On November 1, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach wrote another screed bashing Roger Waters (and praising American Express) for the former Pink Floyd singer for taking the stand of the BDS movement. It is only the latest hasbara garbage that this “rabbi” has lobbed in the past few years...among with the latest slander accusing Mr. Waters of being an anti-Semite with little credible evidence. Yet the good rabbi seems to have major blind spots in his own moral compass.
For example...Rabbi Boteach has accused Susan Rice of complicity in the Rwandan Genocides after criticizing Ben Netanyahu (and was forced to apologize lukewarmly after getting called on it) in March of last year. Strangely, he failed to recognize Israel’s torture and use of Palestinian children as human shields. Or Israel’s land grab of the West Bank, among other actions. Such actions elicited widespread criticism and condemnation by numerous organizations, yet not a peep from our aforementioned holier-than-thou rabbi. For someone who claims to want to "build a bridge" with Christians, he’s rather silent about the Ultra-Orthodox Jews who shun the draft while their brother Israelis die in their place.
Is Roger Waters a perfect human being? Of course not. Yet he has chosen to take a moral stand...even if it costs him money and friends. Artists such as Waters (particularly with high profiles) and who are relevant (unlike this wannabe rabbi, who hung out with Micheal Jackson...you be the judge) came of age when challenging the status quo, particularly when it is wrong, was a duty. His character has been in the public eye for decades, good and bad. I’d say the good far outweighs the bad, and I’d hazard that this letter sums it up and speaks for itself. Considering his father, Eric Fletcher Waters, died fighting the ultimate anti-Semites, I’d say the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree.
In closing...it should be noted and emphasized that criticism of Israel (especially when it’s warranted) shouldn’t be confused with anti-Semitism. Rabbi Boteach should be careful about lobbing accusations...particularly when his own character is wanting.