340 Rabbis from all denominations of Judaism, from every corner or the United States, sent a letter to all Members of Congress urging that they support the agreement between the international community and Iran on the Iranian nuclear program.

This action, taken in the face of a multi-million dollar ad campaign by AIPAC and opponents of the Nuclear Arms Agreement, is a profile in courage and international leadership and deserves to be applauded by Jews and non-Jews alike.

As a Jew by choice, who converted to Judaism 35 years ago, I am proud to turn over my blog “Radical Correspondence” to reprint the letter in its entirety, along with the locations of the congregations of all 340 Rabbis. A press release accompanying the letter appears first:

“We commend the U.S. and the other negotiating teams for their dedication to reaching an agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.  This deal is good for the United States and our allies in the region, and is the best arrangement possible given current international realities,” declared Rabbi Steven Bob of Glen Ellyn, IL.

Rabbi Rachel Mikva of Chicago added, “A wide array of views about the nuclear deal exist among American Jews, as demonstrated in the recent Jewish Journal poll that showed 49% approving of the agreement (31% opposed) and 53% wanting Congress to approve it (35% opposed). However many Jewish Federations, AIPAC and other leading national Jewish organizations are campaigning in opposition, which is being interpreted to mean that American Jews want to see the deal scrapped.  This is a false and dangerous message that we as rabbis hope to counter with our letter to Congress.”

“If Congress ultimately rejects the deal, the consequences for the United States, Israel, the Jewish community and the world will be significant.  We fear that the outcome will be the collapse of the international sanctions regime, an Iranian race for nuclear weapons and an associated arms race in the Middle East and isolation of Israel and the United States from international partners,” said Rabbi Samuel Gordon of Wilmette, IL.

Rabbi Burton Visotzky of New York City concluded, “While we believe the deal is a positive approach to the Iranian nuclear issue, we remain gravely concerned about Iranian support for terrorist groups and other destabilizing actions in the region.  These threats must be countered aggressively by the international community.  The misguided campaign to scuttle the nuclear deal harms the ability of Israel to join with the United States and regional allies to create a powerful coalition against Iran.”

The letter to Congress with signatures is included below. 

August 17, 2015

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives

Members of the U.S. Senate

As rabbis, we support the agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, Russia and Iran– The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We encourage the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to endorse this agreement.

The Obama administration has successfully brought together the major international powers to confront Iran over its nuclear ambitions. The broad international sanctions moved Iran to enter this historic agreement. Should this agreement be rejected by the U.S. Congress, those sanctions will end. There will be no new negotiations, as the other member countries are fully in favor of this agreement and have no desire to re-negotiate.

We understand that while this agreement blocks Iran’s path to a nuclear bomb, we recognize it does not deal with Iran’s support for terror, but that was never the purpose of these talks. Now that a nuclear agreement has been reached, we call on the United States and its international partners to strengthen their resolve and dedicate additional resources to confront Iranian threats to Israel and other states.

Most especially, we are deeply concerned with the impression that the leadership of the American Jewish community is united in opposition to the agreement. We, along with many other Jewish leaders, fully support this historic nuclear accord.

Fires in the hills, Black charred landscapes, moonscapes.
California burns…#climatechange #jerusalemfire pic.twitter.com/Y8tK4RRMbE

— Steve Villano (@Stevevillano11) August 11, 2015

My 21-Tweet Tornado as a running commentary on the funniest reality show of the season:   The Fox News Presidential Mr. Univworse Pagaent, produced, directed and manipulated by Roger Ailes (former Phil Donohue producer, former New Nixon creator, former Willie Horton creator, and eternal hate-monger).   Ailes masterful split-screen of Kasich/Rubio–which Fox lingered on a while–telegraphed his dream ticket.  Then only thing missing was a swimsuit competition.  Just picture, Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump in Speedos…

Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 1h1 hour ago
And the winner of the #FOXNEWSDEBATE: #RogerAiles! The Producer of the “New Nixon”, Willie Horton, and Fox News is pushing #Kasich/#Rubio

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 14h14 hours ago
The #GOPDebate candidates make their closing statements on the #FOXNEWSDEBATE : Think about #GOD, YEAH!
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 14h14 hours ago
If there is a #God, she is changing the channel from the #FOXNEWSDEBATE and tuning in #JonStewart on #comedycentral. She is so F’en pissed
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
#FOXNEWSDEBATE : Are they all coming out in bikinis yet?
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
#markzuckerberg : Tell us again WHY did #Facebook co-sponsor this carnival called the #FOXNEWSDEBATE ??

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
Steve Villano retweeted Matt Taibbi
#MikeHuckabee : Hucksterbee on the purpose of the military: Steve Villano added,
Matt Taibbi @mtaibbi
Kill people and break things! Be all you can be!

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
Steve Villano retweeted CNN
Can anyone blame #Trump for not pledging to endorse any of the 9 stooges on stage next to him? #FOXNEWSDEBATE . Steve Villano added,

CNN @CNN
.@realDonaldTrump refuses to take pledge at #GOPDebate: http://cnn.it/1hmtxRx
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
At #FOXNEWSDEBATE the #GOP candidates opine on social issues:
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
#scottwalker needs to have a yellow ribbon tied tightly around his neck to remind him that the #IranNuclearDeal is about peace. #LEARN.

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
“This country owes $19 Trillion, and they need someone like me to straighten it out,” #DonaldTrump talking about his bankruptcy acumen. LOL.

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
#DonaldTrump hilariously calls bankers “total killers.” Do you hear that #JamieDimon?

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
Food being served to participants at #FOXNEWSDEBATE.
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
Spllit-screen of #Christie /#Huckabee has broken my big screen.

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
#BenCarson & #RandPaul remind me of know-it-all MDs who think they are experts on everything outside their area of medical speciality.

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
#markzuckerberg : what were you smoking when you agreed to have #Facebook co-sponsor the #FOXNEWSDEBATE?
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Steve Villano retweeted
Frank Rich ‏@frankrichny 15h15 hours ago
Jeb Bush is not happening, at any level.
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
#JebBush, as former Gov. of #Florida bragging about educational excellence is like #ISIS talking about #compassion. #Florida? #Education?
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 15h15 hours ago
#DonaldTrump detonates the #FOXNEWSDEBATE by exposing the pay-to-play system of American politics: “I give, then I get.” #campaignfinance

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 16h16 hours ago
YES! #DonaldTrump reiterated his opposition to the #WarinIraq, and his historic support for a #SinglePayer system on #FOXNEWSDEBATE! Perfect
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 16h16 hours ago
#FOXNEWSDEBATE : Did #ScottWalker just volunteer to personally fight in the sands of Saudi Arabia?
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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 16h16 hours ago
#FOXNEWSDEBATE : Why is #Facebook a co-sponsor of this carnival?

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 16h16 hours ago
#FOXNEWSDEBATE : The best #GOP ticket that won’t emerge from the #FoxNews Follies is a #Kasich/#Rubio ticket. Split screen shot is #Ailes

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Steve Villano ‏@Stevevillano11 16h16 hours ago
#FOXNEWSDEBATE : The opening is like a Miss Universe competition, so AWKWARD, for all but #Trump. I wanna see #Christie in a swimsuit. ugh

Ignore the toxic gasbag Donald Trump.

Be outraged over his intentionally inflammatory comments about Mexican immigrants and illegal immigration, but don’t let them confuse you with the facts in the case of the terrible gun murder of 32-year old Kathryn Steinle on San Francisco’s Pier 14, who crumpled to her death in her father’s arms.

I walked or rode my bike on Pier 14 nearly every single day for four years. I lived across the Street from the Pier, when I lived in the Gateway Apartments, facing the Embarcadero. In all that time, morning, noon and night, I never saw one SFPD beat cop walking on the Pier. But, I did encounter many menacing, mentally ill characters who could have easily mistaken me for a sea lion and decided I was a threat to them. Armed, they would have been dangerous.

In the four years I lived facing Pier 14, San Francisco’s mentally ill and substance-abusing homeless population skyrocketed and became increasingly aggressive.  Sue Bierman Park and Ferry Park off  Drumm and Washington Streets became urban encampments of cardboard boxes, makeshift tents, and shopping carts. When a children’s playground opened in Sue Bierman Park, I was relentless with local police and told them that if one of my granddaughters was threatened with violence, I would not be able to control my response. The SFPD response was swift and constant, and, for the first time, “community policing” came to SF.

I called the local SF precinct several times a week to report violations of the 8 pm Parks’ curfew, incessant screaming coming from folks in need of medication, and drug deals being done in the middle of the day. Woefully understaffed for a City of nearly 800,000 from the days of Mayor Gavin Newsom, the SFPD could only respond to emergency calls. Lack of cooperation from the DA’s office—under both Kamala Harris and George Gascon– left SF’s cops to play a game of catch and release, arresting repeat offenders 60 or 70 times, only to have the DA’s office release them, claiming that they didn’t have the resources to prosecute.

Early one evening, on my way to make the #1 Muni bus at the corner of Clay and Drumm Streets, I spotted at least a half-dozen disheveled looking men, hunched over a park bench, igniting something in bottles. Using my cellphone on the spot, I called the SFPD emergency line and strongly urged them to send over some police since “Molotov Cocktails” were being lighted.

“You’re calling us because they’re having cocktails in the park?” the dispatcher said.

“Not cocktails,” I shouted into my cellphone in my best Brooklyn accent. “Molotov Cocktails! Bombs.”

As it turned out, the men were lighting their make-shift Meth pipes, a common occurrence in Ferry Park, especially after the SF DA’s office eliminated San Francisco’s Narcotics Division.

“There’s just no support for law enforcement or public safety in this City,” a local police officer told me when he came to answer one of my calls.

“I’m further to the left than most of the people in this City,” I told the SFPD member. “But without public safety, there is no City. There is no civilized society.”

During that same four-year period of 2010-2014, property crimes in SF increased nearly 30 percent, and my bicycle—stolen from my third floor terrace—was one of those statistics. That theft was a tiny, yet tell-tale sign of a troubled town, as was the growing graffiti and grime on the inside of Muni buses.  Nobody cared. Whatever.

There’s lots of culpability to go around for Kathryn Steinle’s death, and it goes far beyond Mayor Ed Lee’s fingerpointing at the shameful actions of Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, who finally proved himself unfit for public office. The Sheriff’s inexcusable negligence of duty, and the refusal of two successive Mayors and DAs to forcefully face San Francisco’s growing crime rate and deteriorating quality of life issues, have resulted in the tragic death of a young, vibrant daughter of all of us.

After a lifetime of living in New York, I learned to ignore the toxic, tasteless, temper tantrums of spoiled little rich boys, like Donald Trump.   Neither their politics, their pouting, nor their wealth, matters.

What does matter is the health and safety of everyday people who define a city by the life, work, vitality, energy and joy they bring to it. What SF doesn’t get, is that a “world-class” City can be both safe and respect individual freedoms, the foremost of which is life.

San Francisco needs to decide whether Kathryn Steinle’s life mattered.