Obama talks Islamic State, Syria with US rabbis

The Middle East led the agenda Monday afternoon when US President Barack Obama held his annual pre-Rosh Hashanah conference call with close to one thousand rabbis from America’s Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Reconstructionist communities, reported The Times of Israel.

Six weeks before what is expected to be a critical midterm election, domestic policy seemed to pale in comparison to pressing issues in the Middle East, including Iraq, Syria and the Islamic State.

The pre-Rosh Hashanah conference call is seen by administration officials as an opportunity to send critical messages out to rabbis days before they direct sermons to packed synagogues during the High Holy Days.

“I wouldn’t say that it is going to impact the message, but it gives a certain context to it,” Rabbi William Gershon, president of the Rabbinical Assembly said following the call. “It is gratifying to hear the kind of thinking, intellect, and support that the president put forward and that gives me hope.”