Orthodox Rabbi & ‘Kosher Sex’ Author Wins NJ GOP Primary
- Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:32am by
Billy Hallowell
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On Tuesday, Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s run for New Jersey’s 9th congressional district took a favorable turn. Boteach, the sex book writer, therapist and former spiritual advisor to Michael Jackson, among other stars, won the GOP primary. While he remains a long-shot in the heavily-Democratic district, his victory is notable.
(Related: Are the Media Discriminating Against Rabbi Shmuley Because of His GOP Run for Congress?)
Now that he is the Republican candidate this November, NorthJersey.com has more about some of the issues the faith leader-turned politician plans to focus upon:
Boteach said he would make human rights an issue in the campaign. He also said his refusal to talk about divisive social issues such as gay marriage would help him in the general election against Rep. Bill Pascrell ofPaterson in the heavily-Democratic district.
“I believe I am a crossover candidate,” Boteach, ofEnglewood, said.
He said he supports Arab uprisings against undemocratic governments, a position that he said would help him with Passaic County’s large Muslim population. And he said he would be an advocate for family values, pressing for tax breaks for marriage counseling. He also said he would like to extend Bergen County’s blue laws, using economic incentives for stores to stay closed on a weekend day to create “an American Sabbath.”
While the famed rabbi has been actively seeking the Congressional spot, so have two Democrats who were, until last night, engaged in a vicious primary debate. Boteach, who is known for providing advice to conflicting individuals, recently made headlines when he released a video offering to moderate the spat that Democratic Reps. Bill Pascrell and Steve Rothman were having following redistricting that pitted the two against one another.
In the end, Pascrell ended up winning the primary and Boteach’s appeal was ignored. Certainly, the offer to help facilitate a discussion among candidates on the opposing side is somewhat odd, but the public gesture did make the rabbi look overtly reasonable and anxious for viable and constructive debate — elements that are positive for any candidate to embrace.
Here’s the video in which Boteach offers to volunteer his time “to try to reduce the tensions that have totally overtaken their congressional race”:
If, indeed, Boteach actually wins the election — again, a long shot — he’d be the first rabbi ever elected to Congress. While the historical accomplishment currently seems unattainable, in politics, anything is possible, as the landscape changes rather fluidly.
(H/T: Taking Points Memo)
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wakeupin12
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:29amNot to be trusted… at all….. He openly speaks Against JESUS CHRIST our LORD and SAVIOR… No WAY… I would vote for anyone but this CLOWN! A wolf in sheep’s clothing… Make sure he does NOT get elected!
Report Post »Injunator
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 4:56pm——————————————————————ROMANS 10:3 . . . please read ?
Report Post »katherine7898
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:13pm“If, indeed, Boteach actually wins the election — again, a long shot — he’d be the first rabbi ever elected to Congress.”
Not necessarily. Nachum Shifren is also running.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:57pm“He also said he would like to extend Bergen County’s blue laws, using economic incentives for stores to stay closed on a weekend day to create “an American Sabbath.”
Report Post »Yeah, because THAT’S what we need–that’s helpful to the economy. I think this is the first time I’ve seen someone refer to blue laws by the TERM “blue laws” intended in a POSITIVE way.
mzk1
Posted on June 7, 2012 at 6:09amThat’s strange; the Orthodox community has always been against blue laws, because we could not stay open on Saturday OR Sunday. Unless he means to do them like here in Israel, where (at least this is my understanding) it is done with equality – you close on your own Sabbath. But the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that you can only respect Sunday, because it is somehow “secular”.
I got the idea from the posting that you could pick a weekend day.
Report Post »Phyliss
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:08pmRabbi Shmuley ROCKS!
Report Post »DisposableWorker
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:39pmIs that you Rabbi Shmule? If New Jersey is very smart and very blessed by Ha Shem; my friends there will have a superb representative in the good Rabbi. Mozel Tov brother!
Report Post »RenegadeMermaid
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:37pmI like this guy. I like what he is trying to do – especially with saving the family – but also with his willingness to moderate the conflict between the other two candidates and his commitment to making campaigns about issues not mud-slinging. He respects the humanity of those he runs against and is willing to look at the entire process in a way that is much more true to the spirit of how debating and running for office was intended to be. I wish we had someone like him in my state. I wish we had someone with even a fraction of his moral convictions in the White House.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:28pmSounds good to me. I like the idea of an American Sabbath. Part of the reason we’re losing the country is because “traditional” has been thrown overboard at every turn. Because of this we have lost much of ourselves, our American identity. I hope he can win the general election.
Report Post »Intense66
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 4:36pmFor those of you opposing the rabbi’s “American Sabbath”… Here’s the scoop. He is trying to re-unite the American family. His suggestion that if there are fewer places open, perhaps just maybe, families would do something together. The old saying… A family that plays together stays together. As it is, families go in all different directions rarely coming together as a family or doing things together. The “American family” is a ghost anymore, parents don‘t know where or what their children are doing half the time and children don’t know where or what their parents are doing either. So…what is so wrong with trying to bring families back together??? Children benefit greatly, get in less trouble and tend to grow into adults with family values when families spend time together. Again, how can that be wrong?
Report Post »flatbroke
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 3:19pmThe beard doesnt bother me b/c he looks like my great,X3 grand father. and i feel he will not win anyway b/c of too many dem dumbs–ts in his distict.
Report Post »NineteenEighty4
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:44pmAmerican Sabbath, oh that’s good. Have businesses close their doors because your religion says that YOU shouldn’t work on a Sunday. What’s next, the banning of pork within city limits? Prohibition? Religious morals have no place in a civil society. It’s bad enough that alcohol, legal everywhere else 24/7, is illegal to purchase in my state on Sundays. We don’t want your hardline theology affecting our laws.
Report Post »Intense66
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 4:39pmIt has nothing to do with his religion. He is trying to bring families back together, to get families to do things together in order for them to have a better family unit!
Report Post »ChevalierdeJohnstone
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:05pmYeah, so…but his religion says not to work on Saturday. While this factoid does not counter your argument that your ability to get drunk whenever you want is more important than family values or honoring God, knowing the basic facts about what you are discussing can prevent you from appearing ignorant.
Report Post »dejavu43
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 6:18pmHis Sabbath is not on Sunday.
Report Post »US Navy EOD Vet
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:52pmYou‘re probably too young but back in the 60’s and earlier, business used to closed on Sundays for just that reason, the Sabbath. It wasn‘t until the 70’s that stores started opening on Sunday. And then, it was from 12pm to 5pm. And on Good Friday, all business including banks, closed after 12:00pm. Ask your parents or grandparents; they’ll tell you. It was always this way until the 70′s.
Report Post »hillbillyinny
Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:29am@ dejavue
My say to gather at church and celebrate with the rest of my Church Family is Sunday morning, and being with friends and family and visiting sick and attending special services in the after noon and evening. But I have found that if I take Saturday and make it a day of study of God’s word and reading of other uplifting and enlightening works, and a true day of “rest,” I am more prepared for Sunday, and I am more prepared to take on the work of the week.
Now, don’t get me wrong as my primary responsibility is caring for and manage 550+ sheep, and sometimes they need to be moved to fresh grass on a Saturday AM or a Sunday PM. But except for that NECESSARY WORK, my day of rest (sabbath) and my day of celebration/communion for God, friends and family, are welcome oasis in the hecticness of this world.
Some to sabbath and be regenerated as God intended. “The sabbath was made for man, NOT man for the sabbath”! Jesus in Mark 2:27, the BIBLE. . .
Report Post »mzk1
Posted on June 7, 2012 at 6:11amBut his religion doesn’t say that. His Sabbath isn’t on Sunday.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:42pmI don’t trust him b/c he was associated with Michael Jackson.
Report Post »Aiser
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:44amIf your male in Judaism then as a sign to commemorate your mothers death you refuse to shave your beard. Or so i was told. Yet there are those here attacking him because of his beard. Incredible.
Report Post »rosegrower
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:37amWearing a full beard is one of the directives in the book of Exodus for men – it has nothing to do with “honoring your mother’s death.” The old-order Amish also follow that dictate. The people complaining about his bearded countenance are probably closet anti-Semites.
Report Post »BondmanPhil
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:01pmJewish law, sourced in the Old Testament, prohibits the close shaving of certain points on the male head. While the use of electric shavers is permissable under this prohibition, many Orthodox Jewish men choose to grow full beards as a sign of their devotion to the Torah, and the desire to proudly display their observance, so they do not shave at all. There’s nothing more to his beard than that.
Report Post »john141714
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:06amThis guy is no Republican. Just as I have been telling all my friends you can no longer just vote for someone because they say there a republican or tea party person you have to listen to what they say or if they have already been in office look at there voting record…..
Report Post »BondmanPhil
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:07pmI agree fully with your post, John. However, we few conservatives in New Jersey are often faced with horrible choices. On the Democratic side, you had Steve Rothman, who was good on foreign policy, but awful on domestic policy, vs. the liberal Pascarel, who is deeply connected to the Islamist Muslim community in Paterson. Some choice. So now, voters in that district will choose between Pascarel and Boteach. Two really bad choices. I was able to vote for a libertarian in my district, even though he had no chance of winning whatsoever.
Report Post »nappy
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:01amAn “American Sabbath”??? I can’t find words to express how disgusting this unshaven wacko is.
Report Post »FoolishCop
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:00amUp until redistricting I was in that congressional district — now Scott Garrett’s my rep (by just a few blocks too)…awesome! — and while I find some of Smuley’s suggestions distasteful (expansion of Blue Laws? Really?!) he seems a heckuva lot more tolerable than either Pascrell or Rothman.
Fortunately redistricting has spared me from having to consider actually voting for any of them and I can gleefully head to the polls and vote for Garrett who is an excellent conservative/libertarian Republican representative.
Rich
Report Post »eric55
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:21amHes hardly a rabbi hes an opportunist wacko just because someone has a beard does not make him a rabbi he has zero qualifications
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:41amI have always hated this guy
Report Post »nappy
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:59amwell put. He’s a profound idiot. Shame on the GOP.
Report Post »ChevalierdeJohnstone
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:12pmand to Dimmuborgir (hey! Do you know the origin of the term, “quisling”?)
Far be it from me to suggest that there might be more people than I who don’t decide to “hate” someone on your say-so, but could you perhaps present some evidence for your claim that Boteach is not a rabbi? He is ordained as a rabbi, so…please enlighten us regarding your expert knowledge of Torah. Surely you have some evidence to back up your claim. If you get a chance, please also list the main reasons why you “hate” him. Obviously it couldn‘t possibly be that he’s Jewish: I am not by any means calling you an ignorant bigot.
Report Post »jmjaffe
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 6:10pmShmuel (Shmuley) Boteach is indeed an ordained Orthodox rabbi. He received his training and ordination (“semicha”) from the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement in New York City, which is no trivial achievement. In his career, he’s served as Chabad emmisary to Oxford University and maintained a mediation practice. He is most certainly qualified to act as a rabbinic leader and teacher.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:35amOi! You go rabbi!
P.S. I’m digging the beard!
Report Post »Dom321
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:07amIf Kosher means “ appropriate or fit to eat ”… What does Kosher sex mean? What is being eaten? :)
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:30pmThose are Jewish laws according to Leviticus.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:49amyeh..yeh…whatever!
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