Glenn Beck is apologizing for remarks he made on his radio show comparing rabbis from a major Jewish tradition to Islamic radicals, saying, “I was wrong on this and I also apologize for it.”
“In this case I didn’t do enough homework,” Beck told radio listeners on Thursday, while his website said his comments contained “one of the worst analogies of all time.”
On Tuesday, Beck said on his show that “reformed rabbis are generally political in nature.”
“It’s almost like Islam – radicalized Islam,” he continued, “in a way to where radicalized Islam is less about religion than it is about politics.”
Beck’s comments came after a group of 400 rabbis, many from the Reform movement, took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal blasting him for comments he made about the Holocaust.
Beck, who also hosts a show on Fox News, had aired a radio series about financier George Soros that accused him of collaborating with the Nazis to send Jews to death camps, according to the Jewish Funds for Justice, which sponsored the ad.
Soros is Jewish.
The Reform movement, founded in 19th century Germany, counts a million and a half Jews in North America, according to the Union for Reform Judaism.
Beck sent a letter to the Anti-Defamation League, a group that works to combat anti-Semitism, to apologize for his remarks.
“I was admittedly misinformed on Reform rabbis, and made a horrible analogy that I immediately attempted to clarify – quite honestly, I blew it on this one,” Beck wrote, according to a copy of the letter released by the Anti-Defamation League.
Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham H. Foxman says he accepts Beck’s apology.
“Glenn Beck has shown that he understands how his remarks were offensive and out of line,” Foxman said in a statement Thursday. “We welcome his words of apology and consider the matter closed.”
The Jewish Funds for Justice, meanwhile, said Beck’s apology did not go far enough.
“Glenn Beck’s apology for comparing Reform Judaism to ‘radicalized Islam’ is welcome but incomplete,” the group said in a statement.
“While we are heartened to hear him recognize his ignorance,” the statement continued, “he still has not acknowledged that the letter signed by 400 rabbis and organized by Jewish Funds for Justice represented a cross-section of denominations, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Renewal rabbis.”
(Source: CNN)
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“While we are heartened to hear him recognize his ignorance,” the statement continued, “he still has not acknowledged that the letter signed by 400 rabbis and organized by Jewish Funds for Justice represented a cross-section of denominations, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Renewal rabbis.”
I wonder who there “Orthodox Rabbis” are
Outrageous!!!
How could he compare Reform “rabbis” to radical Islam?!?!
Radical islamists are barbaric savages, but they do (in their own warped way) believe in G-d.
Many, if not most, reform “rabbis” do not!
Now Beck needs to apologize to the thousands of European Jews who were slaughtered by the Nazis because
RabbiStephen Wise refused to raise $50 apiece to have them released.Can someone get me this fellow’s contact info?
WOR dropped him, so him and his show is out of my focus for now.
I think that Agudas Yisroel of America should stand up for him. And ALL orthodox Jews should for that matter!!!!!
It has already been pointed out that the analogy is flawed because radical muzzies, unlike most reformies, believe in a supreme being. But it is flawed for another reason. As Norman Podhoretz pointed out in his recent book “Why Are Jews Liberal,” for the reform (and, by and large, conservative) Jews, liberalism IS their religion.
(See his online Wall St Journal piece, 9/10/09 — just google his name, it is the second listing) Gee… does Mr. Pohoretz need to apologize as well?
Re the attacks on him for his Holocaust comments: specifically, his source for Soros actions during the Holocaust is Soros himself. One might argue that Soros was only 14 at the time and Beck himself pointed this out. What is relevant is that Soros has stated repeatedly that even now, more than 60 years after the fact, he has ZERO remorse for his actions. That is a man with a black heart.
In other words, these so called “rabbis” from Jews for Justice are defending and admitted, remorseless Nazi collaborator (and an openly, avowedly self-hating Jew) from someone who points out that he is an admitted, remorseless collaborator (and an openly, avowedly self-hating Jew). And you’re telling me that politics is NOT trumping religion for these people??
Glenn Beck is one of the only tv show hosts who speaks the truth… It may be offensive what he says sometimes, but it’s all true
This supports Glenn Beck’s anology that these “Rabbi’s” are all about politics – worse than radical Islam that unfortunately believes that they’rs Allah’s messengers…
Liberalism is a religion to itself thus a liberal Jew is a liberal first and MAYBE a Jew second.
I personally don’t give a hoot about what any liberal “Jewish” organization has to say because they are worthless.
As for the reformed being upset, can anyone show me a third generation reform Jew?
Yes, Glenn Beck made a mistake. The Reforms is mainly a political organization; so is Neturei Karta. That would be the best comparison.
I just read a reform rabbi’s disseration that “God did not have any divine intervention” in the purim story. Glen may have made a slightly off the wall comparison, but his challenge to the reform rabbis is indeed a useful and true admonision. The reform don’t get it. Neither do many conservative.
reply to number 6-
How can you call yourself a “Torah Jew” and refer to a group of people with a derogatory name (muzzies). You are know for your bitter rancid rhetoric. Find honor and live a healthier life.
#12:
Most commenters on this site wouldn’t know civility if Miss Manners herself slugged them in the face. It’s best to ignore them; they’re usually spouting nonsense anyway.
No. 9 asks, “[C]an anyone show me a third generation reform Jew?” I know many 3rd-generation Reform Jews, and some of them have become frum. So try a little Ahavas Yisroel, and if you cannot be helpful, stop bashing Reform Jews.
I think the analogy was very apt, and very true. Now, Beck is not saying that Reform Rabbits are completely similar to Islamic radicals. And I think #2 somehow was led to the conclusion that that was what was meant. No. What was meant was that politics guides Reform Rabbis in their policies more than does their religion. The most cogent analogy that could be made, that everyone today is aware of, is of Islamic radicals, who also make decisions more on politics than on religion. I see nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, we have this sickness in the world that if you compare someone’s, let us say economic policies, to Hitler’s, you are putting that someone on the level of Hitler in all areas and then you raising Hitler to that someone’s level and insulting Holocaust survivors worldwide. It;s ridiculous but it is very prevalent.