Rabbi Lerner – Master of Compassion or Master of Deceit?
Deconstruction by Gilad Atzmon, 13/6/2016
I
met Rabbi Michael Lerner twice in 2012. The rabbi kindly invited me
into his home, we dined together, I met with members of his congregation
and discussed my thoughts with them. However, I was recently troubled
by Rabbi Lerner’s speech at Muhammad Ali’s funeral. Unlike many other
peace loving people I was not impressed at all.
met Rabbi Michael Lerner twice in 2012. The rabbi kindly invited me
into his home, we dined together, I met with members of his congregation
and discussed my thoughts with them. However, I was recently troubled
by Rabbi Lerner’s speech at Muhammad Ali’s funeral. Unlike many other
peace loving people I was not impressed at all.
To watch Rabbi Lerner’s speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cza0IY1h6VI
It
takes some balls for a rabbi to stand in front of the American people
and sing 4 bars of Kadish, the Hebrew prayer for the dead. But it takes
more than balls for a rabbi to stand in front of the nation and fib for
eight minutes. Rabbi Michael Lerner has accomplished both.
takes some balls for a rabbi to stand in front of the American people
and sing 4 bars of Kadish, the Hebrew prayer for the dead. But it takes
more than balls for a rabbi to stand in front of the nation and fib for
eight minutes. Rabbi Michael Lerner has accomplished both.
“I
came here as a representative of American Jews,” Rabbi Lerner announced
to his audience at Muhammad Ali’s funeral. And I wonder if the Rabbi is
indeed the representative of the Jews, how come he grossly misrepresents
the beliefs of 90% of Jewish Americans? The answer? Rabbi Lerner
doesn’t represent any Jews, not even the 15 members of his congregation.
Rabbi Lerner misrepresented the nature of Judaism, Jews and Jewishness.
He was on a mission to give the ‘J word’ a good plug.
came here as a representative of American Jews,” Rabbi Lerner announced
to his audience at Muhammad Ali’s funeral. And I wonder if the Rabbi is
indeed the representative of the Jews, how come he grossly misrepresents
the beliefs of 90% of Jewish Americans? The answer? Rabbi Lerner
doesn’t represent any Jews, not even the 15 members of his congregation.
Rabbi Lerner misrepresented the nature of Judaism, Jews and Jewishness.
He was on a mission to give the ‘J word’ a good plug.
“American
Jews played an important role with African-American struggles,” the
Rabbi insisted. This is certainly the case but, of course, Jews also
played an important role in the African slave trade. The Rabbi missed a
great opportunity to express sincere regret about that unfortunate fact.
And when the Rabbi said: “we today stand in solidarity with the
Islamic community in the country and all around the world,” he was
simply insincere. The truth is to the contrary. Leading Jewish American
institutions and lobbies have been at the forefront of advocacy of the war against Arabs, Muslims and Islam.
Jews played an important role with African-American struggles,” the
Rabbi insisted. This is certainly the case but, of course, Jews also
played an important role in the African slave trade. The Rabbi missed a
great opportunity to express sincere regret about that unfortunate fact.
And when the Rabbi said: “we today stand in solidarity with the
Islamic community in the country and all around the world,” he was
simply insincere. The truth is to the contrary. Leading Jewish American
institutions and lobbies have been at the forefront of advocacy of the war against Arabs, Muslims and Islam.
Rabbi
Lerner claims that he and his Tikun organisation “have called upon the
United States Government to stand up for the Palestinian Government.”
In fact, the Rabbi and his Tikun organisation do not support the most
elementary of Palestinian rights such as the Right Of Return.
Lerner claims that he and his Tikun organisation “have called upon the
United States Government to stand up for the Palestinian Government.”
In fact, the Rabbi and his Tikun organisation do not support the most
elementary of Palestinian rights such as the Right Of Return.
The
Rabbi claims that as a Jew he realises that “God has created everyone in
God’s image and that everyone is equally precious.” Seemingly the Rabbi
is confused. The religion Lerner describes is not Judaism that is
tribal, exclusive and exceptionalist but Christianity that is universal
and inclusive. In Judaism, Jews are chosen (what ever that means). The
followers of the Judaic religion have invented a God who chooses them
over all other people. This fact may explain why Rabbi Lerner doesn’t
support a universal right of return in Palestine. His offering to the
Palestinians is very limited. He effectively denies the Palestinian
cause.
Rabbi claims that as a Jew he realises that “God has created everyone in
God’s image and that everyone is equally precious.” Seemingly the Rabbi
is confused. The religion Lerner describes is not Judaism that is
tribal, exclusive and exceptionalist but Christianity that is universal
and inclusive. In Judaism, Jews are chosen (what ever that means). The
followers of the Judaic religion have invented a God who chooses them
over all other people. This fact may explain why Rabbi Lerner doesn’t
support a universal right of return in Palestine. His offering to the
Palestinians is very limited. He effectively denies the Palestinian
cause.
You can hear what Rabbi Lerner really thinks about Islam,
Muslims Arabs Palestinians and the primacy of Jewish suffering (in
particular from 17.20 m/s):
Muslims Arabs Palestinians and the primacy of Jewish suffering (in
particular from 17.20 m/s):
Rabbi
Lerner is telling us. “It’s up to us to continue that ability to speak
truth to power. We must speak out, refuse to follow a path of
conformity…” I totally agree with that sentiment. But then he continues,
“tell the 1% who own 80% of the wealth of this country that it’s time
to share that wealth.” Maybe Rabbi Lerner has a better chance than most
in negotiating with the Jews who dominate the demography of the
notorious ‘1%’. I somehow have a feeling that Rabbi Lerner may have a
slighter better chance to gain an audience with George Soros, Sheldon
Adelson, Ronald Lauder or Haim Saban than anyone within Ali’s extended
family.
Lerner is telling us. “It’s up to us to continue that ability to speak
truth to power. We must speak out, refuse to follow a path of
conformity…” I totally agree with that sentiment. But then he continues,
“tell the 1% who own 80% of the wealth of this country that it’s time
to share that wealth.” Maybe Rabbi Lerner has a better chance than most
in negotiating with the Jews who dominate the demography of the
notorious ‘1%’. I somehow have a feeling that Rabbi Lerner may have a
slighter better chance to gain an audience with George Soros, Sheldon
Adelson, Ronald Lauder or Haim Saban than anyone within Ali’s extended
family.
“Tell the politicians who use violence worldwide and then
preach nonviolence to the oppressed that it’s time for them to end
their drone warfare and every other kind of warfare.” Again considering
that the neocon philosophy is a Jewish Zionist project and Israel is the
leading drone manufacturer maybe Rabbi Lerner should preach to his
people rather than to the Ali family.
preach nonviolence to the oppressed that it’s time for them to end
their drone warfare and every other kind of warfare.” Again considering
that the neocon philosophy is a Jewish Zionist project and Israel is the
leading drone manufacturer maybe Rabbi Lerner should preach to his
people rather than to the Ali family.
“Tell judges to let out of
prison the many African-Americans swept up by racist police and
imprisoned by racist judges.” I am perplexed. I will allow myself to be a
bit cynical here — If I understand correctly, the American Supreme
Court is now 3/8 Jewish.
Maybe Rabbi Lerner can just sort out this issue with his own people,
discussing these crucial matters in Yiddish or maybe even Hebrew.
prison the many African-Americans swept up by racist police and
imprisoned by racist judges.” I am perplexed. I will allow myself to be a
bit cynical here — If I understand correctly, the American Supreme
Court is now 3/8 Jewish.
Maybe Rabbi Lerner can just sort out this issue with his own people,
discussing these crucial matters in Yiddish or maybe even Hebrew.
Rabbi
Lerner announced to the assembled Goyim at Ali’s funeral, “tell Israeli
prime minister Netanyahu that the way to get security for Israel is to
stop the occupation of the West Bank and help create a Palestinian
State.” Dear Rabbi, Israel is the Jewish State, you are a rabbi.
Shouldn’t you tell Netanyahu?
Lerner announced to the assembled Goyim at Ali’s funeral, “tell Israeli
prime minister Netanyahu that the way to get security for Israel is to
stop the occupation of the West Bank and help create a Palestinian
State.” Dear Rabbi, Israel is the Jewish State, you are a rabbi.
Shouldn’t you tell Netanyahu?
American Jewish oligarchs are
dominating the American election. Hence, it is not surprising that the
Rabbinical sector ‘knows’ the 2017 presidential results six months ahead
of the American people. Rabbi Lerner seems to know who the next
American president is. “Tell the next president of the United states
that she should…” Rabbi, considering that Haim Saban
is the biggest donor to the Democratic Party, there is no reason to
shout politics at Ali’s funeral. All you have to do is to call Haim and
help him repair the world in accordance with your ‘Tikun’ philosophy.
dominating the American election. Hence, it is not surprising that the
Rabbinical sector ‘knows’ the 2017 presidential results six months ahead
of the American people. Rabbi Lerner seems to know who the next
American president is. “Tell the next president of the United states
that she should…” Rabbi, considering that Haim Saban
is the biggest donor to the Democratic Party, there is no reason to
shout politics at Ali’s funeral. All you have to do is to call Haim and
help him repair the world in accordance with your ‘Tikun’ philosophy.
“We
could start with a global and domestic plan, once and for all end
global and domestic poverty, — homelessness, hunger, inadequate
education, inadequate health care.” I agree with the Rabbi, we can. But
that move towards social justice and production involves complete
opposition to the hard capitalism that was installed in our midst by the
likes of Rothschild, Goldman Sachs, Soros, Greenspan, Milton Friedman,
Larry Summers etc.
could start with a global and domestic plan, once and for all end
global and domestic poverty, — homelessness, hunger, inadequate
education, inadequate health care.” I agree with the Rabbi, we can. But
that move towards social justice and production involves complete
opposition to the hard capitalism that was installed in our midst by the
likes of Rothschild, Goldman Sachs, Soros, Greenspan, Milton Friedman,
Larry Summers etc.
I guess that the Rabbi knows it all. But if the
Rabbi wants Tikun Olam (to amend the universe in Hebrew), maybe he
should start with his own people, whom he claims to represent, rather
than spinning to Muhammad Ali’s family and the rest of the nation.
Rabbi wants Tikun Olam (to amend the universe in Hebrew), maybe he
should start with his own people, whom he claims to represent, rather
than spinning to Muhammad Ali’s family and the rest of the nation.
