The position was officially retained, though as of yet no one has been nominated to fill it and that may not happen for a while longer.Ī few months after I sent the email, out of the blue I received a call from someone at the White House inviting me to the Hanukkah party. I made a case for why that position was and is needed, and asked that my note be forwarded to whomever would be able to impact the decision. Earlier this year there were discussions that the position would be eliminated, and I and many others were urging the White House to reconsider. I got on the list because I reached out to someone I knew in the administration while advocating for the State Department to maintain the position of special envoy to combat anti-Semitism. How in the world did I get an invitation? Whereas the Obama administration invited 1,700 people to two Hanukkah parties last year, the Trump administration invited a mere 300 to one such party.Īmong them was one politically independent Reform rabbi from Des Moines, Iowa - me. Most reports about the White House Hanukkah party noted that leaders of the Reform movement and congressional Democrats were not invited. Yes, we are so polarized, both religiously and politically. The Jewish woman responds, “Oy! Are we so polarized? Some Orthodox, some Conservative and some Reform.” The person behind the counter asks, “What denominations?”
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