Anti-Zionist Orthodox Rabbis meet with Iranian President, Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>On Monday Sep. 24, '07 in the Intercontinental Hotel, at 48th St. and Lexington Ave. New York City at 9:00am anti-Zionist Orthdox Rabbis met with Iranian President Ahmadinejad then participated in a counter demonstration against protestors of the Iranian President in the Dag Hamerskold Plaza at the United Nations followed by a counter demonstration during the speech of the Iranian president at Colombia University.</p>

<p>To understand why the Rabbis met with President Ahmadinejad and attended the counter-protest demonstrations against the Zionists who oppose the Iranian President, read the Press Release below.</p>

<p>PRESS RELEASE ISSUED SEPTEMBER 23, 2007:</p>

<p>Rabbis Say Iran Seeks Peace, Respects Judaism -- Calls for True Dialogue With Ahmadinejad</p>

<p>Today! President Ahmadinejad meets Orthodox Rabbis</p>

<p>Meeting will take place today Monday Sep. 24, '07 in the Intercontinental Hotel, at 48th St. and Lexington Ave. New York City at 9:00am. Followed by statements for the press.</p>

<p>A Counter demonstration against protestors of the Iranian President will take place the same day at 12:00 noon at Second Ave. between 46th and 47th Streets in NYC</p>

<p>Followed by counter demonstration during the speech of the Iranian president at Colombia University.</p>

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<p>New York City, September 23, 2007</p>

<p>Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, spokesman of Neturei Karta International, issued the following statement on the eve of the group's meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.</p>

<p>"It is always our pleasure to visit with President Ahmadinejad. This will be the third such meeting, in addition to our many visits to Iran in the past. We have each time emphasized to the Iranian leadership that, despite media hysteria and the statements of some misinformed Jews, we have found the Iranian people and their leaders to be friendly and respectful." </p>

<p>"Likewise, although we as Jews are not to be involved in politics, (According to Jewish law, Jewish people are required to be loyal citizens to the countries wherein they reside), We have found the Iranian President to be a deeply religious man, dedicated to a peaceful world, based on mutual respect, fairness and dialogue." </p>

<p>"Judaism seeks peace. Unfortunately, there are some Jews today, influenced by the barely century old, philosophy of Zionism, who feel that the proper Jewish response to enemies, be they real or fantasized, is aggression and calls for violence and unfortunately attempts to drag other nations down the path of war." </p>

<p>"It as sad that so few have actually attempted to speak to the Iranian President or seek the true opinion of Iranian Jewry who live in peace and practice their faith throughout that nation. We have met this man who has demonstrated time and again that he is sincerely interested in the well being of Iran's Jewish community and has deep respect for world Jewry and their Torah faith, The Zionist attempt to socially isolate this man and his people is immoral and disastrous" </p>

<p>"Zionism is antithetical to Torah beliefs. It believes in creating our own sovereign entity which is expressly forbidden due to the Divine decree of exile. This ideology leads to aggression against nations and is incarnated in the State of "Israel". This State continually oppresses other people in the name of Judaism and the entire Jewish people. This movement has exacerbated anti Semitism throughout the world. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad understands this distinction between traditional Judaism and Zionist distortion."</p>

<p>"We view our approach to Iran as a model for all Jews and all mankind. The Torah is the Almighty's blueprint of mercy and justice for all creation. We have followed this modal in our dealings with the Iranian President and found in him an individual dedicated to these same ideals. There is much to be gained by talking and listening and everything to be lost by raising the rhetoric in the direction of war." � The grave tragedy of our era is the inordinate power garnered by Zionism, whose acceptance of force as the only means to reconcile conflicts, has influenced some to abandon Torah fundamentals. We hope and pray that they too will adopt the traditional Jewish approach of dialogue, respect and reconciliation."</p>

<p>"War is a horrible thing. The dark clouds of a future conflict are now on the horizon in the Middle East. Torah Jewry hopes and prays that this may yet be averted." </p>

<p>In conclusion says Rabbi Weiss, "Out of great respect to the Iranian Nation and their leadership we proudly welcome the Honorable President Ahmadinejad to New York, WELCOME!"</p>

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<p>Just to clarify, I am not pro Iranian or anything in that sense; I just intitally felt it was wrong for him to be there before being convinced due to the foundations of America and freedom of speech. I was forwarded some of these articles which I thought were atleast interesting to read another perspective. I dont necesserily agree, just thought it was an interesting read and wanted to see some reactions. -greg</p>

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<p>
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Just to clarify, I am not pro Iranian or anything in that sense

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</p>

<p>Just anti-semitic? That you called Ahmad-- a "Doctor" shows that you're kinda pro Iranian.</p>

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<p>I never called Ahmad a "doctor"...this article is not written by me, I said it was forwarded to me and I am just posting it here for reactions and insight...I did even say I dont agree with these articles, yet just because I posted food for thought on here, I am anti-semitic? that is ridiculous...Its just another perspective that is interesting to read about even if you don't agree with it, like myself.</p>

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<p>and referring to the title, that was also given in the forwarded site subject just to clarify</p>

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<p>What's this article got to do with Columbia? You posted 3 pro-Ahmad- articles in 3 different threads on a Columbia message board a Friday night -- one of which doesn't even mention Columbia or Bollinger. Clearly you're after more than "reactions and insight" and "food for thought."</p>

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<p>no, Im really not; absolutely not, I dont understand first of all how you could call me anti semitic after this article if anything shows the Jews being diplomats althought they dont agree with the Ahmadinejad, it doesn't have anything against the Jews. Although Mahmoud has said some comments that are offensive, I never said I agree with him or he is right about anything, these are articles I recieved that I thoght were interesting adn thought they would be served well read in an intellectual community; however, you are just quick to put your labels on just for posting an article just to read because its always good to hear different perspectives even if you don't agree with them despite denouncing agreement towards them afterwards as well.... That is ridiculous</p>

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<p>not to mention a genuine sign of ignorance to not even be open to just hearing an article about the opposition</p>

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<p>"What's this article got to do with Columbia? You posted 3 pro-Ahmad- articles in 3 different threads on a Columbia message board a Friday night -- one of which doesn't even mention Columbia or Bollinger. Clearly you're after more than "reactions and insight" and "food for thought.""</p>

<p>All right, being presumptious and then narrow minded is not going to help anyone. where did the anti-semitic come from!? If someone posts an article and you think it's irrelevant let it go, it'll drop out of sight very quickly if others agree. Something like this is in the grey area, it isn't directly related to columbia, but it discusses an issue very pertintent to columbia and the student body, so it wouldn't be right to say it has no place on this board altogether. </p>

<p>As for the article and the Hasidic Jews, I was completely ignorant until Monday that such people even existed. I thought it was brilliant that they came and counter protested at columbia, really gave me the feeling of diversity. It was wonderful to see how multi-facetious and nuanced the debate around A. and his policies was getting. </p>

<p>I personally think the views in the article about world peace and Jews needing to be subordinate to be good Jews is impractical, idealistic and little supported. I don't know the details of the Torah and so am in no position to make a moral judgement on whether they are right or wrong. At any rate I feel it's lightyears better for Jews to be criticizing a zionist state than for Ahmadinejad to be doing any such thing. </p>

<p>"not to mention a genuine sign of ignorance to not even be open to just hearing an article about the opposition"</p>

<p>the reason this is opposed is not because people don't want to listen to it, it's because this is a board about columbia university and not about world politics or inter-religion relations. there's a subtle difference. I still think it isn't counter-productive to post this.</p>

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<p>understood and agreed, very well said !</p>

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<p>political debate aside, confidentialcoll, gregcroom4's posting pattern DOES seem to smack of spamming. Offering up a litany of articles does not constitute fostering debate or asking questions.</p>

<p>Most of us here answering questions on the forums are looking to talk to prospective Columbians and tell them about our school, because we love it. We're not here itching for political debate. In this instance it seems to have found us anyway, and I don't think anyone has shied away from it (note the 124-post thread), but that doesn't mean it's open season.</p>