Rabbi Philip Lefkowitz writes:
Dear Rep. Jan Schakowsky,
I take strong exception to your actions regarding the recent historic and enthusiastically received speech of Prime Minister Netanyahu before a joint meeting of Congress. I was hopeful that in the aftermath of his speech you would realize the folly of your ways in allowing yourself to be motivated by partisan politics – your well-known loyalty to the Obama administration. This has not happened.
Few members of the House or Senate, even fellow Democrats, boycotted the Prime Minister’s speech. You did. Many of those who said they would boycott the speech attended. You didn’t. Few members of the House or Senate made public negative statements regarding the Prime Minister’s speech after it was delivered. You did. Members of the Black Caucus who had threatened to walk out on the Prime Minister didn’t do so. Florida Democrat Corrine Brown a member of the Black Caucus praised the Prime Minister’s speech after it was given. You did the opposite. Yet you claim that “As a Jew, support for Israel is in my DNA.’”
I write not as your constituent, although I’m confident many in your constituency have already expressed to you their anger, shock and frustration regarding the stance you have taken against Prime Minister Netanyahu and the State of Israel. For as in our own nation, in any democracy, the duly elected leaders of the nation speak for that nation. Rather, I write as a fellow Jew and as a Rabbi regarding your claim of an innate support for the State of Israel in your DNA.
Let me suggest that having support for Israel in one’s DNA is always visibly apparent. I recall with crystal-clear clarity, the tears of pride and joy pouring down my grandmother’s wrinkled cheeks every time she had the opportunity to sing Hatikvah. Just seeing an Israeli flag unfurled in a parade brought a deep emotional reaction from her. And while I am not prone to crying in public, I always am overcome by deep emotion when having the privilege to see the “blue-and-white” proudly carried by a fellow Jew in public.
An episode in my youth is worth noting here. When Israel was but a fledgling nation, I recall a young man walking into our Conservative synagogue in a dark brown military uniform. A whisper began to go from congregant to congregant. He is in the Israeli military! People began walking over to him to greet him with a hearty and loving Shabbat Shalom. Extending their hand and embracing his was a privilege deeply relished by each and every person in attendance. The tumult resulted in the Rabbi pausing services for a moment, asking everyone to return to their respective seats and announcing we will all have the Zchut, merit, to personally greet our honored guest at the Kiddush following services. Each and every person lined up to shake this young Israeli’s hand and to thank him for his heroism in protecting the Jewish State. Many stood in line with tears pouring down their face as they realized that were we to have had our own nation and army just a few years earlier, 6 million of our people would not have died in the gas chambers of Nazi Germany. Indeed the Prime Minister took the unusual step of speaking before Congress because 6 million Jews residing in the state of Israel face the threat of extermination.
Congresswoman, you are not only a Jew, you occupy what is commonly known as the “Jewish” seat in the Illinois delegation which was for 50 years occupied by the outspoken advocate for Israel and the Jewish people – Congressman Yates. Your constituency, Jew and Gentile alike, expect you to be in the forefront of those who strongly and vociferously advocate for the State of Israel.
Three possible options presented themselves to you with regard to the Prime Minister’s speech. You could have been an outspoken supporter of that speech- a position your constituency would have wanted you to take. Alternatively, while harboring some negative feelings about the timeliness etc. of the speech, you could have kept them to yourself and as a Jew attended the Prime Minister’s speech. Finally, you could have, as you did, been an outspoken antagonist. The first two options bespeak a supporter of Israel in one’s DNA. The latter does not. I am confident the actions you have taken will long be remembered by your constituents.
As a Rabbi I urge you to give strong consideration to your relationship with your faith and your people. The wonders of medical science have resulted in our understanding the nature of our DNA and even being able to alter it to some degree for our physical benefit. I pray you do the same to your DNA altering it to be more reflective of the Jew’s support one should always demonstrate for the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
Respectfully,
Rabbi Philip Lefkowitz
About the Author: Rabbi Philip Lefkowitz is the rav of Agudas Achim North Shore Congregation in Chicago. During his 43 years in the rabbinate he has led congregations in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom and served as an officer, Executive Committee member and chair of the Legislative Committee of the Chicago Rabbinical Council.
