Louisville, KY – Reform Rabbi Fires Up Crowd Ali’s Memorial Service

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    Rabbi Michael Lerner speaks during Muhammad Ali's memorial service, Friday, June 10, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)Louisville, KY – Two rabbis have spoken at the interfaith memorial service for Muhammad Ali, with one of them receiving four standing ovations and leaving the crowd chanting, “Ali! Ali! Ali!”

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    Rabbi Michael Lerner gave a fiery political speech in which he declared that American Jews stand in solidarity with Muslims, saying they will not tolerate politicians demonizing an entire religion by the actions of a few.

    He says Ali stood up to an immoral war and risked fame and fortune to speak truth to power.

    “How do we honor Muhammad Ali?” he asked. “And the answer the way to honor Muhammad Ali is to be Muhammad Ali today.”

    He listed progressive causes: ending war, leveling the gap between the rich and the poor, eliminating racism in the criminal justice system.

    “The way we get security is for the United States to become known as the most generous and caring country in the world, not the most powerful,” he said.

    He referred to the next president as “she.” The crowd went wild and the camera found former President Bill Clinton, husband of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in the audience, smiling and clapping.

    Later, Rabbi Joe Rapport of Louisville said Ali was “the heart of our city … and that heart beats still.”
    Flowers pile up on the hearse carrying Muhammad Ali spectators watch his funeral procession enter Cave Hill Cemetery, Friday, June 10, 2016, in Louisville, Ky.   (AP Photo/John Minchillo)


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    13 Comments
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    ralph1527
    ralph1527
    7 years ago

    And I thought I heard it all !!!!

    YumiYarmush
    YumiYarmush
    7 years ago

    I thought muammar gaddafi was dead !! And now he shows up in Louisville ky wearing a tallis ???

    7 years ago

    What a JOKE. I thought that I had seen it all when I saw Loring Frank in FL a so called rabbi. But this clown really takes the cake. American Jews stand in solidarity with muslims, what a load of garbage. 4 Jewish neshamas snuffed out by peace loving muslims in Tel Aviv, for no other reason than they were Yidden. Not because they were black, or white or goyim but because they were JEWS! No Mr. Michael Lerner we do not stand in solidarity with muslims & I call you Mr.& I’m being generous at that, for you are certainly no rabbi. Perhaps you should be in charge of the chevra kaddisha because it is people like you who are killing off American Jewery. Please tell it to the families of those murdered Jews in TelAviv that you stand in solidarity with muslims. As we enter in to Shabbos Kodesh & Chag Matan Torah may we all keep in mind all those who perished al Kiddish Hashem and may this apikorus Michael Lerner feel the wrath of HaKodesh B”H

    begtodiffer
    begtodiffer
    7 years ago

    This so called rabbi looks like a hybrid of William Kunstler and Mohammed Khaddafi. He is obviously not too learned (despite his name) as he could only talk ad hominem politics. Ali made many antisemitic, antiwhite statements and denigrated his black opponents (granted this was primarily hype but this was not for any grand ideals). If the U.S and Israel would not have the military power they presently have the world would be controlled by islamonazis. These fake progressives are always willing to give away other peoples money and are looking for power grabs.

    7 years ago

    This man was a boxer. Just a regular human being. Why is he being deified? Why should we be Mohammed Ali? This is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve heard in a long time. Comic relief from all the horrible things going on.

    schmaltzy
    schmaltzy
    7 years ago

    Take note, Bill Clinton clapped politely for his Palestinian remarks. Enjoy the Clintons you Hillary voters.

    ralph1527
    ralph1527
    7 years ago

    #2 ,& #4 … I couldn’t stop laughing .Very good.

    7 years ago

    Unfortunately, although he had been warned before the speech, this individual, instead of speaking in a dignified manner to remember Muhammed Ali, used his time at the podium as a political speech, to attack EY, for its occupation of the West Bank. The above rhetoric was not included in this article. It was as if he was an apologist for American Jews. This individual (I won’t mention his name), is a provocateur. Also, he stated that “he was speaking as a representative of American Jews”. Please, he was not speaking on my behalf, with his political positions. Also, I couldn’t help but notice that the so-called Minister Farrakkhan was also present at the service. Fortunately, he was not given an opportunity to speak, as he would have been worse than the speaker in this article. Incidentally, I was glad to see that one of the speakers gave credit to Howard Cosell. In spite of receiving a lot of anti-semitic hate mail and threats on the telephone, Cosell supported Ali during his legal battles.

    yaakov doe
    Member
    yaakov doe
    7 years ago

    Learner meant that to be like Ali we should all “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” as Ali said and refuse to fight in Vietnam. Maybe we should all have 2 Rolls Royces as Ali did.

    Shimon
    Shimon
    7 years ago

    As embarrassing and cringe-worthy as I’v ever seen. And he represents Jews?

    bennyt
    bennyt
    7 years ago

    Ali was nothing but a rabid and outspoken anti-Semite turned Muslim. Just Google his past rants about Jews and Israel.