I got the chance to hear the President of the United States speak at the Union for Reform Judaism's Biennial this past weekend. The speech was fantastic, and really demonstrated that Obama knew his audience and was committed to making this a good presentation. It was, after all, geared toward a Jewish community that could be influential in his re-election campaign.
After leaving the event, I heard many people say that they were voting for Obama in the coming election because of this speech. Now, I will say that after this event, I have a better idea of who I am going to vote for, but it has nothing to do with anything Obama said during his speech. As a matter of fact, I would have come to the same realization whether Obama had attended Biennial or not.
Throughout the weekend, I had the opportunity to be in on conversations going on about all of the most important issues within Reform Judaism. We discussed personal expression with NFTY's teens, we discussed the transition of leadership from Rabbi Yoffie to Rabbi Jacobs, and, most importantly, we discussed the importance of Youth Engagement, and how to properly attain more involvement from our youth communities.
Throughout all of this discussion, I was basically told what it is that the Union for Reform Judaism stands for. I came to discover that I too agreed on many of these stances. These ideas included standing up for human rights, for peace, and for understanding amongst all of us. These seem like basic things to stand up for, yet so often we, as people, lose sight of the importance of continually reminding ourselves what it is that is important to us.
In this way, I came out of the event knowing who I will most likely vote for in an election, not because of any one candidate, but because I know better what I want from a candidate. I know what it is that I find most significant to my view of a better America, a better American Jewry, and, most specifically, the best way to a better Global union amongst all people.
Not only did I walk out of this event with a better self-perception politically, but I also walked out with a renewed passion for lifelong Jewish learning and commitment. I so much enjoyed all of the elements of the weekend that I want to continue to work with the Union for Reform Judaism to make our campaigns a success, and our visions reality. By any one of us, our cause will most definitely fail. But as one collective voice, we as a movement are a force to be reckoned with. I am excited to work for a positive change in our world as a part of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Political leaders are gifted speakers. They have gotten where they are by causing people to believe what they say. One thing I have learned is to always give more credence to their works than their words. Anyone can say they will take a certain stand on any given issue (and sometimes take several stands)but the important thing to watch is their actions.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that in the case of our president his words don't match his actions. He states that he supports Israel's security but condemns the Gaza blockade. He says he supports a negotiated settlement to the Palestinian problem then insists that Israel start negotiating by retreating inside the 1967 borders. He welcomes Arab leaders to the White House but shuns the Israeli Prime Minister. He states that he has been a better friend to the Jewish people that any other president yet has done more to support our enemies than any president I can remember.
Voting is a privilege that we as Americans must take very seriously. It must ultimately be a personal decision. Hopefully that decision is made with our eyes wide open. Keep in mind that the world has been the most peaceful when America has been its strongest. A weak America emboldens our enemies and encourages them to act against us and our allies. Each of us should vote as if our vote was the only one that counts. It's good to have a collective voice but that voice must reflect your individual conscience.