Posts with the tag Jewish

Appropriating and Recontextualizing Google Image Search Results

maya escobar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:26:01 EDT

Part 1 of an article I wrote for jewishinstlouis.org

Every art student learns about the fair use principle, granting us permission to use any image in our artwork as long as we transform it so that it conveys new meaning. But beyond that all-encompassing definition, we don’t know what transgressions, if any, we are actually committing.

Recently in the news is the preemptive lawsuit artist Shepard Fairey filed against the Associated Press. According to Fairey the AP threatened to sue him unless he pays royalties for the image that he used as source material for his now famous campaign poster of Barack Obama. Fairey argues that he is protected by the fair use principle. He claims that his intention was not to reproduce any particular image, but instead was to capture a specific gaze representative of the ideas of hope and change.

In an interview on NPR, Fairey declared he was going forward with this suit on behalf of all artists, the thousands of artists that created their own campaign images in the same grassroots manner, pulling images from the web in support of the message of hope, change and a new administration in Washington.

screen shot of: first page of google image search results for "Barack Obama"

I am fascinated by Fairey’s implication that the process of appropriating and re-contextualizing Google image search results might be considered a grassroots action. As an artist, I frequently use images that that I find on Google. Like Fairey suggested, my motivation for using these images is to highlight the search itself, not the derivative image.

Perhaps then, these cyber Robin Hoodian actions—using and transforming Google image search results—are capable of changing the structures that control the dissemination of information. After all, the order that information appears in Google searches is determined by the amount of people searching any given topic. And as a result of the Fairey’s appropriation, his campaign poster may be forever linked to Obama’s presidency.

email from President Obama

Obama’s popularity can be credited to his skillfully constructed presidential campaign that effortlessly linked his name to hope. I was quick to jump onto Obama’s online campaign message of hope. Like many others, I subscribed to his twitter, facebook, and YouTube pages. I now get weekly emails from him and I even have a blog on his site…

Jewish Transcripts and Speeches

Amy from Cherry Hill, NJ — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:17:08 EST

From the Obama campaign: Change in the new year Friday, October 3rd, 2008

As we gather to mark the new year, we are honored to pass along this greeting from Barack Obama to Jewish families across America:

“As Jews around the world celebrate Rosh Hashanah, I want to send my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and sweet new year. This marks not just a time for rejoicing, but for reflecting on the hopes the new year brings, and on our responsibilities to see them fulfilled. As families come together to mark the High Holy Days, upholding a proud Jewish tradition, let us all rededicate ourselves to the task of repairing this world for our children and grandchildren, and to working to achieve peace and security for Israel. On behalf of all of the Obamas and Bidens, Shana Tovah.”

We’ve recorded a video with prominent Jewish leaders who have worked with Barack over the years. They speak about his steadfast support of Israel, his bold stance against an increasingly aggressive Iran, and why he is ready to bring the change we need.

Please join us in spreading new year’s greetings and letting others know about the change you want to see in 5769. Watch the video and share it with a Shana Tovah message to your friends and family.

Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection and celebration. It also presents an opportunity for generations to turn the page on the year that has passed and share hopes for the future.

There has never been a more important time to share our hope for change with the ones we hold dear. Many in our community long for a change in direction, with new leadership that reflects our values.

As Barack noted on a conference call with more than 900 American rabbis last week, the sounding of the shofar in our synagogues is a “call to action,” which should “rouse this nation out of its slumber and to compel us to confront our challenges and ensure a better path.”

Please share this video today, along with special Shana Tovah messages to your friends and loved ones. We especially encourage children and young people to send messages to their parents and grandparents.

To send a regular Shana Tovah greeting, click here:

http://my.barackobama.com/JFOvideo

To send a special Shana Tovah from a child or young person, click here:

http://my.barackobama.com/JFOvideokids

Shana Tovah U’Metukah,

Dan Shapiro
Senior Policy Adviser and Jewish Outreach Coordinator
Obama for America

Eric Lynn
Jewish Community Liaison and Middle East Policy Adviser
Obama for America

source: http://jgan.org/mythfacts/?cat=19 and http://jewishamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/jewish/gGxHkm

PEACE IN JERUSALEM

WEBMASTER — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:53:22 EST

Jewish and Arab Neighbors Hold Hands for Peace

Last Saturday 300 Jews and Arabs from the Wadi Ara region of Israel demonstrated against the harming of innocent civilians in Gaza and the surrounding Israeli region. The rally was organized by NIF grantee Awareness for You, which runs empowerment courses for Arab women in the village of Kfar Kara.

"I only expected about 90 people to attend the rally," explained Amna Ka'anana, "so I was surprised when we had 300 people all dressed in white and holding olive branches, about half and half Jews and Arabs. Many of the drivers who passed by, both Jews and Arabs, called out their support."

In addition to being a forum to voice concern over the conflict in Gaza, the rally was also an opportunity for the Jews and Arabs of Wadi Ara to come together. Among the many banners, one carried by an Arab read "Neighbors call for peace," while another carried by a Jew said "Jews and Arabs hand in hand."

Amna Ka'anana hosts Jewish neighbors in her home in Kfar Kara.

Ka'anana said: "We sent a message of peace and coexistence to all of Wadi Ara, to all of Israel and to the entire world."

Ka'anana, who is an Orthodox Muslim, received NIF's London-Yaari Scholarship in 2007 for her work in women's empowerment. Last year she received the Knesset Speaker's Prize for Quality of Life.

When the fighting erupted in Gaza last month, she feared that the tensions could spill over into violent conflicts between Jews and Arabs in Wadi Ara. She invited several dozen Jewish and Arab activists to her home to discuss the situation, and they hit upon the idea of the Shabbat rally.

"I have always wanted to initiate social activities that bring Jews and Arabs together," explained Ka'anana, "so that we can understand one another's culture. Now the war has taken matters in a different direction. At the end of last week's rally many people started crying and that started me crying."

The rally ended with Jewish and Muslim prayers. Awareness for You plans similar peaceful rallies, with increased expected turnout, every Shabbat while the fighting continues.

barackobama.com sources:

1. http://arabamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3
2. http://jewishamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3
3. http://faith.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3

Also see Spirit of Reconciliation

JEWISH ANTI-SEMITISM

WEBMASTER — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:32:55 EST

Amid anti-Semitic storm, Europe’s Jews stand for Israel
By Dinah Spritzer · 13 January 2009

see http://jta.org/news/article/2009/01/13/1002216/amid-anti-semitic-storm-europes-jews-stand-for-israel

PRAGUE (JTA) -- Confronting a rising storm of anti-Semitism as the conflict in Gaza intensifies, European Jews are grappling with the best way to express their support for Israel's fight against Hamas.

Recent assaults on Jews in European capitals range from the beating of a Jewish teenager in a Paris suburb by assailants who vowed she would “pay for Israel's acts” to the compilation on an Islamist Web site of a hit list of prominent British Jews. Jewish monuments in France and Sweden have been firebombed. And in Italy, a workers’ political party called for a boycott of Jewish stores.

While Jews have taken to the streets in the hundreds or thousands to demonstrate for peace and Israel’s right to defend itself, they are dwarfed by the tens and hundreds of thousands participating in protests against Israel. In many cases, top European political figures have supported the protests. Sometimes the rallies have turned violent.

The 27-country European Union has approximately 1.8 million Jews and 17 million Muslims, and that difference is keenly visible in the size of events relating to the war in Gaza and southern Israel.

After some 1,000 Jews turned out last week for a rally in Brussels in support of Israel -- held opposite the Embassy of Iran, which funds Hamas -- tens of thousands showed up Sunday for a march against what they called Israel's “massacre in Gaza.” The pro-Palestinian rally was organized by three of the four main political parities in the French-speaking part of Belgium, along with some 100 or so nongovernmental organizations.

Chanting “Death to Jews!” in Arabic, the crowd burned Israeli flags and carried signs calling Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni “Hitler's wife.”

“In a way, Jews feel alone,” said Joel Rubinfeld, the president of the umbrella group of French-speaking Jews in Belgium, known by the acronym CCOJB. “But lots of non-Jews are disgusted, too” with the anti-Semitic messages, he added.

Massive anti-Israel demonstrations last weekend in France, Brussels and Madrid have included anti-Semitic chants such as “Jews to the gas” and swastikas paired with the Star of David.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, the European Jewish Congress, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Anti-Defamation League have implored European officials to acknowledge and combat the importing of the Middle East conflict to Europe and the scapegoating of Jews.

Countries with large Muslims populations, including France, Belgium and Britain, have seen the largest number of anti-Semitic incidents.

Britain's Community Security Trust, which monitors Jewish security issues, recorded a huge surge in anti-Semitic attacks -- 80 in total -- since Israel began bombing Hamas targets in Gaza on Dec. 27.

Undeterred, British Jews staged the largest European demonstration in support of Israel's right to security in this conflict. Sunday's demonstration, which also expressed sympathy for Palestinian civilians, drew 17,000 people to London's Trafalgar Square.

“I decided to do something after watching too much television and seeing the huge coverage of the anti-Israel demonstrations,” said one Jewish Londoner, Matt Freelander, who participated in a pro-Israel rally last week.

In France, Nicole Yardeni, the president of the CRIF Jewish umbrella group in Toulouse, decided not to hold a pro-Israel rally in the region after a car filled with Molotov cocktails rammed into the front gate of a synagogue Jan. 5.

“It's not that we are afraid,” she said of the community of approximately 20,000. But faced with consistent pro-Palestinian rallies that outnumber Toulouse Jews, Yardeni said the community “could not hold its own on the street” and thus could not have a “successful” protest.

In recent days, the CRIF held pro-Israel rallies in Paris, Marseilles and near Lyon.

The Marseilles rally was unusual in that every major local politician joined the crowd of about 4,000. The Paris rally did not have the same political backing. Many attendees said they left family and friends behind because they were afraid of publicly supporting Israel after seeing the violence and virulent anti-Zionism in a pro-Palestinian protest a day earlier.

"Once again, when in trouble, we've found ourselves alone," Patrick Gaubert, the president of the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism, wrote in a letter published Jan. 8 in a French Jewish weekly.

In Italy, whose prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has been honored by Jewish groups for being pro-Israel, pro-Israel rallies drew government officials.

In Germany, anti-Israel marches were relatively calm, but some marchers carried signs reading “Out with Jews” or "Israelis are child murderers.”

German Jews have turned out for pro-Israel rallies, too, albeit in small numbers. A rally in Frankfurt drew 2,000, while one in Berlin had 1,500 participants.

“When people see our small group,” said Sharon Adler, who co-organized the Berlin rally on Sunday, "perhaps they will understand that Israel is also a much smaller country than all the Arab countries around it, and that Jews in Germany are also a small minority."

In Stockholm, where the Jewish community numbers 5,000, a peace event in support of Israel held Saturday night at a church drew 800 people -- about half of whom were not Jewish, according to Lena Posner, the president of the Swedish Jewish community.

“There were about 100 people outside the church shouting insults against Israel,” Posner said. “The police had to close off the whole area around the church and we were escorted back to our cars in groups of 15.”

Earlier in the day, 8,000 protesters chanting anti-Israel slogans gathered for a mostly Muslim demonstration in Stockholm that included the head of the Swedish Socialist Party and the country’s former foreign minister. A Liberal Party legislator attended the pro-Israel event.

Elsewhere in the country, a burial chapel in the Jewish cemetery in central Malmo was firebombed for the third time since Israel began its operation in Gaza.

In Spain, violent incidents have been minimal, although an anti-Israel rally there on Saturday was Europe’s biggest such rally thus far, with crowd estimates ranging from 50,000 to 250,000.

Representatives of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his ruling Socialist Party were among those who participated. Some participants called for jihad, or holy war, praised Hezbollah and cursed Israel. The Israeli Embassy in Madrid took the rare step of openly chastising the prime minister for fueling anti-Israel anger.

“There was hate speech definitely, and a few marched to the Israeli Embassy and threw stones and the police had to intervene,” said Derek Wise, the general manager of Madrid’s Jewish community. “Our prime minister incited what was going on.''

Wise said Spanish Friends of Israel was planning a public pro-Israel event for Jan. 18.

“I understand there might be people afraid to come," he said, "but we want to show it is not only Jews, it's normal Spaniards who also understand that a democratic state like Israel has a right to defend itself.”

(JTA correspondents Devorah Lauter contributed to this story from Paris, Toby Axelrod from Berlin and Daphna Vardi from London.)

source: http://jewishamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbN2

RABBI ARNOLD JACOB WOLF

WEBMASTER — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:03:40 EST

Letter from President-Elect Barack Obama
Funeral of Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf
December 26, 2008
Chicago, Illinois

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf, who was not just our neighbor, but a dear friend to Michelle and me. We are joined in this time of grief by the entire Hyde Park community, the American Jewish Community, and all those who shared Rabbi Wolf's passion for learning and profound commitment to serving others. Today we bid farewell to a titan of moral strength and a champion of social justice.

Rabbi Wolf always remained true to the meaning of being a rabbi: he was a teacher. He took great pleasure in delving into Judaism's ancient texts, drawing out lessons about right and wrong, and inspiring young people to engage the world and strive to improve it. He transformed the historic tradition into a catalyst for Tikkun Olam - the sacred pursuit of repairing a broken world in our own time He taught us by example that we must pray not just with words, but with deeds - and that we must truly live the meaning of "love thy neighbor as thyself."

In the great Rabbinical tradition, Rabbi Wolf was passionate and provocative in this work - and my conversations with him were always lively. You knew that if he disagreed with you, he would let you know in no uncertain terms - especially if he thought you were overlooking the moral dimensions of an issue, or rationalizing your own failure to live up to the highest moral principles. But he did it with kindness, and often with a smile or a laugh to let you know that even though you were just plain wrong, and had no idea what you were talking about, he still loved you.

Rabbi Wolf's commitment to justice started early in life. As a young rabbi serving at a turbulent time for our nation, he was determined to fight discrimination of any kind, and his involvement in the Civil Rights movement alongside Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel helped strengthen the bonds between the Jewish and African-American communities.

Rabbi Wolf embarked on an historic experiment with the founding of Congregation Solel on Chicago's North Shore. Solel, which means "trailblazer," describes him well. He was proud to have Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as an honored guest speaker. He was among the first to introduce to Chicago the writings of Elie Wiesel and Holocaust studies. And he never shied away from controversy or challenge when he saw an opportunity to advance the cause of freedom throughout Chicago and in Jewish homes and classrooms across our country, Rabbi Wolf's name is synonymous with service, social action, and the possibility of change. He will be remembered as a loving husband and father, an engaging teacher, a kindhearted shepherd for the K.A.M. Isaiah community, and a tireless advocate of peace for the United States, Israel and the world.

And I will always be personally grateful for the support he showed me as I embarked on my own journey. In a piece Rabbi Wolf wrote on my behalf months ago, he wrote that he was proud to be my neighbor and that he hoped to someday visit me in the White House. In the end, however, the honor was all mine. And while he may not have lived to pay that visit to the Oval Office, I hope that his spirit of love, his love of learning, and his deep dedication to serving others will live on in the work I do each day. May his memory be a blessing and a comfort to us all and an inspiration for the generations to come.

Wall St - Main Street - Tis The Season

memanni — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 08:55:38 EST

I STACKED THESE 3 e-MAILS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY ARE RELEVANT TO THE SEASON, WALL ST, & MAIN ST.

I HAVE SENT THEM TO SOME WHO WERE NOT IN THE ORIGINAL e-MAIL... START AT BOTTOM OF PAGE # 1 2 3 4 Something to think about during this Holiday Season

4I too long to return to Israel, however that will again be God's timing. Distinctly, John the Apostle, the last one alive to speak said only one vitally important thing, at the beginning of his revelation of Jesus Christ

God gave us servants a revelation

The revelation is of what must soon take place (history from 100ad to present)

An angel brought the message (angel message)

John would testify everything he saw (all visions)

That what he saw was the word of God (John1:1)

That it was the complete Testimony of Jesus Christ (The only Issue)

Ok, Now the literal Greek translation is: Happy is he who IS reading, and those hearing, the words of the Prophecy, and KEEPING the things written in it -- for the time is near Revelation 1:3

NO mention of the issues, SPECIFIC mention of the Prophecy

All the things in the Living Prayer text and the text below were occurring in Christ's and John's time or had already occurred when John was guided to write.

Now notice in the list above there is NO mention of the issues - Political-Social-Financial-Religious, only the Prophecy

The assignment is to read the Prophecy

To hear the Prophecy

To take to heart what is written in the prophecy, because the time is near Revelation Chapter 1 verses 1 to 3

Now we can do whatever we want, but when the time comes to say good and faithful servant, I think HE will as HE did before praise the servant who used the talents wisely and therefore was found obedient and righteous.

99% of the church DO NOT know what is in the Prophecy: Because they are too busy with the issues.
Brief EXAMPLE
DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON 2007
Most Christians are clueless as to knowing in whom they have believed,

that Christ celebrated Hannukah
what garment was touched that healed the woman with the issue of blood
who made the Garment
what is the 4th commandment
that the as eagles flying (AirForce Attack), lead by Allenby during WWI fulfilled Isaiah 31:5
that Bethlehem is currently over 80%+ Islamic
that a Jewish guy wrote most accurately about Christ, as he lived during the Holocaust years and concluded we (Jew and Christian) had but one destiny (Sholem Asch)
the correct spelling of Christ’s name in Hebrew, his language
that Isaac Newton studied scripture and concluded it was chronological, solar, lunar, calendar and historic
that Newton concluded NO rapture, But Harvest as the Bible states, "swing the Sickle"
*that Christ has commanded the reading and understanding of the book of Daniel, Matthew 24:15
that it is only the hour and day which is unknown, the season was explained to the disciples in detail Mathhew 24 – has been known since John wrote Revelation and must be known since Daniel was assigned to provide the answer to Matt 24:3, the disciples question of WHEN&HOW
that the possession of the land (of Israel) is the very basis of the Covenant of Promise, land possession required for Messiah return
THAT THOUGH THREE FAITHS HONOR ABRAHAM, someone has to be the enemy, whose head is crushed, there has to be a seed of Satan

DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON 2008
Most Christians are clueless as to knowing in whom they have believed,

*12 that the 99% NEVER considered the Fig Tree, Matthew 24:32-35, never read nor understood Jeremiah 24 "Two Fig Baskets", major sign of Coming and End of Age
13 THAT 1948, rebirth of Nation of Israel fulfilled Isaiah 66:8
14 That you will observe SABBATH, Isaiah 66:23
15 that Mt. Zion not Mt Moriah (Dome of Rock location) will be the spiritual metropolis of NEW JERUSALEM Isaiah 60:5, 60:14
16 that the Golden Dome was designed and erected by a Gentile Arab, not Abraham
17 that ISAIAH SCROLL, entire book of Isaiah in Hebrew from time of Jesus, even exists or where to find it
18 don't know who the only known human to have held Messiah as a baby, is

OR STUFF YOU CAN'T LEARN ON SUNDAY

The Reason for the Season

N.., You and I were good partners over-there, in Israel

LOVE .......................M

memanni at msn.com

www.hebrewheritage.com

3 From: @aol.com
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:16:58 -0500
Subject: Merry Christmas!
To: memanni at msn.com

Good morning!! I hope all is well with you and your family.

I personally believe that we (the USA) got just what we deserved in the election...I also believe that God is taking His hand away from us..we have chosen to ignore Him, take Him away from the schools and homes. The saying "God bless America" is ridiculous because God has been blessing us, it is time we should turn that saying around and say "we the people of the US should bless God." Instead we elected a man that is 100% for abortion which is murder in God's eyes, 100% for same sex marriage, and is 100% for giving away the Land that God gave to Moses and the children of Israel. I am not saying that we had a choice at all on the election..we did not..both sides are not Christians. All we can do now is pray for them, that they will have their eyes open and come to the cross.

I pray that you and yours have a wonderful Christmas. I am going to be working at the Salvation Army.

I would absolutely love to go to Israel again with you..think about it.

Love, N

___________________________________________________________________________

2 RE: Daily Devotional (Tue. 12/23/2008) Liveprayer.com 178689 *_*-*_*-*_*-*

From:

memanni at msn.com

Sent:

Tue 12/23/08 11:22 PM

To:

@aol.com;

Just two remarks: I thought it was the lost sheep we were going after whether they call themselves Pastor, President-Elect, Live Prayer, or christian; note: Mystery Babylon is made up of christians who knew of the bridegroom and bride Rev 18:23, who was called out of her; but became the many He did not recognize; as their garments were not correct, they were naked; they lacked knowledge and were perishing; not because of civil ,social or political issues but because they knew not the Son and the Father.

What will the author and LivePrayer committee and most christians say when the Prophet Daniel does the same kind of rant about those who have not studied his book as directed in Mathhew 24:15; the Bride cannot be without spot, with oil and in white garments without knowing and understanding these things according to Jesus, Daniel, Gabriel and the Apostle John.

BTW the first 4 paragraphs below seems to be very similar to what Warren is being accused of.

ANYHOW
Happy Holy-Days

memanni at msn.com
www.hebrewheritage.com

1 From: @aol.com
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:12:36 -0500
Subject: Fwd: Daily Devotional (Tue. 12/23/2008) Liveprayer.com 178689 *_*-*_*-*_*-*
To: overcomer1 at att.net

One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now.

--Forwarded Message Attachment--
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:38:33 -0500
From: prayermanager at liveprayer.com
To:@aol.com
Subject: Daily Devotional (Tue. 12/23/2008) Liveprayer.com 178689 *_*-*_*-*_*-*

If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily word. You can forward this to them, and they can use the following link to subscribe.

http://www.liveprayer.com/signup.cfm

DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY DECEMBER 23, 2008
(Matthew 14:1-12)

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Rick Warren and President-elect Obama use each other for credibility. Let
me say up front, the ONLY reason Pastor Rick Warren, Senior Pastor of
Saddleback Church in suburban Los Angeles and the author of the Purpose
Driven Life, should deliver the invocation at Barack Hussein Obama's
inaugural is to pray for the following: Obama's salvation, that this nation
will stop slaughtering innocent babies, that ALL states will quit perverting
God's Holy Institution of Marriage by allowing same-sex couples to wed, and
that this nation will turn from its sins and back to the God of the Bible
and faith in Jesus Christ.

Now let's deal with reality. I guarantee you that Warren will pray for NONE
of those things. Do you think for a second that President-elect Obama would
invite him to do the invocation if he was going to pray for the REAL needs
of Obama and this nation? Warren became famous for selling his "Purpose
Driven" marketing strategy designed to fill pews with warn bodies, not
converts to the faith, to churches and pastors around the nation who were
too lazy to get their own vision from God. He has become the poster child
for the word COMPROMISE.

Let me deal right away with the outrage from the homosexual community over
Obama asking Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. They are so
blinded by their sin that they don't realize Warren is the last person they
need to fear or worry about. Yes, I am well aware that Pastor Warren
supported Proposition 8. For the record, that only happened a few days
before the election after he was shamed and forced by those brave me and
women who championed that stand in California for God's Holy Institution of
Marriage.

Warren made national news during the recent Presidential election when he
hosted a debate between Senators Obama and McCain. The event was widely
promoted as a Warren/Saddleback event, however it was originated and
co-sponsored by the liberal social justice group Faith in Public Life, whose
board president is Meg Riley, a Unitarian Universalism minister who
previously ran the denomination's homosexual advocacy office. Warren also
spoke at one of Robert Schuller's Institute for Successful Church Leadership
conferences. In attendance at that Institute were 80 gay and lesbian
ministers from the now Jesus Metropolitan Churches which cater to
homosexuals and lesbians. Many of the clergy of these churches are
practicing, unrepentant homosexuals!

I do credit Warren for being consistent in his public comments (when
pressed) against the sin of homosexuality and that marriage is to be between
a man and a woman as God dictated. However, he takes ZERO leadership on key
spiritual issues like abortion or gay marriage, and is quick to join forces
with the homosexual community and those in the cults and false religions of
the world to advance his personal agenda. He was at a Muslim convention
this past weekend, where Melissa Ethridge, an openly lesbian activist and
music artist performed. Warren said the two had a "wonderful conversation"
and that he is a huge fan who has all her albums.

At that event, Warren told the Muslims, "You don't have to see eye to eye to
walk hand in hand." Listen, Rick Warren is a PASTOR. He is supposed to be
a messenger of the GOSPEL. He is NOT a politician!!! The Gospel of Jesus
Christ is not something you water down or compromise. It is not about being
politically correct because the eternal souls of men are at stake. There is
no "walking hand in hand" with Muslims! They are on the wide road to
destruction while born-again Believers are on that narrow road to Glory!
Muslims need to understand that they have bought a 1400-year-old lie from
hell, and when they die, their souls will burn in the flames of hell for all
eternity unless they turn from the lies of Islam and embrace faith in Jesus
Christ and the Truth of the Bible!!!

Warren is a case study in the word "compromise." He embraces the damnable
ecumenical movement that seeks to unite people of all beliefs, meaning
Christians are expected to "compromise" and abandon the Absolute Truth of
the Bible! His infamous book, The Purpose Driven Church, was endorsed by
Leonard Sweet, a firm New Age Movement advocate. Warren hired Ken Blanchard
to come to Saddleback to help train people how to be effective leaders.
Blanchard is a huge advocate of the New Age philosophies. He wrote the
foreword to Jim Ballard's books Mind Like Water and What Would Buddha Do At
Work? He was on the front cover of Corporate Mystic and the back cover of
Deepak Chopra's Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and wrote the Foreword to
Ellen Ladd's (clairvoyant) book, Death and Letting Go. Blanchard makes no
apology when he says much can be gained from Buddhism. He and his wife both
encourage the practice of yoga and mantra meditation.

Why does a self-professed Baptist evangelist associate with these types of
people? Not to preach the Gospel to them, but to use his association for
his benefit! Sadly Warren decided that he could make his impact by pursuing
a worldwide social agenda. That is fine. We need people to lead the effort
on global poverty, AIDS in Africa, and other social causes. But you can't
pursue this social agenda and ignore the pressing issues that are destroying
this nation like killing babies, gay marriage, and family issues. IT IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE AT ANY TIME TO COMPROMISE THE GOSPEL AND THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE
IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH ANY PURSUIT, NO MATTER HOW WORTHY! While these
social issues are worth bringing attention to and fighting for, the fact is
all men will die one day and at that moment the only thing that matters is
if they know Jesus as their personal Savior by Faith.

I love you and care about you so much. It is easy to see why
President-elect Obama asked Warren to deliver the invocation at his
inauguration. It was payback for Warren compromising once again and
allowing this enemy of God to stand in his pulpit at a recent conference on
social issues. Actually, Warren desecrates his pulpit often with every kind
of heretic and blasphemer you can name in the pursuit of his global social
agenda. He even boasted about having Obama in his pulpit!

By accepting this invitation, all Warren has done is give credibility to
Obama, further proliferating the lie that he is a Christian, when the fact
is he takes stands in opposition to the Christ he proclaims and the Truth of
the Bible on EVERY key spiritual issue that faces our nation. By giving the
invocation at the upcoming inaugural, Rick Warren is giving his blessing to
Obama's rebellion to God and the Bible. Sadly, Warren's agenda is more
important than God's agenda! His appearance and compromise actually only
emboldens those who live in rebellion to God and His Word.

For Pastor Rick Warren to bless and give the invocation at the upcoming
inauguration of a man who will help insure millions of babies around the
world are slaughtered, and force US taxpayers to fund this legalized
infanticide, is no different than if Adolph Hitler had asked him to give the
blessing and invocation when he became Chancellor of Germany!!!

True men of God like John the Baptist, the prophets in the Old Testament,
literally gave their lives to stand for God's Truth with the political
leaders of their day. Sadly, Rick Warren is not a great man of God, but
simply a man who has compromised his faith and the message of the Gospel in
order to advance his agenda. I will be praying for Pastor Warren, and ask
you to as well, that he will let the Holy Sprit speak the words this coming
January 20th. I pray that out of his lips will come a prayer calling this
nation back to God, condemning this culture of death and all who support it,
proclaiming that God's plan in the Bible for marriage and family is the
foundation of our culture, and inviting President-elect Barack Hussein Obama
to ask God to forgive his sins and accept by faith Jesus Christ as His
personal Savior and lead this nation as a man of God, not an enemy of God!

THAT IS THE ONLY PRAYER A TRUE MAN OF GOD COULD POSSIBLY DELIVER!

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at:
bkeller at liveprayer.com

***ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY? The fact is you will
die one day. At that moment, you will either spend eternity with the Lord or
be cast into everlasting darkness forever separated from God your creator.
To know for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to:
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HAPPY HANUKKAH

WEBMASTER — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:44:25 EST

bs'd

December 21 - 29, 2008
Happy Chanukah 5769

May the Festival of Lights, known to some as the Festival of Dedication, and most as Hanukkah, bring enlightenment to all people, nations and tongues who are waiting for a better day.

Jewish believer's worldwide will light the first candle on their Hanukkah menorahs tonight, adding candles seven straight nights. This Jewish ritual recalls when, in the second century B.C.E, the Maccabees wrested the Temple in Jerusalem from Greeks who had defiled it.

Although the victors had only one night's worth of oil for the sanctuary's eternal lamp, they lit the flame. The Jewish people believe the Creator of All rewarded their faithfulness with a miracle: The oil lasted eight days, until additional oil was prepared.

See the following links for the historical significance of the 'Hanukkah' holiday season.

Happy Hanukkah, David

FIRST JEWISH PRESIDENT

WEBMASTER — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:02:05 EST

Barack Obama: The First Jewish President?
Chicago circle nurtured him all the way to the top

By Tom Hundley, Tribune reporter

December 12, 2008 / Writer Toni Morrison famously dubbed Bill Clinton "the first black president" - a title he fervently embraced.

Abner Mikva, the Chicago Democratic Party stalwart and former Clinton White House counsel, offers a variation on that theme. "If Clinton was our first black president, then Barack Obama is our First Jewish President," says Mikva, who was among the first to spot the potential of the skinny young law school graduate with the odd name.

"I use a Yiddish expression, yiddishe neshuma, to describe him," explains Mikva. "It means a Jewish soul. It's an expression my mother used. It means a sensitive, sympathetic personality, someone who understands where you are coming from."

Obama, of course, is a Christian. And his middle name is Hussein. In the presidential election, he won 78 percent of the Jewish vote and about 70 percent of the Arab-American vote, according to unofficial exit polling. Obama collected 52.8 percent of the overall vote.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION

WEBMASTER — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:45:59 EST

When asked by FRANKLIN GRAHAM whether Barack believed Jesus is the only way to salvation, Barack eloquently stated, ‘Jesus is the only way for me. I’m not in a position to judge other people.

It is the duty for every believer to help reconcile this nation and this world. To do this we must first reconcile ourselves as children of the Eternal Spirit, and reconcile ourselves as brothers and sisters in faith.

Ancient Tribal Belief - NATIVE SPIRITUALITY

Rather than going to religious services, we attend a sweat lodge; rather than accepting bread from the priest, we smoke a ceremonial pipe to come into communion with the Eternal Spirit; and rather than kneeling with our hands placed together in prayer, we have sweet grass feathered over our entire being for spiritual cleansing and allow the smoke to carry our prayers into the heavens. - Mi'kmaq

Zechariah 14:8,9 - JUDAIC TEXT

And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the Dead Sea and half of them toward the Mediterranean Sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be - The Lord is one, and His name one. - Zechariah

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - CHRISTIAN WORD

Therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new. And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To know, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray for you in Christ's stead, you be reconciled to God. For He has made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. - Paul

Qur'an 2:183 - ISLAMIC TEXT

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn not to blaspheme. - Muhammad

??? - Other Belief Systems

Email David - yofast@gmail if you have ancient written text that you believe proclaims a better day for your children's children. When your submission has been confirmed it will be posted in this location.

The tiny flame that lights up the human heart is like a blazing torch that comes down from heaven to light up the path of all mankind. For in one soul are contained the hopes and feelings of all mankind. - Kahlil Gibran [ submitted by Susan Slotter ]

source: http://kids.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/G-d

WEBMASTER LANGUAGE TRANSLATIONS

WEBMASTER — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:31:29 EST

ARABIC * BULGARIAN * CATALAN * CHINESE 1 * CHINESE 2 * CROATIAN * CZECH * DANISH * DUTCH * FILIPINO * FINNISH * FRENCH * GERMAN * GREEK * HEBREW * HINDI * INDONESIAN * ITALIAN * JAPANESE * KOREAN * LATVIAN * LITHUANIAN * NORWEGIAN * POLISH * PORTUGUESE * ROMANIAN * RUSSIAN * SERBIAN * SLOVAK * SLOVENIAN * SPANISH * SWEDISH * UKRANIAN * VIETNAMESE

America - Together (post election)

Alex Karoub — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:44:40 EST

..... Contact: http://Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

WHO IS THAT GUY BARACK OBAMA? HE IS US.

We have made historic headway by together pointing our nation in the right directions. After decades, we have America focused on the issues of fundamental importance. Now, each of us acting in concert can together move our country to lead the world to the fruitfulness of moral goodness. I have no doubts about my abilities and the abilities of fellow Americans to work smart and hard to achieve these goals.

Barack Obama has the visions, leadership, and integrity for us to correct and redirect our country to once again lead the world for the fruitions of good. Let's closely listen, learn, and move forward based on that which we know deep inside is good and which we can validate with our hearts.

I hope that those who had but a few reasons to support Obama, look further into the other issues more deeply. I found the more I explored, studied, and listened to Obama the more I found us in agreement. The couple of issues that I did not have depth of knowledge of, quickly became obvious in need. This was unusual for me since I have always refused to be any kind of a follower, and still am not. I find Obama to be a deep thinker who is articulate and inspirational; and, of most fundamental importance, Obama makes excellent moral sense.

Hopefully, our country has learned lessons from the past of mistakenly following leadership blindly, as was done with Nixon and Bush. There are leaders who are simply in it for themselves and will cater to individuals or groups in order to grab for their own benefit. Corrupt and bad leaders hide at all levels. This is especially true in city government as well as county and state government. The corrupt deals of politicians need to be exposed, and those responsible need to be weeded out in the coming local elections. Others need to be investigated by law enforcement and be prosecuted for illegal dealings; for deals they often make for their hidden personal agendas. Let’s look at the bad experiences of the past as bitter medicines, let’s eliminate the need for such bad medicine in the future. Let us use what we know is good to go forward.

I believe we have chosen wisely, not by greed and not by misguided retaliatory anger. I believe this time our country has chosen with open eyes, with each of us listening and examining our choice of leadership closely, driven and validated by our hearts.

I hope we can continue to make our efforts even more inclusive (in many more ways than I touch on here). Far right republicans will be stubborn to change, but we will need to include them to change if we are to succeed. Sure a few more will leave our country, but that is not the American way. No, we really don't need their false fronts of power, money, insider knowledge, or other trappings that they have taught many to 'respect?'. Let's recruit as many as we can, that's the American way, evolving and changing together as one nation. Try to be understanding as we move forward; by better understanding each as individuals and people with various desires and needs we will find ways to reach out with friendship and have them join our causes of good.

Be on the lookout, and root out bad leadership in government and business. Do not be intimidated by those who use the false fronts of power and give a false sense of security in order to lead. Be extra leery of those who say or imply ‘Trust me’; those who give a sense that they somehow omnipotently know better. No longer will Americans be dazzled by phony displays of brilliance or baffled by baloney. There are government aristocrats and business leaders who still believe in the old adage of: “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle em with bullshit”. We can embrace complexity by demanding true, fundamental, and understandable explanations. We can root out falsehoods by not accepting double speak. We as Americans know how to grow ourselves by first believing in ourselves. Don’t be a follower. Don’t be a follower of followers.

However, when we find leaders who are good; a leader that thinks, speaks, and acts from their heart; one that is honest, has integrity, and leads by sincere examples; then we need to in a big way, join them, support them, and promote their causes of good. From much research, investigation, and scrutiny, I believe Barack Obama is such a person. I hope we search for and find many more who are similar, who we can add to service at all levels of government. We need to add/replace leaders in business with ones that have honesty, integrity, and show quality in leadership. We need more people in leadership roles who are moral, like Barack Obama.

Remember, we are not fighting a battle, we are the artisans and sculptors of the future for ourselves and generations to come. Rarely do societies have opportunities to make such dramatic moves forward as we now have in this opportunity of today. Take pride and practice in being inclusive as we stride forward. In moving forward, create opportunity not only for yourself, but also for all. Hope is a wonderful thing to behold; but without opportunity, hope can become but a dream never achievable. We can, will, and must, create opportunity.

In the coming year I hope that we do not lose our spiritedness, but instead continue to build and make headway. I hope we all continue our campaign for change in government and business. We will succeed in moving forward once again, it will take much effort and good oversight on the part of each of us. We will make great strides in the months and years ahead in order to achieve the fruitions of good. Let's keep our enthusiasm progressing through these coming toughest of times. Let us use the light of goodness and love to motivate us with historic momentum.

I have chosen Barack Obama because he best represents my deepest beliefs in America. Please take time to read the issues that Barack Obama has published on this website. Also, give your attention to see how he leads us to move our nation forward in the time ahead. Most importantly, be part of America's great future, participate in the greatness that together we will make. Participate!

We will each and all flourish, if we think, speak, and act, by using the love in our hearts.

Your reply is welcome. Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

NEW YEARS PRAYER AND CELEBRATION

WEBMASTER — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:22:45 EST

"Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today."
PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA

RSVP MIDNIGHT PRAYER AND CELEBRATION - 31 DEC 2008

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS OUR NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

We invite everyone breathing, or not, the opportunity to show global unity and dedicate three [ 3 ] minutes of time on News Years Eve to thank God for President Obama and ask the Creator of All Things for a GLOBAL BLESSING for ALL NATIONS, PEOPLES, AND TONGUES.

May we agree that 2009 can be a year of healing for the nation and the world as we celebrate this historic election. All faiths are encouraged to join the festivities. LET US GO DOWN TO THE RIVER AND PRAY.

Text translations of the readings supplied by GOOGLE TRANSLATE through GLOBAL BIBLE STUDY.

BELIEVE THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON

WEBMASTER — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:45:52 EST

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, OF BARACK, of Samson, of Jephthah; and David also, Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had test of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, moreover of chains and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were cut in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered around in goatskins and sheepskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise:
God having provided something better for us, that without us they would not be made perfect.

Text is available in 35 GLOBAL LANGUAGES

UPDATE: 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and THE GOVERNMENT OF CHANGE

Prominent Jewish Clevlanders Show Their Support for Obama...

Brady — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:16:34 EDT

I had the honor of being hired by the Cleveland chapter of the NJDC to design an ad in support of Barack Obama. The ad ran in last weeks issue of Cleveland Jewish News and included OVER 1,000 names of prominent Cleveland Jewish families who will be voting for Barack Obama! To see a copy of the ad please see the posting titled "Prominent Jewish Clevlanders Show Their Support for Obama..." at www.85andchange.com . PLEASE PASS IT ON TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INFLUENCED BY IT!!

Sons of Abraham

Ken — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:09:28 EDT

Sons of Abraham

Isaac and Ishmael

Living in the holy land

Palestine and Israel

Both have a charter

Each has a deal

Sons of Abraham

Isaac and Ishmael

Sharing a simple meal.

Together

Forever

Can we see some peace?

Together

Forever

With land to each a piece.

Swarms of hordes

And crusading conquerors

Pitting the two brothers

Against each other

For land olives oil

Raping the mothers

Swarms of hordes

Of crusading conquerors

Claiming covenant as their own.

Together

Forever

Will we see some peace?

Together

Forever

To own and not to lease.

Hagar and Sarah

Could have been sisters

Couldn't have

More blisters

Standing by

Their misters

Hagar and Sarah

Could have been sisters

Each with a womb of her own.

Shalom Alechem

Salaam Alikum

Nobody eats the pig.

Salaam Alechem

Shalom Alikum

The pig controls the rig.

Brothers

Forever

Time to quit the jig.

Spreading the Wealth

Doug Robinson — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:01:49 EDT

John McCain recently ridiculed Barack Obama for telling “Joe the Plumber” – in reality “Sam the contractor,” behind on paying his taxes – he wanted to “spread the wealth.” McCain said he wanted “Joe” to keep his wealth – actually much less than reported – to himself. McCain insisted that Obama’s tax plan would hurt Joe’s plan of buying his employer’s plumbing business when all indications are that Sam would actually benefit from Obama’s plan. Such is the continued misrepresentation that has become a hallmark of the McCain campaign. Obama’s desire to “spread the wealth” deserves more consideration.

Holocaust survirvor supports Obama

March4health4All — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:20:09 EDT

My father, Louis,has a message for all Jewish voters about why the supports Barack Obama

Please watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylav7dY7SJQ

Why Barack Obama is Better for the Security of Israel

Marc Ginsburg — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:41:52 EDT

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Wednesday, October 8, 2008-Friday, October 10, 2008-Monday, October 13, 2008-Tuesday, October 14, 2008-Thursday, October 16, 2008

Dear friend and fellow Jewish American,

I know that when it comes to security, that of Israel is as important to you as that of America, and I know that we have long shared a concern for this s nation that represents the hope of Jewish security, particularly in light of our history of non-sovereignty and the price we've paid.

In viewing the two candidates in the current election campaign, as in every past campaign, I know that you are asking yourself that most paramount serious question, “Which of these two candidates will be the greater guarantor of Israel's safety and security in this time of increased turbulence in the Middle East?.

I am writing to you as someone who is confident that Barack Obama, through his policy of building strong alliances and tough diplomacy, is the one who can best ensure the safety and protection of all of Israel's citizens and I will outline below the various reasons I believe John McCain's presidency promises instead a tone of recklessness that ultimately will plunge all of us, but particularly Israel, who, as you know, is in the midst of this region that has become much more tense during the Bush administration's tenure, into great and unthinkable danger, even if unintentionally.

I know that some of you may be supporters of John McCain while others among you may just not like Barack Obama. That is fine. I hope you receive my plea and supporting evidence for it in the spirit in which it is intended and give it a chance by at least taking the time to read it, and, if it stirs you to be of like mind, to pass it on to others in the Jewish community who you feel will be touched by these words, and if not, I apologize if I've upset you, but as you know, our tradition is rich with discussion and debate over issues of the greatest importance and I hope you will receive and even respond if you desire in that spirit—sacred to both the American and Jewish traditions of expressing our viewpoints while respecting and considering the opinions of others that differ.

I am certain that we all agree that America's enemies and Israel's enemies are the same. I think we can also agree that those who threaten Israel's safety also threaten America's safety. That has become especially apparent after September 11, 2001, as well as since the engagement with Iraq has led to the spread of both Al-Qaeda as well as the influence of unsavory leaders such as in Iran. I think we can therefore all agree that whoever can best protect America will best protect Israel. The problem is that many in the Jewish community have been fooled by the tough talk of the Republicans before, most notably in 2004, when John Kerry's totally correct position that going into Iraq was a big mistake that allowed Osama bin Ladin to get away and strengthened Al-Qaeda was perceived as weakness. But if anyone knows the difference between tough talk and effective talk, it's Israel's leaders, who have never been able to afford to make the kinds of mistakes the Bush administration has made over and over again, including its gross negligence in being ready, as the Clinton administration had been many times before it, to prevent the kind of attack that occurred on September 11, because, unlike Bush, Clinton thwarted these terrorists when they bombed embassies abroad and took seriously the warnings of intelligence briefings, and Israel, likewise, has dealt effectively with this kind of threat, minimizing loss of life. The gross negligence of the Bush administration that both allowed 9-11 to occur as well as detracted from ensuring safety and security is the same kind of negligence that is clearly evident in John McCain's policies and positions on American foreign policy. As Barack has indicated over and over, McCain's and Bush's policies are essentially the same. With the one notable exception of the use of torture on military prisoners—an exception for which John McCain should be greatly praised and commended, nowhere is Barack's description of the McCain doctrine as identical to the Bush doctrine (a term I use loosely knowing the latter has undergone many alterations) as accurate with respect to foreign policy.

The situation in the Middle East, like the global economy—and the two are very interconnected, as I'm sure is a surprise to no one—has become more destabilized during the 8 years of the Bush administration and is now both very precarious and dangerous. It should be as obvious to everyone as it is with respect to foreign policy that repeating the same reckless course for the next 4 or 8 more years has unthinkable consequences if we pursue such a course. It is beyond obvious that the only way to bring peace and stability to the region where Israel's 7,337 citizens live is to drastically change U.S. policy to one which calms tensions and brings hope for rapprochement. It is clear that Barack's policy of tough engagement yet engagement nonetheless holds the only olive branch hope of true peace and security for Israel, not John McCain's reckless, hair-trigger attitude of trying to increase tensions between enemies. Iran is a much bigger entity than Iraq and escalation into a conflict there would have consequences unimaginable both for Americans and Israelis. We all have a nothing short of desperate interest in seeing Barack, reason and sanity prevail in this election over madness.

But the bigger picture is not even begun to be expressed simply in military or political terms. The bigger picture can be summed up in a 3-letter word, which every Israeli is keenly aware of, “O-I-L”. Yes, my Jewish friend, that 3-letter word has been the source of a great deal of Israel's troubles, even if not the predominant one. Hezbollah, which is tied to oil-driven Iran, is probably the most significant terrorist tie. But there is a bigger picture here. And if you want to be sure you understand what's at stake for not only Israel, but for you, me and all of us, before you enter the voting booth and not after, you will take the time you need to read on and to think about this issue for yourself until you come to a reasonable conclusion on why oil imperils all of us, including and especially Israel.

Now I know many of you are saying, “Wait a minute! America's ties to oil-producing states protected Israel for that's when they abandoned their attempt to annihilate Israel as they had been doing up till then.” Actually, you're right. In the mid 1970s, when America, for reasons totally unrelated to Israel's security, joined with the Saudis and others to ensure the removal of the choke hold on America's access to oil, all of a sudden, nations that had been hostile and violent toward Israel signed treaties. It is therefore natural to assume that America's dependence on Middle Eastern oil spelled security for Israel and that ending it would once again put Israel at tremendous risk of being attacked by her neighbors.

And that may have actually been true for a good part of the history of Israeli-Arab relations. But I think all of us in the Jewish community are aware that America's dependence on oil, while it did help Israel become free of its neighbors ganging up on her, did nothing to keep Israel from the constant threat of violence from terrorist groups, both from inside and outside. It also did nothing to help Israel and the Palestinians work out the kind of solution that would have greatly reduced if not altogether eliminated the kind of violence she has suffered over the years, from then until now. To be sure, Israel has dealt effectively with the attacks of terrorists, but Israel should not have to live under this constant threat.

At the same time, almost completely parallel with America's tryst with the Saudis and other oil-producing nations in the Middle East, a new brand of terrorists started to emerge from the region along a new type of hostile enemy nation. While you may be able to say that Israel benefited partially from the oil tryst, you cannot deny that America has suffered for it and the price today is nothing short of completely frightening. We already know who America's enemies are in the region and the enormous toll it has exacted of us so I need not repeat it here. But what is significant is that this threat to Americans did not start on September 11. It had already been present for a very long time. It started as soon as America became heavily involved in the region as a power broker for oil. Ironically, America prepared the terrorists to be able to attack America on September 11 when they armed the Taliban and Al Qaeda in their war with the Soviets. Once they had thrown off the Soviets, these beneficiaries of our huge material and military support repaid us, their benefactors by plotting our destruction as enemies of Islam. Many times during the 1990s, they tried to pull of the kind of attack they succeeded in pulling off on September 11, but President Clinton was too wise and too prepared to let them succeed. He knew how to govern effectively and he knew how to keep his activities from the public eye, with top secret intelligence briefings on Al Qaeda's movements that allowed all attempts at attack on our soil to be thwarted before they occurred. The attacks that did succeed, such as at the embassies in Africa, were signs of their unceasing effort to destroy American life. As soon as President Bush came into office, he proceeded to undermine and weaken the combined efforts of a strong executive branch, a strong intelligence body and a strong military and thereby allowed the attacks that occurred on September 11 to occur.

I mention all this solely to illustrate the clear link between our dependence on oil—particularly foreign oil—and the two big threats we and Israel face as a result—the Sunni threat from the Al Qaeda fanatics and the Shia fanatics in Iran—which, I must point out, includes most notably their current President, but not all of the influential players in Iran's policies and power circles, which Barack alone among the two candidates recognizes. I hope you haven't forgotten also that Senator Lieberman had to point out—on camera—the difference between Sunni and Shia to John McCain. Oops.... Are you sure this man is the man you want protecting—or trying to protect—Israel?

But let's get back to oil and what we can do to make not only Israel's but our own situation billions of times safer. In fact, the answer lies within Israel itself. Israel, which, for obvious reasons, has been forced into energy independence, has achieved an amazing success with alternative energy. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you have no choice but to be energy independent. I think there's a tremendous way Israel can be our teacher and benefactor in helping us free ourselves from this dependence which puts America and Israel both at risk. Google “Israel's use of alternative energy” and you will be amazed at the results you come up with. (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=WEP&q=end+to+1970s+energy+crisis&btnG=Search)

At http://www.unep.org/gc/gcss-ix/documents/israel-energy3.pdf, you will read a very interesting article that states the economically efficient nature of clean, alternative energy sources as opposed to crude oil and that regulations require that “all new buildings be equipped with solar collectors for water heating”. I can feel John McCain s squirming at the idea that there is regulation and mandate but it was Sarah Palin, I'd like to remind any of you that are even entertaining voting for this team, who said we shouldn't question Israel's actions. The article also contains the following statement: “Recent regulations will raise energy efficiency...” Included in the mix is an accord recently signed with Egypt whereby Israel buys natural gas, a type of gas that is efficient, environmentally more friendly than crude oil and higher up on Barack Obama's energy agenda than on John McCain's crude-heavy one.

t http://www.metimes.com/Technology/2008/01/24/israels_electric_car_will_cut_oil_needs/7949/, the Middle East Times offers an even better example in “”Israel's electric car will cut oil needs” of how business partnering with government—the Obama model of government—along with alternative energy sources is making Israel seem like a utopian dream of the best of government, industry and social responsibility all combined into one. Wow! What we can learn from them! “In a joint venture, Project Better Place, owned by Israeli-American entrepreneur Shai Agassi, will provide lithium-ion batteries and the infrastructure to refresh or replace them, while Renault and Nissan will build the cars. “ “Project Better Place will provide infrastructure including parking meter-like plugs on city streets or service stations along highways at which batteries can be replaced.” “Israeli President Shimon Peres...who was first exposed to [Israeli-American entrepreneur Shai] Agassi's idea at a 2006 meeting of the Brookings Institution's Saban Forum, strongly promoted Israel's involvement... 'Oil is becoming the greatest problem of our time,' he said. Not only polluting, but 'it also supports terror and violence from Venezuela to Iran.'...Idan Ofer, chairman of Tel Aviv-based industrials conglomerate Israel Corp...said that if Agassi's plan works in Israel, ''it will work even better in China. Their pollution is killing them and the rest of us, too.'...

“Israel's efforts to contribute environmental technologies also recently culminated in the passage of the American-Israeli joint energy research bill, signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush in December 2007. ..Speaking when the bill first passed in the House of Representatives, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert emphasized that 'both our countries share a desire for energy security and prevention of global warming.'”

Lastly, the article states, “Israeli companies have been working to provide alternative energy in the United States for decades.”

Next, google the following: “hydro power fueling stations in Israel” and you will come up with http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=hydro+power+fueling+stations+in+Israel&btnG=Search

At http://interestingenergyfacts.blogspot.com/2008/07/alternative-fuels-fueling-stations.html, you can read “Israel and Electric Cars”, which states, “The Israeli government has announced a major initiative to push nation’s drivers away from fossil fuels and toward electric cars” that fuel on liquefied natural gas, a much cheaper form of fuel, with the obvious other benefits of saving the environment and being free of dependence on a dangerous commodity and terrorism.

Another initiative is that Israel's auto fueling stations are run by a form of alternative energy, I believe hydro. This I heard through word of mouth from a reliable source. They are the only nation in the world I believe whose infrastructure allows automobiles to be totally independent of oil.

In short, Israel is probably the world's leading nation in demonstrating the capacity of a sovereign state to exist almost completely energy independent. Of course, we all know Israel's tremendous capacity for development and ingenuity, something characteristic of this nation since decades before it even became a nation. What we should also not underestimate is Israel's capacity to understand why energy dependence, particularly oil dependence, is the most dangerous thing today and the leading cause of war. As a people on whose lips the word “peace” is heard more than a few times throughout the course of each and every day, they know the tragedy of war which most Americans have no concept of, unless they have lost someone personally. There isn't an Israeli who isn't called up to serve in the army to defend her against constant threats. They know the continued and increasing peril of oil consumption but unfortunately too many Americans don't share that knowledge and are unable to see that terrorism did not come of it's own but sprang up in exact proportion to America's consumption of Middle Eastern oil.

You've heard John McCain express his determined and strong desire to completely free America from foreign oil dependence by drilling here in America. Now no one can disagree that that would be a great first step and that the consequences of that move would greatly eliminate the threat of terrorism against both America and Israel. Don't forget, these terrorists who threaten Israel exist because they are funded from oil-rich nations who are getting our money. But here's a couple of things John McCain is leaving out of the equation. First, while exploring and utilizing the sources of oil that we have, in addition the supply from Canada, will provide us with a great source of oil, the reality is that there is absolutely no conclusive data confirming that the amount of oil that exists underneath America and offshore will, in the long run, keep up with the growing demand for energy that not only Americans will be increasingly in need of in the coming years but that growing demand from foreign consumers of oil, particularly in India and China, will need. America simply won't be able to keep up with this demand and eventually, the need for this oil, as has been the case up till now, could easily plunge America back into wanting to get that oil from elsewhere. There is no mystery why Sarah Palin, in her first public interview, spoke very alarmingly and aggressively about Iran, George and Russia, 3 nations with access to an oil pipeline. McCain's tone, demonstrated in his first debate, is equally aggressive and militant. I think we all need to reflect on the fact that both he and his running mate have talked about not only completely domesticating our oil sources but also that they are people who stand up to big oil. Remember? From the convention. Funny, how they're not talking that way much now. That's because they are owned by Exxon and Mobil, two of the biggest oil giants who, in league with the Saudis, have placed Israel's security in tremendous jeopardy for decades through their decadent and disgusting greed for power and money. And that's what Republicans do. They fight for big business. They fight for big oil. They do not fight for you. And they certainly do not fight for Israel. Why just today I learned on NPR's Morning Edition that there is a huge network supplying Gaza through underground tunnels that is a big business itself. This is the result of 8 years of Republican policy, 6 of it totally Republican.

Barack Obama's energy program, you might say, is exactly the same as John McCain's. Which is true. He and McCain both say they'll get us energy independent by cutting off Middle Eastern sources. They have a smorgasboard or a potpourri of every energy source available, ranging from crude oil to solar, wind and hydro. But here's the difference. Their priorities. McCain has crude at the top and solar/wind/hydro at the bottom. Obama's plan is the reverse. And that means a big difference. You might also say that what can be done in Israel cannot be done in America because America's a lot bigger and tougher to manage. I refuse to give in to that. Especially now at a time when we can't afford to. Yes, it will be a lot harder in America to convert to the clean energy forms than it was in Israel. But not impossible. We also have that many more people who can be a part of that conversion, many of them hungry for the jobs that that green economy would create. And the best part is that by putting green energy at the top of the list and crude at the bottom in terms of priority, we are, in doing so, making it possible for every Israeli to breathe a lot easier and to sleep better at night. For not only are we creating a model that can work for us, we are also creating a model that can work for China, for India and for many large energy consumers, such that Iran won't have the revenue to develop nuclear technology. And maybe, by sharing the safe technology of solar, wind and hydro with Iran, we may also eliminate largely the reason for it to want to do so. Now I'm sure President Ahmadinejad may not be too cooperative. But the reality is that Iran is a much larger nation and he is not even very popular with his own people. It is possible to find Iranians who are more interested in coexisting peacefully with others. And wouldn't that make you sleep a lot better at night? Still not convinced? John McCain is fond of quoting Teddy Roosevelt about speaking softly. But he really doesn't speak softly at all. In fact, his saber-rattling, which he displayed in the first debate, proved quite succinctly that he is a destabilizer of relations with other countries, which is the last thing we need after President Bush has done so much damage to our foreign policy. Roosevelt was the sort of person who was tough but knew how to be tough wisely, and belief in and compassion for people lay at the heart of his actions and policies. That sounds a lot closer to Barack Obama's approach. Now, I agree with you that Obama has not been in government as long as McCain. But you can say that comparing Obama and Bush as well. And look where Bush has gotten us. And Israel. I think it's more than abundantly clear that the future safety of Israel in a region where tension is fast erupting depends on a truly “steady hand at the till” and not just one who talks, with an angry undertone, about having a steady hand. It also should be in the hands of someone who has the same kind of compassion that Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton had in laboring to bring peace between Israel and those who were once her enemies. And it succeeded in Carter's case, as you know, with a now 30-year long friendship with Egypt, and it partially succeeded in the case of Clinton. But the point is these Presidents knew how to handle the power of the presidency effectively and it was because they were not pawns of big power and money as Republicans are. They are men who are basically motivated by compassion and caring. And that is exactly the sort of man Barack Obama is.

Now I could say you should vote for Barack Obama because he is the only candidate who has the first same name (or almost the same first name if you go by exact English spelling) as the last name of a former Israeli prime minister. But I'm not going to use his advantages anymore than the right-wing pundits have been using the parts of his name that sound antagonistic to Israel as a reason to vote against him. We Jews are a lot smarter than that kind of silliness.

But I would ask you to consider the following:

John McCain, as has been pointed out publicly on camera, doesn't even know the difference between a Sunni and a Shia. Is this someone with the kind of foreign affairs expertise you can trust?
Both McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, are focused on making enemies out of countries who have large quantities of oil which we could seize in a war (as was the case with Iraq and now is the case with Iran and Russia, which sit on either side of the Georgian pipeline). Hence, they are not concerned with you or Israel but with big oil, the very thing they claimed they stood up to.
Although Senator Lieberman has endorsed McCain (and it is clear that he aided in demonstrating McCain's ignorance of matters vital to Israel's security), former New York City mayor Ed Koch, has endorsed Obama after listening to Sarah Palin's scary words for 2 minutes. And current NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg has not endorsed either candidate, but he has met twice with Senator Obama earlier this year, which demonstrates a respect for him.
And even though this does not directly concern Israel, since many of you who I'm hoping to reach live in Florida, remember that number one on McCain's list of energy sources are the waters right offshore from where live. How do you like them oily apples?
But most important, Barack Obama shares something in common with the Israelis. He's very intelligent, resourceful and has a lot of ingenuity on how things can be done differently. He believes in the same model that exists in Israel, of business and government partnering to create economic growth that most benefits people in a responsible way. Now it's amazing that Israel has achieved all it has in spite of the obstacles constantly confronting her. But, as some might say, it's precisely because of those obstacles that her people have been thrown into having no choice but to follow the wisest path. And Barack Obama is the kind of person who will bring that kind of wisdom to Washington. I see many new ventures forward for America and Israel, away from lack of safety and toward a strong alliance that frees both of us from the frightening threat that looms ever more before both our nations at the present moment.

I deeply apologize for taking so much of your time to argue this point. I wouldn't do so unless I felt personally that it were so important. I hope that if I've impressed upon you why it is so important to fight for Israel and for America by fighting for Barack, I sincerely hope you will take the time it takes to pass this message on to as many of your Jewish friends and family members and even associates who live in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania or another very contested battleground state.

Sincerely and with my best wishes for real שלום בישראל ובעולם

Marc Ginsburg

m_ginsburg@hotmail.com

65 Bergen Ave, 5K

Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660

201-783-2770

For more writings like this, go to: http://cid-25778f2b4fd49ba2.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Public

and go to “Marc Ginsburg”.

PRE-WEEKEND BROWARD PLANS & STRATEGIES

Broward Amateur Strategist ( FL ) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:08:07 EDT

if your read the whole thing you'll appreciate it!! alot of info.. BUT SEND TO AS MANY FIRENDS AS POSSIBLE AND COMMENT!!!!! ''Maria Shriver said 8 inspirational words..
'We are the ones weve been waiting for'
but
'the world is the ones whos been waiting for us!'

waiting for us to lead on Global Warming..etc...ect.. (IND- favorablities)

(i think obama should use that as closgin campaign.)

Hello Everyone!! This blog is my ideas/suggestions for the weekend before the November election. We all now the United States is well aware of a massive movement that has swept across the country red and blue, he actually created a new American ''electoral color'' -- PURPLE. The human brain remembers alot, but when you vote on a Tuesday and your out on the weekend and you see massive...i mean M A S S I V E support for Obama that memory is going to stick with that person for that very important vote 3 days later. Broward County could/will offset the physical geography advantage of the conservatives in Florida (Broward County had risen to almost 1.8 million people, and increased by 10.1% between April 1, 2006 and July 1, 2006. This number is accounted for by an increase to 441,678 (25.3%) in its black population and an increase to 408,335 (22.8%)..Broward County is now "minority-majority". voter registarion needed though..35% of Floridas population in tri county area .I've listed resources and links to certain sites pertaining to the suggestion/idea.1. FRIDAY SATURDAY NIGHT (halloween/voters going out on the town)---We need big exposure in certain areas-las olas-a1a-downtown Ft. Lauderdale-downtown Miami-sawgrass mall-combing the beach-South Beach-Weston-Coral Springs-Parkland-swap shop-movie theaters in areas of higher dem pops/ & hispanic.. Also If you see parents try an angage!!!! A. FLAG WAVING-- Flag waving (Obama & American & State flag) visual is nothing but a positive.. 2 Areas of Flag Waving Needed (1)up and down las olas and a1a-downtown ft laud downtown miami south beach....(2) on major instersection/major offramps *oakland park-sr7*95-broward & 95-Sunrise-Borwas Blvd.*75 royal palm blvd area (coral springs)* YEARD SIGN ARE INMPORTANT IN ALL AREAS BUT ..in my opinions registration is over---go to the area with least supp. (w signage) http://www.united-states-flag.com/fl3x5p.html- FLORIDA STATE FLAG - PRICEhttp://www.united-states-flag.com/usflagprinpo1.html- USA Flag - PRICEhttp://bestcustomflags.com/- OBAMA FLAG/CUSTOM B. YARD SIGNS-BUMPER STICKERS-CONVERSATION-- I'll fist start off with bumper sticker (my niche is marketing/advertising) a bumper sticker is a visual advertiseent that us in south florida get an est. 800 cars a day that see that bumper sticker. (so i said it =)----Yard signs: We all know theres a sign war that has been going on for years but in this county the percentage is decresed because of the poltical lean in Broward - LIBERAL- but the point is agin VISUAL - READ THIS------------needed in all major broward (also tri county) instersections and offrapms to INTERSTATES/EXPRESSWAYS)There is growing interest in mental imagery for good reasons. First, imagery has ample potential for drawing information stored in long-term memory into working memory. This phenomenon has been called "high elaboration" by MacInnis and Price (1987), and tapping long-term memory is believed to lead to greater communications effectiveness (MacInnis and Jaworski 1989). Second, mental images have potential to be more personally relevant because they are anchored in the person's experience base and generated by his/her own mental processes. Strong relevance is a desirable facet of persuasive communications (MacInnis and Jaworski 1989). Next, imagery has the capability of being multisensory and thus could provide for multiple avenues of information processing. Triggering multiple channels of information processing is believed to enhance advertising effectiveness (Rossiter 1982; Lutz and Lutz 1978). Also, images are experiential rather than discursive; thus, they afford a richer base of raw stimuli. Finally, it can be argued that because imagery is believed to be more closely linked to long-term memory, is more personally relevant, and is richer, its effects on consumer attitudes and intentions will be more robust than stimuli which do not engage such depth and breadth of information processing. In fact, Richardson (1983) claims that the consequences of self-initiated thought imagery are indistinguishable from its genuine sensory counterparts. This contention underpins what should be the strong appeal of imagery to advertising strategists.--Conversation--conversate with people..example..''in the grocery line see a mag with obama- make a positive comment see there reaction-analyze it pos or neg...neg stae pos...pos well then...have a moment..lol =).... C. Media--keep ckeacking the event listing in the 150 mile range and if enough people call in and say theres 200 events going on today..belive they'll play a story. <---thats a big oneWell.. In my conclusion I am just a 22yo gay male working at technical support call center division in an internation satellitee company (whoms customer only get international channels 80% middle east i might add)..i make 10.00 an hour...I am just what I am but damnit I want this man in the white house!

Obama, Real Friend to Jews and Israel

Henry M — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:55:06 EDT

McCain and Joe Lieberman, however much they may support Israel, have sold themselves and their supporters to the End Time Christian fundamentalists like Sarah Palin. End Timers are looking forward to a war to end all wars in the Middle East. Are you? Is your family? Are your friends?

Please get the word out, particulary to people you know in swing states like Virginia and Florida, and ask people you know in those states to help! Send them to this and other relevant web pages, and if they care about the future of jews in this country, show them this YouTube video on Barack Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m96chUuvoe0

If you liked this message, then please have a look at the rest of my blog, http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/henrymu and please consider donating to the campaign: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/PListe4Obama

Henry M

1000 USD donation for every 1000 t-shirts sold on cafepress

"Yes, we can" around the world — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:06:41 EDT

Go to cafepress.com on line store

New hebrew "Yes, we can" t-shirt

"Yes, we can" around the world — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:02:47 EDT

Get this shirt on cafepress.com / Get this shirt on spreadshirt.net (Europe)

The Great Schlep [Jews to Florida!]

Mike W — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:06:46 EDT

The Great Schlep

http://www.thegreatschlep.com

Graphic http://s3.amazonaws.com/schlep/images/1_01.jpg

WELCOME TO THE GREAT SCHLEP

4:22 video Sarah Silverman and The Great Schlep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgHHX9R4Qtk

The Great Schlep aims to have Jewish grandchildren visit their grandparents in Florida, educate them about Obama, and therefore swing the crucial Florida vote in his favor. Don’t have grandparents in Florida? Not Jewish? No problem! You can still become a schlepper and make change happen in 2008, simply by talking to your relatives about Obama.

---

# When is the The Great Schlep?

Columbus Day weekend from October 10–13, 2008.

# How do I go?

Call up your grandparents and tell them to get the couch ready.

---

Jews Vote http://jewsvote.org

Rabbis for Obama!!

Nia "Hussein" J. — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:06:56 EDT

Rabbis for Obama Considered a First in American Politics
September 18, 2008

Eric Fingerhut
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON

Saying it is their duty to "fight for the truth and against lashon hara," more than 400 rabbis have joined to back Barack Obama's presidential bid in what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind effort.
Rabbis for Obama, officially unveiled last week, is a grass-roots organization formed when two Chicago-area rabbis came to the Democratic candidate's campaign wanting to help counter the many false rumors that have been spread about him.
"What makes this unique is the lies and smears" were "targeted to the Jewish community," said Rabbi Sam Gordon of Congregation Sukkat Shalom of Wilmette, Ill., citing the e-mails that falsely claimed Obama was a secret Muslim and educated at a madrassa. "Those of us who knew him felt we had to respond."
"These attacks that he's not supportive of Israel are just not true," said Rabbi Steve Bob of Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, Ill.
Jonathan Sarna, the Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University, said he believes Rabbis for Obama is a first in the Jewish community.
"I certainly can remember many newspaper ads that rabbis would sign" backing a candidate, Sarna said, but "I can't remember another organization with this kind of title."
Partisan Times
Given the increased mix of religion and politics that the United States has seen in the past 20 to 30 years, he added, it is much more likely for such a group to spring up now than it would have been early in the 20th century.
Bob said that he and other members of the organization are interested in publicly speaking -- under the Rabbis for Obama banner -- on behalf of the Democratic candidate across the country and are currently discussing how to become more involved in key swing states.
The letter the rabbis signed states that the group backs Obama because "he will best support the issues important to us in the Jewish community."
In addition to writing that the Democrat is "inspired by Jewish values such as Tikkun Olam and the pursuit of justice," it states that Obama's "longstanding, stalwart support for Israel is a testament to his own principles" and that "attempts by some to use Israel as a wedge issue against him -- unjustifiably -- is dangerous in that it politicizes the pro-Israel position" and has "completely distorted Sen. Obama's record."
"We are fully aware that a smear campaign against Sen. Obama has been waged in the Jewish community, and we feel it is our duty as Jewish leaders to fight for the truth and against lashon hara," reads the missive, using the Hebrew term for evil gossip.
"Sen. Obama has been viciously attacked using innuendoes, rumors and guilt by association, and we urge our fellow American Jews to judge Sen. Obama based on his own record and the clear statements he has made about his personal beliefs and principles."
A Republican Jewish leader found that passage of the letter particularly objectionable.
"It's irresponsible and unprofessional as rabbis to give a hechsher in accusing us of lashon hara," said Matt Brooks, the executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
Brooks said the reference to "guilt by association" seemed to be referring to the RJC's criticism of Obama's links to his longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and some who have been listed as the Democrat's foreign policy advisers -- two topics that Brooks believes are fair game in the debate over Obama's record.
Rabbis for Obama membership includes rabbis from every denomination, although one independent observer said he noticed only a couple of Orthodox rabbis on the list.
More than 300 rabbis were part of the group initially, and Bob said another 125 signed on since it became public last week -- including Michelle Obama's rabbi cousin, Capers Funnye.
A number of rabbis from the Philadelphia have also lent their support.
The Democratic Party and the Obama campaign have made a special effort to reach out to faith groups, but Jewish Democratic operative Matt Dorf said the organization and its missive is better seen as part of another strategy.
The Democratic goal is to reach persuadable Jewish voters through the testimony of people in "positions of influence" in the Jewish community -- rabbis, Jewish members of Congress and other well-known Jewish figures, such as former New York Mayor Ed Koch.
Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman, who has been critical of mixing religion and politics, said he was okay with the group. Rabbis don't have to give up their rights, he said. As long as they're not endorsing candidates from the pulpit, Foxman said, "I don't have a problem with it."
Not all rabbis feel comfortable with publicly endorsing a candidate.
"I feel my personal political views are personal," said Rabbi Steve Wernick of Adath Israel in Merion Station, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia.
Wernick said he is happy to discuss his views with congregants privately, because he already has a relationship with them, but he doesn't feel it necessary to broadcast his views to those who don't know him. He stressed, though, that he has no problem with colleagues who signed the letter.
"It's the way our system is supposed to work," he said.
Church-State Conundrum
One Republican was critical of the rabbis for what he believed was a blurring of the church-state barrier.
"By linking their rabbinical position to a political campaign, they risk the charge of politicizing their positions and erasing the boundaries between church and state, which they typically seek to defend," said Noam Neusner, a communications consultant who served as liaison to the Jewish community during part of the Bush administration.
Neusner said the Bush campaign did not encourage such a letter or organization of rabbis "because of the sensitivity of the church-state issue."
Rabbis for Obama may be the first, but not the last, rabbinical effort backing a presidential candidate this election cycle.
Fred Zeidman, co-chair of the Republican Victory Jewish Coalition, said he spoke to some rabbis earlier this month -- and a few days before the unveiling of Rabbis for Obama -- who were interested in putting together a similar effort backing GOP candidate Sen. John McCain.

We Won! Palin Not Speaking at Iran Rally: A vital story for all Jewish People to Know about, Especially in Florida, Pennsylvania, and in Ohio, who were thinking of Voting Republican! Please print out and explain to friends, neighbors, colleagues!

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:37:30 EDT

From: Isaac Luria, J Street <info@jstreet.org>
Subject: We Won! Palin Not Speaking at Iran Rally
To: julia.milazzo@att.net
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008, 4:14 PM

Dear Julia,

Congratulations! Your voice was heard.

I just received word that the Iran Unity Rally organizers have asked Sarah Palin not to speak on Monday.

This is the right decision. A unity rally to express communal solidarity is no place for partisan politics. And to give such prominence to Sarah Palin alone would have spoken neither to, nor for, the American Jewish community.

This is a victory not just for you and for the 20,188 others who signed J Street's petition. It's a victory for the broader community. And we're pleased the rally's organizers came to their senses so quickly.

Victories like these don't come easily - or often. But when they do, we should savor them, at least briefly.

We'll be back at it tomorrow, because our next task is making sure that the messages at the rally reflect the view of a majority of Americans - Jewish and otherwise - that the best way to deal with Iran is through tough, smart diplomacy - not saber rattling and threats of force.

Stay tuned.

- Isaac

------------------
Isaac Luria
Online Director
J Street
September 18, 2008 5:11

P.S. J Street's work depends on the support of people like you. Please consider making a gift to support us here.

----------

ABOUT J STREET
J Street is the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement. J Street was founded to promote meaningful American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israel conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. We support a new direction for American policy in the Middle East and a broad public and policy debate about the U.S. role in the region. Learn more at our website by clicking one of the links above.

About me and about this blog

Benjy — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:57:35 EDT

Hi!

My name is Benjy. I am 36 years old, live in San Francisco, California and work as a Software Engineer in Silicon Valley.

I was born in London, UK and moved to Israel as a child, living in Jerusalem and later in Tel Aviv. I served as a commander and officer in the Israeli army for 5 years, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant. I went to college and graduate school at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, to study Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science. I then worked for successful Israeli technology companies, such as Check Point Software Technologies.

Six years ago I emigrated to the United States, settling in the San Francisco Bay Area, AKA "Silicon Valley" - the heart of the technology sector in the US. I recently became a US citizen.

I was raised in the Orthodox and Conservative traditions, but, like most Israelis, I am not currently religious. I am however very culturally Jewish, and I occasionally attend services at Temple Emanu-el in San Francisco.

I am proud of my US citizenship, and excited to be participating in the US democratic process for the first time in this year's presidential election. I am also proud of my Jewish and Israeli heritage, and my strong ties to Israel will be with me forever.

For me being pro-Israel is not an abstract political choice. It's a matter of life or death, quite literally. Most of my family, friends and loved ones live in Israel. If a country is its people, then I *am* Israel, and anything that endangers Israel endangers everyone and everything I care about.

Being a new citizen, I have no preexisting political loyalties, and so I was able to examine the two candidates' positions on Israel dispassionately. I've reached one strong conclusion: If you support a strong and prosperous State of Israel, you must vote for Barack Obama in November.

Over the coming days and weeks, leading up to the election, I will use this blog to explain my support for Senator Obama for his stands on the issues of vital importance to both the US and Israel.

Unfortunately, Senator Obama has been subject to continuous smear campaigns by various shady right-wing groups, many of them targeted at the Jewish community. I hope to use this blog to expose these lies and the ignoble goals of those who are behind them.

I hope you find this blog informative and useful, and I really hope it will help persuade you to vote for Barack Obama on November 4th.

Feel free to subscribe to this blog (see the links on the right-hand side) and to email it around to your friends and family in the Jewish community. I am also happy to answer any questions you may have, as long as they're polite. Feel free to ask them in the comments section of the blog, or by emailing me at barackforisrael@gmail.com.

Stay tuned for my next posts!

~ Benjy

Obama supports Israel

Elana Fertig — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:48:49 EDT

Dear All,

As many of you may know, I have recently decided to support Barack Obama for President because of the hope that he can bring to this country after 8 years of terrible leadership. While I have always had great respect for Hillary Clinton and would have enthusiastically supported her in 2004, I feel now we need a more drastic change than even she can bring in order to turn the country around after all the damage Bush has done. Perhaps even more seriously than that, after talking to several Republicans, I am convinced that she will only strengthen the destructive divide that has formed in this country and galvanize the Republicans to vote for John McCain.

However, as a devout American Jew, I have gotten a lot of criticism for believing in Senator Obama (and certainly a number of forwards) because he is supposedly anti-Israel and anti-Semitic. As a strong supporter of Israel, I was greatly concerned by these rumors and decided to dig more deeply into it. After a fair amount of research, I'm convinced that our community is being swayed by rumors developed to divide us and turn our long standing ties to the Democratic party over to the Republicans.

In this e-mail, I hope to allay some of these concerns by outlining some of his beliefs and actions. To quote a prominent Reform Jewish Leader, Rabbi David Saperstein, “The attacks against Senator Obama are different in that they are, in significant part, directed toward the American Jewish community. I am proud to join with this impressive range of Jewish community leaders in making clear, specifically, that such attacks have no place in our community.” (http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=2631).

1)   Israel’s newspaper Haaretz outlines where all major US politicians stand on Israel (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/832668.html). One of this paper’s columnists has gone so far as to write an editorial defending Obama and giving a similar criticism to our community that I’m providing here (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/949364.html).
2)   Obama not only supported the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2007, he introduced the bill in the Senate. This bill authorizes state and local governments to divest from companies investing in Iran’s oil sectors and protects fund managers who follow such divestment in response to Iran’s nuclear weapons program (http://www.aipac.org/694.asp).
3)   Obama strongly supported Israel’s acts of self-defense against Hezbollah last summer.
4)   Obama cosponsored the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-2370).
5)   Barack Obama has gotten sharp criticism and been equated with Jimmy Carter because he is being advised by President Carter’s National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski on foreign policy issues. However, he’s also getting his Middle East advice from Dennis Ross, a prominent member of President Clinton’s Mid-East team during the 1990s, widely respected throughout the Jewish community. (http://prorev.com/2008/02/reality-check-obama-and-clintons.html). Isn’t it about time that we have someone who’s willing to have a diversity of opinions? We’ve all seen how well sticking your fingers in your ears and talking loudly has done for foreign policy!

Please visit Obama’s own views about Israel as stated in his website.

Let’s get beyond the rumors and look at Obama’s actions, his real actions and debate those!

Sincerely,

Elana J. Fertig
Annapolis, MD

Palin pick is 'direct affront to all Jewish Americans' from Haaretz

Jennifer from Washington, DC — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:03:01 EDT

Last update - 11:22 31/08/2008

Democratic Rep.: Palin pick is 'direct affront to all Jewish Americans'

By Haaretz Staff

Tags: Sarah Palin, Jewish Democrats

Democratic Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida lashed out Saturday at John McCain's choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, accusing her of supporting "Nazi sympathizer" Pat Buchanan, and branding the move an "affront to all Jewish Americans."

"John McCain's decision to select a vice presidential running mate that endorsed Pat Buchanan for president in 2000 is a direct affront to all Jewish Americans," said a statement by Wexler.

"Pat Buchanan is a Nazi sympathizer with a uniquely atrocious record on Israel, even going as far as to denounce bringing former Nazi soldiers to justice and praising Adolf Hitler for his 'great courage'".
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Wexler went on to accuse McCain of having "failed his first test of leadership."

"At a time when standing up for Israel's right to self-defense has never been more critical, John McCain has failed his first test of leadership and judgment by selecting a running mate who has aligned herself with a leading anti-Israel voice in American politics. It is frightening that John McCain would select someone one heartbeat away from the presidency who supported a man who embodies vitriolic anti-Israel sentiments."

The National Jewish Democratic Council also issued a statement Saturday saying that McCain's judgment appears "lacking" in choosing Palin.

"Prior to today's selection, Palin apparently has never spoken publicly about Israel," said a statement by the group's Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "Moreover, on a broad range of issues - most strikingly on the issue of women's reproductive freedom - she is totally out of step with Jewish public opinion.

WHY ARE 40 MILLION NON CHRISTIAN AMERICAN CITIZENS BEING IGNORED?

Steve Sulkin — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:30:29 EDT

If you’re one of the nearly 40 million American citizens who are not Christian, how did you feel when McCain was telling his "cross" Vietnam story on the Rev. Warren “Civil Forum?” The moral of McCain’s story was that non-Christians are suspect, only a true Christian would have been so kind as to help a suffering prisoner. I didn't know we lived in a theocracy, where if you don’t believe what the majority believes, you're not in the right club. I thought America was founded on the principle that whatever your religion, that you're viewed the same. I guess we have a long way to go in that regard.

• 79.8% of our country is Christian

• 5.2% are other religions

• 8.4%, no religion, atheists or agnostics

Combine other and no and you get 13.6% of the U.S or about 38,273,380 people, which approximately equals the population of Arizona and California combined! That's nearly FOURTY MILLION PEOPLE who were told that they are lesser people by the fact that this forum represented Christians only. FOURTY MILLION PEOPLE who were told by McCain that since they would not have “drawn a cross in the sand" they could not be compassionate people.

How has it become acceptable to be so bigoted as to openly ignore FOURTY MILLION AMERICAN CITIZENS and their right to have a differing view and not be considered lesser, less morale or less religious?

Barack Obama is religious, as McCain is, but he’s clearly more sincere. I’ve read his books, I know where he’s coming from. He doesn't suddenly well up with tears while telling a war story (that McCain has told on the stump thousands of times) to gain votes and sympathy. Is it really reasonable to assume that after someone’s told this same pseudo religious parable a thousand times that he would happen to well up with tears on the night of a forum on religion? Stump speeches do not create spontaneous emotion. Fakery does. Obama is religious simply because it is in his culture. That’s the Black Christian culture by the way, not the Muslim culture in case those 12% of Americans who still are naïve enough to believe the smears that he’s a Muslim weren’t listening.

Our country needs someone who is sincere. It'll be many years, maybe never, before we get someone who is an atheist, Jewish or certainly Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist as our President, so until then, why not elect Barack Obama, who is at least actually tells the truth?

My letter to local Jewish friends regarding the JCLC (feel free to crib and copy)

Claire Petersky — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:42:48 EDT

Dear Jewish friends and family:

I am inviting you join the Washington State Obama Jewish Community Leadership Committee. I figure I can safely invite you, because I didn't see you at the kick-off event at the JCC earlier this week, so maybe you don't even know about it.

So, what does membership mean? If you're on the JCLC, if nothing else, it means you are counted as Jewish and actively supporting Obama.

You have the facts and materials and are willing to speak out, on a personal level, with your friends and family on Obama and his message for hope and change. Scurrilous emails about Obama have spread fear, especially among members of the Jewish community, about Obama. As a trusted member of our community, you can clarify Obama's position on matters that are important to Jewish Americans. Many members of our community think that McCain is still a maverick, an independent thinker - we need to educate people why we need a Democrat in the White House, and why Obama is the best man for the job.

You can get updates by email periodically to let you know of upcoming meetings and events, as well as to inform you of additional ways to help. Yes, probably eventually they'll be asking for money, but right now, what we need are people - people who are willing to stand up and speak out.

The National JCLC recently launched the "Jewish Americans for Obama" page on the official campaign website. This page contains information about Senator Obama’s policies and background, and it provides useful information to those of you who will be conducting grassroots advocacy for the Senator in our community. There is also a special section called "Learn the Truth", with quick answers to rebut the most common attacks targeting the Jewish community. Please encourage your friends and family, as well as anyone who expresses doubts about Senator Obama’s record, to visit JewishAmericans.barackobama.com. The site will be updated regularly with the latest information.

The work ahead of us in the next few months will be challenging, especially with the continued attempt to distort Senator Obama's record with Jewish voters.

So - if you're interested, what do you do next? You can email me back to find out more, or you can contact the JCLC directly, at: JewishOutreach@barackobama.com.

Thank you for your patience with my unsolicited political invitation here. I hope you join the cause.

Heart of the Matter

J.W. — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:48:26 EDT

Heart of the Matter

The following prayer was written by Barack Obama during his trip to the Middle East last week. While there, he visited the Western Wall, a Jewish religious site, in Jerusalem. Tradition dictates that upon approaching the wall, visitors are to place special notes of prayer in the crevices of the wall to ask for God’s forgiveness and blessings over their life.

Well, Obama did just that, placing a small note in the crevices of the Western Wall. Upon his departure, an Israeli student snuck up to the wall, retrieved the note, and passed it along to the Wall Street Journal, where it was published the next day.

While many religious leaders in the Jewish community have argued that publishing the note violated Senator Obama’s privacy and relationship with God, I see differently. I see it as God ordained, Him granting us permission to look into the window of a man’s soul. So, check out the note and get a glimpse of that which our next President of the United States truly values in life.

Peace,
J.W.

Barack in Israel, part 2... or 3? It's been a long couple of days.

Tony from Jerusalem — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:52:33 EDT

After the long morning yesterday we broke off to go to work. Which was a good thing as the posters from Jordan from "Jews for Obama" came while I was there. Barack was supposed to visit the Kotel (The Western Wall) at 10 that night, so Samson and I choose to make one more journey to get the word out.

As we started to pull out the posters, people all around showed interest. A group of American Jewish college students studying Hebrew for the summer at Hebrew University wanted to help out and joined us! People were very excited and we handed out our flyers and the hot item was a color print of Shahar's (in)famous Hebrew "Yes We Can" poster. As word got around that Barack wasn't coming, people were disappointed, but the excitement level stayed high with our presence. It was a really good vibe the whole time from everyone. After about an hour we packed up.

As Barack postponed his visit until the early morning, we were the only news there and pictures of us made it to YAHOO NEWS, for a while this morning one of those pictures was headlining the Haaretz English News story. You can also see the pictures we took on Picasa. They look great, with Barack Obama spelled out in Hebrew with the Western Wall as the backdrop.

A special thanks to Daniel, Gabe, Harry, Jenny, Diana and Max the university students who joined us and Ben from Australia who took over the picture and filming duties from me so that I could appear in them for a change.

But the day (or I guess night) wasn't over yet!

Heading out of the Old City of Jerusalem Samson suggested that we go by the Kind David and see what was going on. Turns out his friend Moshe, who had joined us for the evening, used to work there and depending on who was on staff, might be able to get us in, after hours the hotel is closed to all but guests. But as anyone who has visited the Middle East knows, NO is only the opening of negotiations. After talking to the security guard outside, he agreed to call one of the Secret Service guys to come out so that we could give him a few copies of the Hebrew poster print out to pass on to Barack as a souvenir of his trip to Israel (we all signed one and wished him good luck in the elections in Hebrew and English), and maybe autograph a few for us. In the meantime Moshe went inside to see who was on staff. Turned out he knew the desk clerk, and brought us in. The hope was that if Barack signed any of the posters, the Secret Service would leave them at the front desk for us. (Unfortunately that didn't happen). In the meantime, following his instincts Samson led us out to the balcony where we met some of the campaign staff relaxing after a hard day's work. We introduced ourselves, passed out a few more Hebrew posters, got some contacts and chatted for a bit.

After that the saga was finally over.....

Nice Visit To Israel

Charley Warady — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:26:47 EDT

He was here! He was here! Well, no, I didn't get to see Obama when he was here in Jerusalem, but I saw all the news reports, read the papers, and more importantly, talked to a lot of Israelis.

I don't know what the problem with American Jews is. Israelis really like Obama. We believe that, as opposed to the total appeasement Bush offered and McCain promises, Obama will take a hands-on policy around these parts. If that means a little arm-twisting (both ours and theirs), then that's what we need. And if you talk to any intelligent Israeli, we're looking forward to it from Obama.

So he was here and said and did all the right things to make the American Jewish voter like him. As an Israeli/American, we've heard it all before and it all sounds very nice. But we're really looking forward to the next visit when Obama is president and it's not all smiles and handshakes and it's more 'let's get down to business, goddamit'.

We're Israelis. Treat us using kid gloves like Bush did, and we'll take advantage of you. We even have a phrase for it. We call it being a "friar".

However, take off the kid gloves and come at us with love and bare-knuckles and we'll respect you. We do it that way with each other. We're Israeli. That's just the way we are.

We are on the map!! Or at least in the news!!

Tony from Jerusalem — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:42:38 EDT

Today we meet at the Kind David Hotel, and surprisingly were able to make it inside. Barack was meeting with Israeli opposition leader and head of the Likud Benyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu. We hung around the lobby making our prescence known to the media waiting by passing out flyers explaining who we are (thanks to Shahar for helping with the Hebrew translation and design!) and being interviewed by some as well (RTVi- Russian TV, Army Radio, Reuters, AP). When the meeting ended Barack left to go to Yad VeShem, and not surprisingly Bibi came out to talk to the media. Took some pictures and shot some video and gave some more interviews and then headed out to the President's Residence where Barack was to meet with Peres. After regrouping at Samson's place we made it to the President's house where we made our prescence known, shot more video and pictures (thanks to my friend Ophir who came out to film so I could be in the picture!). We had a great banner that we printed up from Shahar's Hebrew Obama poster (Thanks again to Shahar!). We passed out some more flyers, talked to passing Israelis....

And then the motorcade came out!! Hopefully Barack was able to see us!

And then more reporters- CBC, Jerusalem Radio.

And the big news is that AP quoted us in their article which went out over the wire, as you can read in HERE, in the Times Record News of... Wichita Falls! (We made to Witchita Falls!!) We've found it all over the web, including the NY Times! (It is the second to last paragraph).

Any news report where you see either in one form or another:

At the King David Hotel, some supporters brought Obama campaign signs bearing the slogan “Change you can believe in,” translated into Hebrew. In the lobby, an “Israel for Obama” sign was hanging from a chair.

or:

“In general, I think tough love is better than a free hand,” said the head of the “Israel for Obama” campaign, Samson Altman-Schevitz. He moved to Israel two years ago from Chicago, where Obama's wife, Michelle, was his adviser at the University of Chicago.

That's us!!

We are also quoted in a Wall Street Journal article, also making the rounds. And HERE is the link to the BBC/WGBH interview from yesterday!

All in all a very busy day!!

I'd like to ask anyone who finds any of these articles in their local paper to cut it out with the masthead of your paper showing so we can see how far and wide our efforts have made it!!

HE'S ARRIVED!!! Barack Obama in the Holyland!!

Tony from Jerusalem — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:52:31 EDT

Less than an hour ago Samson and I went out towards the King David Hotel to see what was going on. After an amiable chat with representatives of Republicans Abroad Israel (One who is also from Seattle and who's cousin I grew up with) and more interviews with Reuters, we saw the convoy arrive!!!

BARACK OBAMA IS IN ISRAEL!!!

And we were there to show support!!

It was a nice end to a long day. Yesterday morning we did an interview with ARTE, the French-German news channel that was broadcast today as part of their news program. HERE is a link to the program. It is slightly more than half way through, and go soon as the link expires. Today we meet with a reporter from the Wall Street Journal so look for us tomorrow's edition and had a radio interview for The World a joint BBC/WGBH (Boston) production. Our interview isn't up yet, but check back and I will update when it is.

Tomorrow we will be back out in the Rechavia area where Barack will be having meetings with Israeli leaders to get the message out and show our support!!

More to come as events happen!

Reposting Susan in the OC's post.

Sheldon from Doylestown — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:17:15 EDT

Reposting Susan in the OC's post. (links are failing on her account.)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25281747/

Bloomberg defends Obama before Jewish group Says deceptive efforts threaten to undo strides Jews, Muslims have made

The Associated Press

updated 11:21 a.m. ET, Fri., June. 20, 2008

Richard Drew / AP New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, told a Jewish audience lies about Barack Obama are "cloaked in concern for Israel, but the real concern is about partisan politics."

NEW YORK - Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged Jewish voters to denounce the whisper campaign that for months has pushed the false rumor that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is secretly a Muslim. Bloomberg warned a Jewish group in Boca Raton, Fla., on Friday that the attempt to portray Obama as a shadowy Muslim with a hidden agenda often targets Jewish voters online and with e-mails. The deceptive campaign against Obama, who is Christian, "threatens to undo the enormous strides that Jews and Muslims have made together in this country," the New York mayor said.

The lies are "cloaked in concern for Israel, but the real concern is about partisan politics," said Bloomberg, who is Jewish. "This is wedge politics at its worst, and we've got to reject it - loudly, clearly and unequivocally."

Bloomberg, a billionaire independent, had considered making his own run for the White House this year, but decided against it. He has said his endorsement and potential financial backing could still be up for grabs, and there has been occasional chatter about how he might make a good running mate for either Obama or Republican John McCain.

Either way, Bloomberg's passionate defense of Obama in front of a Jewish audience in Florida could help the Illinois senator in the state, which is home to many Jewish voters.

Some have questioned Obama's commitment to Israel; this stems partly from his stated willingness to talk with leaders of rogue nations, which McCain and others have criticized as a sign he underestimates the threat posed to Israel by Iran and others in the Middle East.

There is also uneasiness about Obama among some Jewish people because his former church pastor has praised black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan, who has made anti-Semitic remarks. Obama has disavowed his pastor and left the church.

Earlier this month in a speech to Jewish activists in Washington, Obama referred to the e-mail campaign against him as one "filled with tall tales and dire warnings."

Bloomberg noted how racial and religious tensions have cooled, and remained calm, in New York City — an achievement for which he is often praised.

One thing he has learned, Bloomberg said, is that one must speak out against those who spread "fear and stereotypes."

"That's why I'm speaking out today," he said, "and I hope all of you will join me throughout this campaign in strongly speaking out against this fear mongering, no matter who you'll be voting for."

Something to Ponder - Info from Tim Wise

Mickiboop (P.O.B.) Be the Change — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:01:20 EDT

The following was written by activist Tim Wise. It is not for the weak at heart or racially biased. I'm posting Tim's work in objection to an earlier post "Israel & Obama", by an HRC supporter Danielle from Austin, TX.

May 27, 2008
America's Racial Litmus Test: Farrakhan is not the Problem
By TIM WISE

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Thirteen years ago, when I first started out on the lecture circuit, speaking about the issue of racism, it seemed as though everywhere I went, someone wanted to know my opinion of Louis Farrakhan. To some extent, this was to be expected, I suppose. It was 1995, after all, and Farrakhan had just put together the Million Man March in DC.

So when race came up, that, and sadly, the OJ Simpson trial and verdict seemed to be the two templates onto which white folks in particular would graft their racial anxieties. Though OJ has long since faded as a matter of conversation among most, discussion of Farrakhan never seems to end.

As controversy has erupted regarding comments made by Barack Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Wright's occasional words of praise for Farrakhan have caused many to suggest that he, and by extension, Obama, are somehow tainted. Wright, we are to believe, is forever compromised as a legitimate commentator on issues of race and even as a
man of God. And why?

Fight the Smears: Since when is being a Muslim a smear?

Leonard Novick — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:24:00 EDT

You've probably seen the new site - www.fightthesmears.com. The second smear that is listed is that Obama is a Muslim. My skin crawls a bit when I even have to write the word 'smear' and 'Muslim' in one sentence. As if being accused of being a Muslim is a smear. Sady, I know it is a smear to those people for whom the smear has been invented and that's the real point here that needs responding to. Not a simple denial of the 'smear.'

The answer against the smear on the website is:

"Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian."

The tone and the staccato strength of the words - 'has never been' - 'was not raised' - actually makes it sound like it would be a terrible thing if it were true. God forbid! Imagine? A Muslim!!!????

I am as realistic as the next guy. I know this rumour can cause political damage to Obama. But in addressing this particular 'smear' it seems neccessary to add how repugnant it is that some people even consider such an idea - that someone running for office would be a Muslim - to possibly be a smear.

Just imagine if the smear was - Senator So and So is a Jew. There is no way in hell that the response would be: "The Senator has never been a Jew, was not raised a Jew, and is a committed Christian." My goodness, a denial of that nature would cause ten times as much negative repurcussions as the original 'smear' itself. And why? Because people would be reacting primarily to the repugnant suggestion that there could somehow be something so wrong with being a Jew. And secondly, every Jewish political organization would quite rightly activate their base to cry foul, loud and clear.

It saddens me that even for this candidate (from whom I expect much more) and the public at large (from which I unfortunately don't expect so much), it seems quite normal that the accusation of being a Muslim needs to be denied as if there is something wrong with it.

(Full disclosure: I myself am Jewish and my significant other is Muslim).

Showing My Support On My Sleeve

Isaac B2 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:59:43 EDT

One of the ways I am showing my support for Obama is by making good-looking Hebrew shirts and stuff to sell in support of the campaign -- I'm donating 10% of the profits to the Obama campaign, and of course I'm wearing *my* shirt whenever I think I can make an impact.

I have a site set up at http://www.cafepress.com/hebrewobama -- I'll be pleased if you check it out!

Religious Division by Email

Henry M — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:42:19 EDT

I came across this article in “The Nation” concerning email messages that have been claiming, or innocently referencing articles or videos that state, as if verifiable, established fact, that Obama is some sort of crypto-Muslim:http://www.thenation.com/blogs/jstreet/327398/attention_jewish_voters_you_re This should be of interest to all Americans who support religious freedom, and not just to Jewish voters.

Joy Cometh in the Morning, Delivered By the Paperboy

frgdr.com — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:09:51 EDT

Yesterday, in front of AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Obama delivered an historic speech. Instead of the usual speech that every other politician gives, which basically show affection without backing it up with any specific commitments (’we stand with Israel… Israel is strong… I cried at Yad Vashem… Bla bla bla…‘) - instead of that, Obama made elaborate and unprecedented commitments including:
- keeping US aid at 30 billion dollars over the next decade
- unequivocal commitment to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon
- rejection of the Palestinian right of return
- Jerusalem as the capital of Israel - undivided

Now that Baruch Obama is the presumptive Democratic nominee, do yourself a favor and invest 35 minutes of your time to listen to one whole speech by the senator. Each day I watch in dismay how the TV channels summarize a speech to a 30 seconds sound bite, and while each day it is a different speech, the sound bites are almost the same: Change-change-change, Hope-hope-hope, Yes we can. People who say Obama has nothing but slogans to offer - this is for you:

[Click for full speech - text and audio →]

A swastika was spray painted on Obama's mural in L5P

Mel in Norcross — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:22:59 EDT

Swastika defaces Obama portrait in L5P
May 26th, 2008 by Joeff Davis in News

Someone spray-painted a swastika and X’s last night over this graffiti portrait of Barack Obama in Little Five Points.

see it here: http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/files/2008/05/obama.jpg

Passover Thoughts

Claire Petersky — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:34:42 EDT

Well, as I was leafing through our family haggadah last night, I was thinking about we are right now, in the midst of plagues.

A friend of mine who is a union organizer told me once that the plagues weren't to punish the Egyptians - they were demonstrate to the Israelites their own personal power. She said that the workers she would organize would be unable to believe their own ability to make change happen, even after it was demonstrated to them repeatedly. She said 12 plagues were about what it would take for people to finally realize that they could rise up and leave their place of bondage.

The Bush administration has done all it can to try to make us feel powerless, by ignoring hundreds of thousands of us marching against the war, by pitting us against each other, by shredding our constitution, and by urinating on values that we hold dear.

Obama and the campaign has told us repeatedly, "Yes we can". We find this message inspirational. At the same time, we have these nagging feelings of, "oh dear, maybe it really isn't possible". Every time this campaign gets dragged into the mud, we have another pang of discouragement. Certain pharaonic elements would like us to continue to accept politics as usual, to regard the election as a circus and not a serious means of the people engaged in an exercise of power.

We are going to continue to live through plagues, my friends. Eventually, though, we will come to their end. The election in November will be like the parting of the Reed Sea - a moment of both trembling fear and excitement. I hope, though, that we will make it to the other side. I personally plan to sing and dance like Miriam's women when we get there. And of course we need to remember - just because you make it across the waters doesn't mean you're in the Promised Land - we're going to have a lot of hard work, years of wandering in the wilderness, first.

So, for now - as frogs fall on our heads - let's see these as tests of our own courage and belief in our abilities to prevail. Together - I believe -

YES WE CAN!

Obama Served on a Board of Directors with a Pro-Palestinian

Judy B. in Austin, TX — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:03:30 EDT

Obama Served on a Board of Directors with a Pro-Palestinian

This is my prediction for the traditional "October Surprise" that'll hit mainstream media about 3 days before the PA Primary.

I google searched it yesterday and there was only about 12K stories. Now today, it's up to 14K. It's slowly creeping into obscure, libral blogs like so many false stories do.

It's almost like everyone is being distracted by the stupid 'bitter' thing right now. All the on-air cable news analysts who are pro-hillary will get their campaign talking points on Friday before the PA election, telling them to say the media has been ignoring this story and then the crap will hit the fan. It's always a stupid, false & highly inflamatory story that gets folks attention on Friday and then they talk about it all weekend and vote on Tuesday. It's the type of story that could start out hot and then end up to be nothing but always too late for an election.

Here's my google search so see for yourself if the number of search results increases from it's now 14,000 between now and when the election begins on 4/22/08.

I hope I'm wrong.

Joining the Dialogue

Naomi — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:22:44 EDT

I feel like I should begin this post with "We Now Return to our Regularly Scheduled Campaign." It almost seems scandalous to talk about anything other than whether or not Pennsylvania voters are bitter (yep) and whether Barack offended them (nope). But I'd actually like to address something else that I think is much more in the spirit of what this campaign is about.

Twice in the last couple of weeks, the United Church of Christ has taken out full page ads in national newspapers (the NY Times and USA Today). You can read the ad here: http://www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/usatodayad.pdf

First of all, I think this is a really good ad from a really good movement. It is courageous. It invites people to tackle the hard issues presented by one of their pastors and one of their more prominent members through thoughtful, faithful dialogue rather than sound bites and "gotchas." To me, it is a tangible form of what Obama is talking about -- doing things differently in this country.

The ad invites people of all backgrounds and traditions to join in the dialogue. So I sent it to my Rabbi and asked if he would give a sermon on race, and he said he would (not on the same date, since we don't do Sunday services of course). What would happen if all of us invited our clergy to help our congregations join the dialogue? Race could become something we really talk about. Can you imagine?

I say let's do it. Forward the link to your clergy-person and ask them to preach on this topic the week of May 18.

A big shout-out to the UCC and their willingness to truly follow their slogan, "God is Still Speaking,"

Wow! 70 Pennsylvania Jewish Leaders Endorse Barack Obama

Cindy in Salt Lake — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:19:22 EDT

I really thought this was an April fool's joke but the letter is dated March 31st. Seventy Jewish leaders in Pennsylvania have endorsed Barack Obama. I've posted the entire letter here but you can also go here to read it or here to read the post from the NY Times political blog.

March 31, 2008
Dear Friend:
We are writing as American Jews from all across Pennsylvania to ask that you join us in supporting Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States.
Much has been said and many questions have been raised within the Jewish community in recent weeks about Senator Obama’s sensitivity to our community and his record on Israel. Unfortunately, much of the discourse has been based more on politics and positioning and less on facts and fair-minded analysis. We are writing to set the record straight and tell you why we intend to vote for Barack Obama.

A response and a challenge

BENTON GRIMMETT — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:43:38 EDT

A Jewish friend stated the following, realizing the challenge of mending the Jewish/African American interactions/collaborations:

"I must admit that I am uncertain what the best path is to move our
communities forward and feel that we may need to make small steps."

What do you suggest to foster better relations between communities? What should the small steps be?

Hillary Clinton's Racial Slur and Paul Fray

Karen in St. Joseph, Missouri — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:42:38 EDT

"In his book, Oppenheimer alleges that Hillary Rodham -- then Bill Clinton's girlfriend -- called adviser Paul Fray a "Jew bastard" to his face on election night. Bill Clinton lost the race for Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District to incumbent Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt by 6,000 votes out of 190,000 cast.

Oppenheimer stood by his account on Sunday. "Three witnesses have now publicly acknowledged that she said it," Oppenheimer said.

The three people identified by Oppenheimer told CNN that Rodham uttered the slur, but several former campaign aides who were not in the room at the time of the alleged epithet expressed skepticism that the charge is true.

The witnesses, Oppenheimer said, are 57-year-old Fray, the Arkansas native and career political operative who led Bill Clinton's unsuccessful 1974 race; his wife, Mary Lee Fray, who also worked on the campaign; and Neill McDonald, another former campaign worker." (http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/16/hillary.book.response.02/index.html )

Of course, Hillary Rodham Clinton had "no recollection."

VOTE OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT.

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a letter from a Rabbi about Barack

David — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:52:26 EDT

I am posting aletter fro a Rabbi I came across in one of the groups. It is well worth the read.

Dear Colleagues,I am writing to you because I am increasingly disturbed by what appears to be a concerted campaign to discredit Barack Obama within the American Jewish community. Whether or not you choose to support Obama's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, as rabbinic colleagues I feel a need to share with you what I have learned about the man - and it is quite different from the rumors that refuse to die in our Jewish community.When it comes to presidential politics, I am truly privileged to be a rabbi in Iowa. There is no question or doubt but that we Iowans enjoy extensive exposure to the presidential candidates with ample opportunity to delve deeply into their positions on many a subject. As an Iowan, and a Democrat, I truly struggled to arrive at my decision as to which of the Democratic candidates would earn my support. Indeed, throughout most of the Iowa caucus campaigning, I remained undecided, weighing the pros and cons of what I felt was an excellent field of choice candidates.In the end, I decided to support Barack Obama (though Joe Biden was a close second). There were several reasons why I arrived at this decision, many of them related to Jewish issues. Let me share with you my thought processes.For quite a while, I was one of those who had serious questions about Obama's lack of experience. It seemed but yesterday that he was an Illinois state legislator (with Illinois just across the Mississippi from Davenport). What chutzpah for someone who has spent less than one term in the US Senate to assume that he was capable of serving as President! Yet, my reservations were continually eroded as I experienced the superlative campaign organization which he had put together, and as I had the opportunity to listen to him speak publicly. In dealing with his campaign staff (and they were continually seeking me out), I found these people to be intelligent, well versed on the issues, and remarkably capable of getting their jobs done. If only our government could operate as effectively, efficiently, and intelligently as Obama's campaign organization. I soon came to the realization that if Obama could do this for his campaign, then, as President, he most certainly would have the insight to at least attempt to do this for our country. As far as the person himself, he is most definitely charismatic. To be in his presence is to fall under his spell. But he stands not on charisma alone. What he says makes a lot of sense, and it comes from the heart. He can truly be an engine for serious, positive change in our country, and God knows, we need it.One of his characteristics which captured me was his consistency. He does not play the politicians' game of saying one thing to one group and another to another. He fearlessly states what he believes, regardless of what opinions may be held by the group he is talking to at the moment. As a rabbi and as a Jew I found this to be an especially appealing quality in terms of his positions on the Arab-Israeli conflict and US-Israel relations. He is one of Israel's staunchest friends. During the 2006 Lebanon War, while other of his Democratic congressional colleagues were waffling (at best) on their support of Israel, and it seemed that the only true friends Israel had were the conservative Republicans, Barack Obama was outspoken in his support of Israel's actions and of Israel's fundamental right to take all measures necessary to protect her citizens. He has said time and again, to Muslim groups as well as Jewish groups, that he is unashamedly a supporter of Israel, for Israel is one of the US's surest allies and the only democracy in the Middle East. On "Meet the Press," when Tim Russert challenged his support of Israel, he reiterated that position without apology, for he feels that one need not apologize for supporting Israel. As he has consistently presented his message of support for Israel, he has equally consistently presented his strong belief that if the Palestinians are ever going to be able to establish a state of their own, they must first renounce the violence of terrorism and embrace the right of Israel to exist in safety and security.Along the same lines of consistency, I have to tell you how he has addressed one of my hot button issues - negative political campaigning. For several years, I have been involved in a local clergy effort to get political figures to renounce negative campaigning and the use of attack ads. Needless to say, we took advantage of the Iowa caucuses to try to corner the various candidates to commit to refrain from negative campaign tactics. By and large, each campaign cordially received our overtures and then ignored them. Only the Obama campaign committed to refuse to engage in negative campaigning. As has been evidenced by the campaign so far, Obama was as good as his word. Even while being the target of smear tactics, he has chosen not to respond in kind. He has chosen not to sink to the level of his detractors but to keep his focus on the positive; on what good things he has to offer the country rather than engage in the art of demonizing his opponents.As you are probably aware, on Martin Luther King Day, he made a major address at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. In that address, he made a point of denouncing antisemitism, and particularly the antisemitism which has manifest itself in the African American community. This deeply impressed me. It was Martin Luther King Day, and he could have given quite a fine and well received speech without ever touching on the issue of antisemitism. By doing so, he placed the reception of his speech in question. Yet he did this, not to gain points with the crowd but because he believed that it was something that needed to be said. For my money, that is truly presidential.I know that there have been questions about his pastor's association with Louis Farrakhan. But I also know that Obama has, on more than one occasion, denounced the bigotry of Farrakhan. As far as his pastor is concerned, as rabbis we know what it is to have congregants who vehemently disagree with us on one issue or another, yet who feel a kinship to us for our having been there for them in their moments of joy and of sorrow. All these questions about the influence Obama's pastor would have over him in terms of his relationship with the Jewish community simply reminds me too much of all the barbs that were directed against John Kennedy concerning whether or not if he were elected President, how much influence the Pope would have on formulating US policies. Such thinking was wrong then and it is wrong now. Let the man stand on his own merits.Yet another aspect of the Obama campaign which impressed me was the people who are high up in the campaign. While there are those questioning Obama's feelings toward the Jews and his commitment to Israel, it is interesting to note that at the top of his campaign you will find such Jews as Chicago's David Axelrod and Congressman Robert Wexler (of Broward County, FL - with more Jewish voters than any other congressional district in the country). Their support alone speaks volumes concerning Obama and the Jews. I had the privilege of receiving a phone call from Congressman Wexler. We spoke at great length; a conversation which removed any shadow of doubt I might have possessed about Obama's sincerity concerning Israel and Jewish issues.One other point I wish to make in this quite lengthy letter. Of all the presidential campaigns which we experienced in Iowa this past year, only one made a concerted effort to reach out to my Jewish community (I cannot speak for my other Iowa colleagues) - the Obama campaign. Only the Obama campaign actively sought counsel on Jewish issues and demonstrated themselves eager to share the Senator's record on these issues. Think about it! In Iowa, they cared about the Jewish vote. Now if they cared about the Jews of Iowa, how much more so do you think they care about the Jews in places such as New York and California - where the Jewish vote really matters.Thank you for your patience in reading this tome. Note that I have sent it to you under my personal email address (and not from the Temple). In returning to my original statement, I have written this to you because, regardless of whatever candidate you support, as rabbis and as Jews, you need to know that contrary to the rumors that are spreading throughout the American Jewish community, Barack Obama is indeed a friend of the Jews, a friend of Israel, and a man of true integrity.Thank you & Shabbat Shalom,Henry J Karp

Baruch Obama's Message For Sderot - March 20, 2008

frgdr.com — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:33:28 EDT

Recorded for Together4Israel.org, the largest ever online rally in support of Israel.

Video here.

Transcription:
Tonight, like every night over the last three years, the residents of Sderot have to worry about rockets falling in their midst. As a parent of two young daughters, I can only imagine the terror that such rockets might inspire. It is intolerable, and so tonight we stand in solidarity with the people of Sderot.

Additional Obama posts here.

Barack Obama and Jewish People

Justin from Sherman Oaks, CA — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:48:40 EDT

In writing this blog, I mean no disrespect to other Jewish people, for I, myself am Jewish. I am not a religious person, in fact, I am not a practicing Jew. But I am proud of my family and my heritage.

Tonight at my father’s birthday dinner, my uncle, who is orthodox informed my father and I, both huge Barack Obama supporters, that he intends to vote for John McCain should Obama win the nomination. Thinking he was joking, I acted like I would too, of course only kidding.

However, he informed me that he was indeed serious, and I looked at him and wanted to almost cry. Here he was, someone who has been tormented for being born with something he cannot control, said he does not “trust” Obama.

I flat out asked him if he said it was because Obama was black and my uncle’s response, was that be believes McCain would be better for Israel. Now I am not going to go into the facts how that is ridiculous, I will say this, as I feel that it is necessary to do so.

To all Jewish people who have reservations about Obama because they believe the McCain and the GOP in general are better for Israel. NO THEY ARE NOT.

How does engaging in a war that angers America and Israel and want to stay there unnecessarily help Jewish people? They do not. John McCain and the Republican Party are good for one group, rich, white men and that’s about it. Not Jews or any other minority.

This argument is one of the few that makes me more upset than any other. I am sorry to say this to all of you but we are Americans first and we need to do what is best for America. If some Jews are so concerned about Israel, then they should move there.

But listen to me, Obama is not only better for America, but by leaving Iraq will also be better for Israel.

Blacks and Jews in America...

David — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:39:46 EDT

http://www.pbs.org/itvs/fromswastikatojimcrow/relations.html

Jews made substantial financial contributions to many civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, the Urban League, the Congress of Racial Equality, and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. About 50 percent of the civil rights attorneys in the South during the 1960s were Jews, as were over 50 percent of the Whites who went to Mississippi in 1964 to challenge Jim Crow Laws.

You can read the whole article on the link I provided. Its a shame the two groups grew apart (Thanks NOI and Mr. Wright). Here's to a renewal of good relationships between Jews and Blacks!

Open letter to Barack,

David — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:47:27 EDT

Dear Barack

I am supporting your candidacy for President of the United States of America, and will continue to do so as I believe in you. I am, however, very worried about the people who surround you, from Robert Malley, Samantha Powers, your former Pastor, etc.

You have strong support among Jews but we also have our sensitivities, not unlike African americans. They include veiled and open anti semitism which seems to be extremely prevalent, virulent, and growing world wide.

You have made strong statements supporting the State of Israel which is the sine qua non of my personal existence. I pray that those around you who might not share that support do not become prominent in your administration. I am therefore, making the "leap of faith" that you will maintain your support for Israel and bring real peace and security to Israel and Palestine.

After all, doesn't the Good Book says to speak out for Zion’s sake (Isaiah 62:1), to be watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:6) and to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3)? That coupled with the marked difference in the treatment of all religion, genders, races, and orientations in Israel vs. the treatment of those people in countries that hate Israel should make you feel comfortable continuing your support for Israel. It seems that "what you do unto the least of My brethren, you do onto Me" is not followed everywhere.

I thanks you in advance.

Sincerely,

David E. Treston

There's one less "HillRaiser" out there...

Soldierette!! (CENSORED) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:45:45 EDT

March 09, 2008 6:29 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC's David Gelles

Marc Ambinder reports on his blog that there's one less HillRaiser out there...

A Turkish-American Hill-Raiser who 'who financed a film that depicted an American Jew trading in Iraqi body parts' has been cast out of the Clinton circle of trust, according to a report by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Clinton adviser Ann Lewis told the JTA that the campaign was 'unaware' of Mehmet Celebi's involvement with the film. But wait -- a Google search suggests that the campaign was contacted by the New York Post on 2/11 and declined comment...

FROM THE JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY:
The Clinton campaign is no longer taking contributions from a Turkish American who financed a film that depicted an American Jew trading in Iraqi body parts.

Mehmet Celebi had been listed on the presidential campaign website of U.S. Sen. Hilalry Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as a "Hill-raiser," someone who had raised more than $100,000 for her presidential bid. Celebi had co-produced "Valley of the Wolves: Iraq," a 2006 film based on a popular Turkish TV series about a crack Turkish combat unit.

The film depicts a Jewish American doctor harvesting organs from prisoners.

"We were unaware of Mr. Celebi's involvement in this film and we obviously do not agree with it," Ann Lewis, a senior adviser to the campaign said Friday in response to a query from JTA. Lewis, who plays a lead role for the campaign in dealing with the Jewish community, added: "He is no longer raising money for this campaign."

PAGE SIX
February 11, 2008 -- SEN. Hillary Clinton has gotten cozy with a Turkish-born businessman whom some have described as anti-Semitic. Clinton's campaign Web site identifies Mehmet Celebi as one of her "HillRaisers" - someone who has raised at least $100,000 for her presidential bid. This despite Celebi's controversial producing credit on "Valley of the Wolves: Iraq" - a 2006 movie that depicted a Jewish doctor removing the vital organs of civilian prisoners to sell to wealthy transplant patients overseas. "In accordance with the old anti-Semitic canard, the movie portrays Jewish-American doctors as forcibly harvesting organs from Muslims to give them to Jews," noted Detroit lawyer and columnist Debbie Schlussel observes on her blog. Clinton spokesman Jay Carson didn't get back to us for comment.

Vicious attacks against Barack Obama targeting the Jewish Community

Gene — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:30:37 EDT

Many Jewish supporters of Barack Obama have been dismayed to see e-mails targeting Jews, viciously attacking Mr. Obama's patriotism, and insinuating that he is anti-semitic. Many of these attacks are based on religious and ethnic stereotypes, and exploit fears that the Jewish community has harbored for many years.

We cannot remain silent on this issue, given our own history of religious and ethnic persecution. I have personally written back to some of my friends who have e-mailed me this material, and have called them out on the issue.

I would invite anyone who has encountered these types of propaganda e-mails, to contact the senders and attach the following letter writted by Jewish Community leaders from the Simon Wiesenthal Center:

http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/s/content.asp?c=fwLYKnN8LzH&b=253162&ct=4947257

"Candidates for our nation's highest office must be prepared for debate and challenges to their public record. However, we must have zero tolerance for the slightest traces of bigotry and hatred in our Nation's political discourse" —Rabbi Marvin Hier

January 15, 2008

An Open Letter to the Jewish Community:

As leaders of the Jewish community, none of whose organizations will endorse or oppose any candidate for President, we feel compelled to speak out against certain rhetoric and tactics in the current campaign that we find particularly abhorrent. Of particular concern, over the past several weeks, many in our community have received hateful emails that use falsehood and innuendo to mischaracterize Senator Barack Obama’s religious beliefs and who he is as a person.

These tactics attempt to drive a wedge between our community and a presidential candidate based on despicable and false attacks and innuendo based on religion. We reject these efforts to manipulate members of our community into supporting or opposing candidates.

Attempts of this sort to mislead and inflame voters should not be part of our political discourse and should be rebuffed by all who believe in our democracy. Jewish voters, like all voters, should support whichever candidate they believe would make the best president. We urge everyone to make that decision based on the factual records of these candidates, and nothing less.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Marvin Hier, Founder and Dean, Simon Wiesenthal Center

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean, Simon Wiesenthal Center

William Daroff, Vice President, United Jewish Communities

Nathan J. Diament, Director, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

Abraham Foxman, National Director, Anti-Defamation League

Richard S. Gordon, President, American Jewish Congress

David Harris, Executive Director, American Jewish Committee

Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Phyllis Snyder, President, National Council of Jewish Women

Hadar Susskind, Washington Director, Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Why the Hussein Stuff Really Bugs Me

Naomi — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:57:09 EDT

So, I'm a school principal. I deal all the time with kids calling each other names: Stupid, Idiot, Moron and some others I won't reproduce here!

The one that bugs me the most, the one that makes me really uneasy in dealing with it, is "Gay." Don't get me wrong, it's not that I think it's OK for kids to call each other that as an insult, but fundamentally I have a conflict. Because fundamentally, my answer to a kid calling another kid gay is, "So what if he is?"

My solution to this, such as it is, is to say that anything can become an insult if it's used that way. I usually use the example of saying, with great disdain in one's voice, "You have brown hair!" Yes, that's true. And yes, who cares? But it's still an insult because it is used as one.

Which brings me around to the point of this post (and I do have one), the use of Barack Hussein Obama's middle name.

Obama, the Jews, & Florida

Michael from Lake Worth, FL — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:57:15 EST

This NY Times article, Obama Walks a Difficult Path as He Courts Jewish Voters, focuses on an important issue but doesn't do an especially good job of it. Obama will win the Democratic primary, and he should: he's the best candidate by far. He'll win New York with or without the Jewish vote.

Obama's challenge is farther South; specifically, here. I don't think the election will be a tight race. I think it will be a blowout. But, just in case, Florida has its own well-known source of issue in elections. I don't want to see Butterfly Ballots and Hanging Chads again. Let's do our best to ensure an Obama win in '08 that even the Republican's can't steal this time.

Republican's will try to use wedge issues to divide South Florida Jews. They tried to recruit me against Keith Ellison for an article I published 20 years ago in College, when Ellison was toying with Farrakhan. Ellison, I told them, long ago seems to have moved on and so did I. Let's do our best to not ensure a repeat in Florida.

Dr. Wright And Minister Farrakhan

Manny — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:42:22 EST

I was watching the Democratic debate tonight, and I believe Mr. Obama did a masterful job, but he was maybe put in a corner when the moderator, Tim Russert, brought up Dr. Jeremiah Wright's thoughts on Minister Farrakhan (even though Senator Clinton gave him an excellent source for rebuttal), he must clarify that another man's opinion, Dr. Wright, even though he is his minister, is exactly that, Dr. Wright's opinion, not his own. I haven't heard the sermon from which Mr. Obama acquired the title of his book, "Audacity of Hope", but it seems to me that Mr. Russert did not make clear if it was the same sermon in which Minister Wright said all those things about Minister Farrakhan, however, if it is not one and the same, it would be a good idea to point that out to re-emphasize that those are Dr. Wright's opinions and not his own.

TN GOP is out of bounds, out of step with national politics

Benjamin Vos, Nashville — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:27:59 EST

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/RNC_threatens_Tenn_GOP.html

RNC has sent what amounts to a "cease and desist" letter to the TN GOP regarding its smear email about Barack Obama. But the damage is done - expect to see a big fundraising push in April for McCain in TN, according to today's Tennessean newspaper:

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080227/NEWS0206/802270452/1016

Ted Welch, who was a big Bush supporter in TN in 2000 and 2004, has moved from the Romney camp to begin supporting McCain. (Welch was the Republican National Committee finance chair during the time when Reagan came to power in 1979-80.)

http://www.adherents.com/people/pw/Ted_Welch.html

But Welch apparently sees McCain as his third choice. He would have supported Fred Thompson after Romney.

http://www.elephantbiz.com/2007/04/why_the_gops_best_fundraiser_d.html

He will take any Republican over a Democrat, but you have to ask yourself ... if Mike Huckabee won Tennessee, and Fred Thompson was the top fundraiser (Romney was second), then is Tennessee really committed to McCain? Perhaps they need to create an enemy they can rally behind. By casting Barack Obama as a sympathizer with "Islamofascists", they can generate support and energy behind the "war on terror".

The GOP is depending on the politics of division to hide its own disorganization and lack of principled leadership. Like the GOP nationally, the party in TN is divided between social conservatives (who support Huckabee and drove his victory in the Feb 5 primary), fiscal conservatives (exemplified best by freshman Sen. Bob Corker who railed against the recent economic stimulus package as a "political stimulus"), and war-on-terror Republicans (who see Islamofascism as a constant threat and are looking for a war to fight).

Obama Raising the Bar

Madama Ambi — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:15:22 EST

It's Day 2 and I just had a phone chat with Barack and Michelle...posted to YouTube...Obama Raising the Bar...

Artists & Writers for Zeitgeist Obama

Madama Ambi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOCvfRrczTM

Challenging Smears Against Obama Circulating in the Jewish Community - Part 1

Daniel — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:09:40 EST

Bill Levinson, the right-wing pro-Israel blogger who has made a name for himself by slandering MoveOn.org at every available opportunity, published yesterday on IsraPundit an outrageous smear against Senator Barack Obama, seeking to portray the Democratic front-runner as a coddler of antisemites due to his associations with Rev. Al Sharpton, Pastor Jeremiah Wright, and of course MoveOn.org. My next several posts will thoroughly challenge each of the fallacies perpetuated by Levinson, and will hopefully serve as a valuable source for confronting these lies as they make their way through the Jewish community.

In my first post, I will challenge Levinson's contention that "Obama endorsed Al Sharpton and his National Action Network, both of which have a long track record of promoting hatred of white people and especially Jews."

***

I do not contest the fact that Al Sharpton is a troubling figure. His inflammatory antics over the years can be described as irresponsible at best, and I think, in all fairness, they ought to be deemed far worse. Yet whatever one's dismay at Sharpton's incendiary past, the fact remains that Sharpton is an incredibly influential political figure in the United States and that everyone is vying for his blessing. Even President Bush.

I empathize with Jewish voters who are disturbed by Sharpton's behavior and annoyed that politicians persist to legitimize and pander to him in spite of his record. But, in the grand scheme of things, Sharpton is hardly a credible threat to Jewish interests. As Anti-Defamation League director Abe Foxman told The Jewish Week, in response to similar smears against Al Gore, whom the GOP was desperately trying to link to Sharpton in 2000, "Al Sharpton has been a lot of things: a rabble-rouser who plays on the fringes of anti-Semitism and has engaged in racism. But he is not an enemy of the Jewish people."

We Need a Mentch in the White House

frgdr.com — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:07:37 EST

Inspired by Will.i.am's video and the Yes We Ken Girl, as well as being moved daily by Obama's rhetoric and promise of a better America and vicariously a better world, I thought I would do my part:
Following is an Obama poster I translated to Hebrew. It is my first creation for the campaign, and I am thinking about making a Hebrew video as well. We'll see…

I will elaborate a bit on my artistic decisions:
Translating 'change we can believe in' proved to be somewhat of a challenge, as the Hebrew word for 'we can' (NUCHAL, נוכל) is the exact one for 'crook' (NOCHEL, נוכל). In this age of Rovean politics, even a hint of such subliminal connections can be bad – remember the 2000 Democrats/rats ad by the Bush campaign?
For that reason I chose wording which loosely translates to 'change that can be believed in', which has the added benefit of being misread as something like 'Change, you can believe in him'.

Since Hebrew uses a different Alphabet altogether, I could not use the original fonts. These are the closest I could find:

CHANGE - Varda Bold
WE CAN BELIEVE IN - Varda
Obama - Narkisim

For your downloading pleasure, the original post on my blog has links to different file formats. Feel free to link directly to the post, but do not link directly to the files: JPG (170 KB), PSD (4 MB). The original English PDF was downloaded from here.

Some helpfull information to fight allegations about Baracks stance on Jews

Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:19:37 EST

As we know, the Internet has become a powerful tool for obtaining information. Unfortunately, it has also become a tool for spreading misinformation and hate. Often this misinformation comes to us from trusted friends, family and colleagues who've fallen victim to the well-worded and convincing prose. When we receive something like this from someone we trust, sometimes we don't take the time and effort to ensure its validity and accuracy. All too quick to react to our greatest fears, we accept at face value, things that really deserve to be viewed with skepticism.

Everyone needs to come to their own opinion as to who will make the best President of the United States. The intent here is not to endorse Senator Obama, but to ensure that the decision to support him or not, is not made based on malicious lies and outright falsehoods. As victims of this type of campaign ourselves, those of us in the Jewish community have a duty to debunk and destroy these smear pieces, and not fall into their trap, regardless of who they're waged against and whether or not we agree with their politics.

In an unprecedented move, Nine Jewish organizational leaders signed on to a letter that spoke out against rumors about Barack Obama. The signatories were the top executives of the United Jewish Communities, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America , the American Jewish Committee, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Congress, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Simon Wiesenthal Center. From that letter, "These tactics attempt to drive a wedge between our community and a presidential candidate based on despicable and false attacks and innuendo based on religion. We reject these efforts to manipulate members of our community into supporting or opposing candidates."

They were joined by seven Jewish United States Senators who wrote a letter of their own. "Over the past several weeks, many in the Jewish community have received hateful emails that use falsehood and innuendo about Senator Barack Obama's religion and attack him personally. As Jewish United States Senators who have not endorsed a candidate for the Democratic nomination, we condemn these scurrilous attacks. We find it particularly abhorrent that these attacks are apparently being sent specifically to the Jewish Community. Jews, who have historically been the target of such attacks, should be the first to reject these tactics."

For the full text and names of signatories to both letters, see here: http://www.pjvoice.com/v32/32101obama.aspx

Please also see, "Behind the letter on Obama: Why the Jews entered the fray" on the website of the JTA, http://jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/20080122obamaletter20080118.html

Barack Obama is PRO-Israel. From his website: Barack Obama strongly supports the U.S.-Israel relationship, a mutually beneficial bond strengthened by common values, histories, and dedication to democracy. Obama believes that our first and incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel, America’s strongest ally in the Middle East. "Our job is to renew the United States' efforts to help Israel achieve peace with its neighbors while remaining vigilant against those who do not share this vision. . . That effort begins with a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel: our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy. That will always be my starting point."

For Senator Obama's position on Israel and his plans for helping Israel attain peace inside her borders, see here: http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/IsraelFactSheet.pdf

From an article published in the Jewish Journal, Mel Levine, a former Member of Congress from California and a former member of the board of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee writes: "As a state legislator, a Congressman, and a private citizen, I have been politically active in Jewish causes, including pro-Israel causes, for over forty years, and have observed many presidential candidates. But Barack Obama is the first to so thoroughly capture the imagination of Jewish Americans. . . Obama's vision of unity makes him a natural ally to the Jewish community. Likewise, he has been a strong ally to Israel. . . In his speeches and public statements, his legislation and his voting record, he has proven himself to be a stalwart friend of Israel, committed to helping Israel in its search for peace with its neighbors, while standing strong with Israel against those who do not share this vision."

Read the entire article here: http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=18832

You can also read the complete text of his March 2007 speech to AIPAC, at this link: http://obama.senate.gov/speech/070302-aipac_policy_fo/

Barack Obama rebuffs George Soros, the billionaire Democratic contributor who called for the U.S. to pressure Israel to negotiate with Hamas, even without recognition of Israel's right to exist. From an article published in the New York Sun, "Yesterday, Mr. Obama's presidential campaign issued a dissent from the Hungarian-born billionaire's assessment. "Mr. Soros is entitled to his opinions," a campaign spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said. "But on this issue he and Senator Obama disagree. The U.S. and our allies are right to insist that Hamas - a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel's destruction - meet very basic conditions before being treated as a legitimate actor."

. . .Rep. Robert Wexler, a Democrat of Florida who sent out an e-mail to Jewish supporters in his home state last week vouching for Mr. Obama's pro-Israel bona fides, said he too rejected Mr. Soros's comments. "Senator Obama says until the Palestinian government fulfills all three of the quartet requirements, the United States should not and would not recognize the Palestinian government. Senator Obama is clear, Mr. Soros appears to have a different position," Mr. Wexler said.

See the full article here: http://www.nysun.com/article/50846

Barack Obama decries anti-Semitism. In an speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church on the eve of Martin Luther King Day, Barack Obama excoriated anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry. "We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. . . Every day, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions; across gender and party. . . So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. . ." The full text can be read here: http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/01/barack_obamas_s.html

Barack Obama denounced Louis Farrakhan, contrary to the opinions of the minister of his church. "I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan," Obama said in the statement. "I assume that Trumpet Magazine made its own decision to honor Farrakhan based on his efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders, but it is not a decision with which I agree." http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/01/15/obama_decries_farrakhan_statem_1.html?hpid=topnews

Barack Obama is a Christian, NOT a Muslim. There's not really a need to expound on this, other than to direct those still not convinced to the Urban Legends Reference Pages, which roundly debunks this myth. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp

Thank you for helping spread the truth.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." -- Anne Frank

"Your voice can change the world" -- Barack Obama http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmUUYo9o9eg

In memory of Congressman Tom Lantos (February 1, 1928 – February 11, 2008), the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress, and Democratic Delegate Mitch Van Yahres, whose dying request was for people to make significant contributions to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, please help Senator Obama by donating through 'Jews for Barack' -- http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Fernmin

The Jewish Divide?

tgslampwork — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:26:40 EST

This article makes me think the divide depends on where you live as well as what I have witnessed, age, financial status and education:

http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=18913

I'm responding to a blog entry from the Jews for Obama group, but thought it better that I cross post for anyone else who may be in a similar situation.

I've experienced something quite different here in Chicago then what I am hearing from some other Jewish Obama supporters. Just about 1/2 of my Jewish family members and friends are voting for Obama - while the other 1/2 supports Hillary. Most of the Jewish folks I know who are supporting Hillary are older, such as my grandmother, her brother and a couple of folks at the office. I've been trying to change that - and I think maybe, just maybe, I am getting somewhere. Every time I go to visit my grandmother I'm armed with literature. It started with Obama's plan for America. Next I printed the bottom three articles as well as an article from the JUF from Obama's trip with Chicago members to Israel in early 2007.

Here are some additional articles, the first is an endorsement by Jewish lawyers of Obama.

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/106898.html

http://jewschool.com/2008/01/17/the-jewish-obama-gap/

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3374507,00.html

Hopefully these articles can be a stepping stone to help revise the thoughts of folks who are ready to discount Obama because of someone his church of something like 10,000 members honored. I'm guessing with a church that large there are several folks who likely may disagree with the church magazine's honor of Farakhan.

I think Obama is a strong candidate for all of us. I hope I can convince others close to me of the same thing. With time on my side, I'm thinking I can.

On the lighter side: Endorsing Senator Obama as our first Jewish president

HAP — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:22:49 EST

It's been a tough campaign. This is my effort to take a break. Some years ago, Toni Morrison argued that Bill Clinton was America's first African-American president. In that spirit, this tongue-in-cheek posting notes that Barack Obama could be our nation's first Jewish president.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harold-pollack/now-it-must-be-told-bara_b_83469.html

Entry 1: Hello from outside the Demo demo

cat b. — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:07:59 EST

Yes, I am a white, Jewish female, a 3rd-generation Southern Californian and a life-long registered Republican. I alm also self-employed, running my own firm as an urban planner & environmental consultant in land development. I am married, happily child-free, pro-choice and pro-death penalty. In some ways, I am the polar opposite of the "traditional" Democratic voter. (But, absolutely typical of the free-thinking, informed and intelligent American voter, I'd hope!) Nevertheless, I have come to be a passionate supporter of Barack Obama.

Simply put, no other candidate has impressed me the way Barack Obama has in the tv appearances I've seen so far. I was particularly impressed by his appearance on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" (of all things!) He came across as "real" - I didn't think there were any REAL people left in national politics!!!! Basically, the POLAR opposite of Hillary Clinton, who represents everything I despise about the political process. So! There you go!

Watching him chat with Jon Stewart, I was REALLY impressed by the way he INTELLIGENTLY and thoughtfully answered all of Jon's questions (even the facetious ones). In addition, he answered them in PLAIN ENGLISH and showed a great deal of poise AND common sense. Two things our current President appears to be sorely lacking.

What a refreshing change! Basically, what it boils down to is that, of all the politicians out there right now (of ANY party), Barack is the first I've seen with integrity and intelligence such that I'd actually TRUST him to make good decisions for our country. Just think on that for a second.....

Shouldn't that be what it all really does boil down to in one's chosen President?

Not political party affiliation, not who's raised the most money (!!!), and certainly NOT who wears the most 'PC' lapel pin.

That said, I feel I can trust Barack Obama to make the tough choices necessary to protect our country's best interests. (NOT an enviable task - G-d help him!) His position on not accepting campaign donations from certain big lobby interests in only an added extra bonus. (Hey! Integrity too?!?! Wow!)

Well, that's enough for now. Gotta get back to work!

cat b

Empowering Fatah; Isolating Hammas

Scott A. Giordano — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:00:46 EDT

Why I believe the strategy is the correct path for America to take at this time.