Rabbi, I find it fascinating that people like yourself have taken it upon themselves to dictate to the NY Muslim community on what they should do with their community center—it is not just a “mosque”. You say they should consult with the 9-11 families. For what purpose may I ask? It’s their land and we do have religious freedom in this country. I also find it interesting that you think they first must agree to have a section that shows the abuses of the Islamic faith. Fair enough as long as you agree that the next big Jewish community center have a section that shows how the cruelties inflicted on the Palestinians by Israelies is a corruption of Judaism. Would you find that fair? If not, why not?
Let’s face it, the Imam at the community center has said he wanted to build this to bring healing. It was only the anti-Muslim bigots that have made this a big issue and have told lie after lie about the center and the Muslim faith in general. That’s just my 2 cents worth.

before ppl criticize other peoples religion and beliefs – Study history and Remember the Crusades

@Richard………..
Claearly you`re not a fan of the Rabbi and/or you`re anti-semitic. Your stated opinion has very little to do with what the Rabbi is writing about. Instead you post an attack on him. And to make matters worse you bring the Palestinians into the opinion. Where did the Rabbi mention anything about the Middle East conflict? It`s discouraging to read something anyone writes and have people like you attempt to twist the goodness and fairness of the Rabbi`s clear stand on the issue on hand.
I`m in full agreement with Rabbi Boteach`s opinion. The people who waited weeks, months for a part of their loved one`s body to be buried should always have the first say on what happens there. It was bad enough when Mr. Silverman put Mr. Bloomberg in his pocket and got permission to build. There are half`s of bodies and bodies that were never found. Even after all the digging in that site, people remain in that soil. Victims of terrorist attack. Productive Americans perished in an instant by fundamentalists. Not the kind you find in America. People who claim to die for their faith. Imagine that. But more annoying than the narcissism of Mayor Bllomberg or Mr. Silverman are people like you Richard. Who distort the truth of reality to vindictively serve your own narcissistic need. We should never forget 9/11. And your comment disrespected the dead, the innocent victims, and their loved ones. May the rest in peace without a Mosque/Museum?whatever over their remains.

Suggest, recommend, protest, organize, plead, explain, persuade, lead…YES. But as a condition, NO. This is forceful and potentially illegal, it pushes 1st amendment sentiments. This is also not the way to “bring peace and reconciliation”.

1) It’s not a mosque.
2) It’s not at Ground Zero
3) It’s truly none of our business.
Yes, there were many people who searched for their loved ones. One example was the family of a first responder who died as the buildings collapsed. To add insult to injury, his family had to endure claims from major newspapers that he was in fact a terrorist himself, as he was Muslim.
There is nothing anti-semetic about Richard’s comments, unless you assume that any criticism of Israel is anti-semetic (which was actually the opposite of Richard’s point).
This is a non-issue. There should be no conditions, and the Rabbi should indeed be ashamed of himself.

Far from being anti-Semitic, I am very proud of my Jewish heritage. To disagree with a rabbi (most of whom disagree with each other) is not an anti-Semitic stance. Furthermore, I totally agree with Richard’s points. As John Oliver said in his satirized version of this debate, should Jews remove their kippot on Good Friday out of respect for the Christians who believe that we killed Christ?

Rabbi has articulated this extremely well and I am in agreement.
Arguments pointing to the Crusades are tired, banal, and really are meaningless. There is no correlation between the Christianity of 11-12th Century Europe with their Divine Right Monarchy and Theocratic Religions and the Churches/religions in 21st Century American Republic.
The comparison is absurd. It is like comparing Neanderthals to Modern man,. That is how different Christianity of today is from then.
My point is let the Mosque be built as per American Civil liberties. But just know that radical Islamists will not say to themselves : Oh, maybe we are wrong about America, they are so nice to us to let us build our centers for Islam’. Hardly, I think some people have not learned the lessons from pre-WWII Germany. ‘Let’s just play nice, forgive, turn the other cheek, they will see that we aren’t so bad and they will leave us alone’
So if some people are thinking that letting this be built will cause a change of heart..sorry, it won’t happen.
Let the Center be built as per American Constitutional liberties, but Politician’s don’t be surprised when the families of victims of 9-11 rally against you and Soldier’s STILL DYING in the mid-east trying establish a Western Democracy start to burn with anger and feel sold out by you.
And Muslims, moderate or not, don’t be surprised that this building is viewed as an affront to American core values. Yes, you will get your ‘rights’ but at what cost?
But then you can shrug your shoulders and believe it’s because Americans are bigots and you can thumb your noses at them.
Sadly, this whole thing is going to be a lose-lose situation.

I don’t want to see a religious anything built around Ground Zero. Not a mosque. Not a synagogue. Not a church. No religious symbols: crosses, stars, whatever.
It’s a place of sorrow, and yes, I believe that one’s religious practices can mitigate sorrow. But to put religious symbols of any kind at this place denies the horror of the act. We MUST remember that it was hatred that brought this about. We must be reminded to love. We must be reminded to respect. We must be reminded to be tolerant, and to do good deeds.atanis 1979We must be reminded that hatred is a vile destroyer. Let Ground Zero be that reminder.
I am Jewish, and I well know G-d’s love. I just want you to know that. But I still think that Ground Zero is no place for religious symbols.

As a jew myself.. I agree with russell that best way to fight anti- semitism is to fight islamophobia. my best friend is a muslim and i have many muslim friends who defend me from many christians who are anti-ssemitic but i dont call all christians anti semitic. I think it would be great 2 get muslims and jews and christians 2 work together at this sight that has so much media attention to show the world and start a group to show the world that in the great america nation we all work together and love each other.
I also agree with the rabbi that the group should meet with all the 9/11 victims not (just one group who says they represent everybody) and that the imam with other imans in the counrty and other rabbis in the counrty and priests in the counrty to come together and turn this into a great historical event

Russell Simmons forfeits all rights to be tsken seriously on this or any other issue.
Here he is on CNN saying that if we blame muslims for 9/11, we should blame CHRISTIANS for the 1993 attack on the WTC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxQU6HFhOwg&feature=player_embedded
Hello, earth to Russsell, the 1993 attack on the WTC WAS by muslims.

Chaya:
It’s not at Ground Zero.
Simple as that.

Under two conditions? Why does every Jew feel it is his birth right to set conditions on other men? I’ll read your blog again under two conditions.
1. You admit to being a greed monger who bows to the God of Money
2. Apologize for Israel building houses outside their territory and killing civilians in the pursuit of expansion.
Radicals are everywhere Rabbi…own your part. Or, does your far superior religion not support owning ones part?

DO YOU RHINK THAT,.MUSLIMS WILL LET US BUILD A CHRISTIAN CHURCH RIGTH ON THE MIDDLE OF TERAN,..NO RIGTH? ITS THE OTHER WAY AROUND ,.THEY KILLS US,..SO JUST WAKE UP IDOTS, CAN’T YOU SEE,..REMEMEBER JESUS,. TOLD SOME THAT WERE DEVILS, AND THIS IS WHAT IT IS,..THOSE PEOPLE ARE SATANIC,..AND THATS IT,…ISLAM IS SATANIC AND THATS IT,..TO PLAY DUMB,..YOU KNOW IT IS,..READ HISTORY,…
NO NO MUSLIM CENTER SHOULD BE BUILD AROUND THE PLACE,..AND THATS IT,..DO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, GIVES THEM,.THE RIGHTS WE DO? ,..THEIR TAKING PLAYING THEIR FINGERIN THE USA MOUTH,…

“Why does every Jew feel it is his birth right to set conditions on other men?”
Brian, Are you lumping all Jews together? Because you don’t sound any more reasonable than those who lump all Muslims together. There are thooughtful, reasonable, and kind people of all faiths. Sadly, the reverse is also true.

The history of Islam is that they again again like to build thier Mosques over area where they feel they have made conquest.In India over the birth place of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama when the Muslems were in power they demoished the Temples at these sites and placed thier Mosque.
There are many many places where they have done this all over the world .This is just a fact,even if the property was in thier hands before WTC was taken down because of the history Islamic defiance of others religions
Islam was spread by the sword, peace in Islam means when all follow Islam there is peace.
When the Muslim emperor Babur came down from Ferghana in 1527, he defeated the Hindu King of Chittodgad, Rana Sangrama Singh at Sikri, using cannon and artillery. After this victory, Babur took over the region, leaving his general, Mir Baqi, in charge as viceroy.
Mir Baqi allegedly destroyed the temple at Ayodhya, built by the Hindus to commemorate Rama’s birthplace, and built the Babri Masjid, naming it after Emperor Babur.[9] Although there is no reference to the new mosque in Babur’s diary, the Baburnama, the pages of the relevant period are missing in the diary. The contemporary Tarikh-i-Babari records that Babur’s troops “demolished many Hindu temples at Chanderi”[10]
Palaeographic evidence of an older Hindu temple on the site emerged from an inscription on a thick stone slab recovered from the debris of the demolished structure in 1992. Over 260 other artifacts were recovered on the day of demolition, and many point to being part of the ancient temple. The inscription on the slab has 20 lines, 30 shlokas (verses), and is composed in Sanskrit written in the Nagari script.

I agree with the Rabbi…to a degree. We fail to recognize that, as in the flotilla problem that Israel faced, we are put in a no win situation. If we turn the cheek and say nothing — because we in America do not discrimate — BY LAW — against any religion, then we cannot do anything (which they know and are using to full advantage). If we try to pass a law to keep them from putting the mosque in this place, then we are biggotted and do not follow our laws or our religious beliefs (and theyknow this too and are using it to full advantage). My question is — did they own this land before 9/11? Did they plan to build this mosque on this land before 9/11? If the answer is yes to the above two questions, then so be it. If they didn’t, and are doing this to spite the American public, then we need to pray that our beliefs, whether Jew or Christian, will prevail. We can still do nothing per our constitution and their consitutional rights, but we can pray and know that G-d is the G-d of all of the major religions that are in America, and that He will watch over us — even with a mosque placed next to the site of 9/11. Is our faith so weak that we cannot see beyond a mosque?

There are two errors that you continue to perpertrate. First is that this a mosque that is proposed to be built; it is a community center which will include a room for prayer. Second is that it is at Ground Zero; it is two blocks away which in New York is a world away.
I would find your demand that they include a museum on 9/11 reasonable only if you make such demands to churches and synagogues to also have museums which detail the atrocities which have been made in the name of their religion. Did you make such a demand of churches after the Oklahoma City bombing?

We are to be an example to the world, even if it feels unfair,
We are to do whats right. We can’t reward evil for evil,We are the light of the world.

Many of those Muslims who talk for the Mosque do not understand Jewish Law. The speak of bloody passages in the Torah and do not speak of the code in the Talmud and the Mishna that explain all of these passages. Many Jewish men and women are also unlearned in the depth of Jewish law and can not explain how these laws are interuprated in this modern age. Can you explain these in some of your writings in the future.

Amy Rosenberg….I wanted to add to your comment that the same is found in among Muslims as it relates to the Quran. One speaks of bloody passages in the Quran and do not speak of the Hadith and the History that explain these passages. As well one usually cannot explain these passages within the context of the modern age. Additionally as with many things do with time, Islamic law has developed along several different lines of jurisprudence. Thus what is accepted and seen as a singular body of law is in fact refracted through and interpreted through various traditions of religious jurisprudence. I have not even touched on the issue of judgment, discernment, rehabilitation, etc. As such your average Muslim is not only not acquainted with the fullness of their religion (religious law in particular) but often rely on religious figures who are not acquainted with the fullness of their religion. An example is the rights of women as it relates to religious family law. Divorce proceedings can start if a woman is deserted by her husband. Unfortunately, many verses related to women’s rights within Islamic family law are either not known by or for lack of better phrasing one simply doesn’t know how to enact them and measure them against other religious legal remedies. Religion, Religious Law, Faith, etc….all very complicated things that for some reason are reduced into going to Synagogue, Church, Temple, Mosque. But it is so much more complicated than that….as your posting seems to imply.

Rabbi,
I truly believe your words are intended with honor.
But, your pluralistic view has placed your head in the sand. Pull it out, and place in the pages of the torah for clarafication of your view of Islam.