...99% of whom support Israel! He and other Reform 'leaders' are self-appointed cliques who are more into having their picture taken with Hillary or Obama than in representing their membership.

If you carefully read the article, as well as read his writings, you will see that his support of Israel is based upon his wish to engineer Armageddon. As a religious Jew, I find that MUCH more troubling than Reform Judaism.

one can cry about something they don't like but the author did not refute any facts. what john has quoted from the bible concerning the giving up of land is the truth. its sad that americans support israel more than the liberal israelies who live there.

and Hagee supports Israel and does not try and convert Jews. Seems Israel has a strong ally in Hagee. Wish more 'christian' churches would as well. As long as we respect one anothers religious beliefs, I see no problem with a faithful ally. He and many others went to D.C.to help convince politicians NOT to cede more of Israels land. I'd just say, "Thank you" instead of all the suspicion.

It wasn't long ago that Yoffie was guest at a conference of the Islamic Society of North America, a Saudi funded, extremist organization promoting the Wahhabi brand of Islam through US mosques. This same Yoffie considers Christian Zionists "extremists" because they consider Israel's rights to the land a divine entitlement, and don't support appeasing Israel's enemies.

It's a shame that YNET didn't report on Yoffie's entire speech. He strongly criticized the Palestinians and called their revolt one of the stupidist in history. However, there is no defense for his wilful arrogance in criticizing some of Israel's strongest supporters. This holier-than-Thou Yoffie comes across as a small-minded and self-centered fool. Exactly, what does he think he is accomplishing for Israel in alienating Christian Zionists? Believe me, Israel needs as many friends as possible. Does he think that Israel doesn't need their fervent and heart-felt support? Does he think that the Presbyterians and Methodists, 2 mainstream denominations that are both anti-Israel and antisemitic will be better friends? Anyway, he doesn't live in Israel. How dare he criticize strong supporters among Israelis and American Jews who are attempting to build relationships with Christian friends of Israel. I also take issue with his statements that Christian Zionists are wrong in not supporting land give-backs. When the last intefada was in full swing, how many of his fellow Reform Jews had the guts to visit Israel compared to the number of christians. Evidntly, Yoffie has been on Mars since the Gaza Strip was given back to the terrorists and he is unaware of the thousands of rockets that have been launched against Sderot. evidently, he also is unaware that 84% of the Palestinians approved of the massacre of the 8 Yeshiva kids. So when the christian Zionists urge Israel not to return the land to the terrorists, are they wrong? Fortunately, Yoffie is not the Reform movement. Unfortunately, many of the Reform Rabbis are very left-wing and feel a need to be critical of Israel and are just as bigoted as their mirror images on the right. However, there are many Reform Rabbis, including the Rabbi of my son's Reform Temple, who are level-headed and strong supporters of Israel. I think that Yoffie is just a blowhard.

Protestant church groups like the Methodists and Presbyterians who want to pull out investments from Israel to punish the Jews. Be thankful for Pastor John Hagee's concern for Israel since that is rare among the Sunday church people.

Hagee has no interest in engineering arageddon.....He Just points out what the prophets of Israel have said about that event. most that say these kind of things seldom check out the references provided by writers like Hagee... Psalms 83

Talkback #5 is sadly misinformed. I took five years of graduate study at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem and Cincinnai at in addition to my Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan (awarded with distinction) to be granted my smicha, which I have held for 25 years. Rabbi Yoffie is similarly educated. All Reform Rabbis, 5 years of graduate level rabbinic study. We're rabbis. If you disagree on principles, state your principles. Don't attack Reform Rabbis ad hominem. I wrote my thesis on "The Use of Figurative Language in RAMBAM and Martin Buber." My conversion students each study between a 14 months to two years to convert under the authority of a beit din of 3 rabbis. I accept no money for my teaching or serving at any life cycle event. No money, never. That's the way it should be. Torah for those who want to learn.

I agree with Aviva from Jerusalem. The Reform movement has members who join in order to "belong" to something Jewish, but most do not practice much Judaism, and many are not even Jewish at all. Due to intermarriage, assimilation, and low birthrates,the whole movement will either not survive another generation or two, or will survive but will not be Jewish at all. Years ago I met a family who belonged to a Reform temple in the States, and out of 3 generations of this family, only the grandfather was halachically Jewish. So, the fact is that only the Orthodox will remain Jewish in the future in the Galut. In Israel, however, even among the secular, most will remain part of the Jewish people.

I think we should hold a contest for the most imaginative ways to shut up "Rabbi" Eric Yoffie, the leader of the American Reform synagogue's political SWAT team, the "Union for Reform Judaism." It is a political movement that seems to want to replace the Torah with Tikkun Magazine. You know the the sort, Jews who consider Palestinian statehood and gay "marriage" to be the highest priorities for Judaism. Yoffie evidently wants the Ten Commandments to be replaced with Barack Obama's campaign platform. "Rabbi" Yoffie is a leading theological practitioner of Political Liberalism as Judaism, a form of pseudo-Judaism and "liberation theology." Yoffie has a long track record of issuing anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian pronouncements. This past week he is calling for a Jewish jihad against Christian evangelists, because the latter are guilty of supporting Israel. Who does not need to be criticized, according to Yoffie? Islamofascists, of course. Last year, "Rabbi" Yoffie sucked up to them at the Islamic Society of North America's 44th annual convention in Chicago, IL. While still president, Moshe Katsav made a point out of refusing to call Yoffie a Rabbi. So imaginative suggestions for ways to shut Yoffie up are being solicited. So far we have: 1. Stick the stockings from a Reconstructionist Christmas tree into his mouth. 2. Borrow a giant reefer for him from Arthur Waskow. 3. How many Kafiyas can he swallow in an hour? 4. Get him the seafood platter from a progressive egalitarian California Reform "temple" we know about. 5. Two words: fur balls. 6. Get him to recite fatwas from the Religious Action Center of David Saperstein at the speed of an old 45 record being played at 78. 7. Make him give all his liberal speeches in Hebrew. (Or Aramaic) 8. Make him give a class on the Daf Yomi before any political speech he plans to give. 9. Get him to a dentist who was admitted to dental school via affirmative action. 10. Let him drink every day as if it were Purim.

B"H Todah rabah Aviva (#60) for that encouraging bit of mathematical clarity, concerning the probable lower number of Reform Jews (?) throughout the world. I pray to HaShem that the "Reform" will make t'shuvah very soon, and return to HaShem, and the congregation of Torah Israel. Absent that [their t'shuvah], it is a comfort to me - given their extremely low birthrate; and continued intermarriage, that the antinomian "Reform" will practically breed themselves out of existence within the next few generations. May HaShem induce t'shuvah (ASAP) amongst all Jews estranged from Torah - especially in Ha Eretz - so that He can save us with His Right Arm of strength. Please HaShem, cause an Aliyah Revolution to occur within all of the religious communities of the galut, so that Torah law can be voted into power within Ha Eretz, and all the 'unpruned' expelled from the land.

I apologize for my poor math skills. I miscalculated the number of probably Reform Jews. 900 Temples x 400 members = 360,000 and final upward revision = 18,000 practicing Reform Jews. Sorry for the mistake.

I must say that you are correct! Enjoyed your talkback. Are you Jewish? You are very informed. Thanks, Lenny PS: I think Hagee is of the basic church mindset today, blind, with selective; reading and a lack of understanding of the Scriptures concerning Israel.

Dear Rabbi, Thanks for sharing your scholarly credentials with us. May I inquire what Martin Buberism has to do with leading a Jewish congregation? How many mesechtes have you completed? What about Shulchan Aruch? If I have a degree in Persian carpet weaving can I be a Rabbi too?

Reform claims as adherents the many secular Jews that go twice a year, or attend just for their kids Bnai-mitzvas, the gentile spouse and offspring. The number of Jews that adhere to reform-"frum reform" is virtually non-existant.

Real rabbis spend about 15-20 years in yeshiva before even beginning their real smicha training. By age 13 they have already spent more hours studying Gemara than you did in 5 years at HUC. Let's not pretend .

Enough of your stupid and self-rigteous attacks against Reform rabbis. It goes against everything that Judaism stands for and is promoting hatred and division among Jews who do not believe exactly as you do. In today's YNET, I read a disturbing account of the seriousness of the child abuse problems among the ultra-Orthodox. What form of Judaism are they practicing? You holier than thou hypocrites who attack othe Jews are like the Catholic leadership that covered up the pedophila of so many priests while refusing communion to those they declared to be lapsed catholics. Grow up and become a mensch.

He is niether wise nor honest claiming to speak for the majority while spreading false declarations. Shut up Yoffie - the last evangelican is hundred times better than you -for Israel.

I am saddened by rabbi Eric Yoffie position. It is so easy to just divide a land in the comfort and security of another country like the U.S.A. and to call one self a reformist when one those not have to face daily adversity. I praise the body of Christian that are willing to stand with the people of Israel and are willing to recognize that the land has decreed by G-D is not to be partioned to anyone as it belongs to the descendants of Abraham, Isaaic, and Jacob. I pray that one day rabbi Yoffie will find once again the truth in his heart not according to his intellect.

Bush to keep Supporting Hamas, they are Meshugene Jews SHAME ON THEM

I think its wrong that so many people on this board generalize Reform Jews as all Anti-Zionist. If you generalize in such ways as to distastefully put down a denomination of a religion many follow, then you should leave Judaism because you are shaming its tenants and teachings.

that title for Religious Jews and anyone who is Pro-Israel. This is not criticism of Jews who pray at Rerform temples twice a year, this is about the corrupt Reform leadership leading it's members astray... Certainly explains why most Jews who pray at their temples once or twice a year are intermarried. Also surely explains why secular Israelis have no interest in the Reform movement in Israel.

I"ll be happy to study with you Jewish history, Zionism, Mechilta, Philosophy or Midrash Rabbah. Not pretending at all. My study partners are charedim and we get along quite well.

History repeats itself, they had 19 kings in each after Salomon, and they will have 19 kings in Israel, before the final destruction.

Leave it to our self appointed "leaders" to push away friends and run to suck up to the enemy. They would kiss ass of any pali, farakhan, osama barak or condi.

As a member of a reform congregation, i really wish Yoffie would cut this out. Jews have enough problems without attacking the few gentiles who support us. The politically correct elites he is courting would sell us down the river in a minute.

Has Yoffie ever lived in Israel where the bombs were and are falling? Give away land so the muderers can move in and kill more Jews? How much land will Israel be forced to give away before they understand that land concessins will NOT bring about any kind of peace? Listen to your Torah and the Voice of Yahweh. He is the only ONE any of us can fully trust.

I am a Torah believing Christian and the Torah tells us that the land of Israel belongs to Yahweh and the Jewish people. It is NOT to be given away. Many of us stand with Israel and pray for her right to live in that land. This moron Yoffie is helping the Arab cause.