A Letter From The Reyto's‏

Dear Friends:
As you know, after Sinai Temple's Unity Concert celebrating Israel's
62nd Birthday April 20, 2010, we felt compelled to communicate to Rabbi
Wolpe and to the community that Israel's independence celebration and
the battle cry of "Allahu Akhbar" do not belong together. We feel
passionately that while there are 364 other days in the year to explore
unity with Muslims, Israel's Independence Day comes only once a year
and deserves its own, undiluted tribute.

Unfortunately, Rabbi Wolpe's response was, "I think you severely
misjudged the events of the other evening. Any Jew, upon seeing a
Muslim with the courage to pray in a synagogue on Israel Independence
Day should applaud his fortitude and the risk he is taking. Apparently
you do not." We do applaud his praying at a celebration of diversity
in a synagogue, but we would applaud him even more if he invited us to
celebrate diversity in his mosque. Unfortunately, it seems that Rabbi
Wolpe did not respond to the words of Brigitte Gabriel, founder and
president of Act for America, whose galvanizing appearance Thursday at
Sinai Temple taught those of us willing to listen about the Islamic
mentality. She grew up in that world.
In her brilliant, factual and passionate speech, Brigitte described
how she and her family, like other Lebanese Christians, suffered and
why she became a fighter against radical Islam. Her speech was actually
an appeal to all Americans, Jews and non-Jews alike, to become informed
and to participate in the fight to preserve our way of life. She
pleaded with all Americans not to ignore Islam's stealth efforts and
using our own laws, Constitution, freedom and tolerance to undermine
our society. She urged all of us to become better informed, to mobilize
all of our resources and to work together to prevent the spread of the
intolerant, oppressive teachings of Islam. She warned that radical
Islam seeks to destroy Western civilization and establish a world-wide
Caliphate. She explained the meaning and practice of "taqiyya", which
means "deceit", and is a Qur'an-sanctioned way of appearing to get
along with the Infidels until the Muslims are strong enough to defeat
them. She cited the treaty of Hudaibiyah, with which Arafat justified
to his Arab brethren the treaty he had just made with Israel at Oslo.
Arafat meant, and his audience understood, that Muslims must make a
treaty with the enemy when they are weak so that they can buy time to
build an army to attack that same enemy from strength. Qur'an 9:1-6,
48:18-26. The audience cheered Brigitte, they understood from her
passionate exposition that Islam does not accept other religions, does
not tolerate Jews and Christians, and wants to destroy our way of life.

Rabbi Wolpe, however, seemed not to "get it". Because he lives under
the religious freedom and liberty in the Unites States, no matter how
knowledgeable and brilliant he is, Rabbi Wolpe appeared to dismiss
Brigitte's experiences. He did not offer compassion for the horrors
Brigitte suffered despite her passionate support of Israel and Jews in
general. In particular, he stated that he was "saddened" by the
audience's reaction to Brigitte's comments about the Unity Concert. He
apparently doesn't understand that while the Muslim person, possibly an
Imam, chanting "Allahu Akhbar" at the Unity Concert may have had
honorable intentions, we who understand that phrase were deeply
offended. He also seems not to understand that it is very possible that
this Muslim was practicing taquiyya, ably used by organizations like
CAIR and MPAC, to advance their cause.

During the Q and A, he actually tried to diminish Brigitte's message.
He asked if it was only a rhetorical expression that Brigitte said the
Palestinians have 'no soul'. Brigitte answered clearly: if people can
blow themselves up, if mothers can blow their babies up for the cause
or for going to Paradise, then those people have no soul and something
must be terribly wrong.

We are at a loss to understand Rabbi Wolpe's approach to the greatest
evil of our day. While Robert and I feel very gratified with the
community's supportive response, we also have been asked, "Aren't you
sorry you started this?" The answer is NO, a thousand times no. We
have brought this problem to the surface--we feel somewhat like Peter
Bergson (see the Simon Wiesenthal film, Against the Tide) and now it is
time for the community to keep this exchange going.

We want you to know that in our every correspondence with Rabbi Wolpe,
we asked for this to be the beginning of a dialogue and not the end. We
happily responded to Rabbi's Wolpe's request to join him "when (he)
return(s) for Brigitte Gabriel Thursday night." But when we introduced
ourselves to him after the program, he stated, "After tonight, I am
convinced more than ever that I did the right thing last week and since
we disagree on this matter, this issue is closed." I was stunned and
Robert and I were greatly disappointed to hear these words from one of
the community's most respected rabbis. Is he not open to discussing
with persons of good will an issue vital to Jewish survival? Doesn't
Judaism teach tolerance, forgiveness and continuous learning via
discussion? To paraphrase Brigitte (who quoted one of our ancients), "
If not I, who? and if not now, when?" It's time to stand up and be
counted.
Friends, thank you again for your positive comments, and if you share
our feelings, now it is your turn to continue and keep the dialogue
open.
With great hope,
Susanne and Robert

Thanks to Calabasas ACT for America