Queens Jewish Link
Connecting the Queens Jewish Community 
Someone in my shul referred me to an article by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel (the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue), which appeared in The Wall Street Journal of July 3-4. The article pointed to the classic painting by John Trumbull, placed in the Capitol Rotunda since July 4, 1826 – the 50th anniversary of American independence. The painting depicts the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
There was a time when dog catchers played a vital role in the community. Menacing dogs had to be removed from the streets for public safety. The dog catcher was a public official who was elected to his position by the community he served.
I fit the profile of a racist. I am white. I am male. My politics are conservative. I was a Trumpist. I love the flag. I admire the police.
I spoke with a respected staffer at the OU, who told me he was at a rally for Israel in Great Neck earlier this week that was well attended by Israel supporters, politicians, and clergy. A Reform rabbi expressed his solidarity with Israel, which truthfully was a pleasant surprise. Of course, the expected “but” followed.
We live in very confusing times. We want to fight racism, so we create racism. We teach that all whites are racists and that it is systemic. And our president is then, by definition, racist. It would be right for him to step down and yield the office to his vice president, who is whatever race and gender – one could fill in the appropriate non-racist and non-sexist boxes. We teach tolerance of all genders, but we are taught that there really is no gender separation. Being called a hypocrite is considered not an insult but a confirmation of the correctness of this skewered way of thinking.
When the Navi Shmuel (Samuel) confronts King Saul for sparing the life of Agag, the king of Amaleik at the time, he issues a strong rebuke: “Though you are small in your own eyes, you are the head of the tribes of Israel, and Hashem anointed you to be king of Israel.” For this misplaced modesty, Saul was ultimately stripped of his kingship.
