Posted on 11/19/2005 3:40:09 PM PST by Alouette
HOUSTON - The leader of the largest branch of American Judaism blasted conservative religious activists in a speech Saturday, calling them "zealots" who claim a "monopoly on God" while promoting anti-gay policies akin to Adolf Hitler's.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the liberal Union for Reform Judaism, said "religious right" leaders believe "unless you attend my church, accept my God and study my sacred text you cannot be a moral person."
"What could be more bigoted than to claim that you have a monopoly on God?" he said during the movement's national assembly in Houston, which runs through Sunday.
The audience of 5,000 responded to the speech with enthusiastic applause.
Yoffie did not mention evangelical Christians directly, using the term "religious right" instead. In a separate interview, he said the phrase encompassed conservative activists of all faiths, including within the Jewish community.
He used particularly strong language to condemn conservative attitudes toward homosexuals. He said he understood that traditionalists have concluded gay marriage violates Scripture, but he said that did not justify denying legal protections to same-sex partners and their children.
"We cannot forget that when Hitler came to power in 1933, one of the first things that he did was ban gay organizations," Yoffie said. "Yes, we can disagree about gay marriage. But there is no excuse for hateful rhetoric that fuels the hellfires of anti-gay bigotry."
The Union for Reform Judaism represents about 900 synagogues in North America with an estimated membership of 1.5 million people. Of the three major streams of U.S. Judaism — Orthodox and Conservative are the others — it is the only one that sanctions gay ordination and supports civil marriage for same-gender couples.
Yoffie said liberals and conservatives share some concerns, such as the potential damage to children from violent or highly sexual TV shows and other popular media. But he said, overall, conservatives too narrowly define family values, making a "frozen embryo in a fertility clinic" more important than a child, and ignoring poverty and other social ills.
One attendee, Judy Weinman of Troy, N.Y., said she thought Yoffie was "right on target."
"He reminded us of where we have things in common and where we're different," she said.
Yoffie also urged lawmakers to model themselves on presidential candidate John F. Kennedy, who famously told a Houston clergy group in 1960 that a president should not make policy based on his religion.
On other topics, Yoffie asked Reform synagogues to do more to hold onto members, who often leave after their children go to college. He also said the Reform movement, which is among the most accepting of non-Jewish spouses, should make a greater effort to invite spouses to convert.
Oh yes he did. But he thinks he is clever because he was targeting Christians, so maybe they won't notice.
ultra-lefist = ultra-leftist
I could not understand why this guy was being so devisive, then I saw the part about coddling queers. They are not "gay" they are the most miserable of people. I see a lot more compassion from the conservative religious right to Yudah, than I see from sodomites. I have studied a lot of Reform writings and their leaders and have not come across the rant of this man. Maybe he thinks he can make a dirty wrong a right or something.-Rosh Yisrael.
"Union of Reform Judaism" = "Not *really* Judaism,
we jusy "say" we're jews, but we're really just a
bunch of posuers protecting each others perversions
and worship of Beezlebub, and using judaism as a way
to cry "persecution" any time someone calls us on
being the soul damned perverted scum we are'.
He invoked Hitler's name first thus he loses the argument.
Agreed. It's people like him that make it hard for Jews to get the respect they deserve.
As an atheist who has frequently butted heads with conservative Christians here for 7 years, I don’t think I’ve ever been told or even ever read that I cannot be a moral person. Many claim I can’t define morality, but none have said I couldn’t be moral.
This guy’s a kook.
Ahem...who has been the best friend of Israel? Why IS there an Israel, and whom has stood behind her?
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
As for issues of politics and morals, there's no one better than a conservative Jew. And where the heck does this guy think Christians get their moral values? LOL! What a doof!
Looks like a kind of child molestor that gets off
on torturing his little victims.
Right Wing Jew Bump!
Jew in Name Only. Reform Judaism is a political activity far more than a religious one.
Check out their site and how they try and weasel their way around Leviticus 18:22 and similar passages.
Foxman, the head of the ADL, did the same thing earlier this week.
It is an odd thing, amidst the rise of the new anti-semitism amongst leftist intellectuals, to see Jewish leaders pointing out that the real threat is Christians.
But both this guy and Foxman seem to be taking the same track that leftist's take on social issues: no debate, no discussion, no reasoned argument is permissable. They stake out the ground as sacred, and you aren't even permitted to broach the topic.
This is why I disagree with them, and why they are dangerous people.
Many Reform Jews believe the same, only their sacred texts lean more toward the works of Karl Marx. To them, you cannot oppose socialism and be a moral person.
They have abandoned Torah, although they might give occasional lip service
This guy should meet some of the leftists and progressives who really hate Jews' guts.
This moron doesn't speak for this conservative jew. The religious right is the best friend Israel has. Much better than the jewish left.
First the ADL and now this.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Oh, well. No more Zionism for this guy to prey on.
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