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Thursday, January 24, 2008

Barack Obama and the Jewish Problem

Posted By James Besser

A Rabbi's World:  Barack Obama and the Jewish Problem

 

 


In a predictable and terribly disturbing way, the campaign of rumors being waged against Barack Obama in the Jewish community has begun to stick.  I am not at all sure that he is the candidate that I would/will vote for in either the primaries or the general election.  I have issues with his candidacy, as I do with almost everyone who is running. But I find it painful that it is so easy to discredit him by appealing to the basest, most ethnocentric fears of so many in our Jewish communities.


Why is it, I wonder as both a Jew and a rabbi, that when push comes to shove, our buttons get pushed so easily?  Why are we so ready to believe the worst about those from outside our community whom we may perceive as threatening?  And why is Barack Obama threatening to our community?  Is it because he is an African-American?  And if that is the case, as it might well be, why do we need to feel that way?


I mentioned that I have issues with Senator Obama's candidacy, and I do.  The biggest one has to do with his relationship with his minister, whom he regards as a mentor and a close friend.  The fact that this minister lauds the work of Louis Farrakhan does indeed give me pause, and makes me wish that Senator Obama would disavow him (and not just Farrakhan, which he has done).  For better or for worse, if Obama wants to represent me and my concerns as a Jewish American, then I don't want his "mentor" anywhere near the halls of power.


But this concern does not in any way require that I vilify Senator Obama, or imply that he is anti-Israel or anti-Semitic, or studied in a madrassa, or grew up a Muslim (also not a sin, as best as I can tell).  What lies behind this effort to smear him and his campaign?  What is it deep within the Jewish psyche that makes us all too ready to believe the worst about "them?"  It is surely not our most appealing quality as a people, or a community…


One is tempted, in an effort to find an answer to these questions, to invoke the traumatic legacy of our persecution, and particularly the Holocaust, as an "excuse" for our communal neurosis about the "other" that borders on paranoia.  But it's too easy an out, I think.  It's too easy for me, as a rabbi, to rely on that as an excuse for everything we might do as individuals and as a community that is less than savory.  Too easy, and not at all honest.  We are hardly so pure and clean ourselves.


Honestly- I think we all need to be looking in the mirror and wondering if we like what we see.  Our survival instincts are sometimes too powerful, and they get in the way of our ability to see things clearly and accurately. And the price of our mistakes in this regard can be very high indeed. 



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Posted In A Rabbi's World | 6 Comments

A REJECTION!

02/27/08 @ 08:46 AM | Posted By Adam S

Obama Recent Comments: "You know, I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan's anti-Semitic comments. I think they are unacceptable and reprehensible....You know, I would not be sitting here were it not for a whole host of Jewish Americans, who supported the civil rights movement and helped to ensure that justice was served in the South."

In reference to Farrkahans support Obama said he would "reject and denounce" the former leader of the Nation of Islam.

Call This Parnoia- or Survial?

02/27/08 @ 01:03 AM | Posted By Victor Goodman

Jews have a history of being chased around the place- and messed with a good deal also- ( blond jews-wonder how that happened?) kicked out of their native shore, wandering europe and other parts, terrorized along the way,  sometimes doing well, only to have it taken away-  Less than sixty years ago, facing a huge destruction of their co-horts-some strong support  for this action coming from the Islamic World ;)

So, what does this have to do with Barack?  Maybe nothing, but as mentioned some Jews are worried, something in their guts-

Oh yea, Mr. Obama speaks the right words, by why is it that some Jews,"feel" that Mr. Right, ain't so right?

Well, let's put it this way, do you believe every world a person, or a lawyer says? 

Oh yea, Mr. O is a lawyer- and sound like a good one-  So, again , do you judge people by their words?

If so, Mr. O, does well by me- but you can't do that-

Kinda like the Bob Dylan Song- "Man of Peace," he talks about this.

Now, I hope Mr. O is what he says he is- nothing would make me happier- it would be good for the world- it always is when someone does good, and comes as a man of peace- but something is missing in this picture for me-

A lillte Paronia may be good for your heath- and to me, something, just ain't right by this picture, and I'd bet my bottom dollar on it, perhaps a couple of thousand years of watching my back is in my genes?

 

 

RE: I A Jew Of Color

02/09/08 @ 10:15 PM | Posted By Jacob well said  R. Redwood.

Why Hillary is the right choice

01/30/08 @ 11:37 PM | Posted By Conservative Rabbi for Hillary Obama's color should have no bearing on whether Jews want him in the White House or not. 

The fact that he looks up to and admires a man who gave Louis Farrakhan an award is a major problem for us in the Jewish community.  Hillary Clinton is much better on Israel and has years more experience than the up-and-coming Obama.

He'll have his moment... it won't be in '08 though.  And he's got some explaining to do about his associations with anti-Semites.       

HILLARY IN '08

I A Jew Of Color

01/28/08 @ 09:28 PM | Posted By R. Redwood

What does Colin Powell Say in regards to the placement of Barack Obama in the White House as President?

If Barack's  middle name were changed would we be able to embrace him as Jews?

I think he would be an asset to the Middle East Peace negotiations if elected President.  Also,  a great help in America for race relations as well.

If we are to get over the huddles of color Obama is a must have, as President.

"We The People " stated during Lincolns time is now upon us. It is a great moment for us to step up to show just how grownup we can be.

Let It Be! Let It Be! Amen

 

   

More questions; perhaps, we too have lost our way

01/27/08 @ 09:39 AM | Posted By Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, www.JewsOnFirst.org
Rabbi Skolnick asks the right questions. May I add a two of my own? What drives our fear? Who benefits from manipulating our fears?
 
The truth is that in America we Jews respond to the same prejudices as many other whites. This is our  "values assimilation" that erodes our fundamental Jewish values of openness to the stranger "because we were strangers in the Land of Egypt." (This is repeated some thirty times in the Torah.) We have lost some of our Jewish values.  That should shock us.   Can we accept that Islamophobia (not unlike Judeophobia) has crept into some of our minds?


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