Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., held a conference call with over 900 rabbis this morning to wish them and their congregations a Happy Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (year 5769, for those counting) which begins at sunset on Sept. 29.
“I know that, for rabbis, this is the busiest time of the year as you prepare for the High Holy Days," said the Democratic presidential candidate. "I want to wish everybody a shanah tovah and I hope that you will convey my wishes to all of those [who] pray and celebrate with this Rosh Hashanah.”
Obama, who is said to be struggling with some Jewish voters who otherwise traditionally vote Democratic, said that “the Jewish New Year is unlike the new years of any other cultures. In part, because it’s not simply a time for revelry; it’s a time for what might be called determined rejoicing. A time to put your affairs with other people in order so you can honestly turn to God. A time to recommit to the serious work of tikkun olam ? of mending the world.”
Obama was introduced to the group by the chairman of “Rabbis for Obama,” Rabbi Sam Gordon of Congregation Sukkat Shalom in Wilmette, Ill., and Rabbi Elliot Dorff, vice chair of the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, and a professor at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.
According to Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, who live-blogged the conference call, Dorff said his support for Obama “is a case of both ahavat Mordechai and sinat Haman.”
“Ahavat Mordechai” means the love of Mordechai, the hero of the story of Purim. “Sinat Haman” means hatred of Haman, the villain of the same tale, who conspired to slay the Jews.
