The inaugural Jewish America Heritage Month celebration held last week at the White House did not serve the traditional alphabet soup of the Jewish organizational world and of pro-Israelism, writes JTA. In an attempt to swirl the usual buzz words that define American Jewry to America specifically, Israel President Obama chose to gather a unique mirror of American Jewry.
Among the invited were Jewish senators, US Supreme Court justices, military veterans, athletes, astronauts, journalists, former refusniks, rabbis, you name it. Rabbi Alysa Stanton, the first female African American rabbi and a beloved presence at Denvers Temple Emanuel, read the Emma Lazarus poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Apparently the crowd gasped as this descendant of slaves ripped from their homes and brought to this country in chains uttered the moving phrase with open arms.
No doubt Obama did not intend Israel to be the sole focus of the festivities, an attempt to defuse what many fear is a ticking time bomb between the US and her once inviolate ally. JTA described the celebration as an unadulterated feel-good moment because it took place just days before Israels response to the flotilla of self-described human rights activists. Now hostile minds are once again riveted upon the Jewish homeland.
The Jewish American heritage gala espoused Jewish values and success stories. Politics aside, the reception raised a torch of solidarity and lit up the room with smiles of pride. Related story: Jewish American Heritage Month celebrated at White House
Overall, JTA wrote, the festivities amounted to a bald emotional appeal to Jewish soft spots. That may be true. But we dare you to name a single White House celebration honoring African Americans or women or Latinos or any minority that does not appeal to emotional bald spots. Thats the essence of celebration. Why mention it at all? Because Obama is often viewed as the archenemy in the current Jewish scenario, spewing falsehoods, manipulating facts, leading us down the path of destruction a perspective loudly affirmed by some Jews and roundly rejected by others.
Its clear that Obamas actions and attitudes are causing a schism between America and American Jewry and turning Jew against Jew. The relationship between the US and Israel is a slippery slope in danger of collapse. That said, and fully recognized, would we really prefer a president like Richard Nixon who publicly supported Israel while mouthing expletives against Jews on his infamous tapes?
Sandy Koufax was the undisputed star of the celebration (read Page 8). Baseball still unites all Americans, and the vast majority of American Jews.
Like baseball, there will be hits and misses in the political game. So stand tall and cheer your Jewish pride. Sure, we might be called out after three strikes but the game is far from over.
