Obama to meet Jewish leaders amid concerns over criticism
by Haviv Rettig Gur, Jerusalem Post, July 13, 2009
Obama with Rabbi Neil Cooper Cong. Rodeph Shalom Philadelphia
“American Jews more or less agree with the president on settlements, but it’s the focus on criticizing Israel that’s disconcerting,” said an organization leader who will be attending the meeting.
“There’s no single monolithic voice speaking for American Jewry,” said another participating leader. “When both the Orthodox Union and [American Friends of] Peace Now are in the room, you won’t get a unified opinion.”
He added that “it’s important to speak carefully, because one Jewish leader shouldn’t say things that will be contradicted by another. It’s important not to appear divided.”
The meeting, under the aegis of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, will include representatives of the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform religious streams, and major groups such as AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee, ADL and Hadassah.
While the Jewish leaders are expected to raise many domestic issues - from welfare reform to security concerns for Jewish institutions - the question on everybody’s mind will be Obama’s Middle East policy, participants said. Most of the heads and membership of the major organizations are Democrats who broadly support the current administration - another cause for discomfort. (Continue Reading this Article)
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Let the Jews remind Obama/Soetoro/Obama they’re AMERICANS first and foremost, and express concerns over this Constitutional issue: “Where’s the Birth Certificate?”
Comment by David BenAriel — July 13, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
How out of touch with reality the Jewish leader is who was quoted as saying:
The reality is that Jewish leaders are very much openly divided as regards their view of Israel’s best interests and what peace agreement Israel needs to assure her security and continued existence. Pres. Obama knows of that divisiveness and is capitalizing on it.
It is unfortunate that the above quoted out of touch with reality statement made by the unnamed Jewish leader, marks the out of touch with reality character of much Jewish leadership.
Jewish leadership likely all would agree with the fundamental principle that there is inherent strength in unity and inherent weakness in divisiveness, but most do not put that principle into practice.
Instead in their advocacy, they are myopically guided only by their respective and conflicting particular arrogant views and agendas which breeds divisivness and consequential weakness in the case of pro-Israel/Jewish advocacy.
When we continue to have and to tolerate such out of touch with reality fools for our leaders, we should not be surprised at what harmful folly those fools get us into.
As the saying goes, we are getting the leadership we deserve.
We grass roots Jews will only deserve better from our leadership if we unite in resolve to take action ourselves that will entitle us to demand and get better leaders to lead us.
Comment by Bill Narvey — July 13, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
Narvey
Problem: Most self styled Jewish Leaders aren’t Jewish. I don’t mean that they aren’t Halachic Jews although some might not be I mean they have little or no Jewish education, know little or nothing of Jewish history and traditions and are except for a few religious apostates ignoramuses and bores. We then have self servers who in the main bought their positions by donating large amts. to one cause or another.
The other big problem is that for a long time Jewish communal institutions receive the bulk of their operating funds from public funds and not Jewish funds. They are all afraid of loosing their funding sources and Obama is the kind that could and probably would deny them access to those necessary funds. In short they are scared and after Madoff stuck it to them they are even now more vulnerable and in need.
Comment by yamit82 — July 13, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
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[...] “American Jews more or less agree with the president on settlements, but it’s the focus on criticizing Israel that’s disconcerting,” said an organization leader who will be attending the meeting. “There’s no single monolithic voice speaking for American Jewry,” said another participating leader. “WhRead more at http://www.israpundit.com/2008/?p=15254 [...]
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Narvey:
Let’s be honest. America’s Jewish leadership is divided ideologically because, just as in Israel there are differing visions within the population as to which direction to proceed. Whether to the left or to the right. We cannot create a unity where no unity exists.Israel’s recent election showed that division.The electorate split their votes almost equally between left wing candidates and the right.
Generally most North American Jews are very sympathetic to the plight of Israel. However these very same Jews have their priority concerns which revolve around their own immediate needs. The economic downturn, the education of their offspring, health concerns, community issues and on and on. In this regard they are no different than anyone else in the population. It is impossible to instill in Jews a crises mentality concerning Israel for a period of 60 years. Most Jews have now become somewhat inured to the panic calls of the imminent destruction of Israel. The alarm calls can be tolled for only so long and then it loses its effect.This explains the dismal results of the anti- Obama campaign. Most Jews see Obama as a savior of America.Given the state of America at present, who can really blame them?
Comment by h peskin — July 14, 2009 @ 2:57 am
[...] “American Jews more or less agree with the president on settlements, but it’s the focus on criticizing Israel that’s disconcerting,” said an organization leader who will be attending the meeting. “There’s no single monolithic voice speaking for American Jewry,” said another participating leader. “WhRead more at http://www.israpundit.com/2008/?p=15254 [...]
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