What Does It Mean For The Jews - My Reactions to Being In Congress for P.M. Netanyahu's Speech

As I previously wrote, I had mixed feelings about attending Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to Congress. The underlying politics both here and in Israel are, to say the least, distasteful. I disagree with much of P.M. Netanyahu's positions and personally feel he is as much an obstacle to peace as President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority.

However, out of respect for Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham who invited me to attend, I decided to go. In the hours after the speech I realized I was primarily there as a representative of our Jewish community. I was there because I am a rabbi.

Sitting in the Visitor’s Gallery of the House of Representatives I knew I was surrounded by people with whom I had little in common other than a love for the State of Israel and an absolute commitment to help ensure her survival. From the start it was clear that the people seated around me were ardent supporters of the Prime Minister and his politics. Even so, I felt a sense of awe as I looked over the House chamber, a place where history has been, and continues to be, made.

I listened carefully to the speech, the arguments presented, the examples given, and the reactions of Members of Congress and of those seated in the gallery. I felt the Prime Minister did his best to reach out to President Obama and the administration as he emphasized all that President Obama has done for Israel and alluded to tangible support from the President that, due to security considerations, may never be publically known. I resented the implication that the Prime Minister speaks for all Jews. He does not speak for me. The introduction of Elie Wiesel both moved and saddened me. Being seated less than 50 feet from him moved me. Seeing and hearing him used as a political prop saddened me.

Leaving the gallery I was swept up in a throng of people all trying to get to the desk where we had to leave our cell phones. The comments I heard ranged from "brilliant talk" to "under whelming because of the lack of any creative solutions.” Personally, I agreed with the latter. Netanyahu said nothing new and he did not offer any alternatives to the negotiations. Much like with those who object to changing our Cuba policy all he had to offer was more sanctions, which as we all know, have not worked.

I continue to be concerned with the short and long-term threat Iran poses to America, Israel and the world. I know what I would like to see in an agreement with Iran. However, I also know that my opinion is based on emotion not knowledge. I do not have the expertise to know if my ideas would alleviate the threat or exacerbate it. I am not a policy analyst, foreign relations, security, or arms control expert. I am a rabbi.

At dinner that evening with Congresswoman Lujan Grisham we exchanged our thoughts about the speech and the dynamics present in the House chamber. After quickly agreeing that there are no easy answers to the Iranian threat, I shared what moved me the most. That is as Americans and Jews we are truly blessed. Listening to the cheers of our senators and representatives, watching them jump to their feet and applaud as the Prime Minister talked about the need to protect Israel and Jews reinforced what I have, and what I think we all have known. Any anti-Semitism we see in America pales in comparison to what we see in Europe and around the world because our leaders do not tolerate, promote or foster it. Their loud reaction to Netanyahu's mention of Iranian threats to destroy, not just Israel, but all Jews was second only to his mention of their threat to destroy America. I understood that while we must never be silent when anti-Semitism occurs, we live in a country whose government has our back.

In our dinner conversation, Rep. Lujan Grisham reinforced this message. She agreed that there is strong, unbreakable, if not unlimited support for the American Jewish community and for Israel both in Congress and the Administration.

I was there not just as Congresswoman Lujan Grisham's guest but also as a rabbi. As your rabbi I am proud to bring this message of support home to you.

Shalom uv'racha,

Rabbi Harry L. Rosenfeld

Why I Decided To Attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Address To Congress

Last week I received a call from Congresswoman Michelle Lujan-Grisham to be her guest at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress. While honored I had mixed feelings about what I wanted to do. Part of my gut told me I had to go and my kishkes (my Jewish gut) said not to.

As I was conflicted I turned to friends, colleagues and members for their analysis and advice. As I expected, the people I called split 50/50. Half said go. Half said do not. Both groups offered a variety of reasons to support their position, most of which echoed what I already thought. Some provided unique perspectives.

I concluded that the best possible outcome would be for the Prime Minister to choose not to make the address. Since that is not a reality, I decided to accept Congresswoman Lujan-Grisham’s invitation and attend the address.

The primary reason I decided to accept Congresswoman Lujan-Grisham’s invitation is because of my respect for her and her respect and friendship for our congregation and Jewish community.

My other reasons included:

Benjamin Netanyahu is the sitting Prime Minister of the State of Israel. The upcoming election in Israel nor the internecine fight between Congress and President Obama does not negate the current reality.

I am not a policy expert but I have mixed feelings about our negotiations with Iran. Hearing and seeing the speech live would give me a better perspective on his message and the response from Congress, as I would be there to see body language and hear inflection without the filter of television’s 2 dimensions and “talking heads.”

A significant part of my responsibilities includes representing Congregation Albert in the larger community.

Finally, I believe that it is incumbent upon us as Jews, as Americans and as lovers of freedom that we take the time to educate ourselves about this and every issue. We cannot just read and consider serious articles containing opinions we already agree with but rather, take the risk of reading serious articles containing opinions that diverge from our initial instincts and consider them carefully as well.

Much has been written by American Jewish leaders about “the speech”. I would suggest you read some of these perspectives, both pro and con that I have read.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 

Abe Foxman national director of the Anti-Defamation league (ADL)

Rabbi Irwin Kula President of Clal — The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership

Alan Dershowitz

Article from the Gallup Independent About our Latest Navajo-Jewish Dialog

The Letter I Submitted to the Albuquerque Journal About the Attempted Fire-Bombing of the Islamic Center Mosque in Albuquerque

Having worked at a synagogue that suffered an anti-Semitic attack I understand the feelings that must be present in our local Muslim community in response to the attempted fire-bombing of their Mosque. Such an attack reminds us that our work toward the “American melting pot” remains undone. In a country established with the principle of religious liberty for all, this terrorist attack and the bigotry it represents is a truly heinous crime against our whole community.

Whether one follows Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger into our community and loving one’s neighbor as oneself, or tries to answer the question “What would Jesus do” or practice any of the other plethora of religious teachings of acceptance and peace, the attack against a person or group based solely on their faith is an act of cowardice in violation of the core of every faith tradition.

The perpetrator/s of this attempted bombing have lowered themselves to the level of the terrorists of ISIS. How we react as a community will show the depth of our character.

Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld
Congregation Albert
Albuquerque, NM

Maximum Restraint (written and performed by Peter Himmelman)