“This morning I had the privilege of participating in a Rabbi’s Phone-Bank on behalf of Senator Obama. Over twenty rabbis from all the different denominations gathered together in the spirit of unity to volunteer for Barack Obama’s campaign. As we sat around the dining room table and in various locations throughout a magnificent apartment overlooking Central Park, we laughed and shared experiences from our many phone calls. Personally, I was very encouraged by the enthusiasm that was expressed by the people whom we called. Many were not only voting for Senator Obama; …some volunteered for the campaign to assist in last minute efforts to get out the vote. …Finally, and most exciting for our group of Rabbis, was the appreciation that many people expressed for the fact that Rabbis had taken time out of our busy schedules to volunteer for Senator Obama. If we could do it so could they! I’m already looking for my next phonebank to attend.”

Read more from The Huffington Post…

© Rabbi Menachem Creditor

I’ve received both affirmation and hate-mail in recent weeks for having joined a group called Rabbis for Obama (rabbisforobama.org), a grassroots organization of rabbis from all movements and backgrounds. Here is why I joined.

My primary reason for endorsing a political candidate, especially given the dangerous overlap between religion and state involved, is that there is a terrible and effective Lashon Hara/Slander campaign against him within the Jewish community.

Read more from Rabbi Creditor’s blog…

A personal message from Rabbi Arthur Waskow

Till recently, it seemed possible and desirable for me to address the Presidential campaign without regard to individuals or parties, but solely in regard to issues — especially the life-and-death issues of war and global scorching — and what I called the “issue behind the issues,” the concentration of political, economic, and cultural power in fewer and fewer hands.

But recent events have convinced me that individual character is now an important part of the meaning of this election.

Senator John McCain’s decision to name Governor Sarah Palin his vice-president and possible successor as President, and the emerging information about her, have convinced me these issues need to be raised.

So, purely as an individual, I will share some of my views about the election itself.

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Rabbi Mehlman is the Emeritus Rabbi of Temple Israel of Brookline and Professor of Midrash at New York’s Hebrew Union College. He spoke at the July 11th meeting of the Obama Jewish Community Leadership Committee of New England and has kindly allowed Jews4Obama to have a “scoop,” publishing his remarks here first:

As a Jewish American, I am deeply disturbed by the direction in which our country has moved under the Bush/Cheney Administration. The election of Barack Obama is of critical importance to me for the following reasons:

1. We stand on the threshold of change in our Supreme Court. The next president of the United States may replace three justices of the court. Barack Obama offers the best hope for our judicial future. His appointments would counterbalance the appointees President Bush made, justices who have moved the court in a direction that threatens a flexible, progressive, and humane reading of the United States Constitution. I believe that a President Obama will end the leaning of the Supreme Court to the right.

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Rabbi Steven Bob, of Congregation Etz Chaim of DuPage County, Illinois, writes:

I am one of the founders of Rabbis for Obama. I have joined our chair, Rabbi Sam Gordon, and others to gather rabbis in support of Senator Obama.

We have formed Rabbis for Obama because we are deeply concerned with the smear campaign targeting Jews, particularly elderly Jewish voters. Senator Obama has been viciously attacked by rumors, racial slurs and lies.

I recognize that within the Jewish community there exist different ideas about the war in Iraq, taxation, trade, education and the right to choose. Obama and McCain suggest differing approaches to these key issues. Some of us agree with McCain, others with Obama. On Israel, there is very little difference betweens the two senator’s positions. Both candidates have been strong supporters of Israel.

Read more in the Chicago Jewish News…

A letter sent by Rabbi Henry Jay Karp, of Temple Emanuel of Davenport Iowa, to his colleagues:

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to you because I am increasingly disturbed by what appears to be a concerted campaign to discredit Barack Obama within the American Jewish community. Whether or not you choose to support Obama’s bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, as rabbinic colleagues I feel a need to share with you what I have learned about the man - and it is quite different from the rumors that refuse to die in our Jewish community.

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Each day we Jews conclude our worship with the Aleinu in which we speak of a world perfected under the rule of God. And yet such a world can only be realized through shittuf, a partnership in which we become God’s agents. As Jews, it is also for us to seek partnership with those men and women of all faiths who share such a vision of the world redeemed. I believe that Senator Barack Obama is just such a partner.

Rabbi Gary Gerson
Oak Park Temple, Oak Park, IL

Mr. Obama Goes To Shul

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA * Senator Barack Obama came to Temple B’nai Torah this afternoon. As will often happen with candidates out on the campaign trail, his arrival was delayed by several hours. And although he apologized for being tardy and making us wait, he never did mention the reason for his delay. As I found out later that night, he had hopped up to Capitol Hill in order to vote in favor of a measure which greatly expands the G.I. Bill. He could have taken the high, self-serving road and told those assembled why he was late. He could also have taken the low, “finger-pointing” road and flailed Senator McCain for being one of 22 Republicans voting against our men and women in uniform.

Instead, he did neither.

This was not his reason for going to shul.

Read more…

From the NYTimes

“Younger Jews have grown up in diverse settings and are therefore less likely to be troubled by Mr. Obama’s associations than their elders, said Rabbi Ethan Tucker, 32, co-founder of a Jewish learning organization in Manhattan and the stepson of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut. Rabbi Tucker said he had given money to Mr. Obama and would vote for him in the fall. “If association was the litmus test of identity, everyone would be a hopeless mishmash of confusion, or you’d have no friends,“ he said.

Obama And A Wary Jewish Establishment
From The Jewish Week

Rabbi Yosef Blau is the director of religious guidance at Yeshiva University and president of the Religious Zionists of America.

For the past 16 years, the leaders of the Jewish establishment of this country, primarily concerned with Israel, have been comfortable with the American president. Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, despite their policy differences, were acknowledged friends of Israel. While the American people, unhappy with the Iraq war, apparently want a change in foreign policy, Jewish leaders are looking for continuity. (more…)