Rabbi on Thought for the Day

[ipanemagirl]

I thought this was a little inappropriate given the huge death toll in Gaza at the moment. And her message about the Jewish people having to 'evolve' and pray for peace seemed a little open to interpretation. Not a good choice imo.

I don't think you can blame one particular rabbi for the actions of the Jewish state. I have lived abroad and been called to account for unacceptable actions by the British government - in fact by Palestinians who felt that Britain had betrayed and abandonned them and caused the situation there today ...

I am sorry OP but I think your post is totally inappropriate. Do you hold the Rabbi and her listening audience accountable then?

Sorry just read the transcript and can't see an issue - I am jewish BTW

She seems to be saying that Jewish people have to evolve - which means we may have to realise that the 'traditional' way of thinking regarding Israel HAS to change.

A good thing IMHO
here

Of course the rabbi isn't responsible for Israeli actions! All I said is, if you read my post, that it was 'a little inappropriate' in my opinion.

I felt that talking about Darwin and evolution makes me think of the survival of the fittest which is an unfortunate thought given the massive death toll in Gaza at the moment.

She was vague enough to be fairly ambiguous clearly as you crunchie heard another implication. But in my book Darwin = evolution = survival of the fittest. Not a great message of Shalom in human terms in the light of the news.

It's just my opinion whether you agree with me or not is fine with me.

oh I thought you were going to talk about the lovely Rabbi Lionel Blue ipanema

Me too - "Rabbi" and "Thought for the Day" for me can only mean Lionel.

Crunchie, a hearty apology to you, I've only just read the transcript and see what you mean, it's not as ambiguous as I heard it.

I heard it while doing the morning lunchbox and dealing with slightly shouty baby, the classic Thought for the Day backdrop for some! I've been so wound up for days about the bombing in Gaza and I feel so certain that very little will be done about it and no one will stop Israel and I feel so heartbroken for the Palestinian people, very many of whom are, imho, entirely innocent of the worst luck of almost any modern nation of people. I don't support Hamas's actions but equally I think the behaviour of Israel over decades has been mighty compost to create them.

So when I heard a rabbi talking about 'praying for peace' I was muttering things about it's going to take more than prayer to stop Israel.

But imo, nothing will be done, Obama is going to be pretty much the same as Bush, the rest of the world and the UN are all ignored, Israel considers the comparative death toll irrelevant. And they've just bombed their way to a whole new generation of terrorists! Brilliant! Then they'll justify nuking Iran! way hay! And none of us have a say in it!!

So depressing.... forgive the rant. I just don't see why the whole world is held ransome to some bizarre brutal Zionist expansionist colonial nonsense.

And how funny/tragic to see ickle wickil Tony Blair having NO influence now because of the abomination of Iraq, and how he must wonder why he didn't use his power in the Middle East for better ends.

BTW ipanemagirl the Rabbi you heard must be a reform or liberal rabbi - as she is a she (IYKWIM) therefore we stand for change and are not all zionists. I got called an anti-semitic jew hater ashamed of my religion as I am strongly against waht Israel do - and that was before this war. I do want change, as do many others.