Ivanka Trump’s Rabbi Backs Out Of Delivering Prayer At Convention

[Lakhota]

The reversal came after intense backlash from his former students.

WASHINGTON ― Rabbi Haskel Lookstein on Friday reversed an earlier decision to deliver the opening prayer at the Republican National Convention next week after facing a deluge of criticism from his former students who questioned how he could lend tacit support to presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

“In the interest of bringing our community together, I have asked to be relieved of my commitment to deliver the invocation. My request has been honored with the same love and respect in which it was first offered and intended,” Lookstein wrote in an email. It was sent Friday and addressed to the “Ramaz Family,” those affiliated with an Orthodox Jewish Day School that Lookstein, until recently, headed.

According to Lookstein, he was invited to the convention by Ivanka Trump, who is a member of the Kehilath Jeshurun synagogue, where Lookstein is the Rabbi Emeritus, to appear at the convention in Cleveland on Monday. He accepted, apparently unaware of the political firestorm the decision would ignite.

Within hours of the Thursday announcement that he would appear at the convention, Ramaz alumni flooded the internet with petitions and calls for him to reconsider his decision. The reactions from many of his former students ranged from disgusted to disappointed and confused.

“To embrace Trump and Trumpism goes against all we’ve been taught. As graduates of Ramaz, and as current or former members of the Modern Orthodox community, this is a shanda beyond the pale,” Jacob Savage wrote in a change.org petition, using the Yiddish word for “shame.” The petition amassed over 800 signatures by the time Lookstein announced he was no longer planning to deliver the prayer.

It is not clear from Lookstein’s statement if will still be attending the convention. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

More: Ivanka Trump's Rabbi Backs Out Of Delivering Prayer At GOP Convention

That is so funny. Even Jews hate Trump. Well, what's not to hate...

 

[RodISHI]

A lot of the Orthodox religions are screwy anyhow. No true loss.

 

[Siete]

The reversal came after intense backlash from his former students.

WASHINGTON ― Rabbi Haskel Lookstein on Friday reversed an earlier decision to deliver the opening prayer at the Republican National Convention next week after facing a deluge of criticism from his former students who questioned how he could lend tacit support to presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

“In the interest of bringing our community together, I have asked to be relieved of my commitment to deliver the invocation. My request has been honored with the same love and respect in which it was first offered and intended,” Lookstein wrote in an email. It was sent Friday and addressed to the “Ramaz Family,” those affiliated with an Orthodox Jewish Day School that Lookstein, until recently, headed.

According to Lookstein, he was invited to the convention by Ivanka Trump, who is a member of the Kehilath Jeshurun synagogue, where Lookstein is the Rabbi Emeritus, to appear at the convention in Cleveland on Monday. He accepted, apparently unaware of the political firestorm the decision would ignite.

Within hours of the Thursday announcement that he would appear at the convention, Ramaz alumni flooded the internet with petitions and calls for him to reconsider his decision. The reactions from many of his former students ranged from disgusted to disappointed and confused.

“To embrace Trump and Trumpism goes against all we’ve been taught. As graduates of Ramaz, and as current or former members of the Modern Orthodox community, this is a shanda beyond the pale,” Jacob Savage wrote in a change.org petition, using the Yiddish word for “shame.” The petition amassed over 800 signatures by the time Lookstein announced he was no longer planning to deliver the prayer.

It is not clear from Lookstein’s statement if will still be attending the convention. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

More: Ivanka Trump's Rabbi Backs Out Of Delivering Prayer At GOP Convention

That is so funny. Even Jews hate Trump. Well, what's not to hate...

the initial commitment was only a "suggestion"

LOL

 

[owebo]

The republican convention is no place for the weak or faint of heart....that would be the democrat convention....

 

[whitehall]

Where does the left come up with this stuff? Has any political convention in the history of freaking politics been victims of this much scrutiny? Thank you John McCain for creating the political system that affords tax free status for gigantic left wing political propaganda centers like Media Matters to exist but allows the IRS to restrict Tea Party activists from doing the same thing.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

A lot of the Orthodox religions are screwy anyhow. No true loss.

Which has WHAT to do with the OP?

 

[RodISHI]

A lot of the Orthodox religions are screwy anyhow. No true loss.

Which has WHAT to do with the OP?

Nice to see you showing your true colors. Like I said it is no true loss.

 

[bodecea]

Where does the left come up with this stuff? Has any political convention in the history of freaking politics been victims of this much scrutiny? Thank you John McCain for creating the political system that affords tax free status for gigantic left wing political propaganda centers like Media Matters to exist but allows the IRS to restrict Tea Party activists from doing the same thing.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

A lot of the Orthodox religions are screwy anyhow. No true loss.

Which has WHAT to do with the OP?

Nice to see you showing your true colors. Like I said it is no true loss.

You can't explain even one of your wacko posts.

 

[Lakhota]

Where does the left come up with this stuff? Has any political convention in the history of freaking politics been victims of this much scrutiny? Thank you John McCain for creating the political system that affords tax free status for gigantic left wing political propaganda centers like Media Matters to exist but allows the IRS to restrict Tea Party activists from doing the same thing.

God bless Media Matters! They're one of my favorite sources for facts, honesty, and truth!

A non-profit progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.

Media Matters for America

 

[Shrimpbox]

Lakota is one sick puppy. Here he celebrates the muzzling of free speech by a bunch of ideologues. In another thread he salivates over the possibility of leftist inspired violence ar the r publican convention, he actually hopes it will happen. He is exhibit A of what 8 years of progressive rule creates. Hate speech at its subtle best.