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Nov
2
As I would have imagined they’d be.
I’m not going to reprint the entire piece, I shouldn’t and won’t do that. But I would urge those who are interested in the views of Jews, especially those who aren’t Jewish who like to tell us what they think we should think is anti-Semitic and intolerable and who need to hear from Jewish leaders themselves.
From the Cleveland Jewish News:
Leaders of the Jewish community, who had reserved comment on [Ahmed] Alzaree until he arrived in Cleveland and they learned more about him, found themselves feeling somehow implicated in his resignation.
“It will never be a good start for me and the Jewish community,” the Egyp-tian-born cleric and father of five young daughters told the Plain Dealer, saying he would look elsewhere for a job.
No one in the Jewish community took any action surrounding the imam, leaders say.
“Oh my gosh, they’re blaming us,” says Shari Kochman, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, speaking of her reaction to news that Alzaree resigned because blogs painted him as anti-Semitic. “We were giving him the benefit of the doubt, a cautious but hopeful approach to his coming to Cleveland, and were looking forward to forging a partnership. It is a shame but not a surprise that somehow the Jewish community is implicated in this.”
I’ve written before about Lashon Hora and how even caterers in town won’t malign one another but instead, work to tell you how good they are, without putting others down. Lashon Hora is the same as murder in Judaism and is part of the basis for why the Jewish leaders mean it when they say that they will reserve judgment.
Another example of exactly what I would expect from the Jewish leaders:
Rabbi Richard Block of The Temple-Tifereth Israel, who’s been very active in interfaith relations, was surprised to see the imam name relations with the Jewish community as central to his resignation.
People in the Jewish community “were looking forward to his addressing those concerns and getting off to a good start,” Block says. “I would like a very positive relationship between the Jewish community and the Muslim community and if possible with the Islamic Center.”
Alzaree’s use of the hadith was “not the best choice of words,” acknowledges Zahid Siddiqi, general secretary of the Islamic Center. But the media, he said, did not “give the gentleman a chance to prove himself. He was proven wrong before he even came. That’s the power of the press.”
My emphasis.
Unfortunately, it is this final comment by the Islamic Center’s leader that really describes the repercussions of Fawaz Damra’s behavior (from the CJN, he “was deported last January to the West Bank for concealing his ties to terrorist groups on his citizenship application”) and why moderates, or anyone who is repelled by extremists’ behavior, must speak up and become active, to show that that is not all there is to their religion or issue.
Even more discouraging than not having a permanent imam is “not getting the acceptance of the Jewish and the Catholic community,” says [general secretary of the Islamic Center of Cleveland, Zahid] Siddiqi, noting that the mosque once had a good relationship with both religious groups. “Now they have shied away from us. Why? Because of somebody who has been reprimanded and punished for it.”
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:40 am November 2nd, 2007 in Blogging, Civil Rights, Culture, Jewish, Judaism, Media, Ohio, Politics, Religion
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12 Responses to “Cleveland Jewish leaders dismayed at Imam Alzaree’s resignation”
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Well I believe the real culprits here are spelled C. O. A. T.
But the media, he said, did not “give the gentleman a chance to prove himself. He was proven wrong before he even came. That’s the power of the press.”
Oh brother.
Alzaree had all the chance in the world to respond to David Briggs with something defensible, and could not, or would not, unequivocally do it. Briggs did a good job getting a Steve Emerson quote about the hadith into his piece (but where was it in late September?). Anyone reading Briggs’s second article with an open mind would have concluded that Emerson had the upper hand.
If you Google-earth the Omaha mosque, you will appreciate first, how small it is, and by inference, how not-credible Alzaree’s contention is that he would not have known that the hateful stuff going up at his mosque’s web site was there.
I believe that Alzaree decided to back out, perhaps with a push from ICC, because his response was clearly inadequate, and because of the likelihood that even more info about his past, esp in Egypt, was on the way (I have reason to believe it was).
Alzaree’s specific mention of the Jewish community and not other faiths in the area in his resignation explanation is in its own way telling, but the leap by the ADL (“Oh my gosh, they’re blaming us”) to believing that Alzaree assigned partial blame for his not taking his post to the Jewish commnunity has NO basis.
Regardless of who wants to play victim, the idea that two bloggers operating from distances of 140 and 240 miles, respectively, can “force out” an imam to-be if there’s nothing there is laughably absurd.
I agree with your last paragraph – I don’t think the blogging forced him out – just as with Tim Brown in Wood County – these are assessments they make. The info could come from anyone, anywhere, anytime (ditto what happened when I found that OSU letter re: the woman who had a job with the ODP).
However, I don’t read the ADL as saying Alzaree blames Jews – no no. I think he meant that his followers would, and beyond.
I don’t really know – I’m not familiar at all with the Muslim community here.
But I do understand, as I’ve intimated before, that when people use the anti-Semite arguments, against anyone, the first reaction would naturally be to assume it’s Jews pushing it. I believe what the ADL is saying, we weren’t the ones pushing it.
Whether they did or they didn’t – I also am not privy to that.
As an elder jew, i believe that – without a doubt – every where in the US we do have a scary power to force any anti-semitic hateful person like this nasty evil imam to do something like what he did; resignation. Instead of being defensive, i think we – the Cleveland jewish community – all should be so proud of our unhidden influence. The most important fact now is that Cleveland is more peaceful.
Mr. Walker & Jill,
I believe this guy was a sheep in wolf’s clothing. I am with Tom B pretty much on everything he says.
But I do need to ask a question….
I am wondering – with all the attention to being tolerant of other religion, what are the feelings of the Cleveland Jewish community about Marc Dann’s remarks about Good Friday?
In an email about a bad press day, Dann wrote – “Jesus had it better on good friday.”
King
David – I agree with you to a point. Where I diverge is here: I can’t quite call it proud – that isn’t quite right to me. I mean, I AM proud that we can find enough of a consensus among ourselves as members of the same religion to achieve goals, and that as individuals with a certain background and backbone, we can achieve great things too.
But I don’t feel pride in a situation like this with the Imam. I’m not really sure how I feel or how to describe how I feel when something like that happens.
Being honest (as usual lol): relieved. I feel a sense of relief. But I also believe that there’s truth to saying, well – let’s see how he conducts himself – what do his current and future behaviors tell us.
But ok – he resigned. That’s fine.
I guess my concern is about misuse of such abilities we have as a group and misperceptions of the use of that ability – do you know what I mean?
I have no respect for people who through their weight around because they can. That is absolutely without value to me.
So judicious use of the power you describe is good. Otherwise, it causes me great concern.
Does that make sense?
King – I’ve only heard about it because of a blog title here or there in my RSS – I haven’t taken the time to review what happened and the context so I’m reluctant to judge.
I can only tell you that, based on what you wrote, I can say with 100% certainty, I would never say anything like that, I don’t know anyone who would say anything like that and I actually had to think about it for a moment – because I’ve never heard anyone say that before anyway.
When I’ve had a bad day or been treated badly, let’s say – had more than my share of really nasty commenters at Wide Open?
I still can’t imagine reaching into my hyperbole bag and pulling that one out.
But I’m not Marc Dann.
Yes, but should Dann get a free pass for his remarks?
Do you feel he owes Christians a public apology for these statements?
The MSM is trying to keep a lid on this – I for one will not allow that to happen!
You know as well as I do, if remarks like this were made about the Holocaust there would outrage! Everyone would be expected to condemn the person making the remarks.
Yet here, the top law dog of our state, the person to protect us from “Hate Speech,” the person who is supposed to be upholding the laws as far as tolerance of religion – and nothing is said.
Seems pretty hypocritical and like a double standard.
King
I’m staying on the fence on this one – I just read the Dayton article I can’t figure out who Bentley is, and who the nasty posts were about and who Dann thinks had a harder day than Jesus – the email was to Jennings, so I guess Dann thinks Jennings had it harder than Jesus? I have no idea.
The most important thing is: do Christians want an apology? If so, then pursue it.
I wouldn’t say it and I didn’t say it and I can’t really even figure out what was said.
Please – can we remember – even with Coulter? I said NOTHING. I didn’t ask for apologies bla bla bla.
Dave Stacy wanted a discussion – we had that.
Really – this stuff gets NUTS with the apology-asking – I’ve said that before.
Now – what I would like to know, however, is whether Christians ever use that expression?
As I wrote – I had to think about it for a minute, because it’s not my frame of reference.
Do Christians, when they’ve had a tough day, use that phrase, ever?
Because if it’s okay for them to say it…
Just what I thought… a double standard!
Don’t you worry, it will be pursued!
What kind of response is this Jill?
Do Christians, when they’ve had a tough day, use that phrase, ever?
Because if it’s okay for them to say it…
So with this line of thinking – you think since blacks use the “N” word amongst themselves – it is OK for everyone to use it?
Since homosexuals use derogatory terms & names to describe themselves within their circles – it is acceptable for all to use the same language?
I am quite confident that there are derogatory terms used within Jewish circles that if said by a non Jewish person would be found offensive… but your saying these derogatory words or statements should NOT be considered offensive.
So I can tell an off-color or religiously offensive Jewish joke – and that is OK?
Jill, listen to what you are saying!
King
I don’t know if any one of the Cleveland active bloggers ever bothered to dig around the current interim imam of the Cleveland islamic center..? He is still hidden under the title”interim imam”.. I think we should do some effort in disclosing his history and background, too.. His name and little information about him was in Plain Dealers David Brigg’s first article that was about hiring Imam Alzaree and deprtation of his ex.. If my memory is still working efficiently, it was late in September.. I think his name was imam Samer Altabaa (www.iccleveland.org).. Is he still working there? By the way, why is he interim and not permanent? Why do the Cleveland’s mosque board want to replace him? It’s all suspicious for me and should be same for you too..!!
King – I’m giggling in a friendly way here – you have to choose: either I finish the Carnival of Ohio Politics or we engage on this topic – but I’ve covered it all before – you are being kind of hysterical and conclusory and speculative and provocative.
That’s your choice – but I think you know better, based on our exchanges here, on your blog and via private emails.
So – I would say to you – listen to what you are saying, what you are accusing me of, based on…what? Your fears or anger? But not based on what I’ve actually ever done OR said.
So I would say, calm down, the world isn’t ending, what Dann wrote doesn’t change anything – for better OR for worse.
And let me finish the CARNIVAL!!!