The lineup for President-elect Donald Trump’s January 20 inauguration features a glaring juxtaposition of values and alliances, as Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University, and Imam Husham Al-Husainy, a controversial figure with ties to pro-Hezbollah activities, are slated to deliver back-to-back benedictions following Trump’s inaugural address.
Berman represents the values of Yeshiva University, America’s flagship Jewish college. Since becoming the university’s fifth president in 2016, he has overseen significant growth in its educational and community impact. Sharing his thoughts on participating in the ceremony, Berman wrote on X: “It is a profound privilege to offer a prayer of unity and hope on behalf of Yeshiva University and for all Americans at this historic moment.”
In stark contrast, Imam Al-Husainy’s presence raises questions about the event’s messaging. The leader of the Karbalaa Islamic Center in Dearborn, Michigan, Al-Husainy has refused to label Hezbollah a terrorist organization and attended a 2006 rally supporting the Iranian-backed group during its conflict with Israel. At the rally, Al-Husainy held up a photo of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last September.
Al-Husainy has also drawn criticism for his invocation at the Democratic National Committee’s 2007 winter meeting, where he prayed for an end to “oppression and occupation” in Iraq—a statement widely interpreted as a condemnation of U.S. forces. When pressed on Fox News about his stance on Hezbollah, Al-Husainy denied any affiliation but refused to denounce the group, instead describing it as “a Lebanese organization” with biblical connotations.
The inclusion of both figures—one representing a staunchly pro-Israel institution and the other with a history of support for terrorists opposed to Israel—underscores a profound contradiction.
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12 Responses
Where are the giants like Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Nissim who boycotted the Pope? Oy LaDor whose leaders lack the clarity and gumption of the prior generations.
Why is this contradictory? In the MAGAverse there is only one overriding value obedience to Trump. You can be Hizbullah, Fuentes, Kanye or Jewish as long as your pledge loyalty to the death leader. Just last week Trump posted the rants of antisemite Jeffrey Sachs to his truth social page
WAKE UP ALL YIDDEN!
WAKE UP AMERICA!
WAKE UP WORLD!
There is conflict within each group above, and conflict between the groups
We are living in an age of contention and contradiction.
We hope and pray for Moshiach!’
If we are not keeping ourselves GLATT KOSHER, C;has V’Sholom Hashem may be forced to the cleansing …..
Thus, I shudder thinking about what may come before he arrives.
It’s only a contradiction, to those who think that Donald Trump is on “our” side. Trump is MAGA – and the imam is as much an American as the rabbi.
Why didn’t he invite Rabbi Weiss from Netura Carta. Perhaps he didn’t think of it.
America’s flagship Jewish college. Ever heard of BMG?
Perfectly rational. An indication to both groups that they have the president’s favor in what is still an overwhelmingly Christian nation. Inclusionary thinking at its best. Remember that on many issues (other than the real estate dispute in the Middle East) Jews and Muslims have a common agenda (non-stunning of animal before slaughter, clothes that strike Americans as excessively modest, distinct religious garb, circumcision, cuisine rules that have serious social problems, etc.).
Sometimes, this guy scares me! Despite my suspicions, I still love the guy and pray for him. Just that sometimes, like with this imam at the inauguration, I get really worried that I’m getting my leg pulled…. But, maybe he’s doing a Sun Tzu? “Keep you friends close, and your enemies closer.”
That’s a trump philosophy. Getting close to Putin and Xi.
Trump is a master politician. He invited the Rabbi because he loves jews.
He invited the imam because the imam probably has all sorts of connections the the Reshaim in high places in the arab world.
Anyone who doesn’t appreciate DONALD J TRUMPS is a כפוי טוב after all he has done for Israel.
There’s only two types of people that it says explicitly Hashem hates. The גאותן and the כפוי טוב.
Try not to be in either group for your own sake.
Crazykanoiy: Get your facts straight. First of all, Jeffrey Sacks, whether you like him or not, is Jewish himself. 2nd of all, as he is the president of my country, I am more loyal to Trump than to some mechalel Shabbos who happens to be the leader of a foreign country. And 3rd of all, to the writer of this article, it’s hysterical to see how far behind in time your way of thinking is, seriously? Condemning someone for not liking the Iraq war? Have you been sleeping under a rock for the last 10 years and not noticed that most Americans both democrat and republican think that the Iraq was was, as Trump said it in 2016, a BIG FAT MISTAKE. The only ppl that still hold from it are really boring old establishment ppl
amicable33 – The kofui tov is the one who ignores all that Biden has done for Israel. No government in the world has done more for Israel than Biden has done since October 7th. Trump never deployed US forces to defend Israel. Biden sent weapons and aid on an unprecedented scale.
Gererer Chusid -Jeffery Sachs is a vile antisemite who spreads lies and slander about Jews and Israel. So is Bernie Sanders. Being Jewish doesn’t change the fact that one can spread horrible lies about his co-religionists. The way you are dismissive of what Trump has done causes one to ask is your loyalty to your people or to Trump.