Debating politics can sometimes get very heated, and thankfully we have freedom of speech in this wonderful country that we are fortunate to live in. But sometimes people forget that we are Yidden – Torah Observant Jews – and that everything we do, will either create a Kiddish Hashem or Chillul Hashem.
While many Jews – myself included – find the statements made on Thursday by Barack Obama to be anti-Israel, and we have the right to criticize him, some people are calling for a protest in Manhattan today (Friday), with rhetoric that is crossing the proverbial line. While of course they have the right to protest, it will be a large-scale Chillul Hashem if they in fact carry the signs they claim they will – and continue to make outlandish remarks. For example, yesterday Assemblyman Dov Hikind said “President Obama is of the same mindset as Hamas.” The idea that the President of the United State who has give billions of dollars to Israel and who supports a flawed two-state solution is like Hamas, who doesn’t even recognize Israel and seeks to wipe out the Jews, is ludicrous. In fact, while the President’s speech was wrong and offensive, he took the time to criticize Hamas and was clear that Hamas’s philosophy was not welcome. Obama said “how can one negotiate with a party that has shown itself unwilling to recognize your right to exist?”
Or, how about this outrageous suggestion for a sign (see email below): “Barack Hussein Obama: We Wont Return To Auschwitz!”.
This slogan implies, that our President (whether you like him or not, he’s still our democratically elected President) is a Hitler.
I really hope that no one carries such a sign at today’s rally. But if they do, let them carry a disclaimer stating that they do not represent the Jewish community. Simply put, that sign is offensive to our Torah values.
In conclusion, I disagree with the President and I believe that his speech today was pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel. Disagreeing is OK. Criticizing is OK. But comparing the President to Hitler or Hamas is not OK.
Editor’s note: the following press release has been emailed and circulated en-masse:
JEWISH COMMUNITY TO PROTEST AGAINST PRESIDENT OBAMA AT ISRAELI CONSULATE: OBAMA MOST ANTI-ISRAEL PRESIDENT EVER
-Protestors to Gather Waving Israeli Flags, Hold Signs –
NEW YORK, NY – A number of major Jewish organizations, including Aish Center, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), RAJE and others will gather on Friday May 20th, at Noon at the Israeli Consulate, located at 800 2nd Avenue (42nd Street) to protest President Obama’s call that Israel should retreat to 1967 borders. Hundreds are expected to gather.
Obama endorsed Palestinians’ demand for their own state based on the pre-1967 borders. The break with longstanding U.S. policy is a grave danger to Israel.
Protestors will hold signs which read:
“Barack Hussein Obama: We Wont Return To Auschwitz !”
“Obama: Danger To Israel”
“Obama Rewards Terror”
This rally will feature prominent rabbis, dignitaries, and public officials.
“President Obama is a grave danger to the State of Israel and the Jewish people. He is the most hostile president to Israel ever, and this move will only cause more Arab terrorism. As Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, these borders are “militarily indefensible.” Its necessary to remember what Abba Eban, when he served as Israel’s Foreign Minister said when he appeared at the United Nations following the Six Day war, in describing the fragility of Israel’s 1949-1967 map as Israel’s “Auschwitz” lines,”said Rabbi Mordechai Tokarsky, Director of RAJE (Russian American Jewish Experience).
ZOA President Morton A. Klein said, “President Obama has severely harmed Israel’s interests and America’s interests. Today, we are ashamed of and frightened by America’s policy regarding Israel. President Obama is the most hostile president to Israel ever.”
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18 Responses
I don’t think the sign is comparing Obama to Hitler. If the Palestinians get control, they will kill all the Jews they can. Obama supporting them is supporting the mass murder of Jews. I’d be more inclined to compare Obama to FDR – he stood by and watched while the Nazis murdered millions of innocent Jews.
Perhaps we should try to meet up with Indians who still are on reservations due to the sale their parents made to America years ago. Maybe they should be given attention and made to realize they were shortchanged and they should be at the protest with signs with slogans appropriate to their mistreatment by America.
But sometimes people forget that we are Yidden – Torah Observant Jews – and that everything we do, will either create a Kiddish Hashem or Chillul Hashem.
are you a rabbi that can decide what is a Kiddish Hashem or Chillul Hashem.
last i looked we live in america were there is freedom of speech and as long as our comants fall under freedom of speech then great and lets do it.
Mechilas Kevodcha but I agree with 1. Nobody is saying at all hes like hitler. They are just saying what will happen to us if we listen to his dumb idea
Obama is an IDIOT all those that voted for him and still stand behind his beliefs should denounce their American citizenship and give all their money to help pay for what they ruined-this once great country!!!
one disabled American vets opinion
I still fail to see how this speech is a departure in any way from previous US policies. The ZOA was gung ho about Bush, yet calls Obama anti-Israel for continuing Bush’s policies? Hypocrisy!
This is a tempest in a teapot.
The Israelis and Arabs both disparaged the speech. Neither side cares about it.
Kinderlach, we have much more important things to worry about.
t
Did you say the same when the left compared President GW Bush to Hitler? How come I highly doubt that you did.
Call the whote house 2024561111 and tell Obama we do not agree with his demands Ón Israel
You are just a liberal Jew who cannot come to terms with the fact that the democratic party does not have the Jewish people’s best interest in mind anymore.
I agree. It is despicable and disrespectful to call anyone a Hitler, Nazi, anti-Semite etc. President Obama may an arrogant, arch-liberal community organizer who is sympathetic with the Muslims, but he’s not an anti-Semite. He may be a naive ideologoue, but he’s no Hitler.
I agree with Shazam, but not for what CharlieHall says…for this is adeparture from prior policy.
Daddy Bush is on record as saying that going back to the “’48 Armistice lines” … i.e the ’67 boundaries…is not feasible, and that has been United States policy until yesterday.
But that said, we need to note also the President’s statement yesterday that negotiations would be dependent upon recognition of Israel as a “Jewish state;” this is a precondition the Palestinian authority, much less Hamas, appears simply unwilling to meet…it would torpedo their so called right of return demand. Note also that the President set out his vision…but did not say or imply that the United States was going to step in actively as a party to any negotiations
Instead of Obama exterminating the Jews, he creates a situation where Israel can’t defend itself. Ben Gurion Airport will be 3 miles away from the “Palestinin State,” and the Hamas terrorists will be able to have Rocket target shooting at the airport. They’ll also conquer the hilltops around Jerusalem, overlooking the Israeli roads, from where they’ll be able to station their sniper shooters.To sum up, Obama is a white collar antisemite who sends his blue collar Palestinians to do his job.
I agree with this Op-ed. It is important to distinguish the wrong but well meaning from the evil. Pres. Obama wants peace. We want peace. We just think that his plan won’t bring peace. Pres. Obama is wrong, not evil.
This is not a strong departure from past US policy, as Charlie Hall pointed out, the US has long supported a Palestinian state with them getting Gaza and the West Bank, i.e 1967 borders. But, it is a strong departure in attitude. The president made requests of the Palestinians, but demands of Israel. He stated that the new
Palestinian state must have “contiguous” borders. This is a departure from past US policy and it is scary.
A gutten Erev Shabbos to all.I do not understand what you are all thinking.President Obama is a narcacist,which means everything he does and says is Me,Myself and I. He can say whatever he wants, but keep in mind he does not control the world and certainly does not control Eretz Yisroel. He is a puppet on a string and Ribono Shel Olom is his master. We do not what lies ahead,but didn’t the President forget to acknowledge that without Hashem, Osama Bin Laden would not have been found.Anything the President does is Yad Hashem whether we see it or not.Hashem is just reminding us with the tongue of the President that he wants us to continue Davening for the Refuas needed, Parnasa needed, Hatzlocha needed, Gezunt needed and so much more, so that IYH with the tefilos of all of us we will be zoche to see the Geula Bimheiro Beyomeinu very very soon .
I think President BHO would love to be compared to FDR.
Fatah = HAMAS
BHO supports the establishment of a Fatah-HAMAS terrorist state on the “Auschwitz borders” of 1967, also known as the 1949 armistice lines – which is where the Jewish State found itself after being invaded by five Arab armies screaming, “Itbach al Yahud.”
Every single Arab living in Eretz Yisroel has voted for a terrorist organization – either the PLO (formed in 1964 by Yassir Arafat), or HAMAS.
The Arabs turned down a “Palestinian” state in 1947, preferring to invade the just-born State of Israel and slaughter 6000 Jews.
The Arabs turned down a “Palestinian” state in 2000, preferring to launch an intifida.
Sorry to knock you off your soap box but you totally misunderstood the Hitler reference. Don’t get me wrong, I completely agree that we must be careful about how we present ourselves in public.(On a side note, I didn’t see any such regarding what the Neturai Karta gang did in Iran this past shabbos. I kow you don;t agree with them but where is the ourage? Certainly they should have received both barrels.) Getting back to the matter at hand, The phrase “We are not going back to Auschwitz” was not meant to equate Obama with Hitler but it refers to Abba Eban equating the pre-1967 boundaries with Auschwitz since it would mean the end of Israel as we know it. His statement is mentioned in the press release in your article and repeated below. I think you owe some people an apology.
Its necessary to remember what Abba Eban, when he served as Israel’s Foreign Minister said when he appeared at the United Nations following the Six Day war, in describing the fragility of Israel’s 1949-1967 map as Israel’s “Auschwitz” lines,”said Rabbi Mordechai Tokarsky