More Antisemitism from Republican Leadership and the Eagle
Republican leadership in Josephine County and the Eagle newspaper are allowing Mike Pelfrey to be the voice of the party in the county. He dominates the Facebook site of the Eagle with hate and has the full support of Holli Morton and Candy Kaiser at the GOP headquarters in Grants Pass. Holli even mentioned him in an email to me that he is the kind of Republican she admires.
It is amazing that Republican leadership and the Eagle are allowing Mike Pelfrey to be a “thought leader” for the party and the newspaper. I would never call any post by Mike Pelfrey to be thoughtful – what they are is hateful. If the Republican Party in the county and the Eagle want to be considered bastions of hate towards anyone who does not completely agree with their extreme politics, then so be it. They will be considered as haters of Jews, the LGBT community and even moderate Republicans.
Why are they haters of Jews? Because their spokesperson (Pelfrey) and his wife has started calling me a “fake rabbi.” This is expanding on Facebook with others who are echoing this “fake rabbi” theme that has not been condemned by Republican leadership or Richard Emmon’s Eagle. One person echoing this name also said that I am not wanted in the community by anyone. So, yes, it is hate aimed at the only Jewish rabbi in the community.
It is clearly antisemitic to call a Jewish rabbi (fake) for several reasons.
1. Disrespecting Religious Authority: Rabbis are respected leaders within the Jewish community, and questioning their legitimacy undermines their authority and the community’s trust in them. This can be seen as an attack on the Jewish faith and its traditions.
2. Perpetuating Harmful Stereotypes: Such statements can reinforce negative stereotypes about Jewish people and their religious practices. It implies that Jewish leaders are not genuine or trustworthy, which can contribute to broader antisemitic attitudes.
3. Undermining Jewish Identity: Judaism places significant importance on religious leadership and scholarship. Calling a rabbi “fake” dismisses the years of study and dedication required to attain that position, thereby undermining the value of Jewish education and tradition.
4. Fostering Intolerance: Labeling a rabbi as “fake” can create an environment of intolerance and hostility towards Jewish people. It can encourage others to question the legitimacy of Jewish practices and beliefs, leading to increased discrimination and prejudice.
In essence, such statements are not just personal attacks but also contribute to a broader culture of antisemitism and group judgmentalism by disrespecting and delegitimizing Jewish religious authority and identity.
That local Republican leadership at the GOP headquarters and the Eagle newspaper would not condemn or even say anything about the clear antisemitism being promoted by a party member publicly our community is shocking. Silence is an affirmative. If the party and the newspaper does not speak out against the antisemitism being promoted then they are not opposed to it.
