By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO — I must confess that it was with regret that I learned that soon-to-be-former Mayor Bob Filner will resign. With his resignation I lose the butt of some of my recent jokes. (“Did you hear that the synagogue is cancelling its sexual harassment training program this year? In its place we are going to have the Bob Filner course in advanced lechery!”)
I also had to completely rewrite one of my High Holy Day sermons (just kidding-it was too easy a target!).
While I try not to speak publicly for or against political figures, I made an exception with Bob Filner. Filner’s alleged behavior crossed the line between the political and the moral in such a clear way that silence on my part would have been a dereliction of rabbinical duty.
I believe that those who have come forward to accuse Filner of sexual harassment are only the tip of the iceberg. As a political leader with power, he was obligated to protect and not abuse those subservient to him.
In parashat Ki Tavo we read, “Cursed be he who subverts the rights of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.” (Deut. 27:19) Our Etz Hayim commentary tells us why these three are highlighted: “Because they do not have the power to prosecute or defend their rights…” (P. 1147)
According to the Torah, society and its leaders have an obligation to protect the weak and powerless. We are further forbidden from abusing or taking advantage of them. This is exactly what Bob Filner stands accused of: taking advantage of those weaker than he. For these heinous acts he has been soundly condemned not only by his victims, but even his former supporters. He should have resigned long ago.
On Wednesday I signed a Filner recall petition. I said to the volunteer staffing the table that I hoped that this sad affair would end before enough votes were gathered.
Happily it has. We can now look forward to turning San Diego from being the laughingstock of the nation to once again America’s Finest City.
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Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue. He may be contacted via leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com