Barack's Message to the Jewish Community During High Holy Days

Dear Friends,

On Wednesday, September 17, Senator Barack Obama participated in a historic national conference call with over 900 Rabbis representing all the major denominations in American Jewish life. He extended to the Rabbis his personal New Year's greetings as they prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with their communities later this month. Never before have so many of America's Rabbis come together to hear a major Presidential nominee reflect on his relationship with the Jewish community and share his vision for a better future.

Senator Obama discussed the pressing issues at stake - for both Jewish Americans and all Americans - in the upcoming election. He asked that, as we think about the coming New Year, we also reflect upon our common vision for America's renewed promise.

Several leading Rabbis spoke and posed questions to the Senator, including Rabbi Jeffrey Wohlberg, of the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism; Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb of the Orthodox Union; Rabbi Eric Yoffie of theUnion of Reform Judaism; and Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

Introducing Senator Obama were Rabbi Sam Gordon of Congregation Sukkat Shalom in Wilmette, Illinois, and Rabbi Elliot Dorff,Vice-Chair of the Conservative Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards and Professor at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles,California.

Rabbi Gordon, along with Rabbi Steve Bob, is co-founder of Rabbis for Obama, a grassroots group of nearly 500 Rabbis from every corner of the country, who have publicly declared their support for Senator Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States.

In his opening remarks, the Senator thanked all of those who joined the call and shared his thoughts on the nature of Rosh Hashanah. "I know that for rabbis this is the busiest time of the year as you prepare for the High Holy Days. So I am grateful for a few minutes of your time. I extend my New Years greetings to you and to your congregations and communities. I want to wish everybody a Shana Tovah and I hope that you will convey my wishes to all of those you pray and celebrate with this Rosh Hashanah.

"The Jewish New Year is unlike the new years of any other cultures. In part because it's not simply a time for revelry; it's a time for what might be called determined rejoicing. A time to put your affairs with other people in order so you can honestly turn to God. A time to recommit to the serious work of Tikkun Olam; of mending the world."

The Senator's remarks included a discussion of key policy issues on the minds of many voters in the Jewish community this election season. From the economy to health care, foreign policy to support for America's seniors, Senator Obama shared his view of where we stand and how to move America forward to repair this country and the world.

"We have a severe financial crisis in this country that is having an impact worldwide. We also have an economy that, even before the problems on Wall Street, has been putting families and communities across the country under enormous strain. People are working harder for less; we have had 600,000 people lose their jobs since the beginning of the year; we are seeing wages and income flat for the average American at a time when the costs of everything, from health care to college education, are skyrocketing. ...BinLaden is still on the loose; Iran is issuing vile threats against Israel and developing nuclear weapons. So it's a challenging time. Our security is at risk; the security of Israel is at risk and even the planet is in peril.

...Repairing all of that is a task that is beyond any one man or one woman. It can be daunting and I do not presume that I can, as President, repair all of this on my own. I am absolutely convinced that when we come together with determination we can make the situation better.

'I know that one of the most profound Jewish teachings is that you are not required to complete the task but neither are you free to desist from it. That, I think, is what we have to do: we have to begin the hard task of repairing our economy and our foreign policy and that is, in my mind, what this election is all about."

Senator Obama also reiterated his "unwavering" support for the State of Israel and the deep ties between our country and Israel. Promising to restore America's role as an "effective partner," the Senator repeated his call for active engagement in the peace process and a strong stance against Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"I think that it's also important to recognize that throughout my career in the State Legislature and now in the U.S. Senate I have been a stalwart friend of Israel. On every single issue related to Israel's security, I have been unwavering, and will continue to be unwavering. My belief is that Israel's security is sacrosanct and we have to ensure that as the sole democracy in the Middle East, one of our greatest allies in the world, one that shares a special relationship with us and shares our values, we have to make sure that they have the support - whether it's financial or military, to sustain their security [amid] the hostile environment. And it's also important that we are an effective partner with them in pursuing the possibilities of peace in the future, and that requires not only active engagement and negotiations that may take place with Palestinians, but it also requires that we stand tough and with great clarity when it comes to Iran and the unacceptability of them possessing nuclear weapons."

Concluding the call with a reflection on one of the Rosh Hashanah's most significant rituals, Senator Obama expressed a deep sense of hope and optimism for the future. "I know that the Shofar is going to be blown in your synagogues over Rosh Hashanah, and there are many interpretations of its significance. One that I have heard, that resonates with me, is rousing us from our slumber so that we recognize our responsibilities and repent for our misdeeds and set out on a better path. The people in every community across this land [who] join our campaign, I like to think that they are sounding that Shofar to rouse this nation out of its slumber and to compel us to confront our challenges and ensure a better path. It's a call to action. So as this New Year dawns, I am optimistic about our ability to overcome the challenges we face and the opportunity that we can bring the change we need not only to our nation but also to the world."

In the spirit of the echoing shofar, the call to action Senator Obama describes, we encourage you to forward this recap of his conference call with America's Rabbis, to your congregation's Rabbi, your friends, family, colleagues, community lay leaders, and fellow-congregants.

May the NewYear be filled with health, hope, and happiness.

Shana Tovah U'Metukah,
Eric LynnMiddle East Policy Advisor & Jewish Community Liaison Obama for America
Dan Shapiro
Senior Policy Advisor & Jewish Outreach Coordinator Obama for America