Author Archives: Rabbi Kaufman

Abbas under Pressure

An article in the JPost tells of how Fatah and the PLO’s Leader Mahmoud Abbas (let’s stop pretending that he is the leader of the Palestinian people until he actually wins an election by the people- shall we?) is telling … Continue reading

Posted in Israel | 1 Comment

Why It is Important

Someone asked me why I posted on the Conversion Bill, now postponed for six months. It’s controversial. People will complain. I am a Reform rabbi. For me, this is a big issue. For my congregants, it is a big issue. … Continue reading

Posted in Israel | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The Conversion Bill and Ridiculous Arguments

It is amazing to me that sane and realistic people who do not like the absolute control of the Orthodox establishment in Israel would argue in favor of the Conversion Bill. Israel Harel, wrote in Haaretz that: The Reform and … Continue reading

Posted in American Scene, Israel, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

J Street’s All or Nothing Fabrication

It looks like Alan Dershowitz read my article from a few days ago on J Street – Community of Hypocrisy when he wrote his excellent article in the J Post. J Street’s new ad is not winning it friends. Myself and … Continue reading

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Changing Opinions

As Meryl wrote yesterday morning, Abbas is refusing to hold direct talks without preconditions that amount to determining the end game of discussions about borders. This is in no small part due to the perception that both the Obama administration … Continue reading

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J Street’s New Ad – The Community of Hypocrisy

J Street’s new 30 second TV ad begins with “While chaos and violence in the Middle East grow….” The ad then actually pretends to condemn “fear mongering.” This is a profoundly hypocritical path. I say “pretends” because clearly the opening … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Media, Television | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Rabbis FOR Israel

There have been numerous statements circulating lately including one from J Street that received prominent attention. Many rabbis have felt uncomfortable with some or all of these statements. Rabbi Micky Boyden has, with the help of others, created a statement … Continue reading

Posted in Israel | 2 Comments

Egyptian and Jordanian fears of a Palestinian State

I’ve been talking about Egyptian and Jordanian fears of an independent Palestinian state for years and in fact, discussed  the issue only a few days ago with some of my colleagues. One of the biggest challenges in creating a Palestinian … Continue reading

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PCUSA’s Report is So Bad that J Street is Condemning It

Camera’s, Dexter Van Zile, reported today that J Street’s Vice President Rachel Lerner couldn’t condemn PCUSA’s Middle East Study Committee Report strongly enough. Lerner spoke at a PCUSA organized meeting in Minneapolis this weekend. According to Camera’s report, Lerner said: … Continue reading

Posted in Israel | 2 Comments

Responding to Turkey

This morning, the Turkish government took one more step toward becoming a pariah state while pretending that it was threatening action against Israel, which it considers to be one. I do not make this statement without understanding the broader implications … Continue reading

Posted in Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome, Media Bias, Turkey | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Yachting, Golf, and the Oil Crisis

There is quite some furor over the fact that the CEO of BP, formerly BRITISH Petroleum and now simply BP, just as KFC, once actually had something to do with Kentucky and FRIED Chicken, went yachting and Pres. Obama played … Continue reading

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More Single State Delusions

Why is the Israeli left obsessed with a single bi-national state? Akiva Eldar argued for the inevitability of one today in Haaretz. It is not only NOT inevitable, it is IMPOSSIBLE. This is NOT what would happen if a two … Continue reading

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There is One Ummah, One War

The reception given British troops returning from war in Barking, Essex was disturbed by a group of Muslims, calling themselves Muslims Against the Crusade. These individuals believe that Muslims everywhere must fight against the Christians, and while I do not see … Continue reading

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Two State Solution Eroding?

Mahmoud Abbas yesterday said that a two state solution is eroding.  This is generally assumed to mean that the only option is a single state solution. The problem is that no single state solution has ever been or could be … Continue reading

Posted in Israel | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Rabbi Kaufman Live on the WebcastOneLive at 10 am Central

I’ll be on live with Mac McKoy on www.webcastonelive.com from 10-11 am Central today talking Israel and American Foreign Policy.

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