Rabbi to Joe Lieberman: “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbors” - FireDogLake w/video

[WillyT]

Rabbi to Joe Lieberman: “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbors”
Lowell Feld
Monday November 16, 2009 8:59 am

<snip>

Is this great or what? Thank you Rabbi Fish!

“The moral imperative for our time is clear. Anyone whose guide in public policy is conscience, anyone who argues that faith and religious traditions should direct our actions, such a person must stand for universal health care in America,” Fish concluded. “It happens we are all also citizens of Connecticut. That fact leads us to ask you Senator Lieberman, what is it that you stand for?

<snip>

Link (with Video of vigil): http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/11/16/rabbi-to-joe-lieberman-do-not-stand-idly-by-the-blood-of-your-neighbors/

:applause:

[11 Bravo]

1. That's going to leave a mark! Goodonya, Rabbi.

[Bonobo]

2. As far as I am concerned, Lieberman is no Jew.

His lack of values place him OUTSIDE of the great tradition he hinds behind.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. "No true Scotchman"

[Deep13]

4. If he believes in Yahweh and conforms to Talmudic and Torah ...

...instructions, then he's a Jew.

[WillyT]

5. Yeah... He's Just Out Of Practice...

:shrug:

[Bonobo]

9. Believing in Jahweh is NOT a prerequisite FYI. Neither is conforming to talmudic or torah inst. nt

[Deep13]

18. Well how do you define Judaism if believing in God (tm) is not necessary? nt

[Bonobo]

19. If your mother is Jewish, you are Jewish. End of story as far as I know. nt

[Deep13]

22. So "Jewish" is a race, not a religion?

Sounds pretty Nazi to me.

[Bonobo]

23. Actually you do. nt

[Deep13]

24. Explain. Justify that remark.

The concept that Jewish is a race (or rather a racial defect) rather than merely a religion was a central tenent of National Socialism. Under this thinking, one could not avoid being persecuted as a Jew merely by converting because it something inate in his or her person and not merely a belief system. If one or both parents were Jewish, then that person is Jewish and, therefore, doomed by the Nazis.

OTOH, if it is a religion, having Jewish parents makes it likely someone is Jewish, but not necessarily. Many people raised as Jews have converted to other religions or discarded the idea of divinity all together.

[Bonobo]

26. Here. I quote Wikipedia.

Personally the subject has little interest to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_a_Jew%3F
"Who is a Jew?" (Hebrew: מיהו יהודי?‎ pronounced ) is a basic question about Jewish identity and considerations of Jewish self-identification. The question has gained particular prominence in connection with several high-profile legal cases in Israel since 1962.<1><2>
The definition of who is a Jew varies according to whether it is being considered by Jews based on normative religious statutes, self-identification or by non-Jews for their own particular purposes. Because Jewish identity can include characteristics of an ethnicity, a religion,<3> and citizenship, the definition of who is a Jew has varied, depending on whether a religious, sociological, or ethnic aspect was being considered, particularly since the early 19th century schism.<4>
According to halakha, the oldest normative definition used by Jews for self-identification, a person is matrilineally a Jew by birth, or becomes one through conversion to Judaism. However, adherence to this definition has been challenged since the emergence of the Karaite sect, emergence of modern groups in Judaism since the 19th century, and the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 reflecting:
Child's non-Jewish mother: i.e. whether a child born of a non-Jewish mother should be considered Jewish through the father's Jewish identity.
Conversion: i.e. what process of conversion other than the normative orthodox procedure should be considered valid.
Historical loss of Jewish identity: i.e. whether a person's or group's actions (such as conversion to a different religion) or circumstances in his, her or community's life (such as being unaware of Jewish parents) should affect his or her Jewish status.
Diaspora identity: identity of Jews among themselves, and by non-Jews throughout the Jewish diaspora.
Claim to Israeli citizenship: the examination of the three previous issues in the context of the Basic Laws of Israel.

[Meshuga]

28. Jewish is not a race. It is a people.

You are born Jewish or you can convert to Judaism to become Jewish. That is what defines who is Jewish or not. Race is not a factor.

[immoderate]

29. It's a tribal identity.

I'm a Jewish atheist. I know several rabbis that are atheists too.

--imm

[laconicsax]

10. Good to know you're on the job, deciding people's religion for them.

edit: typo

[Bonobo]

11. 24/7 baby.

What's your religion?

What did you eat for dinner last Friday?

[laconicsax]

12. Friday? I think I had tomato soup.

Either that or penne with chicken.

[Bonobo]

13. Then you're ok.

You are a good and observant Pennechickenarian.

[laconicsax]

14. So if I'd eaten a recetly baptized Christian baby like normal, then what?

[Bonobo]

15. I would ask you if you have any left in the freezer. nt

[laconicsax]

16. Always fresh, never frozen.

[Bonobo]

17. My man!

I'm coming over for dinner. We real Jews love Christian baby flesh!

[roguevalley]

20. a life without works is no life. he has done nothing good.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

21. No, wait, let me guess. Osama bin Laden is no real Muslim, Pat Robertson is no real Christian...

...but Kim Jong-Il is a very real atheist*, right?

I know the drill.

^{* Fun fact: Part of the fucked-up weirdness of the NK dictatorship is that Kim Jong-Il converses with thge spirit of his dead father, Kim Il-Sung. Make of that what you will.}

[Meshuga]

27. Sorry , but there is nothing in Judaism saying one is a Jew or not because of conduct

One is a Jew because he is born Jewish or converted to Judaism. That's the criteria. So Lieberman is Jewish no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel about it.

[handmade34]

6. "a pimple on the butt of progress"

is how Joe Lieberman was described on NPR Saturday

[ddeclue]

7. Rabbi Fish for U.S. Senate!

:D

[Hubert Flottz]

8. Joe is a greed based neocon...

He worships power and cash. He is motivated by greed and selfishness.

[Canuckistanian]

25. Lieberman is the anti-Mensch

Someone who would deny help to others for the sake of his own vanity (and his wife's riches).