If all you're "saying is that" you "oppose both expulsion and genocide" and are not anti-Israel, why do you choose to call out all the Jews of Israel? Twice in this piece you castigate all the Jews of Israel.
As repulsive as some of these polls are, they do not represent 100% of the Jews of Israel.
Nor do I imagine that the polls you cite offered graded choices that could have allowed a more nuanced response.
One clear question that I have that you did not address is how do you propose to respond to someone with a stated intent to kill you?
Dear Rabbi, I cannot imagine how difficult it is for you deal with all that is currently happening with Israel-Gaza-Iran! It's difficult for all of us to understand but your posts are helping me, for one, to "wrap my head around" some of it and I thank you for that.
I was born and raised Catholic and practiced until 2013 when my mom died. I'm not exactly sure of the significance of that, but, unlike you and the Jewis religion, I completely abandoned Catholicism. Bam, done, over-and-out! Can't do it any more.
Jesus also preached "Do unto others as you want them to do unto to you." So simple, yet so hard for most of us humans. I'm definitly not a student of the Qur'an, or of any religion, but it states in more than four places "Return evil with Kindness". If those in power in the Middle East, and in every country, would believe in, and practice this simple phrase, perhaps all wars would stop and people could live in peace. Isn't it too naive and simple minded to hope that could EVER happen?
God, I hope you're wrong. This arrived in my email just below a similar piece by R Arthur Waskow about the different trajectories of American Judaism and Israeli Judaism. I want you to know that many of us are fighting for a saner direction, but your analysis is sound... And heartbreaking.
Your words always move me, Rabbi. You have such an enlightened view of the need to move forward in love, compassion and understanding. As a self-taught religious studies student, I am finding more and more people of all faiths who are moving in the direction you advise. Father Richard Rohr comes immediately to mind from the Christian community. Like you, he also adheres to a belief in moving forward with interfaith dialogue, love, compassion and understanding for all humanity. No matter what you may "formally" believe as your chosen religion or spiritual path, the most fundamental foundation is love of a higher power and love of your fellow human beings. Frankly, even atheists believe in respect for all man/womankind.
If all you're "saying is that" you "oppose both expulsion and genocide" and are not anti-Israel, why do you choose to call out all the Jews of Israel? Twice in this piece you castigate all the Jews of Israel.
As repulsive as some of these polls are, they do not represent 100% of the Jews of Israel.
Nor do I imagine that the polls you cite offered graded choices that could have allowed a more nuanced response.
One clear question that I have that you did not address is how do you propose to respond to someone with a stated intent to kill you?
Dear Rabbi, I cannot imagine how difficult it is for you deal with all that is currently happening with Israel-Gaza-Iran! It's difficult for all of us to understand but your posts are helping me, for one, to "wrap my head around" some of it and I thank you for that.
I was born and raised Catholic and practiced until 2013 when my mom died. I'm not exactly sure of the significance of that, but, unlike you and the Jewis religion, I completely abandoned Catholicism. Bam, done, over-and-out! Can't do it any more.
Jesus also preached "Do unto others as you want them to do unto to you." So simple, yet so hard for most of us humans. I'm definitly not a student of the Qur'an, or of any religion, but it states in more than four places "Return evil with Kindness". If those in power in the Middle East, and in every country, would believe in, and practice this simple phrase, perhaps all wars would stop and people could live in peace. Isn't it too naive and simple minded to hope that could EVER happen?
Thank you for your moral clarity and courage to tell the truth, Rabbi Rami!
Read Peter Beinarts book, Israel after the destruction of Gaza.
God, I hope you're wrong. This arrived in my email just below a similar piece by R Arthur Waskow about the different trajectories of American Judaism and Israeli Judaism. I want you to know that many of us are fighting for a saner direction, but your analysis is sound... And heartbreaking.
This writing is greaatly appreciated. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and knowledge and appreciate Frank as well.
Donna Glaser
Cup f Wizdom, Temple Beth Torah, Humble, Texas
Your words always move me, Rabbi. You have such an enlightened view of the need to move forward in love, compassion and understanding. As a self-taught religious studies student, I am finding more and more people of all faiths who are moving in the direction you advise. Father Richard Rohr comes immediately to mind from the Christian community. Like you, he also adheres to a belief in moving forward with interfaith dialogue, love, compassion and understanding for all humanity. No matter what you may "formally" believe as your chosen religion or spiritual path, the most fundamental foundation is love of a higher power and love of your fellow human beings. Frankly, even atheists believe in respect for all man/womankind.