Rabbi Michael Lerner delivered a powerful eulogy for boxing
legend Muhammad Ali at his funeral on Friday.
He told the thousands who had gathered at Ali’s funeral in Kentucky that American Jews will not “tolerate” anyone “putting down Muslims and blaming Muslims for a few people”.
In the highly political speech, Rabbi Lerner said that he was speaking as a representative of American Jews.
"If Muhammad Ali were here today, I'm sure his message would be this: Don't waste your time on this planet fighting the small battles - put your life energies and money into fundamental systemic transformation," said Lerner, who is also a political activist and editor of the Jewish magazine Tikkun.
Rabbi Lerner also showed love to Palestinians by calling on the US government to stand up against the oppression Palestinians face from the Israel government.
Lerner said that what made Ali a hero was his courage to stand up to the "immoral" war in Vietnam by proclaiming himself a conscientious objector. Lerner was an anti-war activist along with Ali, who refused to serve in the US army and was immediately stripped of his heavyweight title in 1967.
"Knowing he would lose his title, knowing he would face the racism of American society that would be heaped upon him for saying no to the crazy war in Vietnam," Ali said no to the war, Lerner said.
"He spoke truth to power - we must speak truth to power," he added.
He said: “We today stand in solidarity with the Islamic community, in this country and all around the world.”
He added: “We will not tolerate politicians, or anyone else, putting down Muslims and blaming Muslims for a few people."
He told the thousands who had gathered at Ali’s funeral in Kentucky that American Jews will not “tolerate” anyone “putting down Muslims and blaming Muslims for a few people”.
In the highly political speech, Rabbi Lerner said that he was speaking as a representative of American Jews.
"If Muhammad Ali were here today, I'm sure his message would be this: Don't waste your time on this planet fighting the small battles - put your life energies and money into fundamental systemic transformation," said Lerner, who is also a political activist and editor of the Jewish magazine Tikkun.
Rabbi Lerner also showed love to Palestinians by calling on the US government to stand up against the oppression Palestinians face from the Israel government.
Lerner said that what made Ali a hero was his courage to stand up to the "immoral" war in Vietnam by proclaiming himself a conscientious objector. Lerner was an anti-war activist along with Ali, who refused to serve in the US army and was immediately stripped of his heavyweight title in 1967.
"Knowing he would lose his title, knowing he would face the racism of American society that would be heaped upon him for saying no to the crazy war in Vietnam," Ali said no to the war, Lerner said.
"He spoke truth to power - we must speak truth to power," he added.
He said: “We today stand in solidarity with the Islamic community, in this country and all around the world.”
He added: “We will not tolerate politicians, or anyone else, putting down Muslims and blaming Muslims for a few people."
“We know what it’s like to be demeaned."
“We know what it’s like to have a few people who act against the highest visions of our traditions to then be identified as the value of the entire tradition.”
His comments received a standing ovation, with loud cheers from those in attendance.
The rabbi also took aim at “racist police and racist judges”, who he said imprison African Americans for offences that “white people get away with all the time”.
He then had a message for the next US president, saying that “she” should seek a constitutional amendment on how election campaigns are funded.
His suggestion that the next president will be female - and therefore Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton - received rapturous applause and laughter from the crowd.
Former US president, Bill Clinton, was caught on camera smiling as he spoke to actor Billy Crystal during the ceremony.
To honor Ali, he said:
"Tell the leaders of Turkey to stop bombing and murdering their Kurd minority. Tell the US to stop sending military supplies to Saudi Arabia, which is the sponsor of some of the most hate-filled teachings in the Islamic world and is one of the most repressive regimes on the face of the earth."
He ended by affirming his "commitment to the well-being of all Muslims on this planet, as well as all people of all faiths and secular humanists."
Said Lerner:
"We Jews, as well as our non-Jewish allies in all religions and secular humanists, wish to pay honor to the Muslims of the world as they continue today the fast of Ramadan, and join with them in mourning the loss and celebrating the life of Muhammad Ali, a great fighter for justice and peace."
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