Dear Editor:
I read your recent piece about “Rabbi” Lynn Gottlieb, and was in shock! How could anybody claiming to represent Judaism, all the more so a “progressive” Judaism, hold such decidedly backward views?
When I vote in November, several factors come in to consideration: The candidates’ policies, their professional qualifications, the strength of their character…. Religion is at the bottom of the list. It’s barely even on the list!
It’s really only a factor insomuch as I couldn’t see myself voting for an avowed Atheist. I’m sure I speak for a lot of my fellow Jews when I say it’s better to be led by a believer. Jew, Christian, Mormon, it’s not important. We’re voting for someone to lead the government of the United States, not to daven for the amud!
That a person believe in something greater than his or herself, that they demonstrate basic human decency (a tall order among politicians, I know), and that they support intelligent, reasonable government policies both foreign and domestic; that’s my laundry list.
Discriminating against a candidate purely because they don’t share your religion is narishkeit. A mentsch is a mentsch.
Joseph Mandel