A just released survey by the American Jewish Committee reports that for the first time ever, a majority of American Jews support using military force to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Are you part of that 56% and if so, why. Are you part of the 36% opposed to such an operation? How come?
Rather than take a stand on this one just yet, I am curious to hear what you have to say about this hot topic, whether you are Jewish or not. In light of President Obama’s United Nations speech last week and the unanimous resolution of the Security Council about ending all nuclear proliferation, this topic is going to shape American and global military policy in powerful ways. So what do you think we should do?
I will post a Newsweek/Washington Post On Faith article I wrote yesterday, a little later. It deals with the fact that the entire issue of nuclear arms is more complicated than simply getting rid of all nuclear weapons, or simply identifying “good guys” and “bad guys”. But until then, I want to know who thinks that this is something over which we should go to war.
Beliefnet
Advertisement
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 
posted September 30, 2009 at 3:10 pm
As an American Jew I do not think a first strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities is wise. Firstly these are hardened facilities and dispersed so they will survive and can be rebuilt. Secondly a diplomatic track has not been exhausted. Economic sanctions and domestic unrest may yield a much changed Iran in the years ahead. Young people in Iran overhwhelming dislike the strict Iranian regime. Time is on our side. Let it play out.
posted September 30, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I’m an American Jew.
I do NOT support a strike. Sarah Palin too generously threw around the word “second Holocaust” to describe what would happen if we didn’t bomb or threaten an attack on Iran in an attempt to attract Jews to her campaign (though if she REALLY wanted to reach Jews she should’ve said “Shoah”). But violent action and retribution should not be the way to a Jewish heart.
Diaspora Jews are notoriously more hawkish than Israeli Jews. And actually this is a trend with most diaspora-sector groups; not just Jews. Why? Because Diaspora Jews don’t have to live in Israel amidst the center of the conflict.
Although I’m sure there are thousands of war-hawk Jews – many of them probably very “observant” – who will come out to this blog and sing “bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran” as loud as they would sing “Hatikvah.”
posted October 1, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Why is the physical Isreal so violent? You can do alot more “damage” on a Spiritual level. It seems that the Jews have lost their Spiritual Power, they can only retaliate on a physical plan. What happened to allowing God to Fight the Battles?!