Rabbi Asher Lopatin of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel's rabbi until Emanuel moved to Washington, is preparing to move to Israel. He's trying to organize a large group of fellow American Jews to join him and together they'll set up a new settlement north of Beer Sheva. He seems to think he can bring hundred of families, perhaps as many as a few thousand people.
He also seems to be in favor of a one-state solution to the conflict, which puts him far to the left of 99.8% of the Israelis. Frankly, I don't care. If the man can bring a thousand Jews from America to Israel, he's welcome. If once he's here he wants to vote for some fringe party that can't elect anyone for lack of supporters, who cares?
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Interesting that you would suggest he's on the left for being in favour of a one state solution. From what I can tell, it's either the far right or far left that seems to push for a one state solution. On the left, because they advocate the elimination of the idea of nationalisty and would ultimatley like to see all borders fall, everywhere, and on the right, because they would like to see the territories annexed once and for all and the non Jewish residents made to be second class citizens, expelled, or (heaven forbid) worse.
Rabbi Lopatin is clearly of the first group.
Good luck. So far, ultra-leftists have come and gone to the Northern Negev without making a dent.
I'll even go as far as predict that before long, the congregants will start heading 15 mn north to the Hillula of Baba Sale.
The population - Muslims and Jews cohabit peacefully and extremism - right or left - is frowned upon.
He was my rabbi for six years. I've never heard him express these political views before. The atmosphere of the synagogue was typical Modern Orthodox Zionist. I remember there was a huge photography display of Bnei Akiva kids waving flags on Jerusalem day at the entrance. In any case, I think he is more into building community and not very activist or outspoken about his views. There are dozens of alumni of the synagogue already living in Israel by the way.
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