tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post2944988003214972344..comments2024-03-20T06:29:27.167-04:00Comments on The Rabbi with a Blog (Rabbi Jason Miller): The Iran Nuclear Deal Divided Our Jewish Community: A Tochecha for our DiscourseRabbi Jason Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-51134950819267662512015-09-22T10:51:51.660-04:002015-09-22T10:51:51.660-04:00I attended the service and heard the sermon first ...I attended the service and heard the sermon first hand. I appreciate the opportunity to express my opinion about the sermon. <br />Overall I give the speech "two thumbs up" as it contained insightful humor, and was informative. Furthermore, Rabbi Miller kept it balanced and relatively non-partisan- not an easy task to accomplish. I say relatively non-partisan because I thought it was inappropriate to inject President Obama into the conversation, (regarding the quote about "family") as if the President was merely a disinterested observer bringing some lofty insight to the Jewish community's internecine struggles about the deal with Iran. I acknowledge that President Obama's quote fit the speech, but it was a serious Faux Pas to use it given our President's role in adding gasoline to the fire concerning the very controversy that has earned us the Rabbi's rebuke. Was I the only one who saw it that way?<br />Speaking of the rebuke, with all due respect to Rabbi Miller and his altruistic intentions, while a “rebuke” makes sense in a generic or theoretical sense, or perhaps in Detroit/Ann Arbor where people may be more polarized, had Rabbi Miller been aware of how our community addressed the Iran crisis he might have included the Toledo Jewish Community’s experience, not as a cautionary tale but as an example worthy of praise.* To be clear, even within our small community, there exists a diverse range of thoughts and opinions regarding how to address Iran. As a community we accepted the challenge to address the issue. At times emotions ran high on both ends of the spectrum. However, after respectful debate our Federation publically took the position not to collectively endorse one side or the other, but rather to be a source of ongoing education for the community. We exhorted our community to hold themselves accountable for how they feel and express their individual opinions whether it be a letter to their congress person or the local newspaper. I’m sure there are exceptions; however I believe it actually brought our community closer together. *(NOTE: As a visiting Rabbi, I do not expect Rabbi Miller to be aware of these things.)<br />Full Disclosure: I sit as the Chairperson on the JCRC, Toledo Ohio (Lay Person) but I am writing this response as an individual.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Scott Rothstein<br />Holland, OhioScott Rothstein, Holland Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466560569310421982noreply@blogger.com