Trump’s Inaugural Rabbi: U.N. Resolution ‘Most Anti-Israel’ Event of 2016
The rabbi President-elect Donald Trump appointed to participate in his inauguration ceremony heads the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which claims the United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlements is the most “anti-Semitic/anti-Israel” event of 2016.
Rabbi Marvin Hier founded the center, named for the legendary Nazi hunter who died in 2005.
“The most stunning 2016 UN attack on Israel was facilitated by President Obama,” the Center wrote in a list of “The top ten worst global anti-Semitic/anti-Israel incidents.”
Other offenders include UK British Labour Leaders, Baroness Jenny Tongue, France, the BDS movement and a local branch of the German Teacher’s Union. After these the Center listed white supremacist Richard Spencer.
Hier is a prominent rabbi in Los Angeles, where he founded a Jewish school. He also reportedly advises celebrities including Will Smith. In 2007 and 2008, Newsweek named Hier America’s most influential rabbi. Hier accompanied former President George W. Bush to Jerusalem to celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday.
After John Kerry rebuked Israeli policy in a 75-minute speech Wednesday, Hier and Abraham Cooper, the associate dean of the Wiesenthal Center, co-wrote a letter of fire and brimstone.
“It is unprecedented for an outgoing Administration to make such a draconian foreign policy shift—while simultaneously packing their boxes to leave Washington,” they wrote. ““We are confident that the Trump team’s approach to the Palestinian-Israel conflict will reflect these inconvenient truths and will restore – in tone and deeds – the relationship behooving two great friends who share a common heritage and democratic values.”
Hier will bless the inauguration ceremonies with five other faith leaders including the Archbishop of New York, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan; Reverend Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, and televangelist Paula White.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO