What Atlantic writer Jeffrey Goldberg has called "Operation Desert Schmooze" continued at the White House yesterday. A group of some 150 people, mostly Jews prominent in their fields, gathered for the latest volley in the Obama charm offensive. This was the first White House event in honor of Jewish Heritage month which -- it may have escaped your notice -- was in May.
The White House continues its campaign to sell both the genuineness of its sympathy with Israel and its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the nuclearization of Iran. This was the 'soft sell'; reminding us of the President's deep ties to Jews and the Jewish community.
The reception brought together an impressively wide array of personalities. In addition to the usual farrago of Rabbis and Jewish leaders and professionals, there were Washington insiders like David Brooks, Nina Totenberg, Roger Cohen, Diane Sawyer, Carl Bernstein and government officials like David Axelrod and Peter Orszag, a group of Senators and congressmen (including the easily spotted Al Franken.) Supreme court justices -- and Elena Kagan, the nominee -- added to the august feel of leather bound books on the shelves and Presidential seals on everything from the carpet to the paper hand towels. Several non-Jews active in politics and supportive of Israel, including the Director of research for the Southern Baptist convention, Barrett Duke, were present; and of course, Israel's Ambassador Michael Oren. To reinforce the connection of the administration with Israel, the President made a point to remind us that Rahm Emanuel was in Israel for the Bar Mitzvah of his son.
As the formal part of the program began I found myself sitting in front of Robert Pinsky, the former poet Laureate of the United States. Also occasioning a lot of whispered interest were the perennially popular children's author, Judy Blume, Theodore Bikel, and a gathering of sports figures: the Miami Dolphin quarterback Jay Fiedler and basketball legend Dolph Schayes.
I had been to the White House once before, for the opening of the Anne Frank exhibit at the Holocaust Museum. Then of course the mood was far more somber; on this day there was a great deal of clinking glass, canapé scarfing and neck craning to spot others (except for Dolph Schayes and his son, who took easy advantage of the Jews' vertical deficiencies.)
In his opening remarks, the President acknowledged the biggest draw. He said it was a remarkable gathering of rabbinical scholars, politicians, artists and Sandy Koufax. When he mentioned the name of legendary pitcher, the room exploded in applause. Koufax is of course famous in the Jewish community not only for his epochal skills as a pitcher, but for refusing to pitch on Yom Kippur in the World Series. The President mentioned the similarities between himself and Koufax: "We are both lefties. He can't pitch on Yom Kippur, and I can't pitch."
His words were brief and focused on the Jewish struggle through history which has turned us to a more compassionate people, and an extraordinarily accomplished one. He spoke of the symbiosis between America and the Jews. And in the line the assembly was waiting for, the President reinforced the unbreakable bond between America and Israel.
This was the undercurrent of the afternoon. The primary topics of conversation beforehand (apart from the horrendous oil spill) were Mideast peace, Iran and President's standing with the Jewish community. He is currently polling lower among Jews than any Democrat in recent memory. The causes are primarily a perceived lack of sympathy with Israel and fear of developments in Iran. I spoke at length with Roger Cohen from the NY Times, who visited Sinai Temple over a year ago to engage the Iranian community. We both agreed there has been woefully little encouragement of dissidents in Iran, a crucial step. As Leon Wieseltier from the New Republic pointed out to me the day before, even when the Soviet Union was a major nuclear power we did not hesitate to encourage Soviet dissidents in every way we could. So why the diffidence on Iran?
A reception will not change anyone's mind. The undeniable grace and charm of the President and First Lady will not either. The divides on policy are deep. But for a moment, the politics of the event slipped away; the people in the room represented the range of political views, left to right. For most there was the enduring wonder of the instant: as Alysa Stanton, America's first female, African-American Rabbi read Emma Lazarus' "The New Colossus" and singer Regina Spektor performed, there endured the miraculous reality of Jewish Americans gathering in the White House. Together this group represented a stunning range of achievement and a fair return for America's deep blessing of freedom.
As we melted away into the blazing Washington sun, past the portraits of Presidents and first ladies, past the honor guard and escorts, I came upon a small group discussing the American Jewish museum, due to open in November. The museum is built on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. From literature to music to the pitcher's mound, you cannot tell the story of America without telling the story of our people. On the steps of the White House we spoke about the museum near Constitution Hall. At the fraught founding of this great nation, who knew that when the cracked bell first tolled, it was playing our song?
from the propraganda of the IDF so far you'd think the peace ships were full of an elite
assassine squad, but actually I think those were the ones falling on them from helicopters,
with machine guns....against what, forks and spoons....NUTS !
Call Congress, stop all US aid to Israel, this is the last straw !
and sorry but an "ally" that makes the world MORE dangerous for US military and civilians
is not much of a positive, is it ?
Been to Russia, love the people, drinking a bit too much vodka, laughing...
but the government is still NUTS ! lots of parnoid people there...
I suppose you agree with those who after this problem with Israel said " Never Again ! "
Again in the most low class smear, as if this was even remotely close to
the terrible days of WW 2. And this rabbi is not much better, I think
I could destroy his points in a face-to-face debate, despite all
of his training in logic.
Few here are really against Israel, we are just tired of over 50 years of
blind support, no matter if it attacks the US Liberty or kills Arabs kids or
steals video camera's because it is afraid of what they might
document ! Balance out the views and many of us
will feel better about this mess.
The Neo-Con's in the US were thirsty for blood and a war with Iraq, despite
very weak evidence it was a real threat to the US.
I think the right wing in Israel decided they could play the GOP and Dem's off each
other for years, but with Pres. Carter they finally met someone who could stand up
to them, with a more balanced view. And with that they decided to fight Dem's
in most cases, trying to make them look like they threaten Israel if not
blindly for it every single time.
Even though Israel is about as left in domestic politics as the Dem Party, with
decent health care, etc. for many years, it's politicans correctly believe that
the GOP, with it run by nutty right wing Christians mostly, will agree with
them almost always, and give them billions even while they don't need it.
We need to cut off all aid to the region. Israel does not need it, does not
appreciate it, and much of the aid to Egypt, etc. is for Israel's benefit anyway,
and I doubt they appreciate it either. We need the money here, call Congress.
Betrayal of Israel, that is a low class smear and totally untrue. If anything we
should have cut your US aid asap when Bibi threw yet another insult
at the US, one of many to Republican and Dem Presidents.
No one knows fascism better than Israelis.
By Bradley Burston
http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/a-special-place-in-hell-rebranding-israel-as-a-state-headed-for-fascism-1.290977
Did you listen to the interview at all or are you simply a "person of faith"?
I don't get it
This story of jewish
Isreali recognition that
can't accomplish anything--
despite Obama's best efforts.
i give up.
You said: "It may be difficult for you to believe but not everything regarding Jewish Americans is about Israel and the Palestinians".
Of course it is difficult to believe. It may not be the "only" issue but it has been a "major" issue. The Israel/Palestinian festering conflict was clearly the elephant in the room.
And for you, Rabbi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o
that is just your imagination coming from selective perception
Fail. Try again.
Maybe the commenter was expanding on the implications...