Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper
RECENT POSTS
- "Thinly-Veiled Threats"? White House Suggests Arizona Republicans Put Up or Shut Up
- POTUS at the All Star Game: No Bailout for the National League? "No, We're Out of Money"
- POTUS Tells Michigan Things Will Get Tougher As He Introduces New Plan for Community Colleges
- Michelle Obama's Father NOT buried at Burr Oak
- Missing Mayor
- Obama Wants to Avoid the Dirt for First Pitch
- Michelle Obama's Burr Oak Cemetery Connection
- Obama Expects Unemployment Figures to “Tick Up for Several Months,” Despite Economy Stabilizing
- President Obama Joins With McCain to Eliminate Raptor Fighter Jets
- President Obama Tries to Get the Momentum Back on Health Care Reform
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Obama Holds Conference Call With 900 Rabbis for the High Holy Days, Says His Volunteers Are Blowing Shofars of Action
September 17, 2008 11:13 PM
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., held a conference call with over 900 rabbis this morning to wish them and their congregations a Happy Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (year 5769, for those counting) which begins at sunset on Sept. 29.
“I know that, for rabbis, this is the busiest time of the year as you prepare for the High Holy Days," said the Democratic presidential candidate. "I want to wish everybody a shanah tovah and I hope that you will convey my wishes to all of those [who] pray and celebrate with this Rosh Hashanah.”
Obama, who is said to be struggling with some Jewish voters who otherwise traditionally vote Democratic, said that “the Jewish New Year is unlike the new years of any other cultures. In part, because it's not simply a time for revelry; it's a time for what might be called determined rejoicing. A time to put your affairs with other people in order so you can honestly turn to God. A time to recommit to the serious work of tikkun olam ― of mending the world.”
Obama was introduced to the group by the chairman of “Rabbis for Obama,” Rabbi Sam Gordon of Congregation Sukkat Shalom in Wilmette, Ill., and Rabbi Elliot Dorff, vice chair of the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, and a professor at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.
According to Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, who live-blogged the conference call, Dorff said his support for Obama “is a case of both ahavat Mordechai and sinat Haman.”
“Ahavat Mordechai” means the love of Mordechai, the hero of the story of Purim. “Sinat Haman” means hatred of Haman, the villain of the same tale, who conspired to slay the Jews.
According to a press release sent from the Obama campaign to Jewish newspapers, Obama told the rabbis that “throughout my career in the state Legislature, and now in the U.S. Senate, I have been a stalwart friend of Israel. On every single issue related to Israel's security, I have been unwavering, and will continue to be unwavering.”
He went on from there, but you get the idea. Under fire from the Republican Jewish Coalition and others seeking to portray him as less-than-stalwart in his support for the Jewish state, Obama said that during his recent trip to Israel, he met “all the major political players ... and I think that they all came away with assurance of my commitment with respect to Israel.”
Obama added, “There’s a lot to fix,” Ruttenberg relayed in her blog, discussing the economic crisis, the war in Iraq, Iran, climate change, Osama bin Laden still being on the loose, health care, caring for children and seniors, and investing in energy.
“I do not think, as president, that I can repair all this on my own, but that perhaps together,” we can, Obama said, quoting from Rabbi Tarfon in the Talmud: “You are not free to complete the work, but neither may you desist from it.”
Obama then seized the symbolism of the Shofar, the ram’s horn blown during the High Holy Days, and relayed it to -- what else? -- his campaign.
"I know that the Shofar is going to be blown in your synagogues over Rosh Hashanah and there are many interpretations of its significance,” Obama said. “One that I have heard that resonates with me is rousing us from our slumber so that we recognize our responsibilities and repent for our misdeeds and set out on a better path.
“The people in every community across this land join our campaign, and I like to think that they are sounding that Shofar and to rouse this nation out of its slumber and to compel us to confront our challenges and ensure a better path,” Obama said. “It's a call to action. So, as this new year dawns, I am optimistic about our ability to overcome the challenges we face and the opportunity that we can bring the change we need, not only to our nation, but also to the world.”
After Obama’s remarks, he took questions from a representative of each of the four major branches of Judaism –- Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist.
Anyone familiar with those branches will not be surprised that the Orthodox rabbi expressed concern that Obama’s K-12 education funding plans exclude private religious schools; the Conservative rabbi asked Obama to talk about his recent trip to Israel where he met with various political leaders; the Reform rabbi asked how one addresses the economic needs of most Americans while not forgetting the poor; and the Reconstructionist rabbi asked, according to Ruttenberg, “how people of all faiths and people of no faiths can both speak from where they are (in their respective belief systems) and also come together.”
- jpt
September 17, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (72)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
WHICH CANDIDATE CAN ISRAEL COUNT ON ...
OBAMA = BETRAYAL
Obama supporters are foolish to think that he will never betray them.
Obama was a close friend of Pastor Wright for TWENTY YEARS.
Obama threw Wright under the bus for personal ambition.
McCain would not betray his country even after 5 years of torture.
You can put lipstick on a traitor, but he's still a traitor.
Posted by: Howard | Sep 19, 2008 3:02:01 PM
Someone please educate me. Please explain why numerous people on this website are SO upset about Rev Wright but fail to discuss Sarah Palin's church which she attended for YEARS (& remains involved as a guest speaker) or the views of her pastors & the many sermons that can be viewed and/or heard on-line.
It's also important to note that Obama faced hard questions head-on in the press in numerous statements & press releases to answer accusations head-on. Unlike Sarah Palin who has been almost completely shielded from the equally hard & difficult questioning that has been required of and faced by all other candidates.
As a person who was raised Catholic, I too have sat through many sermons I strongly disagreed with & likely should have left (which I did on occasion, though not always). So I understand the complexity of believing while disagreeing on some matters until at some point you have to make a decision (I no longer attend) for whatever reason.
However, it seems that Sarah Palin does not truly have to answer for her involvement in a church that recently invited her to speak (& she did) to the Masters Commission students, part of an international program designed to convert the rest of the world to Christianity.
Her church invited David Brickman, head of "Jews for Jesus" in August - an organization whose goal is "to make the messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to our Jewish people worldwide."
Where is the public outrage regarding the fact that Palin and her family were present for his sermon (& didn't leave) during a sermon contained numerous inflammatory claims, most particularly about terrorist attacks in Israel.
At least 3 of 4 of Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement called the "Third Wave" movement (The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation). The very same movement featured in the movie "Jesus Camp," which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord. A The movement is training a young "Joel's Army" to take dominion over the United States and the world.
Do all churches & religious beliefs have components that may appear odd and different to outsiders or non-believers? Absolutely.
The fact that 3 of the 4 Christian churches attended by Palin are actively involved in the 3rd World movement, which separates itself from “non-believing Christians” involving spiritual warfare is at the very least interesting.
More interesting is the fact that no one is allowed to ask Palin the same kinds of questions asked of Obama and John F. Kennedy so we can’t hear detailed responses regarding if and how this fits into her world view, her politics or her decisions should she become the next Vice President with the very real possibility of becoming President.
And we haven’t even gotten into a discussion of her family’s involvement in the Alaskan Independence Party and its goal of seceding as a state of the United States of America and their equally complex beliefs.
Is Sarah Palin willing to embrace and face 900 rabbis, the press and the American voter? We’ll see.
Posted by: pmarie55 | Sep 19, 2008 9:46:58 AM
"Palin then named every member of the Nigerian cabinet.
Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 18, 2008 3:05:54 AM
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
COULD YOU?
COULD YOU NAME EVERY MEMBER OF BUSH'S CABINET WITHOUT GOOGLING IT?
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN B O LOSES?
Posted by: eyes opening | Sep 18, 2008 9:54:37 PM
My, my, my.
The republicans have been very busy.
From trying to extinguish Troopergate, teach a good ol' girl their values, make John appear to have a brain and all the while lying through their teeth!
THE REPUBLICANS OFFER 'NO' CHANGE
THEY HAVE LIED, CHEATED, STOLEN and KILLED 4700 OF OUR CHILDREN.
WHY?
THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.
Perhaps this time America will say 'enough is enough'.
Let's go back to our Constitution-
A government OF the people, BY the people, FOR the people...
Don't cry for the rich, they'll get by.
Cry out for your self, your family, your friends and neighbors.
Before you vote remember the faces of starving children, disaster refugees, dumped elders and newborns. For the first time in American history, this is what our leaders have caused us to become.
My God America-forget he's black.
We are bigger than racist hatred.
Remember he's well educated-and wants the same for your children/grandchildren.
He's lived in hard times and good. He brought himself to where he is. He wants to bring you and yours there too.
If the last eight years have touched you in any way vote CHANGE. If you haven't felt anything in the same eight years vote McCain...
Posted by: oldwhiteguy | Sep 18, 2008 8:01:07 PM
I hope most of you who are posting those really disgusting comments aren't any of "my people." The prejudice and misinformation expressed here is in blatant disregard to Judaism and what it represents. Don't use Rev. Wright as your excuse- the man has done more for the good of his community than I'll wager any of you have ever done. And if you think to question his patriotism and love of the is country let me also remind you he was a Marine and served this country. I'd love to know how many of you can say the same.
But if we Jews feel like throwing ourselves under a bus, by all means vote for McCain/Palin. They will do more to undermine the concept of freedom of religion and free speech than anyone in the last 250 years. If you think the issue of Israel is more important than voting for the best candidate for this country i strongly suggest you go there. I've been a supporter of Israel all my life, but THIS is my country and it needs Obama.
Posted by: dmj | Sep 18, 2008 7:21:43 PM
The last paragraph is very interesting. It would be fascinating to hear Obama's response to each. How will he handle funding for private, religious education? Does he support vouchers? Is he proposing new social programs? If so, how does he accomplish this without incurring the wrath of the middle and upper classes; and, most importantly, how will he support them?
Posted by: Dave | Sep 18, 2008 5:40:25 PM
I love the sound of The Shofar. I'm listening to it right now thinking about how the sound must have crumbled the walls of Jericho. Don't worry Israel the Democrats are friends and Obama/Biden are showing support.
Posted by: Robert | Sep 18, 2008 3:09:43 PM
Just to correct the Talmud quote: "You are not responsible to complete the work but neither are you free to desist from it."
Posted by: Jay D. Homnick | Sep 18, 2008 12:15:25 PM
Maybe Jewish leaders should be reminded that Obama willingly sat in Rev Wright's church for 20 years.
That hate was indocrinated into BO's mind for all those years.
Show them the video of BO calling Wright a "great leader".
Send them Trinity's newsletter with Farrakhan on the cover--with his lifetime achievement award.
Posted by: sally | Sep 18, 2008 12:04:40 PM
Senator Obama
Your church honored Louis Farrakhan with the honor of "Man of the Century".
How did you protest that action?
Posted by: Cynthia | Sep 18, 2008 11:21:21 AM
Betcha Michelle's good at blowing shofars with that big mouth of hers!
Posted by: markone | Sep 18, 2008 9:33:29 AM
I hope that Obama does not win. The press has turned this elecinto a side show.
Posted by: Samantha | Sep 18, 2008 9:29:33 AM
If this had been a story about McCain calling Jewish leaders, the press would have lampooned him. But, once again, the press gets a shiver up its collective leg and climaxes as it keyboards its stories. Implicit in the story is a message to Jewish leaders. "Don't bother to pray for the Messiah's coming. He's here."
Posted by: Sharon | Sep 18, 2008 9:06:02 AM
You must be referring to the Jews for Jesus because those are Sarah Palins friends.
Posted by: angelgirls3 | Sep 18, 2008 9:01:15 AM
I was brought up to believe that you are who you hang with. 20 years with spiritual mentor who preaches so much hate...cannot fail to impact your life in a major way. That was enough for me. His hateful friends (we all know them) and the fact that he is using this depressed economy to get people aboard with his "join us, we'll change the world" crap honestly reminds me of a monsterous German man. I'm not saying Obama is Hitler, but he uses his tactics and his friends and associates are hateful people who seek to divide us.
Posted by: Ben | Sep 18, 2008 6:33:35 AM
----------------------------------------
Then you must also believe McCain is in the pocket of lobbyist and corporate elites and he doesn't give a damn about average folks. Oh and Ben, I'm not saying you're Hitler's chief propagandist Joseph Goebbels but you sure uses his tactics and McCain's friends and associates are hateful people who seek to divide us.
Posted by: McCain/Palin = Corporations First | Sep 18, 2008 8:52:33 AM
If there were a large population of aliens from Mars living in key swing states, Obama would dig into his multi-race, multi-religion so-called "background" and find that he is, indeed, related to an alien from Mars!
I wish Obama was on Mars!
Posted by: Jake | Sep 18, 2008 8:49:23 AM
Ok seriously. Enough with this. Obama ain't got a Jew problem. As a Jew who know lots of other Jews, I'm hard pressed to find one who is supporting McCain.
It's really the older Jew in Florida Obama may have a problem with. Our parents are worried about their futures, retirement, etc. But worry not, their kids will convince them to vote for their grandchildren and for Israel...
OBAMA!!!
Posted by: NYCJEW | Sep 18, 2008 8:44:14 AM
Does anyone else find the irony in Obama digging up a 'relative' who is a rabbi just in time for the Jewish Holy Days? What race or religion does this man NOT HAVE in his background?
He's white/black/muslim/Christian/Jewish.
How very convenient.
Posted by: Jacqueline | Sep 18, 2008 8:39:32 AM
I BELEIVE OBAMA IS A GOD FEARING AND HONEST MAN. EVERYBODY'S GOT AN OPINON. I LOOK AT HIS EXAMPLE, ALWAYS REACHING OUT TO EVERYBODY. GOD BLESS THIS CARING MAN.
Posted by: marian | Sep 18, 2008 8:15:04 AM
I am impressed with Jake Tapper!
First, he recognized the four branches of Judaism most active in America.
Second, he nailed, with good humor, how their questions to Obama were stereotypical of each branch.
Mr. Tapper, you're either one knowledgeable man or you're a mensch!
Also impressed with how Obama takes the key relevent term--tikkun olam--and shows that it is his too.
Posted by: northlite | Sep 18, 2008 8:01:11 AM
Post a comment
