Earlier this month my coreligionist (and coBaltimoreOriolesist) Rob Browne of Dailykos challenged Rabbi Saperstein of the Union for Reform Judaism for being outspoken on Darfur when he was silent about oppression in Palestine. Browne has now exchanged emails with Saperstein's office over the criticism, and passes along this report:
I just read this post from Rabbi Brant Rosen at Shalom Rav. In this post, he states that, as a Jew, he has no choice but to put the Israeli-Palestinian conflict first in terms of his activism. He then goes on to describe his local actions to help heal this divide.
Rabbi Saperstein and the Reform Action Coalition seem to take the opposite approach to Rabbi Rosen. They appear to use their Jewishness as a way to deal with many world problems except Israel/Palestine. Being a Rabbi is, and should be, a holy profession. As such there is a tremendous responsibility that goes with the job. Part of that responsibility is to speak out about injustice wherever it is (which is the point of Gila Orkin's op-ed). So often their powerful movement is only critical about Israeli when the Reform movement there that is under attack. With respect to the Palestinians within Israel or in the Occupied Territories, they stay fairly quiet.
While I applaud Rabbi Saperstein and the officials of the RAC for their stand on issues of health care, choice, poverty, and gender & sexual equality, their minimal public responses to the injustices done by the Israeli government towards the Palestinians is much less than holy.
I know that Rabbi Saperstein may be Newsweek's most influential American Rabbi in 2009, but I think next year's list needs to have Rabbi Rosen take over the top spot.
First Post Script, Introduction from Rabbi Rosen's "I Can't Dance Anymore":
I know there are those who wonder why, with all of the various injustices going on in the world, do I seem to dwell on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians? It’s a fair and important question. For me it boils down to this: I’ve come to believe that too many of us in the Jewish community will unabashedly protest persecution anywhere in the world, yet remain silent when Israel acts oppressively.
I know all too well how we actively avoid this truth. We use any number of rhetorical and political arguments to deny it, to mitigate the discomfort and pain it causes us. We engage in a kind of tortured dance of rationalization that we save for no other world issue but this one. But for me, at least, but none of it really addresses the core issue at hand: however difficult it might be for us to face, Israel is unjustly oppressing Palestinians.
Second Post Script. Recent email exchange between Micaela Hellman-Tincher, of the Reform Judaism's Religious Action Center, and Rob Browne. Three emails follow, with some extraneous material removed. I have eliminated Browne's first letter, which restates the criticism of Rabbi Saperstein he made in that original post.
Hellman-Tincher indicated that it was OK to quote from this exchange.
1. Mr. Browne,
Thanks for your concern for human rights issues around the
world. Rabbi Saperstein is pleased to be able to join the
Darfur Fast for Life, and to lift up this important issue,
especially on Thursday when over 70 rabbis from around the world
will be joining his fast.
At the RAC we understand that there is a multitude of challenges
at any time that need activism. We do not believe that
addressing any one of them requires addressing all. With the
knowledge that we cannot work on all issues at the same time, we
try our best to practice activism and social justice leadership
when we can be most effective. With regards to the dire
humanitarian conditions in Gaza, we have been supportive of the
Administration's efforts to send aid, and we continue to work
for a viable solution to the crisis there.
Sincerely,
Micaela Hellman-Tincher
Legislative Assistant
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
2. Dear Ms. Hellman-Tincher:
Thank you for your response to my letter. I must admit that, although not surprised by your comments, I am disappointed.
I can certainly understand your statement, "With the knowledge that we cannot work on all issues at the same time, we try our best to practice activism and social justice leadership when we can be most effective." As North America's largest Jewish movement, I do believe that you have the numerical, economic and religious strength to be very effective with respect to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In reality, the RAC and the URJ has more of an opportunity to influence Prime Minister Netanyahu, than President al-Bashir.
While I am appreciative of your comment that the RAC is supportive of the Obama Administration's effort to send aid, I have not been able to find any information stating that idea. If there are any statements or action alerts that any official of the RAC has published, I would greatly appreciate a link to them….
Once again, I thank you for your response and I hope that you will re-evaluate your public position on this vital issue for the people of Israel, Palestine, and America.
Sincerely,
Robert Browne
3. Micaela Hellman-Tincher email to Rob Browne, on June 17:
You can find a recent statement by Rabbi Saperstein on supporting the Administration’s efforts to fund humanitarian aid here: http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=3324 and our most recent resolution on Middle East peace here: http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=3514
