A Huge Mistake: OU says Lookstein broke their rules

The JTA reports: "A Rabbinical Council of America official told JTA that Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, the religious leader of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York City, broke the organization's rules by participating in the service Wednesday at the National Cathedral on the morning after Barack Obama's inauguration."

This is a huge mistake by the OU to have even released the press release. I understand that they, mistakenly, believe that it is inappropriate for a Jew to enter a space used by another religion (church, mosque, temple, etc), but it is a big political mistake to make a big deal of it on the day of Barack Obama's inauguration. The OU should have simply looked the other way and let it go.

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Yaakov Menken demonstrates the effects of cognitive dissonance. He still can't believe that Jews voted for Obama and that his guy lost. To make his point, he contrasts the Bush Administration's response to yesterday's Israeli action with that of the Obama transition team. Bush, correctly, responded by supporting Israel. Obama, correctly, responded by supporting Bush. Menken writes that:

"“She [Brooke Anderson, Obama’s national security spokeswoman] said Saturday that Obama ‘is closely monitoring global events, including the situation in Gaza, but there is one president at a time.’” In other words, if you think Obama and Bush see eye to eye… well, iy”H this war will be over long before January 20."

How does Obama's correct assertion indicate anything but support for Bush? It would be highly inappropriate for Obama to have said anything else. To have inserted his own position, even if it corresponds exactly with the current administration, would be to indicate that there is more than one legitimate source for U.S. policy.

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas - Jeffrey Goldberg

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas - Jeffrey Goldberg writes:

"Via Instapundit comes the news that Amazon has now banned the term 'Christmas' from one of its advertising campaigns. It is now, on Amazon, '12 Days of Holiday,' rather than '12 Days of Christmas.'"

Apparently, Amazon has realized the error of its ways and re-inserted Christmas into its web page. I can't figure out who objects to using the word Christmas to describe the holiday that occurs on December 25 every year. Avi Shafran wrote that he had no objection to the fact that the White House had mistakenly sent its Hanukkah invitation to him using the Christmas artwork. It may be a sign of the continuing Bush White House incompetence, but it hardly rises to the level of offensive.

What surprises me is that in this age of personalization, Amazon doesn't give customers a way to modify their account to indicate holidays of interest. It would be pretty easy for Amazon to give me the option to be greeted with "15 days to Hanukkah/Kwanza" or some other drivel if I object to Christmas.