In response to Zionist rhetoric against President-Elect Obama, both before and after the election, we have planned an advertisement to be placed in the Washington Post. The text of the ad will be as follows:

True Torah Jews Congratulate President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice-President-Elect Joe Biden

We wish them strength, health and success in leading this great nation. May G-d bless them, their families and their future cabinet members.

Unfortunately, this presidential race was characterized by exploitation of the Jews. The RJC did not cease to accuse Mr. Obama of not being supportive of the State of Israel and not being strong enough against Iran. On the eve of the election, the RJC was still reaching out to Jewish voters with slanders against Mr. Obama. By doing so, they gave the public the dangerous impression that all Jews care about Israel first and America second.

We believe that as Jews, we must be ever mindful of the needs of our Jewish brethren, wherever they may live. But dragging the issues surrounding the Zionist state into American politics and constantly focusing on the Jews is counter-productive. It fuels anti-Semitism, furthers conflicts, and creates a potential danger to Jews worldwide.

We contend that the election results show that the effect of all this propaganda was negligible. 76% of Jews voted for Mr. Obama. All indications are that most of those Jews, as well as the Jews who voted for Mr. McCain, did so for reasons unrelated to the State of Israel. A survey conducted several months before the election showed that the Zionist State is just seventh on the list of American Jews' concerns in the voting booth.

The survey indicated that economic concerns are first on the list for US Jews, as 55% of them rated it highest on their priority list. Next on the list was the issue of Iraq, which has been occupying the minds of the American public, Jews included. About 21% of the Jewish community members considered medical insurance a high priority, and a similar percentage placed terror and national security at the top of their list. The subject of energy took fifth place, with 15% ranking it highest, followed by a 12% rating for environmental concerns. Only 8% of Jews saw Israel as the most important topic of the presidential elections agenda.

This only serves to prove how misleading these lobbies are when they paint all Jews as Zionists with an Israel-first attitude to American politics. Actually, American Jews put America first and are concerned about the same issues as all Americans.

If among Jews in general the State of Israel plays little if any role, we might add that among most traditionally Orthodox Jews, the State of Israel is viewed in a negative light. The Talmud, its commentaries and other texts of Jewish thought and law all warn sternly against the Jews establishing their own state before the coming of the messiah, and accordingly almost all Orthodox rabbis have opposed the Zionist movement since its inception. It is thus laughable that American Orthodox Jews would make the welfare of that state they so strongly oppose the highest priority in a presidential election.

We are tired of the Zionist rhetoric, and this is why we find the Obama-Biden teams style especially gratifying. It was like a breath of fresh air when Mr. Biden told reporters on September 3 during a telephone conference:

"AIPAC (the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee) doesn't speak for the entire Jewish community. There are other organizations that are just as strong and consequential."

AIPAC arrogantly pretends to represent all American Jews, but Mr. Biden proved that it is possible to minimize the importance of AIPAC and still win the overwhelming majority of the Jewish vote.

We conclude by blessing our newly-elected administration with the words of the traditional Jewish prayerbook:

May He Who grants salvation to kings and rulership to princes, Who saves His servant David from the evil sword, Who makes a path in the sea and a trail in turbulent waters may He bless, guard and exalt President-elect Barack Obama and Vice-President-elect Joe Biden. May the King of Kings give them life and protect them from all misfortune and adversity. May He grant them victory over our countrys enemies, and may they be successful in whatever they do.

If you are interested in taking part in this unique opportunity to sanctify the name of G-d, please contact us at: 718-841-7053