May 28, 2008

Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf

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Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf is the rabbi emeritus of the oldest synagogue in Chicago, KAM Isaiah Israel. The temple is located in Hyde Park and happens to be directly across the street from Barack and Michelle Obama's home. And when we say "across the street," we mean it. We've been there, seen it.

Actually, we've been to a Bar Mitzvah or two at KAM and let's just say if either of the Obama daughters hit a baseball straight away, it would end up going through one of the KAM windows.

Anyway, at a time when anonymous "Swift Boat" Internet e-mails were circulating slanderous accusations about Obama being an enemy of Israel -- along with the FOX propaganda network promulgation of claims that Obama was really "sort of" a Muslim -- Rabbi Wolf stood up for his neighbor and good friend.

In fact, Wolf penned a widely circulated essay on Obama in which he concludes,

"I've worked with Obama for more than a decade, as has my son, a lawyer who represents children and people with disabilities. He has admired Obama's dedication and skill as he worked on issues affecting our most vulnerable citizens.

Obama is no anti-Semite. He is not anti-Israel. He is one of our own, the one figure on the political scene who remembers our past, and has a real vision for repairing our present.

Barack Obama is brilliant and open-hearted; he is wiser and more thoughtful than his former minister. He offers what America, Israel, and the Jewish community need: a US President willing to ask hard questions, and grapple with difficult answers.

I am very proud to be his neighbor. I hope someday to visit him in the White House."
One of the ironies about the Bush Administration's hard line support of the right-wing political parties in Israel is that within the Jewish state, there is much more tolerance for debate about seeking peace than there is within America.

Rabbi Wolf understands this tragic irony.

And he is not hesitant to support Barack Obama at a time when many candidates are equating "victory" with bombing anyone who disagrees with American hegemony.

For these reasons and more, we honor Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf for being both a good neighbor and a patriot who sees beyond the empty rhetoric of opportunistic cowboy diplomacy. Rabbi Wolf merits being honored with this week's BuzzFlash Wings of Justice Award.

* * *

Nominated by ERW of Houston, TX.


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