Anti-war activist speaks out at Beyt Tikkun

Cindy Sheehan reportedly cried about the loss of her son at Yom Kippur services at San Francisco's Congregation Beyt Tikkun on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

The grieving mother, whose son died in the war in Iraq, has become known nationally as an outspoken critic of the war. The Vallejo resident was invited to speak at the mid-afternoon break from services. She addressed "various social issues for which we in our country need to make atonement," according to an email sent out by Rabbi Michael Lerner, the congregation's spiritual leader as well as editor of Tikkun magazine.

Lerner denied access to a j. weekly reporter to cover Sheehan's talk because he said it would violate Yom Kippur.

Sheehan also addressed the allegations that she has stated that the reason America went to war was to protect Jewish interests, and more specifically, to protect Israel.

According to Lerner, she rebutted these allegations, stating that if the rest of the country followed the Jewish vote, there would be no war in Iraq.