The President Is on the Line
By Jane Eisner August 19, 2009
Every year, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism sets up a mega-conference call for its rabbis — a sort of spring training for the High Holidays, with discussion about sermon topics, text study, and the like. And every year, the RAC invites guest speakers to participate.
This year, they scored a home run.
At 11 a.m. today, the nearly 1,000 rabbis who signed up for the call will get to hear President Obama offer his ideas for the Jewish new year. According to Kate Bigam, the RAC’s press secretary, “we made a leap” and tried to get on the president’s schedule. It worked.
Obama is expected to talk about 10 to 15 minutes in what is billed as a strictly private conversation, though how private that can remain with a thousand rabbis on the line will soon be tested. Bigam says it’s the first time a president has ever participated in this program.
What’s next? Shofar blowing in the White House?
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
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