Rabbi Jon Hausman

We reported recently that Ahavath Torah invited Wafa Sultan, a known bigot and loon to speak at their Synagogue. At the time we weren’t sure what the motivation was, whether it was done out of malice or ignorance, we wrote,

It seems the Synagogue is either unaware of Sultan or is not interested in harmony or critical dialogue and factual knowledge about its Muslim neighbors but instead seeks to plant the seeds of animosity and hate.

We now can confirm that the true intent of bringing Sultan was not to educate congregants about Islam or the threat of radicalism but to fan anti-Muslim Islamophobia. The spiritual leader of Ahavath Torah is one Rabbi Jon Hausman, we hate to give him more publicity than he deserves but a little background on him will clear this matter up sufficiently.

Rabbi Hausman is a friend and admirer of Geert Wilders, the neo-fascist Dutch politician who has called for the deportation of Muslim citizens, banning the construction of Mosques, the banning of religious freedom for Muslims, the banning of the Quran, a tax on hijabs and other similar nonsense. Rabbi Hausman invited Wilders to speak to his congregation where he spouted verbatim the above positions. Wilders, bestowed on the Rabbi the “honorific” title of “the Warrior Rabbi” which coming as it does from a fascist should send shivers down the spine of any sensible person who cares about Democratic values. That Hausman can revel in such praise from a vile cretin like Wilders exposes his moral bankruptcy and reveals how unfit and inept he is to lead a congregation. I posit another title for Hausman, instead of “the Warrior Rabbi” he may better be known as “the Betraying Rabbi” for his betrayal of Judaic values and  “never again” for any people.

In our original article we asked concerned people of all faiths to contact Ahavath Torah and Rabbi Hausman and politely ask why they had invited Wafa Sultan and to reconsider their invitation. Rabbi Hausman responded to the polite emails by calling the people who sent them “nutjobs.”

On a right-wing website defending Rabbi Hausman’s decision, we learn that one of our readers, John sent him this email:

Forwarded Message: Regarding your invitation to Wafa Sultan on Dec 3rd

Regarding your invitation to Wafa Sultan on Dec 3rd

Thursday, November 26, 2009 3:53 AM

To:  Rabbi Hausman

I am responding to an online campaign at loonwatch.com, which is asking your synagogue to review your decision to invite Wafa Sultan to the Ahavath Torah Congregation Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m.

Please see these news article at Loon Watch, and I am responding to their request to write a polite letter to your synagogue.

Why is Ahavath Torah Synagogue Inviting Wafa Sultan?

http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/11/why-is-ahavath-torah-synagogue-inviting-wafa-sultan/

Wafa Sultan: A Poseur Playing off of Ignorance to Further Hate

http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/11/wafa-sultan-a-poseur-playing-off-of-ignorance-to-further-hate/

I would draw your attention the fact that Wafa Sultan is also on record as stating:-

“Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492 America was founded in 1776 approximately 300 years later. You cannot blame America – as a constitution, a regime, and state for killing the Indians.”

My own feelings regarding this are as follows:-

Sultan is a known bigot.  Inviting such a person to a synogogue, does nothing for improving interfaith harmony. No less a distinguished figure than Judea Pearl, the father of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, walked out on of one her talks due to her bigotry. If a Jew whose son was killed by terrorists in Pakistan can see through a hate mongering opportunist, it does not behoove a synagogue to invite her. It will also do nothing for Muslim Jewish relations in Stoughton. I would say exactly the same thing to an Imam if his mosque invited Israel Shamir who claims to be an ex-Jew to speak on Jewish history.

I would appreciate it if you could read the reports above.

Kind Regards and Shalom.

John P Turner

How did the Rabbi respond?

Everyone,

Could it be that I’ve ruffled a few feathers?!? Could it be that these people want to stifle inquiry into the dark inner recesses of Islamic doctrine? Could it be that I don’t care what these nut jobs think and I won’t be intimidated? Most likely the second and third questions….

The Warrior Rabbi

Notice the very un-Jewish ego on the Rabbi. He signs his response with the “Warrior Rabbi.” Strange indeed for a spiritual leader. Instead of ad hominem attack why can’t the Rabbi respond to the substantive points in the email? Does he even have a response? No one is scared of you “Mr. Warrior Rabbi,” people are just wondering why you have invited a bigot to speak to your congregation? If it is because you hate Islam than at least have the guts to say so.

Wafa Sultan

The Ahavath Torah Synagogue in Stoughton, MA has invited anti-Muslim bigot Wafa Sultan who has called Islam and Muslims “backward,” “primitive,” the Qur’an “evil” and who has been exposed to be a fraud, she has also lied about her biography and history, (click here to learn more about Sultan).

Is this the kind of people that Ahavath Torah wants to promote especially in the times we live in? It seems the Synagogue is either unaware of Sultan or is not interested in harmony or critical dialogue and factual knowledge about its Muslim neighbors but instead seeks to plant the seeds of animosity and hate. We hope the Synagogue reconsiders this decision and heeds the words of Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein who warned against Sultan and described her as “Islam’s Anne Coulter.”

Controversial Muslim woman to speak in Stoughton

Sultan is a Syrian-born American psychiatrist who speaks out about what she believes is wrong and hateful about aspects of Muslim culture.

Sultan will speak at Ahavath Torah Congregation Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m.

Sultan is known as “That Muslim Woman on Al Jazeera,” singularly distinguished to speak her mind in a culture that would seek to subjugate her every thought, opinion and emotion. Subsequently, she has been hailed by Time magazine as one of the world’s most influential people and is looked upon as a defiant, passionate force against the misogyny she argues is inherent within Muslim culture itself.

Sultan is a Syrian-born American psychiatrist who, three years ago, caused a firestorm in the Arab world for a series of incendiary interviews on Al-Jazeera TV, in which she challenged the Muslim world to act against the culture of hate and intolerance that she said has defined Islamic thinking for centuries. Growing up in Syria, Sultan said she had seen firsthand the oppression clouding Muslim society, particularly, she said, in its abhorrent treatment of women and its wildly inaccurate view of the West. Now, she is a proponent for women’s rights in the Middle East.

This event is the second in a series of national and international renowned speakers coming to Ahavath Torah Congregation. The synagogue will be celebrating its 90^th anniversary with an education series. Each month, topics such as race, politics, the Middle East, and climate will be discussed by experts.

For reservations, at $15, call 781-344-8733 or e-mail office@atorah.org.

I would recommend all those concerned to email or call Ahavath Torah and express politely why they believe Wafa Sultan is a terrible choice as a speaker and the harm that this will do to Muslim-Jewish relations in Stoughton.