Let’s hope Obama won’t be a friend of Israel, writes Gideon Levy in a recent Ha’aretz editorial. Now before you get your knickers in a knot, read on:
When we say that someone is a “friend of Israel” we mean a friend of the occupation, a believer in Israel’s self-armament, a fan of its language of [...]
Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
Obama, Don’t Be a Friend of Israel!
Posted in Elections 2008, Israel, Palestine, Peace, Politics, Politics/Middle East on November 10, 2008 | 6 Comments »
One Glorious Night in Grant Park
Posted in Current Events, Elections 2008, Politics on November 5, 2008 | 5 Comments »
I was blessed enough to attend the Obama victory fete in Grant Park last night. When we got word that the election was called for Obama, we made our way through the crowd, past the stunned, weeping and jubilant. We were palpably aware that the entire world had their eyes on our little patch of [...]
Wearing Purple on Election Day
Posted in Civil Rights, Current Events, Elections 2008, Judaism, Politics, Religion on November 4, 2008 | 1 Comment »
As I searched my mind and soul for what to say on this historic election day, I received these beautiful thoughts via e-mail from my friend and congregant Lesley Williams:
I wore purple to the election booth today, not red or blue. Today we make history, no matter what color your state or your skin. Today [...]
Liberation in the Maldives!
Posted in Asia, Current Events, Human Rights, Politics on October 29, 2008 | No Comments »
In the midst of a largely trivial news barrage, I’m betting this one will pass under our country’s media radar:
The South Asian country of the Maldives has held their first multi-party election and has elected political activist (and former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience) Mohamed Nasheed (right) to be their new president. This effectively ends [...]
A Different Kind of Coalition?
Posted in Israel, Peace, Politics, Politics/Middle East on October 27, 2008 | 4 Comments »
The news out of Israel: in recent weeks Tzipi Livni had been trying to form a new coalition but has now decided to call for new elections after refusing to bow to the Shas party’s preconditions (which included a demand to never divide Jerusalem). Much to say about all of this of course. Those of [...]
How to Talk to the Enemy
Posted in Anti-Semitism, Interfaith, Iran, Israel, Politics, Religion on October 19, 2008 | No Comments »
What would you say to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad if you had the chance? My friend and colleague Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb had this extraordinary opportunity last month at an Iftaar dinner in which Ahmadinejad met with several religious peace groups during his visit to the US. Rabbi Gottlieb was among the few Jews to attend the dinner, [...]
Understanding Iran, Facing our Fears: A Sermon for Yom Kippur
Posted in Global Activism, High Holidays, Interfaith, Iran, Israel, Peace, Politics, Religion, Sermons on October 10, 2008 | 2 Comments »
At Yom Kippur services yesterday, I announced to my congregation that I will be traveling to Iran on an interfaith peace delegation next month. I devoted the majority of my remarks to our current conflict with Iran, and why I have been so deeply frustrated with our government’s and the Jewish community’s response to this [...]
The End of Empire: A Sermon for Rosh Hashanah
Posted in Elections 2008, Energy Efficiency, Energy Policy, Environmentalism, Health Care, High Holidays, Judaism, Politics, Poverty, Religion, Sermons, War on October 5, 2008 | 3 Comments »
My sermon for Rosh Hanshanah Day 5769 was something of a sequel to the one I delivered the night before. I’ve reworked it here, based on a version I gave today at Lake St. Church’s World Community Sabbath. (Those of you who read the previous sermon will notice I carried some passages over into this [...]
The Iran Circus Comes to Town
Posted in Iran, Israel, Politics, Politics/Middle East, War on September 21, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Get ready for an unbelievable din when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comes to town next week.
For its part, the Jewish community is contributing its share to the political noise making with all the brouhaha over Sarah Palin’s invitation (and subsequent disinvitation) from a Jewish community protest against Iran on Monday. Tellingly, through all of the Jewish coverage [...]
Go Rabbis for Obama!
Posted in Current Events, Elections 2008, High Holidays, Politics, Religion on September 18, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Big, big kudos to Chicago-area rabbis Steve Bob and Sam Gordon for organizing Rabbis for Obama! As of this writing over 400 rabbis (and counting) have signed up to show their support. And this just in: yesterday 900 rabbis joined Obama for a conference call in which he answered questions and spoke eloquently about a [...]
