Ileana Ros-Lehtinen And J-Street

Last updated on: January 25, 2011 at 4:57 pm by Jeffrey L. Falick

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen And J-Street 2011-01-25T16:57:00-05:00 Jeffrey L. Falick

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I want to address a recent issue regarding J-Street, but before I do, I should make a full disclosure. Together with over 600 other rabbis and cantors, I am a member of the J-Street Rabbinic Cabinet. I am not an opponent of AIPAC, but that organization serves a different purpose. I feel strongly that American Jews concerned for Israel’s secular and democratic future should be able to directly fund and support pro-Israel candidates who also support an active U.S. role in peacemaking.

Now to the matter at hand. J-Street just called for Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to give back donations that she received from Irving Moskowitz:

The new Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen seems to see nothing wrong with taking large campaign contributions from Irving Moskowitz, a notorious funder of settlements in East Jerusalem’s Palestinian neighborhoods.

Moskowitz actively works to derail the chances for a two-state solution by funding Jewish settler housing in the middle of Palestinian neighborhoods – and has been condemned by both Republican and Democratic US Administrations for undermining the prospects of peace.

With the two-state solution hanging by a thread, what a terrible signal it sends for an American political leader to be so cozy with a far-right political funder whose actions undermine the foreign policy of the United States and makes a two-state solution harder to achieve.

I am no fan of Moskowitz nor his support of hard-line religiously fanatical settlers. At the same time, I do not agree that Rep. Ros-Lehtinen should return his donations. As Ron Kampeas ably put it on his JTA blog:

Donors, properly, give to candidates who are closest to their views, not to those who slavishly adhere to them. Candidates, properly, accept this money with the understanding that the donor is not dictating terms, only advancing shared interests. Interests on the other side — in this case J Street — properly organize campaigns to remind the candidate that the donor holds views that may be embarrassing to the candidate.

So, one could conceive of a scenario in which Moskowitz, who isn’t a fan of a two-state solution, gives to Ros-Lehtinen, despite her stated bias for a two-state solution, because she ascribes to tougher standards for the Palestinians. The better of two evils, from his perspective. And she properly accepts the money because, while they don’t agree on outcomes, Ros-Lehtinen and Moskowitz share a skepticism of Palestinian intentions. And then J Street could properly argue that Moskowitz is so removed from Ros-Lehtinen’s ideology that her supporters should call on her to rend asunder her association with Moskowitz.

So more full disclosure before I continue. I am a constituent of Ros-Lehtinen’s and she is one of the few Republicans for whom I have voted. She’s a rare Republican who supports gay rights and I appreciate her non-religiously motivated support for Israel.

So I contacted her directly to make sure that I clearly understood her position on a two state solution and this is what she sent to me, via her legislative assistant, within minutes: “Of course I support a two state solution and have said it many times.” I can attest to hearing her say it. And while I’m not thrilled about her accepting financing from Irving Moskowitz, there is nothing improper about doing so.

Blog Entries

American Jews

Israel

Previous Post

January 20, 2011

An Atheist Minister And Atheist Rabbi Walk Into A...

Next Post

January 26, 2011 America Just Can't Handle The Truth!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Entries

Select a Month January 2017 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 December 2014 February 2014 December 2013 October 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who built the ark?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Noah Solomon David Moses