Back in the 1990s, the Rev. Louis Farrakhan seemed to make headlines left and right for choice comments such as Judaism being a “gutter religion,” his praise of Adolf Hitler as a great leader and his chastising Pope John Paul II for wearing a dress.

I have some interesting memories from attending one of his speeches in Atlanta back in 1996 in the Georgia Dome. The Nation of Islam gave me a “guide” to make sure I’d stay in the press box. I got up and walked around anyway – to the displeasure of my friend. I felt the need to stretch out since Farrakhan is notoriously late for talks (this time 2.5 hours!). My guard insisted on walking close to me as I spoke with some of the 30,000 or so African Americans at the event. Farrakhan, by the way, spoke for three hours. No joke. I left after 90 minutes as it had already been four hours plus for me in the building. (By the way, I bought a bean pie for $5 since it was 100 percent vegetarian. I told my black nationalist pal that it tasted like Bubby’s sweet tzimmes pie. He didn’t seem to catch the reference.)

The black nationalist has not been heard from of late, particularly since a health scare a few years ago in which he was said to be near death. But it appears that his hatred has taken no rest.

Indeed, he used his annual address on Sunday, Feb. 28, to tell followers in Chicago that “Zionist” control Congress and the “white right” was attempting to assassinate President Barack Obama, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which has long monitored the hate mongers rhetoric.

This time he spoke for 3 and ½ hours. His speech included choice nuggets such as “the Zionists want Barack to bomb Iran” and “And guess who made Goldman Sachs rich? Guess who made Lehman brothers rich? Did you know Lehman Brothers was a slave baron in Alabama? … Goldman Sachs was backed by Rothschild, that’s Rockefeller and the boys.” (Note to Farrakhan: Rockefeller “and the boys” don’t know from kippered herring.)

Why do such clearly delusional rants matter? Would it not be better to ignore them and not give the Rev. Farrakhan and his ilk publicity? The problem is that often tens of thousands of people gather to hear his annual talk, which these days are easier to hear than ever thanks to the World Wide Web.

Rev. Farrakhkan—who for all of his radicalism ironically on many social issues has a lot in common with hardcore conservatives, preaches anti-government self-reliance, premarital abstinence, and drug/alcohol independence—still remains a powerful symbol for some in the African-American community. While one should not run in fear, he does need to be monitored. Most importantly, the hard work of Jewish community relations in nurturing the always fragile black-Jewish dialogue needs to go on so that responsible leadership in both communities can work together on the issues that truly do matter.

That’s my view: But do you think we only help Farrakhan by continuing to write about him? Please respond here: http://blogs.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/neilrubin_comments/8952/

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Hi Neil;
Should Rev. Farrakahn’s remarks, lies, accusations, and insinuations continue to be reported? I think most definitely, on many levels, for many reasons, ranging from “Know Thine Enemy”, to being able debunk and disprove the outrageous statements, and to be able to address the issues (some actually legitimate) that he uses to inflame and divide his target audience. I think a common mistake that a lot of people make is taking the term ‘African-American Community’ at face value, and thinking that there are not different sets of beliefs, desires, values and misconceptions with in said ‘community’. Being often at ‘street level’as I am; on the bus and in the ‘hood, as well as mixing and associating with a more assimilated segment of black society, I see and hear radically different and disparate views and opinions of Jews and Judiasm, and our stereotypes, (and whites, and educated vs. “ghetto” blacks, and hispanics etc.), that at times are in parallel with Neo-nazis and white supremacists, hard as that my be to believe.

Unless we know the transmitters and receivers of Rev Farrakhan’s at times vitriolic hatred, how can we counter and properly inform, and then invite in and listen to those whom the dialogue is most intended and needed to reach.
Thanks and keep watching and reporting.