I came across a poster online this morning that I thought might provoke some comments. It certainly provoked me.

130 right wing Israelis, members of a group called Hazit, photoshopped a picture of President Obama, placing a keffiyah on his head. Alongside this image of him on the poster they wrote “Barack Hussein Obama, Anti-Semitic Jew-hater.”

Just as I was fuming and formulating a response in my head, I found this comment, posted by “Sane Jew in Israel.” I think I’ll let his words stand on their own:

“Obama will probably make history as one of the finest American presidents as well as one of the best friends Israel ever had. If we don`t have the power to rid ourselves of this lunatic racist religous zealotry which is rotting our conscience and decency as a people and a nation then Obama will do it for us. Obama is in my prayers as the best friend the Jewish People could ever have. If I have to protest on his behalf against these “Anti-Semitic so called Jewish Ayatollas, then there are thousands among thousands of Jews in this country who will stand beside me. Yes we can free ourselves of this self destructive occupation. Yes we can!”

Hearing President Obama’s Cairo speech, I felt he may have kept a copy of The Faith Club on his night stand. The brilliant address echoed so many of the principles of The Faith Club, and our president represented our country’s ideals without arrogance.
He recognizes, as we do in The Faith Club, that in order to build trust we have to say openly what we previously shared only in private. Then, after addressing our differences, we can build relationships based upon our shared humanity and common ideals.
Obama extended a hand to Islam. He gave dignity to the Palestinian people simply by naming Palestine, a place denied by many for decades. He said Islam is not a problem, it is an important part of the solution. He mentioned that all of our faiths are built on love of God and love of neighbor, something we talk about in The Faith Club, too.
Unlike many conservatives feared, he didn’t sell-out America. He promoted our ideals and extended a hand of partnership. What a refreshing change in our international relations. I pray to God for the success of our president, our nation and our new effort in cooperation.

As American Jews celebrated at the Israel Parade this Sunday, I could not help but think of some stark differences that govern the lives of minorities in the US and Israel. How would non- christian Americans feel about taking an oath of loyality to a theoretical Chrsitian United States of America? See below:

ISREAL CRIMINALISING COMMEMORATION OF Al-NAKBA
The Ministerial Committee on Law and Constitution has
approved a preliminary proposal which would make it
illegal to hold events or ceremonies marking Israel’s
Independence Day as a “Nakba,” or catastrophe for the
indigenous Palestinians who were dispossessed of their
homes and land in 1948 and are still being
dispossessed today leaving them without rights in their
own homeland. According to the bill, those found in
violation could face up to three years in prison.
• ISRAEL ENFORCES A ZIONIST LOYALTY OATH
The party of Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
“Yisrael Beitneu” is submitting a bill for cabinet approval
which would require all Israelis to declare loyalty “to the
state of Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state”
before they can be issued a national identity document.
This blatantly discriminates against the indigenous
Palestinians who are not Jewish or Zionist.