2 rabbis support Clinton, spark a row

This story was updated on Nov. 9 to include a longer version from today's print edition.

Here are links to the full statements by Rabbi Hain and Rabbi Billet.

Two of the leading Modern Orthodox rabbis in the Five Towns, Hershel Billet and Kenneth Hain, published articles in the days leading up to the election in which they expressed support for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump and urged a moderation in the level of angry discourse.

After Rabbi Hain, of Congregation Beth Shalom in Lawrence, wrote in the Jerusalem Post that “our country, and our Jewish community, would be fortunate to have Clinton serve as our next president,” he was criticized, often in intemperate terms, in social media channels.

Rabbi Billet, of the Young Israel of Woodmere, rose to Rabbi Hain’s defense in a long Facebook post in which he discussed the complexity of an election campaign being fought in the wake of “eight dark years of President Obama.”

“A vote for Hillary Clinton should be considered by people who are conservative on Israel policy,” Rabbi Billet said. “If she gets our vote and wins, perhaps we will have an opportunity to hold her accountable to our concerns.”

“People like Rabbi Hain who are uncompromisingly in Israel’s corner on both sides of the Green Line and who want a strong and secure Israel are doing a service in advocating for Mrs. Clinton,” Rabbi Billet said. “If she is elected, we need strong and articulate voices from the Right who potentially will have her ear and counteract elements in her circle which might push for policies that might otherwise go unopposed.

“And this above all else: The Talmud is full of disagreements. But there is respect between adversaries. Intelligent people may disagree about an election. We may strongly disagree. But we must not allow ourselves to get angry and become disrespectful of someone who does not share our view.

“Threatening anonymous communications are cowardly. Be civil and disagree with honor. We all care deeply about Israel. Do not forget that!”

Rabbi Hain related three “personal interactions” with Clinton that “provide a perspective … not been sufficiently expressed within the Jewish community.”

At the height of the Second Intifada in 2002, Clinton agreed to join Jewish leaders on a solidarity mission “to a tourist-starved, isolated and shell-shocked Israel,” he said. “We assumed this would be a glorified photo opportunity for the senator; a brief stopover for meetings with our group and with prominent Israeli political leaders.

“But Senator Clinton was not interested in photo ops. She insisted on visiting multiple sites of terrorist attacks, meeting with victims and their family members, personally offering words of comfort and support to as many Israelis as she could touch in a whirlwind 36-hour visit. Her focus was squarely on supporting those in distress, often ignoring the chance to talk with the Israeli and foreign press covering her trip. During that poignant visit, I saw how thoroughly intertwined character and behavior are, especially in political leaders.

“Empathy (rachmanut) is most manifest in acts of loving-kindness (gemilut hesed), and acts of loving kindness, in turn, help instill greater character. I have had the privilege of knowing Clinton for close to two decades. I have witnessed firsthand as she demonstrated the three personal qualities that are most prized in Jewish tradition.”

After angry comments on social media were directed at his colleague, Rabbi Billet asked on Facebook, “Is a rabbi as a private citizen entitled to an opinion or to publicly espouse that opinion or even endorse a candidate? I think so.

“Rabbi is a profession like any other profession and a rabbi/citizen is entitled to the same free speech as any other professional or citizen.”

Rabbi Billet then analyzed the dilemma facing voters:

“Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai was granted three wishes by the Roman general, Vespasian, during the Roman siege of Jerusalem (70 CE). He could have asked that the Temple be spared but he feared that too ambitious a request would be rejected. Accepting an imperfect reality, he chose the greatest needs of the Jewish community in an imperfect world. These less ambitious requests were granted. And for the rest of his life he agonized over his choice. But, he did not shirk his responsibility. He made a choice (as explained by the Rov and Rav Chaim Schmulevitz).

“Elections are about making choices.”

Rabbi Billet continued:

“Presidential politics is complex. To Orthodox Jews, support of Israel is a primary concern if not the primary concern. Rabbi Hain has two married children and many grandchildren who live in Israel (unlike many of his critics). Believe me (to paraphrase Donald Trump), Rabbi Hain loves and cares deeply about the safety and security of Israel. He has a grandson studying in the Golan Heights, one studying across the Green Line in Gush Etzion, and a grandchild in the IDF.

“Concern about Israel is always an important part of my choice. My pro-Israel agenda includes, but is not limited to, the following: Ensuring Israel’s safety, security, pride in the IDF’s fighting spirit, and its ability to preempt or deter our enemies. I support the battle against radical left NGOs (often, but not exclusively supported by the New Israel Fund) and the war against BDS and against those who delegitimize the IDF. I support Israeli communities and citizens living on both sides of the Green Line. I have a daughter, son in law, and six grandchildren living in Neve Daniel which is in Gush Etzion.

“The eight dark years of President Obama’s term have included the Iran nuclear deal, the U.S. administration’s embrace of J Street, the Cairo speech, disrespect for the democratically elected PM of Israel, and a US imposed freeze on settlements. To be fair and honest, they have also featured the president personally intervening to save six Israelis trapped in the Cairo embassy during the Arab Spring, support for Iron Dome, continued significant aid for Israel, a wonderful US Ambassador to Israel, and US military cooperation with Israel. A lot of that good is thanks to a very strong pro-Israel Congress.

“The Talmud has a concept called ‘palginan deeboora.’ It means that we take a statement with two ideas and split them. you may support one and reject the other. For supporters of each candidate this Talmudic concept must be in play.”

Rabbi Billet then considered each of the candidates.

“Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has bright and very talented Israel advisers and his party has the strongest pro-Israel platform in history,” he said. “He made a strong pro-Israel speech at the AIPAC Policy Conference. Were this the only consideration, the choice would be simple. 

“Before the AIPAC Policy Conference last March, I joined with some Orthodox rabbinic colleagues who sent a respectful but firm letter to Mr. Trump asking him to change his tone, lower the volume of his brash and insulting rhetoric, and bring class and dignity to his campaign. Alas, nothing has changed for the good. Matters have gotten much worse. 

“The lurid Trump tape about women made it clear to me who I could not vote for!

“As an Orthodox Jew and rabbi, I could not vote for Donald Trump. Morality and upstanding character are sine qua non traits for a President of the USA. This is not a negotiable point! I too, have spent a lot of time in locker rooms. I have never heard talk of this despicable nature.

America’s dignity must also be important to voters, and Mr. Trump would debase the dignity of the oval office … has lied brazenly, and he has crassly belittled all of his rivals. He has skin thinner than onion skin, cannot take criticism, and must deal with a big and very difficult world in representing America responsibly? Is he up to the task?”

Rabbi Billet pointed to “many strong pro-Israel advocates” who distanced themselves from Trump, including Bret Stephens, Mort Zuckerman and neocons “in the Commentary circle.”

As for Clinton, “questions about her integrity hang over her as well,” he said. “There are disturbing parts of her record. And there is a hopeful side as well.”

“On the Israel front many are perplexed by close Clinton adviser Huma Abedin’s background which the Clinton campaign has not adequately addressed. They must address it. Support Mrs Clinton has received from the likes of radical anti-Israel people like George Soros is of concern as well. And funds from affluent Arab states have flowed into the foundation as well.”

Rabbi Billet said that despite a Leftward shift by the Democratic Party, “a traditional supporter of Israel,” “there are still many strong supporters of Israel in the Democratic Party.”

“There is also a comfort zone with Mrs Clinton on Israel,” he continued. “She too made a strong pro Israel speech at the AIPAC Policy Conference. I do not know Clinton well. But, I met Mrs. Clinton when she was our Senator. She was always well informed about Israel and was a strong and articulate supporter of Israel in the Senate. It should be noted that Huma Abedin was on her staff when Clinton was a Senator.

“During the presidential debates she conducted herself with dignity and intelligence. She was prepared, articulate, and poised. The same cannot be said about Mr. Trump.”

“As Secretary of State, she was publicly loyal to Mr. Obama. But privately, she opposed the wedge the President put between the U.S. and Israel with his Cairo speech and the settlement freeze,” Rabbi Billet said. “Unlike President Obama, I believe that she will nurture a warm relationship with PM Netanyahu. The Iran deal did not happen on her watch.

“In her Brookings Institution speech, she raised many of the concerns that we all have about the deal. She is not naive about the dangers of Iran. She supports a two state solution. But so does PM Netanyahu, and every Israeli Prime Minister since Oslo. Personally, I am very skeptical that a genuinely negotiated two state solution will happen. …

My biggest concern about the Clinton ticket is her choice for VP, Senator Tim Kaine. He is a JStreet Democrat who supported the Iran Deal and who boycotted PM Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. What will happen if Mrs Clinton has to be replaced by her VP? On the other hand, he has a good pro-Israel voting record. He had a warm relationship with the Jewish community when he was governor of Virginia. I hope that if elected, he will see the bigger picture, learn the importance of AIPAC over JStreet, and heed the advice of the pro-Israel people among Mrs. Clinton’s advisers. But of course that is an unknown. We have not heard a clear statement from him on this subject. And that is troubling.”

Rabbi Billet concluded:

“Rav Yochanan ben Zakkai taught us that we must make difficult decisions. I know how I have struggled during this campaign. And I know that all Americans who care about America and Israel face a similar struggle."