Doc's Talk: Obama and the other Jewish vote

Friday, October 05, 2012

Obama and the other Jewish vote

Nurit Greenger

Not too long ago on the Obama website appeared a list of "613 rabbis for Obama". http://www.barackobama.com/rabbis

In the last few days in an article named " Rabbi Rosenberg From “'Rabbis' 4 Romney' Writes An Urgent Plea To The '613 Rabbis For Obama'” has been circulating in the Internet: http://themadjewess.com/2012/10/02/please-link-rabbi-rosenberg-writes-an-urgent-plea-to-the-613-rabbis-for-obama/

I contacted Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg and had a candid conversation with him, which I am pleased to share:

NG: Can you tell us from which community are you, how many people are in your congregation and few words about you

Rabbi R.: I am the spiritual leader and the township chaplain of Congregation Beth-El, Edison, New Jersey. I received my ordination and Doctorate of Education from Yeshiva University in New York. I also possess M.S. degrees in communication and education and a Doctor of Divinity from The Jewish Theological Seminary, New York. I teach at Rutgers University in New Jersey and Yeshiva University in New York.

I am the authors of several books the latest is, 'Public Speaking – A Guide for Study'. I recently received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award and I hold the Chaplain of the Year Award from The New York Board of Rabbis for my efforts during and following the disaster of 9-11. I frequently appear on radio and TV and have published hundreds of articles regarding the Holocaust. For six years I have served on the New Jersey State Holocaust Commission as an interfaith chairman.

NG: Over a month ago six hundred Jewish rabbis have expressed their support for Obama and gave the impression that the Jewish vote in Obama's pocket. You, on the other hand have a list of 80 rabbis for Romney, who support him. Why are you right to support Romney?

Rabbi R.: The economy is a complete disaster. People are unemployed and many have lost their home. Statistics and the media lie; we need a change. The rabbis however are doing well financially. If they themselves could not feed their family, lost their home and pension they will not be so liberal.

Most Jews are living in the past. The Democratic party of today is not the one of yesterday. At the recent Democratic convention they booed Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel. The message was clear. We are dealing with a party that was hijacked by Moslems, Leftists, socialists and Israel haters and that is a very bad sign. The message should have been very clear to every Jews, you are wrong to vote Democrat.

I have been one of the few rabbis against Obama from the time he began running for president. He is a socialist, he has bent backward for the Arab-Palestinians in account of Israel, and apologizes to the Moslem world on behalf of America and I do not like it one bit.

Most of the rabbis have no cojones (courage). Most Jews are liberal and therefore, these "613 rabbis for Obama" can be open about their support for him; it will not cost them the wrath of their congregation, rather they will have their support.

The rabbi goes on, please permit me to repeat some words and make a strong analysis statement here:

The Democratic Party no longer speaks to my people, either ethically nor politically. The Democratic Party has redirected its focus to an alien place that is antagonistic to everything my youth admired and craved for.

What better example than to see that “G-d and Jerusalem” were deleted from the initial platform of the Democratic Party in their last convention. What other sovereign nation in the world is denied the right to name its’ own capital? Anti-Israel has become the code word for anti-Semitism and every Jew in the United States must understand this whether they are supporters of Israel or not. To the Nazi government it did not matter whether you were a practicing Jew or a Jewish denier. You walked hand and hand, side by side, into the gas chambers.

NG: The rabbis who support Obama – rabbis for Obama - have published their names and their communities; are the rabbis for Romney intend to do so and when?

Rabbi R.: Some of the 613 Rabbis for Obama have been attacked by their congregations and have been ridiculed in the press. I do not want the same to happen to the 'rabbis for Romney'. I have an army of supporters and my e-mails are reaching tens of thousands of people who are willing to listen.

NG: How do you explain that according to all the polls seventy percent of Jews still vote for Obama, and how do you think to change it significantly, or is it a Jewish internal protest -and nothing else?

Rabbi R.: I am a child of Holocaust survivors. I do not trust Obama when it comes to many issues but especially with his dealing with Iran. Israel needs to lose one war and it will be another Holocaust!

The majority of Jewish voters are still very much in the camp of the present day Democratic Party. Is there a lack of critical thinking? Is there a sense of misplaced guilt? Is it a matter of inertia? I do not have the answers. What I do know is that all of us are living in perilous times. Whether Zionist or not, the fate of Israel is inexorably tied up with the fate of Jews worldwide. Anti-Semitism is on the rise throughout Europe, concomitant with the growth of the Islamic communities all over this continent.

I am not certain what a Republican victory would mean for the future of the United States. I do know however what the present path means and that scares me beyond adequate words.

NG: What happened last night at the debate between President Obama and Governor Romney?

Rabbi R.: I am a professor of public speaking. Last night Obama's body language said, I am superior than you [Romney], I am the president, how dare you be on the same stage with me! Obama was advised by his handlers to play it safe and that is why he did not go after Romney with vengeance for a knockout punch. In his mind, Obama wanted to be presidential, but because of his dislike for Romney he could not get himself to do what he really wanted to do. But, do not underestimate Obama. Never underestimate your enemy. He will be coached to come out fighting in the next debate. I think it is up to Romney to be ready for a knockout fight. It is either Romney will knockout Obama or vice a versa. Anything can happen in the next two weeks and anyone can win the next two weeks. It will be a mistake to give too much treatment to Romney's first debate victory. He has not won the election yet. Romney and his people and all his supporters cannot afford to let our guard and let our defense down. It is possible that the Obama camp has underestimated Romney and we need to be prepared for Obama's next come back move.

Last night Romney won his first round and changed things around. Now and till election we must work even harder to get Romney elected. For the sake of America and Israel we dare to fail.

NG: Do you have any closing statement?

Rabbi R.: If Obama is reelected, America and Israel are doomed. I will do anything that is in my power to mobilize rabbis and the public at large to have Obama defeated.

NG: Do you agree that Obama Vs Romney, means style Vs. substance and these past 4-years Obama's 'style' has not worked and has taken America close to the cliff of a total disaster?

Rabbi R.: For re sake of the USA and Israel - Obama is OUT and Romney is IN.

NG: Thank you rabbi Rosenberg.

Rabbi R.: Thank you so much.

Interview concluded.

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Dr. Rosenberg: World on fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZk3ynr_S-g&feature=plcp

Dr. Rosenberg YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/BernhardRosenberg

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: I have traditionally believed in the Democrats' policies and still appreciate their trying to make this a better country for everyone. I preferred John McCain's support of Israel (but thought the GOP blundered with its choice of vice presidential candidate then and again now). Ryan seems to want to make women second class citizens (not as badly as in the Muslim nations) but to forbid the termination of pregnancy -- it's not the State's business, it's the woman's!
That having been said, I take comfort in knowing that the president (and v.p.) are responsible to Congress protecting us from any possible demagogery with the 'checks and balances'. While I disliked Obama's making 'nice-nice' with those who hate us, I felt like giving him the chance. Let's see. Well we have seen; they want death to America and death to Israel. Achmadinejad said they're at war with us. What does our president require to take further action, another attack on Manhattan?
Romney recognizes that the capital of Israel is Jerusalem, so that's where the embassy belongs. Obama doesn't.
I think, for the first time in my life, I'll vote Republican.; 5:24 PM

The IDF’s Minorities in Numbers and Pictures

In honor of IDF Diversity Week, we present diversity through numbers and pictures. Each year, more and more Muslims, Christians, Druze, Bedouin and immigrants from around the world take on the responsibility of defending Israel.

MUSLIMS:

Muslim Arab Israelis are not required to draft in the IDF, but there are many who volunteer. In 2013, there were over 200 Muslims serving in the IDF and over 300 in the reserves.

Bedouins:

Bedouins are nomadic Muslims who were in Israel when modern borders were set in place and are now considered Israeli citizens. They are not required to draft but a growing number choose to enlist. In 2012, there were over 1,400 Bedouin Muslim soldiers doing regular IDF service and almost 1,500 in the reserves.

Read more:http://www.idfblog.com/2014/02/27/truth-idf-numbers-pictures/#more-34027

Are you aware that in 2013, Middle class taxes go up-significantly?

In January of next year, the federal income tax rate for middle-class taxpayers is scheduled to rise from 25 percent to 28 percent, and the payroll tax is scheduled to rise from 13.3 percent to 15.3 percent… This drives the marginal tax rate based on the aforementioned three taxes to 48.12 percent. Add in state and local property, corporate, excise, and other state and local taxes, and the percentage of each additional dollar that is taxed hovers around 50 percent… When half of each additional dollar earned is taxed away, taxpayers experience a disincentive to start businesses or expand existing ones. This leads to fewer jobs being created.

Why is HAMAS Inside Tampa Schools?

Clare Lopez

Kelly Miliziano, who teaches history classes at Steinbrenner High School in the Tampa, Florida area apparently thinks it’s perfectly OK to invite a senior official of a HAMAS-affiliated organization into her classroom to discuss Islam with her students. According to local media reports, not only has this been going on for years, but in spite of the civil and criminal proceedings that could result from such reckless negligence, the Hillsborough County school superintendent, Mary Ellen Elia, and the chairman of the school board, Candy Olson, also expressed approval for students under their responsibility to be exposed repeatedly to guest speaker, Hassan Shibly, who is the Executive Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the Tampa area.
More...

Did You Know... Ignoring the Call to Islam will Bring Jihad

‘Conquest through Da’wa [proselytizing] that is what we hope for. We will conquer Europe, we will conquer America! Not through sword but through Da’wa.’
-- Yousef al-Qaradawi , Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader The Arabic word ‘Da’wa’ means the “call to Islam.” But do not think that Da’wa is the same thing as an invitation to an optional holiday event. The classical Islamic doctrine of jihad mandates that enemies must be given the opportunity to convert to Islam or pay the jizya tax before it is permissible to attack them.
Clare M. Lopez

Who is being discriminated-facts tell the truth

Religious bias

Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,409 offenses reported by law enforcement. A breakdown of the bias motivation of religious-bias offenses showed:

65.4 percent were anti-Jewish.
13.2 percent were anti-Islamic.
9.5 percent were anti-other religion, i.e., those not specified.
4.3 percent were anti-Catholic.
3.8 percent were anti-multiple religions, group.
3.3 percent were anti-Protestant.
0.5 percent were anti-Atheism/Agnosticism/etc.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2010/narratives/hate-crime-2010-incidents-and-offenses.

On March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview

with PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here's what he said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

In March 1977, Zahir Muhsein, a PLO executive, said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct Palestinian people to oppose Zionism."

"For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

The Arab Apartheid

Ben-Dror Yemini
In 1948, the Arab countries refused to accept the UN partition proposal and they launched a war of annihilation against the State of Israel which had barely been established. All precedents in this matter showed that the party that starts the war - and with a declaration of annihilation, yet - pays a price for it. Between 550,000 and 710,000 Arabs fled because of the war and a larger number of 850,000 Jews were expelled or fled from Arab countries (the "Jewish nakba").
Population exchanges and expulsions were the norm at that time, occurring in dozens of other conflict points and affecting about 52 million people. In all the population exchange precedents that occurred during or at the end of an armed conflict, there was no return of refugees to the previous region, which had turned into a new national state.
Only the Arab states acted completely differently from the rest of the world. Instead of assimilating the refugees, they crushed them despite the fact that they were their coreligionists and members of the Arab nation - instituting a regime of apartheid. So the "nakba" was not caused by the actual dispossession, which had also been experienced by tens of millions of others. The "nakba" is the story of the apartheid, oppression, abuse and denial of rights suffered by the Arab refugees at the hands of the Arab countries. (Maariv)

International Law and Military Operations in Practice - Col. Richard Kemp

"Islamist fighting groups study the international laws of armed conflict carefully and they understand it well. They know that a British or Israeli commander and his men are bound by international law and the rules of engagement that flow from it. They then do their utmost to exploit what they view as one of their enemy's main weaknesses. Their very modus operandi is built on the correct assumption that Western armies will normally abide by the rules, while these insurgents employ a deliberate policy of operating consistently outside international law. "

Lost Historical Moments

What Rabin’s last Knesset speech really said:repudiation of a Palestinian state

Rabin ruled out a fully sovereign Palestinian state :

“We view the permanent solution in the framework of State of Israel which will include most of the area of the Land of Israel as it was under the rule of the British Mandate, and alongside it a Palestinian entity which will be a home to most of the Palestinian residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority.”

Rabin ruled out a total withdrawal from Judea and Samaria and thus a return to the pre-June 1967 borders :

“The borders of the State of Israel, during the permanent solution, will be beyond the lines which existed before the Six Day War. We will not return to the 4 June 1967 lines.”

Rabin ruled out withdrawing form the Jordan Valley:

“The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest meaning of that term.”

Rabin ruled out uprooting settlement blocs, like the Gush Katif bloc in Gaza (which was subsequently uprooted by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon):

“The establishment of blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria, like the one in Gush Katif.

AND

Rabin ruled out removing any settlement before coming to a full peace agreement with the Palestinians:

“I want to remind you: we committed ourselves, that is, we came to an agreement, and committed ourselves before the Knesset, not to uproot a single settlement in the framework of the interim agreement, and not to hinder building for natural growth.”

Rabin insisted on Israel retaining full security control of the borders with Egypt and Jordan, contrary to Israel’s relinquishment of the Philadelphia Corridor on the border with Egypt:

“The responsibility for external security along the borders with Egypt and Jordan, as well as control over the airspace above all of the territories and Gaza Strip maritime zone, remains in our hands.”

Correcting Oslo Myths-Part 2

3) Kuttab laments that the post-1993 Oslo process resulted in a Palestinian Authority "whose ministers and legislators are not guaranteed passage between Gaza and the West Bank ...."

Before free passage or other perquisites, PA leaders were obligated, among other things, to eliminate the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, end anti-Israeli, antisemitic incitement in schools, mosques, and communications media, and resolve all outstanding issues through peaceful negotiations. They met none of these commitments, sometimes bolstering terrorism and greatly increasing incitement.

4) Kuttab complains that under Oslo the PA got "lightly armed police ---- but no real sovereignty over the land or contiguity between our communities in Gaza and the West Bank."

Oslo agreements repeatedly were revised, regardless of Palestinian non-compliance, until the authorized number of police grew from 8,000 to 40,000. Though they were to be the only armed forces in the territories, Israeli estimates early in the second intifada put the number of gunmen - police, "security services," terrorists, and armed gangs - at 85,000. Their armament reportedly included not only heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, but also anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

Sovereignty was to be negotiated in the envisioned 1998 "final status" talks - after a five-year period of confidence-building. Palestinian leadership chronically undermined the process. Palestinian terrorism made the 1993 - 1998 Oslo period more deadly for Israelis than the 15 years preceding it.

The United States doesn't have contiguity between the lower 48 states and Alaska and Hawaii; territorial contiguity between the West Bank and Gaza Strip - that is, through the 20 miles of Israeli territory between them - was never promised and would destroy Israeli contiguity.

5) "Palestinians have been made to endure hundreds of checkpoints in the West Bank, an eight-foot wall deep in our territories, and tight Israeli control over borders."

The security barrier is not "deep in Palestinian territories," but rather encompasses less than 8 percent of Judea and Samaria, and is mostly a fence, rarely a wall; the land in question is not "our [Palestinian] territories" but disputed territory to which, according to the authors of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, Jews as well as Arabs have claims; and there are no international borders, only the 1949 armistice lines with Jordan. Under 242, borders remain to be negotiated. As for checkpoints - like the security barrier and "tight Israeli control" - Palestinian Arabs precipitated these measures themselves. No terrorism and there would be no fence or tight Israeli control and few checkpoints - like before the first intifada.

Correcting Some Oslo Myths

1) In Oslo "Israeli, Palestinian and other world leaders promised that ... Palestinian sovereignty would be solidified."

No, they didn't. The 1993 Declaration of Principles and subsequent Oslo agreements outlined a process by which final status negotiations about the West Bank and Gaza Strip would be reached. The process required an end to anti-Israel terrorism and incitement and a commitment to peaceful negotiations. The PA, Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and other terrorist groups, sabotaged the process from the start.

2) "The reality is that, in defiance of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which states that it is inadmissible to occupy land by force, Palestinian territories are still under foreign military occupation."
Wrong again. Resolution 242 (1967) does note "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war." It also affirms the right of every state in the area "to live in peace with secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." There were no "Palestinian territories." Jordan occupied the West Bank, Egypt controlled Gaza. Israel did not have "secure and recognized boundaries," so retention of some of those territories was possible under 242. Israel is not a "foreign" military occupier in the West Bank but, pending final negotiations, the lawful military administrator as a result of a successful war of self-defense.

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