I feel like I could, and should, recommend my friend M.J. Rosenberg’s weekly essay for the Israeli Policy Forum every week.  But this week’s column is particularly interesting, even by M.J.’s high standards.

A lot has been written about the pros and cons of a Jewish communal embrace of Christian Zionism and Pastor John Hagee’s Christians United for Israel (CUFI) in particular.  Including by me. 

But what is most interesting about M.J.’s piece this week is the contrast he draws between the Jewish community reaction (more accurately, reactions) to phenomenon of Christian Zionism and the reaction(s) to Pope Benedict’s announcement that the Catholic Church will permit greater use of the pre-Vatican II “Latin Mass.”  Here’s the key section:

… some Jewish leaders are concerned about Pope Benedict’s recent decision to permit Catholic use of Good Friday liturgy that was dropped upon the orders of Pope John XXIII in 1962.

The prayer says: “Let us pray also for the Jews that the Lord our God may take the veil from their hearts and that they also may acknowledge Our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray…that they may acknowledge the light of your truth, which is Christ, and be delivered from their darkness.”

Abraham Foxman, head of the ADL, is lobbying the Vatican to drop plans to revive the prayer, noting that the prayer is a part of a “history of teaching contempt” and a tradition of conversion by "expulsion, inquisition and burning at the stake.

”In general,” Foxman says, “the way Catholics pray is not an issue for Jews, except when that prayer is offensive and insulting.”

CUFI’s theology is more offensive and insulting, although that has not kept Hagee from being lionized in some segments of the Jewish community.   Conservative Catholics who prefer the old liturgy to the new are not trying to influence America’s policies in the Middle East.  They do not lobby.  They have no political agenda. 

Special bonus – M.J. provides a link to this wonderful – fascinating, frightening, even funny -- video report from the CUFI conference by Max Blumenfeld, a reporter for the weekly Forward.  It’s by no means objective, but it is interesting.   I’m particulallary fond of the part where Senator Lieberman compares Pastor Hagee to Moses.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am a little late getting to this, but part of the fun of the internet is that you can always find something later!  Robert Heller, Chairman of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Board of Trustees, and all around great friend of the RAC, has a post on the Jerusalem Post’s bog  entitled “Why I Chose Reform Judaism.”  The entire thing is quite good (of course!)  but I was (of course!) particularly moved by his comments on the Movement’s commitment to social justice.

Heeding the prophetic voice: Tikkun olam and social justice are core religious values for us. God’s world, which we hold in trust for our children, grandchildren and generations yet to come, remains fragmented and in need of healing. Each of us is charged with its repair and with enabling all God’s children to share in its abundance. We do not wait for the messiah -- the arrival of a messianic era depends on us.

 Amen.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This week “On Faith” has a special week – entitled “Muslims Speak Out” -- dedicated to a discussion among Muslim scholars and authorities on Islam's views on violence, human rights, and interfaith relations.   They have posed a provocative set of questions (available here) to a diverse group of Muslim leaders and clerics (available here), and are posting their answers (with commentary from “On Faith” panelists) every day this week.

I believe I have written about “On Faith,” the very interesting website run by the Washington Post and Newsweek, before.  It’s a great project, bringing a wide array of thoughtful religious voices (including that of RAC Director Rabbi David Saperstein) together to answer (or at least to write about!) hard questions. 

It’s too early in the week to offer any real assessment.  But I do know that it will well worth reading.  I’d be interested in your thoughts.  Just click on “comment” below.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 8:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Teen Life is a bustling adventure even when I don’t get to visit; but since I am here, I can certainly report how active the young people in the Social Action track are filling their time. The way Kutz functions empowers participants, who are all high schoolers, to pick their preferred topics for two hour sessions in the mornings, followed by two ‘elective’ sessions in the afternoon.  The morning sessions dedicated to social action attracted no less than 20% of the camp!! 

In the midst of 90 degree days, these young leaders have been able to work on behalf of Save Tibet; Heifer International; Save Darfur; Make a Child Smile; as well as other local organizations and causes. 

The countless articles I read about how lazy and unengaged young people are never seemed accurate when I was younger, and now I certainly see that at least at Kutz, what passes for laziness counts as active everywhere else.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)