Shalom: And Welcome to the Democratic National Convention

An interesting article from JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

A religious Democratic convention?
Ron Kampeas

JTA News Service

Jewish voters and organizations are often among the first to object when Republicans and Christian conservatives attempt to inject religion into politics. But this year the Democrats are jumping into the religion game — and looking to rabbis for help.

Published: 08/19/2008

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Jewish voters and organizations often are among the first to object when Republicans and Christian conservatives inject religion into politics.

But this year, especially at their convention next week, the Democrats are jumping into the religion game — and looking to rabbis for help.

Religious leaders — among them at least seven rabbis — are expected to play an unprecedented role at this year’s Democratic convention in Denver. The convention is kicking off with a multifaith gathering on Sunday that will include Scripture readings from Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist lay and cloth leaders, and the week’s proceedings will be studded with “faith panels.”

The religious tenor is the culimination of the Democratic National Committee’s “Faith in Action” committee, which is sponsoring Sunday’s interfaith gathering. Matt Dorf, a consultant to the party and several prominent Jewish organizations, was a leading force behind the committee. The Third Way, a group that has tried to build bridges between evangelical Christians and political liberals, also will be involved. The Third Way has the backing of two prominent Jewish lawmakers, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.).

The most prominent rabbinical participant at the Democratic convention will be Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, who will deliver the invocation on Aug. 28, when Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) accepts the nomination before a crowd of at least 70,000 at Denver’s Invesco Stadium.

FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE FROM JTA CLICK HERE

Of Interest:  JTA Election Central ’08