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Rabbis can now endorse political candidates. But will they?

JL;DR SUMMARY The recent IRS announcement allowing religious leaders, including rabbis, to endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status provokes a range of responses within the Jewish community. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish EthicsRabbisPolitical DiscoursePolitical EndorsementsReligious InstitutionsSpiritual LeadershipPartisan PoliticsIrsCommunity DivisionNonprofit Status

Places mentioned

Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
"said Hample, who leads the Tree of Life in Morgantown, West Virginia a blue city in a red state."
Texas, United States
"The change was tucked into a joint motion to settle a lawsuit by two Texas churches and a Christian broadcasters group."
Cleveland, Colorado, United States
"said Rabbi Raphael Davidovich of the Orthodox Heights Jewish Center in Cleveland."
Los Angeles, California, United States
"Rabbi David Wolpe, emeritus rabbi of Sinai Temple, a Conservative congregation in Los Angeles, worries the new rule will invite politics into sacred spaces."
Brooklyn, New York, United States
"Dania Rajendra, a member of Kolot Chayeinu, a progressive synagogue in Brooklyn, said she hopes to see more political clarity from the pulpit."
New York City, New York, United States
"She cited the New York City mayoral race, which has a Muslim candidate, Zohran Mamdani, as the Democratic nominee."
Queens, New York, United States
"Rabbi Joshua Rabin of Astoria Center of Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Queens where Mamdani is the assemblyperson, said the IRS change wont affect how he talks about politics from the pulpit."
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
"Rabbi Jason Holtz, who leads the Reform Temple Kehillat Chaim in suburban Atlanta, has spoken from the pulpit about immigration and abortion."

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