Tampa, FL – An Orthodox rabbi from New York City’s Yeshiva University has been chosen to give the invocation at the opening session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
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Rabbi Meir Soloveichik (Soh-loh-VAY’-chick) said Monday that it is an extraordinary privilege to deliver Tuesday’s invocation. He said he has been teaching courses about the connection between Jewish ideas and American democracy and that makes it all the more meaningful.
Soloveichik is the director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva. He is also associate rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun (Kuh-HEEL’-ath JESH’-uhr-run ) in New York.
The head of New York’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, has been chosen to give the benediction on the night Mitt Romney accepts the Republican presidential nomination.
Rav Soloveichik is a grandson of Rav Aharon and a grand nephew of “the Rav”. He is a huge talmid chacham plus has a Ph.D from Princeton – Amazing choice!
Very interesting for a number of reasons, including the fact that his grandfather, Rav Aharon Soloveitchik, was well-known as being a “liberal”, anti-Vietnam war, etc.
R. Soloveichik is a tremendous lamden and a great speaker. But unfortunately his invitation is another sign of political pandering. Maybe TS/Hurricane Isaac is a way of preventing him from serving Their purpose.
I wish him a safe journey.
What a kiddush hashem
BTW, the opening prayer for the second session of the convention will be by a pagan priest, Ishwar Singh.
I read a few weeks ago that Rabbi Soloveichik is a leading choice to take over as Chief Rabbi of The Britsh Empire. After Rabbi Sacks retires. Kol Hakovod.
We have an opportunity here for a tremendous Kiddush Hashem.
I wonder what his forebearer A’H would say, highly ambitious young man and candidate for British chief rabbi
Its a great honor for him but also a smart political move. He was among the biggest critics of the Obama decision to mandate contraception coverage for women in all health insurance policies and spoke at several Republican events on the subject. That doesn’t take away from the kovod to him. The Rav is probably kvelling in shamayim, although I’m told he voted a straight Democratic ticket.
Don’t the GOP Convention planners know any Mormon clergy?
Oh, I forgot! If they bring in the Mormon clergy to give the invocation, they will need to get hotel rooms for all of their wives and children.
This is great. G-d will listen to an orthodox jewish rabbi and we will have a republican president. So don’t worry if you are poor or disenfranchised or otherwise on disability or social security. This world belongs to the Ayn Randians and we are going there soon! AMEN! (right?)
No needs for Jews to be so exposed. Just gives anti semites propaganda material that Jews control everything. Jews wishfully think that now the goyim will love us because the Rabbi is giving the invocation. Better to remain behind the scenes than to make a scene of yourself.
Great exposure!
Don’t worry about Jews in the limelight at GOP convention. Don’t kid yourself that this will fan flames of antisemitism. Rabbi Avigdor Miller had mentioned several times that politically induced antisemitism is a direct result of Jewish Liberal politicians! Remember- there is a great bible belt out there. USA does not revolve NY & LA.
5TResident, nicely said!
To #17 - Excellent posting; no matter what we do or don’t do, the bigots will always have the same attitudes. Orthodox Yidden have come a long way in the USA. I’m very happy that an Orthodox Rabbi is delvering the invocation at the Republican National Convention.
But by saying “Eisav Sinah L’Yaakov” — especially in this day and age when that statement has been twisted out of context by the haters among us — you imply that non-Jews hate Jews, period.
These postings would be a bonanza to a psychiatrist. Supposedly religious Jews extolling the virtues of a female atheist
The most amusing issue regarding these postings is most of you dislike Barak Hussein Obama and he is a socialist. However, the entire Kollel system is build on welfare section 8, food stamps etc. Can anyone explain what these benefits if not socialism. You also extol E.Y. but the fact is these fine talmudic scholar despise the IDF. There is an Indian saying white man speaks with forked tongue which is so true when you read the posting on this website.