CHICAGO TRIBUNE
by John Keilman
September 3, 2014
Brant Rosen, who has been at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation for 17 years, said no specific incident led to his resignation Tuesday but that his outspoken views produced a divide he no longer felt he could bridge.
“There are members of the congregation who are deeply pained by what I say and do,” he said. “This issue is very upsetting, very personal. It’s been very hard for them. That has been affecting the environment in the congregation, and it has been affecting me too.” Rosen has long spoken out on the conflict, and his blog, rabbibrant.com, contains many posts critical of Israeli policy, most recently regarding the fighting in Gaza. The latest entry rewrites the first chapter of the biblical Book of Lamentations to denounce Israel’s actions in the contested strip of land:
“We have become Gaza’s master / leveling neighborhoods / with the mere touch of a button / for her transgression of resistance. / Her children are born into captivity / they know us only as occupiers / enemies to be feared / and hated.”
The blog has provoked strong responses from commenters who say Rosen excuses Palestinian acts of terrorism and gives cover to anti-Semites. Congregation member Lisa Pildes said Rosen’s very public stances gave the false impression that everyone at the synagogue agreed with him and crimped what should have been a more vigorous conversation…….
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