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(TIME) July 25, 2008 — Following Jewish tradition, Obama donned a yarmulke and went to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, where shortly before dawn on Thursday he stuffed his prayer into a crevass between the giant white stones, hewn over 2,000 years ago. It is considered taboo to read the prayers.
But after Obama and his entourage left the sacred site, an orthodox seminary student went to the Wall, fished out Obama’s personal note and delivered it to Maariv newspaper …
This image released by the Israeli newspaper Maariv
today and attributed to Barack Obama (AP photo)
“Lord, protect my family and me,” Obama wrote. “Forgive me my sins and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.”
The newspaper’s decision to publish Obama’s private words was “an outrage”, said Rabbbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, supervisor of the Western Wall. “It damages the personal, deep part of every one of us that we keep to ourselves,” the rabbi told Army Radio.
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Haifa, Israel — Leaders of the ultra-Orthodox rabbinate are calling on women to keep out of men’s eyesight whenever they travel by bus — by making their way to the back of the vehicle.
The rabbis act “knowing that men can be stimulated by women, ensuring that they don’t view them less as human beings and more as sexual beings by avoiding seeing them,” she claimed.
OUT OF SIGHT: Women keep to the back of a bus from Or Akiva to Bnei Brak.In addition to feminism, Varda Epstein is able to frame her support for segregation in decidedly non-Haredi terms of Zionism. For example, Pasternak argued that “observant women have been riding public transport alongside men for many years and still do outside Israel, making this a move to the extreme without basis in Jewish law.” Asked for a response, Epstein retorted that Jewish statehood in Israel creates new opportunities for the development of Jewish life.
“In America, there are all different religions and the aims [of the Jewish community] are different,” Epstein said. “Here, we are a Jewish state, and that means that we can push the boundaries of proper observance.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."This ia such a shame for some country tha that had Golda as their most fav woman at a time in their history.
Here’s my question – will the student who violated Senator Obama be punished?
If there is Peace then the money will stop flowing in.But hey, I am just a middle aged cynic.
We at least need to know his name. As someone else wrote on JJP, that student probably found it to see if he was praying to Allah.
This was such an invasion of privacy. I don’t need to know the man’s prayers. Can’t these dimwits leave ANYTHING between people and God? God doesn’t need that dolt’s help. That should be enough to kick him out of seminary.
On a whole ‘nother note: I’ve almost recovered from our convention. Wow…and wow. I NEVER thought I could be any prouder, but I am!!! :<)
following the outrage, including from Rabbis, the Yeshiva student who removed the Obama prayer (Kotel) note has apologized and reinserted it – deeply – between the ancient slabs of stone.
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Attorney Shahar Alon petitioned Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz to order police to open a criminal investigation against the editor of Ma’ariv and other correspondents from the newspaper following its publication of the note US presidential candidate Barack Obama placed between the stones of the Western Wall early Thursday morning, Israeli media reported.
In addition, Alon called for a consumer boycott of the newspaper until it publishes an apology to Obama.
“I declare a consumer protest against Ma’ariv starting today. I urge all MKs, ministers, judges, soldiers and other public sector officials to freeze or cancel their subscriptions to Ma’ariv in the coming month.”
In response, a Ma’ariv spokesman said that “Barack Obama’s note was approved for publication in the international media even before he put in the Kotel, a short time after he wrote it at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. In any case, since Obama is not a Jew, publishing the note does not constitute an infringement on his right to privacy.”
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."In any case, since Obama is not a Jew, publishing the note does not constitute an infringement on his right to privacy.”
Quite the statement in the history of mankind.
with such reasoning…thinking that non-Jews have no rights to privacy or property (while on or adjacent to Israel soil), in fact no rights at all! then it’s an easy jump –
It follows, since Palestinians are not Jews, we [Jews] can torture; starve; deny medical treatment; meet out collective punishment to the innocents; practice apartheid – build walls and separate roads; and steal their lands.
We’re the chosen ones. Non-Jews have no rights!
Jews should have no illusions why anti-semitism exists.
Jews are their own best enemies.
I’m deeply ashamed of my heritage, and for my ancestors and what their heritage has become..from the oppressed to the oppressors.
Now I understand why some Jews choose to convert to other religions. I apologize to my German professor.
the very definition of a a sacrilege. that it was an orthodox seminary student that took it upon himself to violate a sacred trust…not to mention the newspapers’ decision to publish it…speaks volumes to the mindset that appears to be in control in israel.
what are they afraid of…peace?
Peace is too expensive! Whatever would we do with all those weapons and bloated security/defense budgets? Actually ensure the water is clean and sewage free or something?
nothing is sacred; be it a prayer or private conversations – unconstrained the media falls all over in rush to publish, irrespective the lack of news value.
Voyeurs. Peeping Toms. Peeping Jills.
Microphone Picks Up Private Conversation Between Obama and British Leader on Need for Vacations and ‘Thinking’ Time
Maybe under an Israeli version of FISA, he just checked it to see if it was a terrorist note.
It CAN happen here.
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LONDON (Daily Mail) – Fresh from a meeting with Tony Blair this morning, Obama met Mr Brown in a two-hour visit at Number 10 Downing Street where the pair spoke on a range of issues. As well as the on-going situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, they also discussed climate change, international terrorism and global economics.
Mr Obama also pledged more troops for Afghanistan and outlined a 16-month timetable for the withdrawal of U.S troops in Iraq.
Arriving overnight from Paris, Mr Obama spent the night in at the Hyatt Regency Churchill hotel in central London with his 200-strong entourage ahead of his meeting with Mr Blair, who arrived at the hotel at 7.30 am.
Horse Guards Parade
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Arrived at 7:30 AM? Blair has become such a suck up that one wonders if he would not be better off in a job as the concierge of the hotel. The tips are good I understand.
Remember Blair is suppose to be working on the two-state solution.
Just what we need. Another devout Christian seeking to be an instrument of God’s will, as if God’s will through powerful men hasn’t wreaked enough destruction on this planet and it’s people.
with all due respect but your observation, as broadly framed, is an insult to all who embrace the influence of a higher energy force.
I wouldn’t say President Carter has wreaked havoc…by inference he’s included. Carter holds a deep belief in G-d’s will.
Well, how’s this, I’ll trade you your being insulted for my being oppressed by politicians and leaders who flaunt (not in this case) and use and abuse their religion to wreak destruction or to divide their people instead of uniting them. Now maybe I shouldn’t be so concerned about Obama because I’m not sure he is sincere in his belief as he’s made it plain his religion is just another tool to use to appeal to a certain dynamic of voter. Candidate and President Carter was not that kind of politician. Obama clearly is. He can have and worship whatever deity he chooses to but neither I or any American should be subjected to it.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Obama showed the same concern for my privacy and my rights when he enabled the government to spy and eavesdrop on me as so many here among his supporters show for his privacy in his prayers to his God.
supersoiling, I’m not in agreement with ALL of Obama’s views, policies or actions but get this –
our privacy rights – telephone calls, mail, bank account and garbage have been under constant violation looooong before Obama was born. Phone taps, bank account monitoring, reporting and mail openings were not invented under Bush.
Thanks for the history lesson, idredit, but I’m aware of these things. But really, pardon me as I was speaking specifically about Obama. I didn’t realize that two wrongs make a right.
So throw out the baby with the bathwater!
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(TIME) – When President Bush visited Israel in mid-May, senior Israeli leaders came away from talks confident that the U.S. would attack Iran if it refused to stop enriching uranium. Says one top Israeli military planner privy to Israel’s discussions with the U.S. on Iran, “We were under the illusion during Bush’s last visit that he was much more determined to order a military action.” No longer.
ABRUPT POLICY CHANGE TOWARDS IRAN
Last week’s U-turn, in which the Bush Administration sent a high-ranking State Department official to join the European delegation meeting Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, and the proposal to open a U.S. Interests Section to handle consular matters in Tehran – which would be the first U.S. diplomatic presence in Iran since its embassy was stormed in 1979 – has stunned Israeli officials. So dismayed were the Israelis by the latest U.S. moves, one military source told TIME, that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wrote to Bush complaining that Israel should have been forewarned about the White House’s abrupt change of course towards Iran.
A top former officer from Mossad, the Israeli equivalent of the CIA, said that Israel is mindful that an air strike on Iran would jolt the U.S. presidential election – probably rebounding badly on Republican contender Senator John McCain.
Iran expands nuclear fuel enrichment programme
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.".
(Haaretz) – Israel is trying to alert the American intelligence community to Iran’s nuclear ability and to have an impact on the report’s contents.
Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi visited Washington this week and met with Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and other top officials.
Obama pledges to coordinate Iran policy with Israel
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."