From his op/ed in the Washington Post:
This Purim, we Jews must not bow down and kneel to a man who inspires hatred.
As a rabbi of an Orthodox congregation in Washington, I am a strong supporter of Israel and of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which lobbies on its behalf here. For more than a decade, I’ve traveled to Israel at least once a year, and I’ve been to many AIPAC events over my 17 years as a rabbi.
So when Donald Trump addressed the group’s annual policy conference at the Verizon Center on Monday, I was sitting six rows away from the stage. And as Trump began his speech, I rose from my seat. I spread my tallit over my shoulders, raised my hands up high and declared: “This man is wicked. He inspires racists and bigots. He encourages violence. Do not listen to him.” With every cell in my body, I felt the obligation to declare his wickedness to the world.
Since 2004, I’ve been a rabbi here in Washington. I try very hard to stay away from commenting on partisan politics. (I don’t remember ever publicly criticizing either George W. Bush or Barack Obama.) I believe that the job of a rabbi is to be a rabbi for all congregants — no matter who they vote for. Our congregation has passionate Republicans and Democrats, and we all get along. This ability to worship together despite strong political differences is essential to a faith community.
But besides being the spiritual adviser to my congregation, I am also a father of seven children. As a father, I teach my children that when there is wickedness in our midst, we must stand up and recognize it. Sometimes we will just be another voice in the wind, but even so, we have a religious imperative to call out that wickedness and declare that it is wrong.
And the laws and teachings of Judaism make it clear that Trump qualifies as wicked. He has equivocated about whether he would disavow support from David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan. He has called for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States. He has suggested that torture be made legal and that the U.S. military kill the families of terrorism suspects (a war crime in international law as surely as it would be an ethical crime in religious law). Sure, he walked back some of those comments, but there is no question that his campaign is inspiring and nourishing the bigots and racists of the world. Lately, he has openly encouraged violence at his rallies. This combination of providing sustenance to racists and encouraging violence is a deadly one that represents an existential threat to our country. That certainly qualifies as wicked.
As a rabbi of an Orthodox congregation in Washington, I am a strong supporter of Israel and of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which lobbies on its behalf here. For more than a decade, I’ve traveled to Israel at least once a year, and I’ve been to many AIPAC events over my 17 years as a rabbi.
So when Donald Trump addressed the group’s annual policy conference at the Verizon Center on Monday, I was sitting six rows away from the stage. And as Trump began his speech, I rose from my seat. I spread my tallit over my shoulders, raised my hands up high and declared: “This man is wicked. He inspires racists and bigots. He encourages violence. Do not listen to him.” With every cell in my body, I felt the obligation to declare his wickedness to the world.
Since 2004, I’ve been a rabbi here in Washington. I try very hard to stay away from commenting on partisan politics. (I don’t remember ever publicly criticizing either George W. Bush or Barack Obama.) I believe that the job of a rabbi is to be a rabbi for all congregants — no matter who they vote for. Our congregation has passionate Republicans and Democrats, and we all get along. This ability to worship together despite strong political differences is essential to a faith community.
But besides being the spiritual adviser to my congregation, I am also a father of seven children. As a father, I teach my children that when there is wickedness in our midst, we must stand up and recognize it. Sometimes we will just be another voice in the wind, but even so, we have a religious imperative to call out that wickedness and declare that it is wrong.
And the laws and teachings of Judaism make it clear that Trump qualifies as wicked. He has equivocated about whether he would disavow support from David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan. He has called for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States. He has suggested that torture be made legal and that the U.S. military kill the families of terrorism suspects (a war crime in international law as surely as it would be an ethical crime in religious law). Sure, he walked back some of those comments, but there is no question that his campaign is inspiring and nourishing the bigots and racists of the world. Lately, he has openly encouraged violence at his rallies. This combination of providing sustenance to racists and encouraging violence is a deadly one that represents an existential threat to our country. That certainly qualifies as wicked.
Before Trump’s speech, I asked other attendees at the AIPAC conference whether they would walk out to protest. Some small groups did leave, to study Torah elsewhere during his address. But most stayed, and many applauded. People told me that they wanted to hear what he had to say. They wanted to hear whether he would be supportive of Israel.
Whether he supports Israel is irrelevant to me. If a person inspires bigotry and racism, we should not overlook those character traits just because he says something with which we agree. Just the opposite: that he does agree with us on some issues makes his message even more dangerous, as it can make his bigotry and racism more palatable.
On Wednesday evening, we Jews will read the Book of Esther as part of our celebration of the holiday of Purim. In this story, King Ahasuerus first seduces the people of his kingdom with lavish parties. The people are impressed and grateful for the king’s ostentatious hospitality, so they all rush to support him. At that moment, Ahasuerus elevates the wicked Haman to a position of great power. Haman eventually manufacturers an edict to kill all of the kingdom’s Jews, but even before that, Mordechai, a Jew who lives in the kingdom’s capital, senses Haman’s true nature. All the visitors to the king’s palace bow down to Haman, but Mordechai alone “refused to bow and refused to kneel” (Esther 3:2).
At that critical moment, Mordechai spoke truth to power.
As I sat in the Verizon Center and watched Trump ascend to speak, I thought of my children, and I drew inspiration from the Purim story. Like Mordechai, we Jews must not bow down and kneel to a man who inspires hatred. We will not overlook his calls for violence.
After AIPAC security escorted me out of the arena, I was approached by members of the media. They asked me why I did what I did. I had no illusions that I might affect Trump’s rise in any way, nor did I expect to convince people of the correctness of my positions. I also knew that many in my congregation would support me and others who call me their rabbi would be deeply upset with me. But at that moment, none of it mattered. I felt a strong religious imperative to act even if it achieved nothing. As the Megillah says about Mordechai, when he heard the news of Haman’s decree: “He went out into the city and let out a loud and bitter cry” (Esther 4:1).
So I told the media, as I broke down in tears: I did it for my children.
So I hope the rabbi has a freiliche Purim and a great chuckle over those 75,000 Hamanites who met their doom at the hands of the Jews. I hope it puts him in the mood for Passover, and the termination of all the first born sons of Egypt. Hilarious!
Shmuel Herzfeld is a gay-friendly rabbi.
Joe emails me in 2008:
I think that you should run a piece on Rabbi Shmuel Hertzfeld. His time has come, since he is a quasi-celeb.
Without any previous knowledge, you might think Hertzfeld is some kind of activist, a modern day Heschel — but Orthodox.
That is not the case. Let me give you some background. You can verify the assessment that I am giving you with anyone who was at YU with Hertzfeld.
Hertzfeld was in YU before Yeshivat Chovevei Torah opened up. Today, a person like him would probably wind up at YCT, but that wasn’t an option then.
He was always a maverick, or, if you will a trouble maker. He would make controversial statements in public, just to attract attention.
His most famous line — which he would repeat and repeat and repeat was, "The only reason guys in YU get married early, is because they don’t have premarital sex." Of course, everyone knew that he and his girlfriend were dating a long time, by YU standards, and only got married after three years of dating.
So, Hertzfeld was some kind of cynical YU guy, doing graduate work at Revel (YU’s graduate program in Judaic studes) — until he met Avi Weiss. When Hertzfeld took the job at Weiss’s shul (Hebrew Institute), he got into the whole "Avi Weiss/Hug everyone/isn’t it a wonderful world/so open-minded your brain falls out" thing. Luke, since you live on the West coast, you are used to such people; in New York, they are a rare commodity. Hertzfeld realized that, instead of making provocative comments that enraged people in YU, you could say the same things, and become the darling of your congregants, because that is exactly what they wanted to hear, a message contra YU.
Then Hertzfeld saw his opportunity. He took a dying shul in the DC area and renamed it "The National Synagogue." What a move! It’s like, there’s a National Cathedral — and a National Synagogue. He got a ton of money from Jonas (of IDT fame) and was soon in business running tons of programing. In a place like Washington, he taped into a niche market for "Open Orthodoxy."
Here’s Hertzfeld, doing his Open Orthodoxy thing, and getting the other rabbis, who belong to the "Vaad of Greater Washington," more and more upset at him. In a sense, he infuriated Rabbi Barry Freundel more than the more right-leaning rabbis. Freundel is a major YU person, very into YU as an institution. Hertzfeld represents a challenge to that.
Rubashkin was Hertzfeld’s coup de grace. He gained two things: first, he presented himself as a social activist, which is exactly the kind of PR that he needs. Second, he "assered," or forbade the meat, which is supervised by establishment groups like the OU. This is a classic trick of rabbis, to forbid something to show your political muscles. Even better, Hertzfeld comes out "frummer" than the other DC rabbis, who are far to his right.
The Times op-ed was a classic Hertzfeld. It brings him back to the days of being a cynical YU smicha guy.
The problem is, that he is nearly untouchable. If YU crucifies him, then he’ll become a martyr for Open Orthodoxy. If they tried to assassinate his character, by bringing out his dirty laundry from his YU days, then Hertzfeld will only gain, since he will become known as "the cool rabbi who allows pre-marital sex." Only time will tell what lies in wait for Shmuel Hertzfeld.
Comments at the Washington Post:
* I see, it’s not the very real hurt perpetrated by Obama on Israel and the world by funding Iranian terror or the disgusting disrespect shown to the Israeli Prime Minister and Ambassador Derner by this administration and their spokespeople but Trump saying “yay” to Obama’s final days in office. Pinkus should indeed be deeply sorry but only for humiliating the rest of the proud American Jewish community with this mewling apology.
* There are few things more disgusting than a clergyman cloaking his partisan political views and prejudices in religion. Just say that you hate Trump, Rabbi, and leave Judaism out of it.
* I did some reading on this “Rabbi.” He is a nobody that represents a fringe 3rd rate Synagogue. The WAPO makes this guy out to be the Pope of the Jewish faith. He is a nobody.
* AIPAC and the Israeli lobby have too much influence over US foreign policy and the mechanisms of our federal government, especially, but not exclusively, in the Republican dominated House of Representatives. It is about time U.S. politicians started putting U.S. national interests ahead of those of Israel. I don’t agree with Trump on many issues, but he called it right to put U.S. interests first, to ask our allies to spend more for their own defense, especially Europe, and to recognize that Bush jr. was a disaster when it came to foreign and national security policy, not to mention economic policy.
* As a Jew, I must express my deep unease and heavy embarrassment that I felt upon reading this article. Your invocation of the story of Purim is highly inappropriate because it bears no relation to what is going on in the race; specifically, Trump is no Haman. The implausibility of your claim beggars belief.
You may not necessarily agree with Trump’s policy proposals, or his abrasive manner at times. But to paint him with the same brush as Haman is painted? We compare Haman to Hitler; are you sincerely making the claim that there is equivalence between Trump and Hitler??
Your article is lazy. You come across as sanctimonious. You misrepresent the megilla story. You cast Jews in a very awkward light. Shame on you.
* This clown Herzfeld is a well-known left-oriented attention-seeker. Anything for attention. Absolutely anything — with the emphasis on attacking someone else, because attacking prompts controversy, which assures publicity somewhere. He walked out of Donald Trump’s AIPAC address, but virtually no one noticed — so now he tries to grab attention with this little post. Identically, he resigned from the Rabbinical Council of America to get attention. When he walked out of the Rabbinical Council, no one noticed . . . until he published a silly attack later. Same here. When he and two others walked out of AIPAC, the remaining 19,997 remained, heard Trump, and many even gave Mr. Trump rousing standing ovations. It was Trump’s finest moment in the campaign, speaking from prepared thoughts, laying out policies, speaking in measured and respectful tones. That kind of presentation is the kind that is to be encouraged for a candidate who long has needed encouragement to rein in the distractions. Herzfeld is a joke outside his small little fan club.
— Rabbi Dov Fischer
Young Israel of Orange County, CA
* Let’s cut to the chase here. Exactly what does Israel want? Who is Haman in this modern day story? Collectively it appears to be the right wing Netanyahu government that is perpetrating what many believe to be a lie, that Israel will ever enter into a two state solution regarding Palestine.
Ted Cruz early on in his speech, to much applause, stated there has been no Palestine since 1948. The implication is there never will be. Naftali Bennet a member of the current government and leader of Jewish Home party is on record stating Israel will never surrender Judea and Samaria. Is it not Israel leading the lie? And AIPAC is perpetrating the same lie?
So Rabbi, in your celebration of Purim, search your conscience and decide if Israel is being truthful with the world. It is time to either annex the West Bank and Gaza and declare they are Israel or stop the settlements, return the settlers to present day Israel and enter negotiations for the two state solution? Just do not perpetrate the lie. President Carter, Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin, concluded the Camp David Accords which has brought a degree of peace to Israel. It is time for Israel to be honest with the world. Either halt settlement and withdraw all settlers from the West Bank or annex the West Bank and deal with the consequences.
It is blatantly obvious that the view of Naftali Bennet represents the long term goal of making Judea and Samaria part of Israel proper. And AIPAC is part of the charade. That is why AIPAC will cheer a bigot. Where is morality if lies are being perpetrated?
* Why would a jew turn on a man who actually admits to favoring Israel and the jewish religion? Look what happened when y’all voted for barrack Hussein Obama. Not a brilliant move on your part. Maybe jews just like to play the victims, and view themselves as poor humble downtrodden friends of the weak, and scorned. It doesn’t work for you! Most American jews are well educated, successful in careers, and upper middle class and wealthy. I’m not jewish, and I support Trump. I’m not anti jewish, I support Israel as a top friend of America. If you don’t like Trump because of his colorful speech, vote for Bernie sanders. But don’t expect him to make much difference. He is part of the liberal establishment. They don’t favor jews. They support Palestinians. People are already blaming jews for the Belgium terrorist attacks, because Israel won’t give back disputed territory, to the palestinians. Muslims have a sworn duty to destroy Israel. That won’t change, and they won’t stop, until they do. The world will stand back and watch. Democrats won’t do anything to make the Palestinians accountable for their violence. They will just tell Israel to role over and give disputed lands back, on a silver platter.
* This Rabbi is a farce. THERE IS NO NATIONAL SYNAGOGUE. I was duped when visiting DC. Saw the name National Synagogue and thought it would be worthy of a visit. Thought it would have years of history (like the rest of the city). Bottom line, its the name that a Rabbi selected the name a half-dozen years ago to attract tourists to an empty building that would have otherwise closed down. It was not a National Landmark. Everyone walking in was like…WTF!?? He speaks for no one. And he certainly doesn’t speak for me. And by the way, Washington Post knows all of this. However, the name sounds large (as if he represents a large group), therefore, the Post was willing to allow the title of the synagogue to mischaracterize the circumstances. When I saw the place, I was insulted. Empty, neglected, and clearly taking advantage of having seized a name to feed off the tourist draw. To me, was not even a house of worship at all. If he thinks Trump is evil, what would you call him? After all, he did not convey the status of the synagogue honestly to prospective guests or the newspaper? The name of the REAL synagogue in the center of DC with decades of history is on the corner of Sixth and I. Nothing to do with level of observance here. And as if being in DC makes him a political expert?
* What is your stance on the right to return for Palestinians, Mr Herzfeld? If Mr. Trump is a racist for calling for a Muslim immigration moratorium and you are an ardent Israel supporter, are you saying Israel is a racist state? How many Muslim refugees has Israel taken in? If Israel does not take in Muslim immigrants and refugees, why should we?
* My understanding is that a Jewish prayer shawl is normally worn only at prayer services. (“Prayer” shawl get it?) Why was Rabbi Herzfeld wearing his in a convention center? Perhaps the Rabbi was disoriented and thought that the wicked Trump was visiting his temple. (God forbid).
Anyway, Rabbi Herzfeld is obviously a brilliant man. Whereas the Bible usually associates terms like “evil” and “wicked” with those who murder , rape and pillage, the good rabbi has apparently used his acumen to enlarge the definitions: The terms now describe any politician who opposes an open door immigration policy. Rabbi Herzfeld, of course, is not alone in doing so: http://wp.me/p5Ep2A-49.
I’m left wondering what terms Rabbi Herzfeld would use to describe, say, those who blew up 30+ people yesterday in Belgium?
Now, I’m no preacher or rabbi, but do I know of one biblical verse, not in the book of Esther, that maybe the rabbi should consult: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20)
* Shmuel, you are not speaking as a rabbi. You are speaking as a man.
Numbers 31 in the Torah describes a war between Israel and the Midianites. “So, they made war against Midian, just as the Lord had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.” Moses then goes on to demand, “Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately…But all the girls who have not known man intimately, spare for yourselves.” Pretty gruesome stuff. The point is according to the reasoning of Rabbi Herzfeld, God must be wicked also.
Certainly what Trump has proposed is a lot milder than the above bloody description.
18,000 attended Donald Trump’s AIPAC speech. Only a few hundred walked out. Trump received many standing ovations. I have to wonder why the the WP selected one of the very few dissenters to write this piece instead of the many thousands who enthusiastically applauded Trump’s message.
* Looks like the Washington Post is now scraping them off the streets to write anti-Trump articles. Some nobody rabbi is on the front page of this national news paper. What’s his qualification? He hates Trump. Next we’ll get a couple of drug dealers, maybe El Chapo if we’re lucky, to write op-eds here.
* But Trump’s “kill the families” has roots in the Torah. Read what happened at Jericho after the Israelis took down the wall:
“They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.”
Wicked?
* Funny what a double standard this idiot rabbi has, Israel lives in a state of apartheid, and they accuse Trump of being Islamophobic. Well the only way Israel maintains its own security is by being Islamophobic. So stop lecturing us and get real, this is not Disneyland, this is the real world.
* Yes, you schmuck, you taught your seven children to disrupt and interfere with the First Amendment of anyone whose views don’t agree with yours. Yeah, I bet you are proud of that and your kids are kosher with it, too.
* So when a religious person sees/identifies what he describes as wickedness, he should throw his hands in the air and walk out? Rabbi, I believe Barack Obama is wicked but he is our President, misguided, totally out of touch with what I would describe as American values, and self-serving to the point that no experience can change his mind. A lot of Americans feel as I do: disgusted, very angry with Obama, the media, the Republicans in Congress. Enter Trump, exit Rabbi Herzfeld. Just remember Rabbi, as we have to tolerate Obama, you may have to tolerate President Trump. You might want to try to devise a way to accommodate the conceivable.
* Arrogant cleric flapping his jaws. He should have been thrown out, butt over heels, and his ridiculous prayer shawl thrown after him. Amazing how these brazen clerics think they have the right to be tax exempt while involving themselves in politics. If this idiot has a congregation it should lose its tax-exempt status.
* Well, from the reactions I saw throughout the speech, you’re out there alone, Herzfeld, 19,997 attendees disagreeing, several standing ovations, laughter, 100% support for Netanyahu, unlike the present jerk. Get a grip and a tissue, and suck it up, buddy. Watch the speech again. The present WH occupant is in Cuba, and could give a crap about your country.