- For not being more honest about the Armenian Genocide
- For not being more responsible for the upkeep of our sacred tradition
- For not putting an end to the case of Agunot
- For not reaching out and being more welcoming
- For not working harder to build bridges with Muslims
- For not speaking out enough against religious fundamentalism and abuse of religious power
- For not ensuring that each Holocaust survivor is being taken care of
- For not ensuring that each child be given a Jewish education at a reasonable cost
- For rabbis who put on their bio's that they made "Newsweek's Top 50 Rabbis List"
For not doing more to end poverty in our community and America at-large
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Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
slightly off topic -
I'm fascinated by #9 (or is it #2, in the spirit of the countdown to #1) - the one about the Top 50 rabbis.
do any of these rabbis actually use this citation on their bios?
the Newsweek article is so odd - given that the criteria for selection don't seem to me to have much, if anything, to do with what I would expect from a rabbi.
So "Top" doesn't necessarily equal "Best", right?
that observation aside - i agree wholeheartedly with R. Stern's list - Yasher Koach for saying it in black & white!
The dear Rabbi should add to the list - Lashon Hora spoken about each other in the way of judgmental comments about the different branches of Judaism. It is fine to disagree but some of the comments we speak about each other are condemning and spoken without knowledge or regard to the basic humanity we share. I agree that Y.K. is a communal time for all of Israel, but it is also personal and individual. To make a better whole, the one must change also. Teshuva is both communal and personal. Shana Tova all
How can you ignore #1????
Do you folks know what the Armenian Genocide was?
Do you realize that the Jewish community should oppose all genocide, not just the genocide of Jews?
Research the Armenian genocide.
Re: Forgiveness (Items 5 and 8)
Recently, a potential politician in an Ontario, Canada election, offers the choice for government backing for Catholic schools. I would not vote for a Conservative , based upon this one idea alone, however, if you could consider schooling which has both parental and government backing being made, universally, flexible enough to accept religious teachings that (during two periods a week, for example) would give to children lessons within their own faiths, and, as they progress, lessons to share.
If Government allows education time for the appreciation of cultural diversity, the important cultural concepts which assist children to form even their bodys' immunity might not be overlooked.
It seems shocking to me that parents should have to fork over $22,000 a year for just (Jewish) education per child. More shocking, though, are the lost and bitter qualities that so many children have been forced, through impoverishment, and a lack of spiritual direction, to express via unruliness, rudeness, and subsequent business or social crimes,as they "mature".
I am deeply opposed to forcing children in schools to worship together according to the religious whims of State, however, I have always believed that schooling in religion should be made available, optionally, to all youth.Theology is a University program, so there should be a public and highschool introduction,as in all schools or disciplines.
Young people, especially, will love and share without prejudice.Sharing their faith is even more important to children than it could ever be to adults.
Overcoming social boundaries (for instance between Islam and Judaism) can be seen to be (literally) childs' play, given the enjoyably more free educational planning that our kids may now experience.
So, if someone asks you to vote for government backing for Catholic schools - insist upon backing for religion courses in all faiths (before you vote), as a normative regimen toward social acceptance and love.
Since the buzz in Ontario is that organized crime is approaching and intimidating Catholic students, right in the schools, intervention seems timely- but assisting one discipline and disregarding the rest is not enough.
#2 and #6 are contradictory.