Submitted Comments RSS Feed Comments by Gary Walk
Posted in: Rounding up opinions on Obama in Cairo (UPDATE #2)
The problem with pressuring Israel to make unilateral concessions is that history shows that they will not be reciprocated; that the Palestinian leadership will once again not miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity for peace, as Abba Eban observed. Obama doesn't care because his political and physical security are not at stake, and because he has the audacity of grandiosity. Win or lose, he burnishes his image as a rock star to his acolytes.
Posted in: Reform backs same-sex marriage ban challenge
Their tax exempt status should not be an issue. 501(c)(3) organizations are permitted to take non-partisan positions on political issues, and as an affiliate of a religious organization, the RAC may not even be a (c)(3) anyway. What I am saying is that a Jewish religious organization (as opposed to a Jewish political organization) should have some regard for the Torah in its public positions.
Posted in: Reform backs same-sex marriage ban challenge
This raises an issue that I discussed with Rabbi Saperstein at a reception in Palm Beach Gardens on Sunday: is it appropriate for a Jewish organization to take a position based on consensus Jewish political beliefs, which is not grounded in Halacha? The Torah contains passages which are inconsistent with same sex marriages, yet most Reform Jews, including me, believe that principles of individual liberty should trump the Torah's proscriptions in matters of civil law. Yet it still seems to me that a Jewish religious movement is on shaky ground taking a position that is clearly at odds with passages in the Torah. I feel perfectly comfortable taking such position as an individual, but I am not comfortable with my movement taking the same position. Gary Walk Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
RSS Feed Breaking News
Updated 11/22/09 @ 05:02PM EDT
- Hundreds of Jewish and non-Jewish Brazileans protested in Rio de Janeiro on the eve of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit.
- "Real progress" has been made in negotiations to release a captured Israeli soldier, President Shimon Peres confirmed.
- The online auction Web site eBay said it took down an ad offering biological samples from Benito Mussolini before anyone could bid on them.
- Turkey has given Israeli defense contractors 50 days to deliver 10 promised drone aircraft.
- Iran began an air defense drill designed to protect its nuclear program, Iranian state television reported.
- Brazileans protest Ahmadinejad visit
- Peres: ‘Real progress’ in Shalit talks
- The Mofaz plan—state now, ask questions later
- eBay removes Mussolini brain, blood samples
- Turkey demands delivery of Israeli drones
- Iran begins air defense drill
- More Israeli recruits seeking to join combat units
- Haredim return to protest Jerusalem Intel factory
- Female Orthodox scholars helping women talk about sex
- Obama half-brother has Jewish roots
- Lieberman: Fort Hood could be terror attack
- J Street confab shows generational divide on Israel
- What really happened at the Reform biennial in Toronto
- Pro-Israel fliers confiscated at campus speech
- Rubashkin convicted on 86 charges
- Obama shifts to Israel’s corner, but tries not to show it
Posted in: Jewish passivity (take that Tarantino)
10/06/09 05:56 PM
Can there be any question whether one is required to take advantage of an opportunity to save 1,500 Jewish (or non-Jewish) lives, coming from a tradition where it is taught that to save one life is as if to save the whole world? The so-called Jewish heros of Inglourious Basterds were not authentically Jewish. Golda Meier said that she had anger toward the Arabs not so much for killing Jews, as for making Jews kill Arabs. She was authentically Jewish!