David Kaufman

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Dec 14, 2017, 1:04 AM

What a liberal rabbi learned at the Trump Hanukkah party

Rabbi David Kaufman and his wife Julie, attending the White House Hanukkah party in Washington, D.C., Dec. 7, 2017. (Courtesy of Kaufman)

As perhaps the only liberal rabbi there, the aim was to engage constructively with decision makers

Apr 7, 2016, 12:26 AM

AIPAC is Not a Political Safe Space

AIPAC Policy Conference is not a political "safe space" where people will not challenge your deeply held beliefs with contrary views. If you want to attend a conference and not have your views challenged or potentially have your feelings...

Jul 22, 2014, 9:06 PM

What You Need to Know about Israel and Gaza to Understand Events Today

1. Hamas took over Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007. Israel had withdrawn all of its citizens including all of its military from Gaza in 2005 and Egypt has been in control of the Rafah Border Crossing since...

Jun 24, 2013, 8:02 PM

When the Game Turns Dark – Snowden

Edward Snowden decided to play a game that is and always was way beyond him. Snowden appears to have believed himself to be doing the right thing when he initially became a "whistle blower" and revealed extensive NSA information...

Jun 14, 2013, 1:43 AM

You may have heard of pink-washing, the accusation that Israel promotes its exceptional treatment of LGBT individuals as a way to cover up its "record on Palestinian rights." I wrote a response to this absurd idea for the Times...

Apr 10, 2013, 6:53 PM

We Are For Israel Responds to 100 Jewish Leaders Letter

We Are For Israel has been asked to offer a response to the letter written by 100 American Jewish Leaders seeking that Israel work with Secretary of State Kerry to produce a plan demonstrating “Israel’s readiness to make painful territorial...

Jan 23, 2013, 7:55 PM

There are many who look at the Israeli elections and say to themselves, "Wow! We thought that this would be a move to the right and LOOK! There is a 60-60 split of seats! Netanyahu's coalition will be weakened!...

Dec 6, 2012, 8:51 PM

The E-1 Gambit Explained

I have read many articles and seen more statements about Israel's plans to build in E-1 than I can number. Most have one thing in common. They are based in a fantasy world in which it is 1966, except...

Sep 23, 2012, 5:59 PM

When Freedom Pisses People Off

There are no few times and places in modern western societies when, to be blunt, freedom pisses people off. It may be religious people ticking off seculars such as in the whole circumcision controversy in Germany, the Kosher slaughter...

Aug 12, 2012, 3:52 PM

Why The Sinai Attack Harmed Iran and Why Morsi Responded

The massacre of the Egyptian soldiers by terrorists trying to harm Israelis likely resulted in several things that harmed Iranian interests and severely harmed the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood. It shifted Egypt's military and intelligence services more strongly against...

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About Me

Rabbi David Kaufman is the Rabbi of Temple B'nai Jeshurun in Des Moines, Iowa, a congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism. He is also the President and Co-Founder of We Are For Israel, the home of "Centrist Advocates for Realistic Peace" and created the news site about the crisis in the Nuba Mountains, www.helpnuba.net. Rabbi Kaufman maintains an informational blog on which he posts sermons and other materials related to Jewish practice and belief at www.rabbikaufman.blogspot.com