (Lev. 19:34)
Ben Zoma used to say: Who is wise? One who learns from every person. (Pirke Avot 4:1)

Other scholars who I trust and admire have lent their support to the center's cause.  Rabbi David Ellenson, my teacher and the rabbi who ordained me, wrote an article that has been widely distributed in favor of the center.

This Friday at services I will lead a discussion about a very specific dynamic in the debate over the mosque: why it is wrong to group all Islam and all Muslims together and why we can not, according to Judaism, hold a grudge against all Muslims forever because of 9/11.

Who Can You Trust? (Re'eh dvar torah)

Listen to Friday night's sermon, on Parshat Re'eh, using Frank Rich's Dec. 19th column claiming Tiger Woods should be person of the year (and other material too) as the jumping off point.





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Better take that vacation...

No seriously, I've been warned about the high rates of clergy burnout, unhealthiness and stress, but I did not know the problem was getting such a thorough study.  I also wouldn't have expected that a story about it would be so popular (#5 most emailed on NYTimes website after 2 days).  Saturday's NYTimes carried this story:

N.Y. / Region Section, Published: August 1, 2010
Taking a Break From the Lord’s Work
By PAUL VITELLO

Clerics, who suffer from high rates of obesity and depression, are being advised to take more time off.

I will admit a few things here: 1. Ever since my first year in the full time clergy world, I take all my vacation time.  Thanks to Rabbi Scott Shpeen who led by example and made sure I took time off as his assistant.  2. I try to exercise several times weekly, see a doctor and dentist regularly and do what they tell me to do to stay healthy.  So far so good.  But...  3. I spend way too much time on my BlackBerry and logging in to email even while on vacation and days off.  4.  I don't think we (clergy) do a good job accepting criticism, living with others' disappointment in us, or celebrating our successes.  At least I don't think I do.

I am interested to know: is this story news to my non-clergy readers? Why do non-clergy care to read the article so much?