Obama’s Conference Call with Rabbis

[Phx_Dem]

by andybachman · Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

I have the honor of joining 900 other rabbis from across North America on a conference call with Senator Barack Obama. He is speaking as I write and so want to convey the immediacy of his message. This call was arranged by the Obama Campaign’s Jewish Outreach professionals. One of the arrangers, the New York Board of Rabbis, is trying to arrange a call with Senator John McCain as well.

He was introduced by Rabbi Sam Gordon (Reform), co-chair of Rabbis for Obama and Rabbi Elliot Dorf (Conservative), who presented one of the most moving sermons about the state of our country I ever heard (and certainly on a conference call!)

Jews loved Bill Clinton. I have to say, Obama goes even further. This is a man who knows us and loves us.

He opened with a wish of Shanah Tovah and noted that in the New Year, Jews engage in what the Senator called, “Determined Rejoicing,” where we celebrate the Turning of the Year by concerning ourselves with the affairs of others and the ancient value of Tikkun Olam. Obama mentioned our country’s recent economic precariousness, the enormous strain this is putting on families, the continued danger of terror, and the need to turn to the future, to solve our problems for the next generation, limiting our dependence on oil and creating more “green jobs.”

In this context, Obama quoted Rabbi Tarfon from Pirke Avot–”You are not obliged to finish the task, neither are you free to neglect it.” It was a great moment. (Is it cheesy to say that I high-fived the other rabbi in the room with me as we listened to this line?)

More at:
http://jewschool.com/2008/09/17/14684/obamas-conference-call-with-rabbis/