Sometimes it is one decision at one moment that determines the game, and one decision at one moment that shapes history. The presidents of major Jewish organizations had that moment to show the united strength of Jews and all Americans against Ahmadinejad, the man who proudly declares his plan to destroy Israel, assume dominion over the Middle East and rid democratic (small d) nations of the freedoms we cherish. With the world watching New York, as the denier of one Holocaust and planner of another, steps into the public arena, there should be a wall of Americans standing together in opposition.

There are very few Jews and a multitude of enemies, so every leader and every citizen who stands with Israel should be embraced. Yet in a confounding decision, the rally organizers disinvited all politicians, including Sarah Palin.  Don't invite fewer! Invite more! Invite the entire Congress and every governor and major and village committeeman in the nation. Without the backing of American political leaders, the rally loses its power and with the "disinvitation," it loses its focus.

The rally leaders, who should be wiser, succumbed to cowardly and petty politics, thus squandering the opportunity to speak up for Israel, the nation that represents the Jewish hope for almost 2,000 years. Because Hillary Clinton felt slighted that she would not be the "star" among the speakers, these leaders placed the concerns of one self-serving American politician above the lives of almost six million Jews who are marked for death in Ahmadinejad's diabolical plans.

The "leaders" weakened the numbers and the moral cause of the protesters who will gather to oppose the threat of a nuclear Iran. They also humiliated a friend of Israel, who may be a future Vice President or even President. In this deadly game against a cruel adversary, the Presidents of Jewish Organizations handed Ahmadinejad a victory and lost a battle for humanity.

Update from Ethel C. Fenig

While Iranian President Ahmadinejad continues preaching hate,  promising destruction and death to Israel, to Jews, to America prior to his command -- and repeat -- performance to open another destructive year at the UN's General Assembly,  petty politicians and others with outsized egos to go with their minimal accomplishments promise to utilize a rally  opposing Ahmadinejad's hate for their own causes.  And many of these causes are in line with Ahmadinejad's.

Christian groups are planning to honor the Iranian leader at a dinner that will feature the new president of the General Assembly, Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, as a speaker. 

preparing its own protest on Tuesday in front of the United Nations, where it will demand the arrest of President Bush on charges of "war crimes."