On May 22, the New York Times published this article about Obama struggling to earn the votes and respect of Jews in Florida. While Obama certainly has a ways to go to shore up support among Jews, particularly in Florida, and perhaps New Jersey, the misinformation present in the article made me extremely sad. The best quote goes to Representative Robert Wexler, who said "South Florida is 'the most concentrated area in the country in terms of misinformation' about Senator Obama." While I could respond to nearly all of the ridiculous misinformation that my friends' grandmothers in south Florida believe, I will instead lay out a brief argument for why Jews ought to support Obama.On Social Justice:We are taught from a young age, every year at our Passover seder, that we are not free until all people are free. We are taught to put tzedakah, or charity in the little box at hebrew school. We are taught that Hillel was once asked to recite the whole Torah, while standing on one foot, to which he replied "Do unto others as you would have done unto you. That is the entire Torah, all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it." Every morning service, we sing Eilu D'varim... these are the things whose worth is without measure: visiting the sick, welcoming the stranger. To be a Jew is, by definition to be an advocate for social justice, and Obama has lived that vision for his entire life. He worked on the streets of Chicago registering voters and organizing to help communities rebuild after jobs and homes had been lost. He worked for a civil rights law firm instead of using his clear and present intellect to go into the corporate world. He has been a tireless advocate for the poor and the hungry, a voice for those who have none. Were this the only reason, dayenu, it would be enough.On Israel:Many elderly Jews are concerned that he is either Muslim, or ardently anti-Israel, both of which are simply not true. He spoke today in front of AIPAC to address a lot of these concerns. Highlights from his speech can be found here (he even mentions Tikun Olam!), and his fact sheet on Israel can be found here. He is, however, a supporter of the two-state solution. He believes that the Palestinian people deserve to have a state, and that Israel must work with the Palestinian leadership and the surrounding nations to help secure that future. But this is one of his strengths with regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. He does not support terrorism and he has always supported Israel's right to defend herself. He understands that the United States must be actively engaged in diplomacy (and often times tough, strict diplomacy) throughout the region for Israel to secure long-term safety. As a leader of the free world, America can not continue to simply ignore those with whom we disagree, and neither can Israel. Until we have a leader who understands this, like Obama does, Israel will not be safe or free from the fear of terrorism. And, on a partially tangential note, American presence in Iraq does nothing to help Israel, and while it may not directly impact the situation with the Palestinians, it certainly has harmed Israeli and American reputation in the region and has given fuel to the anti-American sentiment that was already present. On Race:It disgusts me that I even have to bring this up, but do Jewish voters who are against Obama remember nothing of American history? Is there no sense of solidarity left from the '60s when prominent Jewish thinkers and leaders (Abraham Joshua Heschel, to mention one) marched with leaders of the Civil Rights movement? Are we so ignorant as to believe that Obama agrees with everything that the former pastor at his former church believed? (Do all of you agree with everything that your Rabbi does? If you do, I think its time to find a new Rabbi). Regardless of what has happened since, Jews should and must understand that the past discrimination and future opportunities of one minority in America reflect the same of each and every other minority in this country. If you're a Jew who doesn't support Obama because of true policy differences, great! But we absolutely cannot let misinformation on Israel or race prevent us from supporting the man who has the potential to be the most influential, inspirational and visionary leader of the 21st century.
As I was leading services a couple of weeks ago (hence the post date of this entry), I noticed a reading from the new Reform siddur (prayerbook), Mishkan T'fillah. The siddur is layed out so that on the pages opposite each Hebrew blessing or prayer, there are corresponding English readings, or kavannot (intentions) so that congregations and any users of the book can not only have the traditional Hebrew but can create new meaning and understanding of each prayer. The reading below is attached to the prayer Modim, which gives thanks to God for "the miracles that we experience every day." Modim anachnu lach literally translates to "we give thanks to You."
For the expanding grandeur of Creation, worlds known and unknown,galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations:Modim anachnu lach. For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunsets and seasons:Modim anachnu lach. For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements:Modim anachnu lach. For our human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity to work for peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression:Modim anachnu lach. For high hopes and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared:Modim anachnu lach. For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world, who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom:Modim anachnu lach. For human liberty and sacred rites; for opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose:Modim anachnu lach. We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds.
Baruch Atah Hashem, ha-tov shimcha ul'cha naeh l'hodot.
It's been a somewhat wild week for the election. A few things that I would like to point out, however, particularly on Obama and Israel. Obama has recently been getting a lot of criticism from the right on his stances towards Israel. President Bush just spoke before the K'nesset in an obvious attempt to smear Obama, suggesting that his desire to expand our diplomatic efforts overseas are comparable to appeasing Nazis. (Speaking of Nazis, there is a very funny, though somewhat tasteless YouTube video about Hillary's losses in North Carolina and Indiana that you should watch.)The criticism of Obama's stances on Israel, however, is completely unfounded. In a recent interview with Jeffrey Goldberg, Obama discussed his deeply rooted and nuanced views about Israel. One of my favorite parts was the following passage:Jeffrey Goldberg: Do you think that justice is still on Israel's side? Barack Obama: I think that the idea of a secure Jewish state is a fundamentally just idea, and a necessary idea, given not only world history but the active existence of anti-Semitism, the potential vulnerability that the Jewish people could still experience. I know that that there are those who would argue that in some ways America has become a safe refuge for the Jewish people, but if you've gone through the Holocaust, then that does not offer the same sense of confidence and security as the idea that the Jewish people can take care of themselves no matter what happens. That makes it a fundamentally just idea. That does not mean that I would agree with every action of the state of Israel, because it's a government and it has politicians, and as a politician myself I am deeply mindful that we are imperfect creatures and don't always act with justice uppermost on our minds. But the fundamental premise of Israel and the need to preserve a Jewish state that is secure is, I think, a just idea and one that should be supported here in the United States and around the world.Unfortunately, the truth about Obama's "unyielding support" for Israel doesn't really matter to Republicans who are willing to outright lie about what Obama said.
