Line of Faith

ADL Breaks With Pack On Church-State:

"Warning that the Evangelical right has made alarming gains in social and political influence..."

Oh yes, Pat Robertson is guaranteed to win the White House in '08-- no-- this year. They're holding early elections because Jerry Falwell told them to.

"...a leading Jewish church-state watchdog..."

As far as I knew, the ADL was supposed to be monitoring anti-Semitism. While I won't deny that organizations like the PCUSA exist, I certainly wouldn't start screaming "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition" just yet. Besides, I think the whole "church-state" phraseology is so 90s. In honor of the 21st century, shouldn't we be focusing on mosque-state relations?

"...is calling for a tougher and more unified Jewish response."

Good luck. "Nine out of ten Rebbes approve!"

"Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, speaking to the group’s national leadership here last week, signaled a sharp shift in ADL policy by directly attacking several prominent religious right groups and challenging their motives, which he said include nothing less than 'Christianizing America.'"

Define, please, "Religious Right" and explain how these unnamed groups are trying to "Christianiz[e] America". Then, for bonus points, show me evidence that any sort of moral shift towards Christianity is actually happening in America.

"Among the groups he cited were the powerful Focus on the Family ministry and the Family Research Council."

If Focus on the Family constitutes a serious threat to the liberty of America, then I suppose the ADL better add Chabad to their list of ministries that pose a threat. P.S. Abe: Didn't the 2000 election teach you anything about the vast power of Gary Bauer and the Family Research Council?

"Foxman said as these groups seek to use the government to further their missionizing goal, Democrats and Republicans alike are “pandering” to the religious conservatives."

You mean, Ted Kennedy actually joined AA? Or is he just giving up his morning Scotch? Wait, wait, lemme guess-- part of McCain's complaints about torture at Guantanamo involve the U.S. not providing Bibles and crucifixes to inmates.

"The ADL leader also called for a national Jewish summit to respond to the growing challenge."

Nine out of ten rebbes agree. Will there be a buffet?

Note: The only time you will read the words "confrontational", "American Jews", and "Israel" all in one sentence, they will inevitably hinge on the word "mistake." For example:

"Foxman may face stiff resistance, however, from colleagues in other organizations who believe a more confrontational strategy would be a big mistake for American Jews and for Israel."

"In an interview this week, Foxman said the shift in ADL’s approach on the Evangelicals was necessitated by their growing political and social clout."

If they have so much clout, why can't they get "Christy" back on the air?

"...At the same time, Foxman said, Evangelicals are becoming much more adept at 'using elements of the government to achieve their goals.'"

Yes, the Evangelical outcry against the Disengagement from Gaza, resulting in Condoleezza Rice's demand that Israel make even more concessions, is evidence of the fact that evangelical Christians are succeeding in pushing their agenda in Washington.

"But even more threatening, Foxman said, is how the views of many of the most strident Evangelical leaders have started to pervade American society, which he said will be revealed in a forthcoming ADL poll."

Believing that we have no right to murder unborn babies, we ought to hold fast to our nation's history, we should honor the G-d who has blessed us, and the entirety of Israel belongs to the Jews-- those values are totally governing the way America presents itself to the world today.

"According to the survey, 70 percent of weekly churchgoers and 76 percent of self-described Evangelicals agreed that “Christianity is under attack” in this country — a conclusion that is hard to square with their growing influence in Congress, the White House and the courts, he said."

Does the survey provide any solid, factual evidence that Christianity has a growing influence in Congress, the White House, and the courts? Because this article sure doesn't.

"Sixty-nine percent of Evangelicals and 60 percent of weekly churchgoers said there should be “organized” prayer in public schools, according to the survey, and 89 percent of Evangelicals agreed that religious symbols “like the Ten Commandments” should be displayed in public buildings."

NO! Not those tablets containing the laws of HaShem that were given to the Jews! No, Abe Foxman, revolt on behalf of the Diaspora! Revolt against this desire to display symbols of Jewish heritage!

"...Foxman is calling for a Jewish summit to re-evaluate strategies."

The Holiday Inn in Boca, maybe? I hear the shrimp is to die for. Maybe we can hold a Mah-Jongg Tournament for the women?

“We should put together the community relations and religious organizations, and see where we agree and what we can do about it,” he said. “We have to develop a clearer strategy of what we can live with and what we can’t.”

Are 'hip' Jews helping Judaism?

"...But Foxman’s get-tough approach could be a hard sell to Jewish leaders who may not share his sense of impending emergency and who may have other reasons for not wanting to escalate confrontations with the Evangelicals."

Possibly due to the fact that American Evangelicals were more supportive of the Gush Katif residents and more vocal against Disengagement than American Jews were?

“I’m wondering if this is a wise choice by ADL,” said Steven Windmueller, a former Jewish community relations professional who now directs the HUC-JIR/Los Angeles School of Jewish Communal Service. “It suggests they know the motives and the intent of some of these groups. Historically we have shied away from demonizing and labeling. It could put us in a place where we as a community don’t want to be.”

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.

“'There are many, many on the Christian right who are very reasonable, very rational, and who have nuanced positions regarding Jews and Israel,' Rabbi Korn said."

"Nuanced" in the Jewish dictionary means "wow, they like us, they really, really like us! What the hell?"

"'Instead of raising the level of confrontation, he said, 'we should be thinking about how to develop a nuanced relationship with the religious right. We should be giving them support and praise for the wonderful things they are doing for Israel, and still manage to be strong where we disagree with them on our domestic agenda.'"

Nuanced also means "Thank you for your support. Now shut up about your Jewish Messiah, already!"

"Wittmann also disputed the level of threat posed by the religious right. 'They’ve had control of Congress for 10 years, but they’ve never managed to pass a school prayer amendment. A decade ago, that was item one on their agenda,' he said. 'Outside of limits on partial-birth abortion, they have achieved very little.' John Green, a political scientist at the University of Akron who studies the role of the religious right in politics, agreed."

Thank you. Abe Foxman, any remarks?

"[Kean University political scientist Gilbert] Kahn warned that Jewish groups have been “seduced” by the Evangelicals’ support for Israel, even as these groups pursue the “Christianization” of the nation through their political activities."

Gilbert Kahn must be the tenth rebbe. Maybe he needs a Tagamet.

Yet another ridiculous move by the left to destroy the relationship between Jews and Christians (you know, those people who believe in a Jewish G-d, a Jewish Messiah, a Jewish Spirit, and who read a Jewish Bible, but insist on sticking pine trees in their living rooms for the entire month of December) and divide the Zionist community with lies. It only serves to take our eyes off of our real enemies: Islam and the Left.