Liberal Conservative Jews walk out on Rep Michelle Bachman on Yom Kippur

Rabbi Michael Siegel

Jews attending synagogue prayer services during Yom Kippur staged a walkout after Michele Bachmann suddenly appeared.

A week after the Representative Michele Bachmann made the controversial appearance in a Chicago synagogue on Yom Kippur, the chief rabbi of the congregation, and the man who introduced Bachmann during the service, spoke about appearance.

Rabbi Michael Siegel of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Lake View North Broadway saluted the politician, a standard measure for public officials attending the services. However, it did not take not long for the attacks to pour in, not only against Bachmann, but against Rabbi Siegel, too.

According to Siegel, he knew the political appearance might ruffle some feathers, but he hoped that the focus of the synagogue will remain on Yom Kippur.

 "I think you have to be living under a rock not to know that Congresswoman Bachmann is in the news quite frequently, and is considered by many to be a polarizing figure in the country," Siegel said. "For those who are concerned about LGBT issues, abortion rights, things of that nature, she certainly is in the radar screens of many people.

"So when I heard that she was coming, I knew it would be a topic of discussion on the Yom Kippur, the focus of the day should not have been on Michele Bachmann though."

"To see some of the comments regarding the visit of Congresswoman Bachmann, it hurts more than others were hurt by the visit."
Siegel said he has been reaching out to community members in person to have a face to face conversation about why the politician was recognized. He is also hoping to send a correspondence to the congregation in the future to address the issue.