Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Image by haaretz

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach hailed Donald Trump’s victory and called his win a victory over the “weak” legacy of President Obama.

“Love him or hate him, the one thing that Trump showed throughout the campaign was an unimaginable toughness,” Boteach said. “The media, Hollywood, and television punditry threw the kitchen sink at him. And still he went on.”

Boteach said Obama drove America downhill by failing to take firm global leadership.

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He called on Trump to reach out across the aisle to unite Americans.

“Trump now has the opportunity to be magnanimous in victory. To reach out to his foes and unite the country,” Boteach said. “He can show a generosity of spirit that will surprise his most ardent foes.”

The rabbi called on Trump to be a much closer ally of Israel’s government than he said President Obama has. He also called on the president-elect to back Israel’s claim to the occupied West Bank.

But most of all, Boteach insisted that Trump’s win was a clarion call for change in the U.S.

“Trump has a chance to bring renewal to America,” he said. “It will begin by doing his utmost to reach out to his critics and remake this country, from left to right and from Democrat to Republican, the United States.”

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