The Coalition for Jewish Values is rapidly becoming part of the landscape of Jewish organizations, representing an opinion to be considered. That is the best explanation of the significant change in the way the CJV is covered, at least in Jewish media. Oddly, and to their credit, the Forward is one of the two media outlets most interested in quoting us, beginning with their feature article on the CJV discussed in our last update.

First of all, we are worthy of quoting even in order to attack us: shortly after our previous update, an op-ed appeared in the Forward from Jill Jacobs, the director of T’ruah, a group of liberal, anti-Israel Jewish clergy. Entitled “Why Are Orthodox Organizations Embracing Christian Values?,” it accused us, along with the Orthodox Union, of “pursuing Christian scriptural interpretations of the Bible.” The piece made it obvious how little Rabbi Jacobs knows of Jewish interpretations; the tragedy is that she cannot even recognize the origins in Judaism of what she describes as “Christian” positions.

Then there was an unusual piece by (Rabbi) Joshua Runyan, editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. Although he is a Lubavitch/Chabad Chassid, he failed to distinguish between true and faux “Tikkun Olam” when critiquing us. His “In Defense of Tikkun Olam” claimed that “to attack [this concept], as recent press releases from an organization of right-wing rabbis calling themselves the Coalition for Jewish Values do, is to perversely imply that Judaism does not regard having a positive impact on the world at large as a moral calling.” Of course, having a positive impact on the “world at large” is the raison d’etre of the CJV.

But there were also a series of interviews seeking our opinion:

Israel National News / Arutz-7 interviewed both our President, Rabbi Pesach Lerner, and Vice-President, Rabbi Yoel Schoenfeld, in separate interviews on the topic of Tzippi Hotovely’s statements about American Jewry and the backlash she faced. Stephen Flatow noted that we were the only Orthodox organization to come out explicitly in firm support of Hotovely, although what she said was both true and obvious.

On November 20, the Seth and Chris Show interviewed CJV Managing Director Rabbi Menken (again), on the topic of religious liberty. The result was a segment that Chris published on the journal he edits, American Greatness.

The Forward also interviewed Rabbi Lerner for a feature article, “Are Orthodox Jews Abandoning The Separation Of Church And State?” The writer described the CJV as “the apotheosis of a new kind of Orthodox Jewish American.”

And there is much more to come — stay tuned for further updates!

Press Releases:
Rabbis criticize Jewish Federations for “partisan and divisive” statements, Nov. 15
Israeli Minister Spoke “Words of Truth,” Rabbis Say — CJV Condemns “Witch Hunt” Against Minister Hotovely, Nov. 23
Rabbis Applaud Trump Moves on Jerusalem, Dec. 6

Op-Eds:

Anatomy of a smear
Rabbi Steven Pruzansky in Israel National News, Nov. 26
Tzipi Hotovely has finally been discovered
Rabbi Dov Fischer in Israel National News, Nov. 27
The Middle East ‘Peace Process’ Meme: WHAT Peace Process?
Rabbi Dov Fischer in The American Spectator, Dec. 6
Sometimes the obvious needs to be said
Rabbi Steven Pruzansky in Israel National News, Dec. 8
Reform’s Celebration of Lawlessness
Rabbi Pesach Lerner and Rabbi Yaakov Menken, Times of Israel, Dec. 11