Boteach Calls on Pascrell to Denounce “Jew-Hatred” of Arab Fundraiser
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Rabbi Shmuley Boteach addresses the gathering at the launch for his Institute of Jewish Values. Photo: SB.
After a $500,000 donation to a super PAC supporting New Jersey congressional candidate Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a prominent Arab-American, who has been vocally supportive of his opponent Bill Pascrell, has accused Boteach of capitulating to the right wing and “Islamophobes” within the Republican party.
“The Adelson money has effectively sealed the capitulation of Mr. Boteach to the right wing and Islamophobes in the Republican Party, and their financiers,” Dr. Aref Assaf, who is President of the American Arab Forum, told The Algemeiner. ”Boteach has sold his soul and I am afraid no higher authority can redeem it.”
Running against eight-term Congressman Bill Pascrell in the newly redrawn 9th district of New Jersey, Boteach is receiving support from the Patriot Prosperity PAC, which received a combined $500,000 from Sheldon Adelson and his wife. Adelson, the chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corp., has been active in this year’s election process, including a $10 million gift to the super PAC Restore Our Future, supporting Mitt Romney.
“It was bad enough when Aref Assaf lobbed the anti-Semitic charge of ‘dual loyalties’ at Democratic Congressman Steve Rothman,” Boteach told The Algemeiner, referring to an incident that took place during the primary race between Rothman and Pascrell “Much worse, amid purporting to be an Arab leader he trivialized the murder of innocent Arab children in Syria by Bashar Assad. Now Aref Assaf maligns Sheldon Adelson. I am not surprised. Assaf has a virulent hatred of Israel, and Adelson is among the biggest donors to Israel in world history.”
Assaf doesn’t believe Boteach or Romney will win in their respective races for Congress and the White House, despite an injection of financial support from Adelson.
“Mr Adelson has bet his money on the horse. The 9th district is solidly Democratic. His tactics did not work for Gingrich and I predict the same fate await Mr. Romney and Boteach,” he said. ”I advise Mr Boteach to work on his next TV show, perhaps this one on selling one’s conscience.”
Speaking with The Algemeiner, Boteach called on his opponent in the 9th district race and Islamic leaders to “distance themselves” from Assaf.
“It is imperative that my opponent, Bill Pascrell, do the moral thing and denounce the Jew-hatred of Assaf. Assaf has been one of Pascrell’s most ardent supporters and fundraisers. Arabs are my brothers and I have deep reverence for Islam. Islamic leaders should do the right thing and immediately distance themselves from the crude bigotry of Assaf,” said Boteach.
Rep. Bill Pascrell could not immediately be reached by The Algemeiner for comment.
3:51 am
“Rabbis for Romney”
With the announcement that there is now a “Rabbis for Obama” list and organization, it is safe to assume there will soon be as making it seem as though all Jews support this President who has refused to visit Israel while in office, blatantly insulted the Israel and her elected leaders, and publicly demanded that the Jewish state retreat to the 1948 “Auschwitz” borders. He even made a tremendous fuss when Israel dared to announce a building plan in her own capital. The announcement came just as Vice-President Biden was visiting, and Obama reacted as if Israel had announced that Arabs would no longer be allowed at their holy sites. Indeed, it is the Arabs, presumably with Obama’s approval (because he has never said a word against it), who do not allow Jews or Christians to so much as think a prayer on the Temple Mount. Closing one’s eyes and standing still (never mind carrying a prayer book) is an offense that can lead to arrest.
I appeal to all rabbis, of all denominations, whether working in the pulpit, as I do, or not, to band with me to form “Rabbis for Romney.” It is imperative that all Americans understand that there are passionate Jewish spiritual leaders who care very much about the wrongs done to the Jewish state under this administration.
Every time Obama sounded as if he finally understood the problems, he almost immediately issued a retraction. I refer specifically to his address at AIPAC when he said Jerusalem was the undivided capital of Israel. The next day, he said he meant only that there shouldn’t be “barbed wire” running through the city.
When he said Israel did not need to worry because “America has your back,” everyone at AIPAC thought he was ready to defend Israel against Iran in every way, not just diplomatically. The next day, he corrected himself, explaining he had not meant there was “a military doctrine we were laying out for any particular action.”
Some of the rabbis who signed onto “Rabbis for Obama” have told me they do not object to Israel’s existence per se, but rather to Israel’s “occupation of Palestinian land.” “Rabbis for Romney” could show our misguided colleagues that every time Israel has ceded territory to the Arabs, they have turned that land into a base from which to launch terror attacks: Gaza, Judea and Samaria, South Lebanon, and now Sinai. Forcing Israel to surrender will never bring about peace. It will only facilitate her enemies’ destructive promises.
But Israel would not be our only issue. Americans must see that “Rabbis for Romney” understand why the principles of ObamaCare are in opposition to Jewish traditions. Who better than rabbis to explain what this economy is doing to so many of our people, and why it is being made worse by this administration’s policies, not better.
Many of us also know that vouchers and school-choice programs are the only way to make sure all children—including our own—receive a proper, appropriate education. We will never get anywhere with this idea as long as Obama is in office.
Please do not misunderstand. I do not think Romney is, le havdil, Moshiach ben Dovid. I know, as President, he will, as he should, do what he believes is in America’s best national interest. But his and his running mate’s backgrounds and statements make it clear that their response to Israel, especially when the chips are down, will be far more favorable than anything we can expect from Obama.
If you’d like to join me in this effort, please contact me at 732-572-2766 or by email at chaimdov@aol.com
Rabbi Bernhard Rosenberg
7:25 am
I have been working to try to get the Republican Jewish Coalition to create rabbis for Romney. I think we give the wrong impression to the public when there are rabbis for Obama and none for Romney. I don’t represent an organization and my views are personal. Having been involved in political elections and worked with many candidates as a media coach I can assure you that the media is interested in hearing if there are rabbis willing to put their names on list for Romney. If you are interested join me in speaking out. Please connect with other rabbis from other movements and have them contact me.’The “Rabbis for Obama” announcement came out of the Obama campaign. SOME want to support Romney, but won’t sign unless we get some cooperation from the Romney people, not the RJC. The Romney people have to match the Obama people to some extent. Those of you who feels this way are asked to speak out to the Republicsan Party. I am one lonely individual who will get no where without your help. we need money for ads.Maybe Mr. Adelson can help.
RABBI DR. BERNHARD Rosenberg
EDISON NJ.
6:31 am
Hey, anyone with any sense is Islamophobe. Just look at what Islam is doing to the world!
8:08 pm
Pascrell will do whatever the Islamists tell him to do. When they tell him Quarazeh was a place Mohammad treated Jews well…he will believe it…
When the Islamists say jump Pascrell says HOW HIGH? He is a typical dhimmi….doing whatever the Islamists tell him to do.