John McCain's Brother, Israel and the Jews
Tuesday August 26, 2008
Suddenly, a speech by John McCain's brother, Joe, is making the rounds on the internet. I have received it over twenty times in as many hours. And although it's not new (it was given as an address to a synagogue...
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About Windows & Doors
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula. More About Brad
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I agree with your assessment, but would disturbs me more is the cavalier attitude Joe is demonstrating given the weight of his words.
It's easy enough to acknowledge that Israel will never go gently into that good night, whether it be a "Samson Manuever" or something else, but I don't think we can ever make light of the horror that actually entails, on both sides.
I always find these eschatological overtones a bit disturbing.
As to your assessment regarding identiy beyond survival, I'm right there with you. It brings to mind Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" and his repetition of Nietzsche in saying "A man who has sufficient "why" can endure almost any 'how.'" Not granting a "posthumous victory for Hitler" cannot be sufficient. That being said, at this point it is part of our identity in a way that probably won't be shaken for some time.
Edward Kaplan, in his book about Rabbi Heschel, put it well... "The very existence of a Jew is a spiritual act. The fact that we have survived, despite the suffering and persecution, is itself a sanctification of God's name." To be Jewish was to perceive the spiritual dimension, "to feel the soul in everything." Its essence was the qualityu of "Sabbathness," spiritual refinement, which led to a universal morality..."
Perhaps that is a better goal, in all the ways people seek it out, especially Jews... Sabbathness, to feel the soul in everything, and acknowledge our responsibility not only to our people and our nation but to creation itself.
I don't mean to sound disrespectful. I am asking a sincere question. If Israel were to disappear, how would the world be worse off? For that matter, if all the sons of Abraham/Ibrahim were to disappear, would the world be worse off to continue without them?
Given the many nobel prize winners from their flock, and their prominence in medicine and technology as mentioned in this article, the answer to your question Rob would have to be a resounding 'yes'. Even without these attributes, however, humanity does need to come into the fray at somepoint. After all, we can ask the same questions about any ethnic group, including Italians, Germans, Irish, Tutsies, etc. Every ethnic group has some contributions, sometimes artistic and cultural, while other times technical. Since we have endangered species list, we should also be cognisant when some other ethnic groug (Armenians in WWI, for example) are being wiped out.
The nation of Israel itself has religious implications as Israelis and dispensational Christians believe the land was given them by God while many Muslims view them as infidels needing to be extricated from a holy place.
I always find it interesting that in today's world we criticize the attacked instead of the attacker. Palestinians and arabs have a murderous rage and demonstrated history of bloodthirsty murder against Jews and yet when someone dares to stand and say that the jews will not take it forever, we point our finger at the speaker and accuse him of hateful rhetoric.
What I received from this article is that God is watching over Israel. That no matter who or what comes against this nation,they will be crushed. It never ceases to amaze me that everyone wants to make something so simple into some kind of conspiracy. God created Israel, he chose the Jewish people to be the apple of his eyes. So why should it surprise any one that he would state that Israel will withstand? So rejoice and feel comfort that although nations will rise up against Isreal, God is there to watch over it. This nation will never fall again. Blessings to all!
O come on nothing is skewered by the remark. You are being way too
critical like a critic of plays would be.
The man was stating something he believed in and yes there is the Jews that is us regardless of how you feel.
Also it has come to me that we ARE perhaps the chosen people after all-chosen by G-d to suffer over and over again so that what happens to us teaches mankind some day that it is best to be good instead of hate you fellow humans. That however has nothing to do with Joe and his talk.
The man was speaking at a shul for whatever reason and unless it was not because he is qualified in some way but on behalf of his political brother John he was going to tell the people what they wanted to here.
You take things so seriously,take a deep breath.
There are so many more important things to write about!
Isn't it pretty much an historical fact that in general, throughout history, Muslims have treated Jews better than Christians have. I don't recall any Shoah taking place in the Islamic world. Yes, yes, yes, things are not that way today--but sometimes an historical rather than an hysterical approach is helpful. Besides, don't most (I'm not sure what that term means, even as I use it) Christians envision a Holocaust greater than the recent one during the "End Times." So for now, as a Jew, albeit a fairly mariginal one," I don't think I would trust either religion.
I agree with he's just saying what the Jewish people want to hear. What I find disturbing as we talk about how Jews have been treated through hundreds of years when I hear a Jewish person say I couldn't bring myself to vote for a black person so I'll vote for McCain. He has not a thought in the world of taking care of me and my family. He's a war monger and his brother is just stoking the fire.
Jennie
As Henry Kissinger said "Any people that have been persecuted for 4,000 years must be doing something wrong". And Israel is NOT a democracy. If you are not a Jew you are a second-class citizen. There is no separation of Church and state. Even the electric elevators can't run on the Sabbath. The first Prime Minister, Ben Gurion, was a Marxist. Furthermore they have not conformed to the Balfour Agreement wherein the Jews were not to displace the Palestinians. And the vast maajority of citizens, in the order of 80%, are agnostic. What about the Covenant between Abraham and G-d? This Israel thing has gotten out of hand.
I believe you are taking this speech way too personal. I am Jewish and do not find it offensive. Sometimes people generalize, when they are attempting to reach out. Don't be so sensitive! Get over it.
It is time to understand we Jews are not a race; the race is human and like it or not christians muslims jews hindus and eveyone else is just as human. G-d did not chose the Jews; the people who chose that mono theistic G-d concept became the Jews
I look at these comments as a non-Jewish perspective (which is fine). We as Jews know what we are fighting "for".....not just to survive and exist.
I don't find the article offensive in any way, politically correct, yes, but there is nothing wrong with that, especially in an election year. What is offensive are the remarks made by Ms. Fairview, it is easy to take pot shots at any country and their politics, but go and live in their shoes for a year, and come back and tell me whether you still agree with your comments.
I feel that if you look at the past, that Israel has always been saved from erradication by G-d and His love for His people. Israel was not saved by what the people of Israel did by themselves, but by G-d's intervention. When Israel turns to G-d and asks for His power to be seen by the world, Israel is saved. That is probably the one thing that John McCain's brother fails to understand about the past. G-d will NOT allow Israel to be slain and taken off the face of the earth. No one, past or present, will erradicate the true followers of G-d, the one's that seek His guidance and direction and ask for His help. G-d loves His people too much to allow that and will always be there for them.
Yes! Jews havs been abuse through out the geneeation and there is a reason for it. I for once always have a deep feeling that I maybe one od the lost tribe. I often wonder just who were my ancesters. This much I know is my mother side nacester came drom Germany and my Dad side were from Scotland.
Soon there will be end of abusing the Jews and the world will know who is the King of Kings.God is with his neloved people and as small the nation of Isreal God will protact them. AS far the United Nation is concern,they do nore damage than protected Isreal. No way do I want to see Isreal give up anymore of their country boundryas brfore. Every time a new peace plan come up for discussiom, forget it. There will be no peace un till the coming of the Lord.
It seems to me that Joe McClain's words showed much passion and conviction and hinted of a knowledge of scripture and prophecy. I, too, feel that, just as Israel is living prophecy, so will it live as long as it is blessed. God gave Israel its bounderies in Genesis and, one day it will acheive those bounderies. I believe god's Word is 100% true and is being fulfulled every day.
According to the Holy Bible , the Jew or better Isreal will eventually overcome all their foes and a valley of dead foes will testify to God's power. God said he will make Iareal a great nation and HE will.
Bob Sr. of Calvert County , Md.
B"H
Joe McCain's words remind me of prophesies described in the Torah as being true, where the speaker has no idea of what he's predicting. What McCain is predicting, is the coming of Moshiach, where all those who have persecuted the Jewish nation will be defeated. And the Scriptural books of the Prophets describe this battle in "gory" detail.
The Jewish People have been described as "The Jews" for millenia, and certainly since the time of Esther and Mordechai (read the Megilla!). This term only fortifies that idea that the Jewish people are a NATION, regardless of the country of their sojourn. This can never be changed, since a Jew has a Jewish soul, a Nefesh Elokit, which is unique to our People.
To the non-Jews who acknowledge this and understand that G-d's blessings to all mankind and the world, come through the Jewish people, you are indeed fortunate that G-d has given you the wisdom to see this. Your continued encouragement and activism on our behalf, is a blessing for you and your families. And when Moshiach comes, you will have a share in G-d's blessings. However, you need to follow the Seven Noahaide Laws in order to full G-d's mission given uniquely to the non-Jewish nations of the world. These Laws were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, as the blueprint for all humankind to create a "Paradise on Earth," a dwelling place for G-d's Holy Presence (which is His ultimate Will)...Joe
I agree that Israel will not be totally eradicated from the earth, I am not Jewish, but consider myself Israelite. Anyone that knows Israels history knows there are 12 tribes, and the modern nation of Israel is mainly Judah and Benjamin. Also they remain separate until this day, as "lost" tribes. They are not lost in the creators eyes. But He will re-join them again, never to be separate again ! and I read in one of the books of the Old Covenant, that when the savior returns, Judah will fight WITH Him against their enemy.......That is proof to me, that the nation of Israel will turn to their G-D by then. There is hope for all that believe and trust the creator..
Oh, and to Donald Browning, my ancestors are from Scotland as well.....look up the "Declaration of Arbroath" and see an admittance of where they came from....Dale
The Seven Noahaide Laws were given before the Messiah appeared. Jesus Christ Fulfilled the Law and superseded it. If your a non jew and you feel these Laws appy to you, you need to read the book Of Romans in the New Testament and see how you are " Grafted In " Chapter 11, to the God of Israel. The law is no longer required to keep, since the death, burial, and resurrection
I failed to mention in my previous post, my comments are made to Christians who are saved my the Blood of the Lamb....Jesus, who says he is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me.....BILL
your are reading too many sinster things into Joe McCain's comments. He simply saying, Irael must stay strong to defeat its enemies, and he supports them without question.
B"H
To Bill: Let's not make this a competition between Christianity and Judiasm.
I say what Judiasm says. Ultimately we all have freedom of choice to serve G-d as we wish. The only problem comes when one religion forces the other to accept "truth," via pogroms, inquisitions, holocausts, liquidation of communities, mass executions, etc.
If you want to live as a Christian, more power to you. Just let me live as Jew according to my traditions and my Holy Saints (Rebbes) and Leaders. If you choose not to follow the Seven Noahide Laws, that's your choice. Thank you.
AMEN to the last 'letter' that ended in the 'More power to you' statement. I totally agree. Everyone has the right to believe what they feel is right. No one has the right to kill or harm anyone in any way just because the other person doesn't believe what the first person does.
Even if one doesn't believe that there is a god...that is their privelige, although people have the right to try to VERBALLY persuade them to change their minds...if they WANT to listen.
That's it, the whole problem, in a nutshell, and I do mean nuts, as in screwy, dopey, silly, asnine, inane, ridiculous, and sucky-stinko. And there is no Snow White or Sleeping Beauty only some Bimbo named Bigotry. I agree with someone up there in our blog who commented on Rabbi Hirschfield's commentary about Joe McCain's polemic commentary about the obstinate survival characteristic of the Jews. And Rabbi mentions that there is no group called "the Jews" as if we have some kind of community synod or global Pesach ever spring. He's right. If he were wrong, I would feel the community of Jewish people a lot more than I do growing up in the United States of America, because, we Jews are masters at concealing our identity to the point of being a Jew has no more meaning than being a Jewish star that has fallen into the garbage disposal--and the Jewish star or Star of David as it is also called, is really no big deal in the first place--except when Archie gave his half-Jewish niece a delicate necklace with a Jewish star. Her name was Stepanie. She couldn't have more 7 or 8. Yes, folks, that was Archie Bunker a "good Christian" LOL! from All in the Family. I remember, speaking of being Jewish when Archie and Edith were registering Stephanie for Jewish children's Sunday school. And Archie became miffed and not at all happy that as a result, he and Edith would also be members of Congregation Beth Scholem or something like that. Archie said something like this: "Well, now Rabbi, there, we's good Christians with a little Jewish kid here, and we just don't know what to do. So we try to get her here in your Sunday School, but we're not Jews--Edith and I are good Christians Rabbi. . . ." So the wise young Rabbi says, "Then try a little Christian love." To the gentleman (Bill?) who came out with some doctrinal stuff about Christ and Christianity--Christ (Joshua bar Joseph) lived as a Jew and died as a Jew. He never resonounced his Judaism and he never condemned Jews to hell for not becoming Christians.
He did, however, condemn Jews to Hell for other reasons, chief of them hypocrisy. I wonder what Jesus would say about Christians. Well, actually I have a well-developed idea....
Thank you, Tom, for answering my question.
Believe me folks we are all created in the image of God. Whether we are Jews, whether we are Christians, whether we are muslims or whether we are budhist. we are all children of God. We fight, we make wars, we kill, we destroy, we hate, we, what ever, because we are all sinners. We will have peace when we find the One and only One, and I challenge you all that we look for the One, then and only then we will have peace. Brother K
The way that I read this article it is more of a political statement then a religous one. I took it more of the Rabbi's idea to slam the speech partly because it was made by the Republican's Presidental nominee's brother more then anything else. It was like if Obama or Biden or Kennedy had made the speech, the Rabbi would have been speaking from the other side of his mouth in praise.
But that is just my opinon, and like belly buttons, everyone's got one.
To BH, Brother, I would NEVER in a million years make a competition. I assure you, we BOTH serve the same GOD. I love the Jewish people, they are my Brothers and Sisters even though I may be beat up time after time when I say so. I worship the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Please believe me once again, I would never step on your faith, I was talking to ALL NON Jewish people, let's face it, if your not a Jew, your a Gentile. If I offended you in any way, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for responding to my comment.
Henry Kissinger said "any people that has been persecuted for 4,000 years must be doing something wrong." Many a true word has been said in a joke. Nonetheless I love the Jewish sense of humor.
Obama has been relentless in seducing America's youth, and controlling the media. What's next? ... teaching our children to turn their parents in to the Gestapo? These tactics have been used before ... and, they're right out of the Nazi and Islamic/madrassa play books. Wake up America ... the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
I thought rabbis were supposed to be "wise." What part of graciousness do you NOT understand? You must be a rabbi for the "Synagogue of What's Hapnin' Now" (to rephrase an old Flip Wilson gag).
Here is again a major effort by Rabbis to be involved in politics. This means trying to find fault in Joe McCain and by inference in his brother the presidential candidate but it also tries to monopolize Jews and softly tell them to vote for a radical liberal whoes connection with Muslim radicals is clear. One "rabbi" published in the Israeli YNET that Obama is more "Jewish". Rabbi Levi Brackman
Whose plan is more Jewish, Obama’s or McCain’s?"Jewish religion mandates that rich must share their wealth with those less fortunate than themselves. Democratic candidate's tax plan makes moral, religious and economic sense"
Published: 10.17.08, 14:37 / Israel Jewish Scene. THIS IS UTTER STUPID, bull..., AND DISGRACE TO JEWISH MIND. As the Talmud says: Scholars! be careful in what you say. For me Obama is a pending catastrophy for Jews and Israeli. Obama can promise from today to eternity, but his associations with Wright, Khalidi, Ayeler etc. is overwhelming. You are warned.
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