High Holidays With AIPAC
By Nathan Guttman September 2, 2009
For those rabbis still working on their High Holiday sermons, AIPAC has some advice. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee put out its High Holiday Resource Guide — a 22-page booklet packed with ideas about how to talk to your congregation about Israel, Iran and about the importance of getting involved in political action.
Some of the ideas in AIPAC’s Synagogue Initiative guide seem almost obvious: the blowing of the Shofar, for example, is a wakeup call reminding the Jews of just how urgent the situation is. Some are aimed at the more creative rabbis and suggest quotes from Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” or from Nike’s “Just Do It” advertisement to send the same message to congregants: It’s time to take action to stop Iran.
So if one of these themes shows up in the Rosh Hashanah sermon at your synagogue, you’ll know where it came from. And just pray your rabbi doesn’t choose to use AIPAC’s suggestion on page 7. It’s a parable about an egg and a poor woman and it is really long. Bottom line: The woman dropped the egg and lost the opportunity to help her family. Moral: Don’t drop the Iran egg.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
