Barack Obama is Not the Messiah
Thursday November 6, 2008
The religious left may be losing its mind. Perhaps it's just a momentary lapse of judgment in light of the Obama victory. After all, there is much to celebrate about this election. Not least of which is that it indicates...
Filed Under: barack obama, god and the election, obama as messiah, on faith, religious left, religious right, susan k. smith
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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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Amen!! Woe to those who cry too loudly, "God is on our side!" It is the first verse, in the song of the Jihad....
Our G_d, our belief in that which is greater than ourselves, whatever that belief might be and however we might chose to express it, must inform our own lives.
We must remember that there is a vast divide between those of ourselves and our close family, and the lives of others, strangers, with whom we share this country, this spaceship Earth.
There is nothing wrong with adhering strictly to one's own values and practices and traditions in one's own life. There is much that is wrong, in presuming to tell others who do not share one's beliefs, how those others should live.
I supported Obama strongly from the beginning, and I voted for him. But it was for President of the U.S., not some sort of secular pope. I don't think he has any such aspirations.
Let us remember this as a landmark election, a sea change in the political landscape, all of that and more. But let it be a secular landmark!
'What distinguished the intelligent use of religion in public life is not who is correct about what God wants. Each side has plenty of evidence for it's conclusions about everything from abortion to health care to the war in Iraq. The issue should be the degree of respect that each side shows the other, how much room they make for those with opposing views. '
Interesting article: however, I disagree wit your comment that "Each side has plenty of evidence for it's conclusions about everything from abortion to health care to the war in Iraq."
For example, just regarding the abortion issue: a wide range of tests may now be conducted to determine that the 'foetus' is a living human, while still in his mother's womb. And, yet NObama and the left, including NOW and NARAL - as well as the ACLU - remain opposed to overturning Roe v Wade.
The psalmist said that GOD Knit him together while in his mother, that he was skilfully and wonderfully created. Life, for millenia of centuries began @ conception. Still does - regardless of what detractors and opponents declare.
No, my friend....what we are seeing in our nation and around the world is a popular myth that grps such as Planned Parenthood say is a 'woman's right.'
Blacks, Hispanics, Whites - even criminals and terrorists have rights - but noe for the unborn?
Gay marriage ? No such thing ! Despite the stupid and idiotic arguments of the sodomite communities - and now even marriage between a man and woman - as Ordained by GOD - is in peril.
HIS JUDGMENT races towards us....and we now have the right man to welcome and embrace it - and soooooo deserving
wayne
If Obama had not brought out all the black voters, gay marriage would have stood in California. They voted 70-30 against it.
I never really participate on religious sites and I guess it is because of some of the comments in which religion seems to be used as the catalyst for all and every event that takes place in life. G d gave us free will and with that will we make choices, create our challenges as well as our destiny. Religion and faith are part of our equation in that when free will is exercised we may then fall back to our faith or religion and trust that our choice is one of wisdom. *At least that's how I feel! President elect Obama has never claimed to be anything other than a passionate leader who sees a need for change and is willing to move forward with the support of each one of us....To put him on a level other than equal to ourselves is distorted and in complete conflict with any of the speeches that he had made!
Thank you for this, sir. As a friend of mine says, our God is a purple God - neither red nor blue. Truly, He is too huge to be on *either* side.
I campaigned for Obama and met a lot of people in my blue state, Colorado. I read THE NATION and several other publications.
I have not once met anybody, or read a column that purported Obama as the messiah, especially in the Christian sense.
Mr. Hirschfield, perhaps you're reading or associating with some fringe crackpots; or your definition of messiah is very broad and indicates anybody/any group anointed by the divine.
President elect Obama made it very clear early on in his campaign that this election season was not about him.
No rational person can claim that Barack Obama is the Messiah, literally God's anointed. But we can say "God brought this nation to this day" Now for argument's sake "Do you believe in coincidence"? I do not becasue I believe that The Lord is in charge and nothing is happanstance. I do not believe in manifest destiny, but I do believe in predestination. What is your belief?
Oh, Andre...
"God has brought us to this day (every day)," is in a whole different cosmos from predestination, unless by "predestination" you merely mean that there are things beyond the control of conscious choice.
By either Jewish or Christian definition it is safe to say that Obama is definitely not the Messiah. It is entirely possible but yet to be discovered, though, whether he will be a messiah for our time. I'm afraid foresight cannot ever determine such an issue and hindsight is always biased.
When his term of public activity and influence is over, we will have a chance to reflect on whether he was anointed. Let's hope he is. But if he is, as is most likely, just an intelligent and talented man, may he be as good, insightful, talented, and skillful as we need him to be.
L'Shalom
Chaim
They are putting too much on this Obama guy. Just because he wants change and he wants good things -- apparently we ALL want change and we ALL want good things because 70-some odd percent of us voted for him.
Are we the Messiah?
I know I'm not.
The Messiah will come to Israel.
The USA is not in jewish history.
G-d will use Obama the way he chooses.
But he is not the messiah.
Everyone will love the messiah.That's
not be true of Obama.
I only have one problem with Obama,he ran as a black man,he is both black and white, like my two children.Life has been hard for us,we now have a very powerful man who could give all childern of mixed families their own box to check. I, say to my children be proud that you are the best of two races,this is what God choose for you ,for you are strong and God he would not give you anything you could not handle.
LOL - Obama the Messiah! How weird is that! I think because of the problems the world is in today and our America, we want to see someone in government who is inspiring. We are desperate for a change - almost any change as we know in our guts we cannot go on doing the same ole', same ole' and overcome or solve the current problems. I think we know in our hearts a lot of the change we need has to come from inside us. Change implies work. Messiah complex implies he is going to do the work for us and spare us all that labor - not going to happen!
In Jewish thought we are to get the world ready for the Messiah who will be a human not a supernatural or spiritually magical person.
We have a lot of work to do - the stage is set.
Brad, it has been the media that has shoved Obama down our throats for so long that people are feciously saying he is the Messiah. I wished that they would back off, give the man a chance to start the transition, instead of pushing him into the Presidency before January. I believe this could prove disasterous for him. Give us a break media, we don't need any more hype from you. There are more pressing issues to think of at this time, such as THE ECONOMY. The nicest thing would be to not hear anymore media speculation.
Name two people who are making that claim, the current christian messiah is not white either and look and at the mess he left Obama has made no such claim Sarah on the other hand?
Messiah already came. Was born in Bethlehem, from jewish parents. Died on the rugged cross acording to Dani'el 9:26 suffering as Ben Yosef. But will come back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Messiah, Son of David, son of Elohim, is name is Yeshua, not "yeshu" or "yoshka" as the orthodox jewish religious establishement that controls thousands of jewish minds and lives, use to call him. Baruch atta Adonay, Yeshua is coming back soon!
Hannah, your post caught my eye for I too have children who are bi-racial. They are 42 and 41 respectively and have taught me so much about knowing who we are unto ourselves, not defined by our color, sex or religion! Maybe as a result of their diveristy they discovered better than some that humanity is universal and without labels? I'd like to believe that possibility! Forty three years ago life had its challenges all of which were learning stones and experiences that contributed character and strength into my life. Our struggles become our success. It matters not how one marks their heritage on a piece of paper but more of how a life is lived! I was 19 years of age and had a difficult time within my Jewish community so I turned away....I had to walk over those 'learning' stones to discover that in spite of the discomfort of some opinions it was my own comfort which brought me back home....
Obama is no miracle maker and was not elected for anything other than to guide our nation onto a better path. Once he is on the job and publicly speaking his presence & character will continue to blind eyes from anything other than his energy and passion!!!
There is the hubris of politics and the politics of hubris, and one realizes that Mr. Obama's lunge into prominence is symptomatic of both,and both are potentially damaging to the civility of life and the life of the Constitution. The least experienced and likely qualified candidate for President in several generations, Mr. Obama has a following of shame that includes the "retired" terrorists Mr. Ayers and Ms Dorn, racist clergy that includes Mr. Wright and Mr. Farakhan, a less than cerebral admitted plagerist Vice President in Mr. Biden and intended objectives economic, social and strategic that may well threaten the fabric and security of this nation. In all liklihood, common sense will prevail amongst the centrists of the Democratic Party, not given to left of center ideology, and much like the failed Carter administration, the damage may be only temporary. If appointments that are but rumor, of Robert Kennedy, Jr., to an environmental position; Mr. Kerry to Secretary of State, and Mr. Dean to HEW follow that of Mr. Emmanuel as Chief of Staff, the left structure of the administration will be realized. At risk are the Constitution at the price of a welfare state; America's energy future sacrificed at the whim of minds an inch deep and a mile wide, and self-sufficieny lost to pandering to the illusion of "redistirbution" at the expense of the capable.
At least one positive that will emerge will be a realignment of American politics. The division of political perspectives was demonstrated by the election. Hardly a landslide, and despite an absolutely miserable campaign by Mr. McCain, the 51.5%/48.5% election result demonstrates a real dichotomy in the political scene. It is likely that a possibility exists to sharpen the lines of demarcation in a realistic left of center and right of center realignment, with a narrow space in the middle. Wheteher this will be institutionalized or not remains to be seen, but it islikely a more conservative leadership will emerge on the right as the new very leftist leadership of the administration takes hold and culls its middle. Politics may become more interesting as a result.
While others are trying to decide whether Obama is the Messiah or not, I keep wondering if he is the Anti-Christ as believed in by the Christian community. He certainly fits the description. We really don't know much about him other than he worshiped with a pastor who sprouted hatered for 20 years. I know that if I went somewhere to worship and started hearing the religious leader teaching hate instead of love, I would walk out then, not 20 years later.
Whe will soon see what Obama turns out to be, the Messiah or the Anti-Christ.
Messiah (Hebrew: מָׁשִיַח, Standard Mašíaḥ Tiberian Māšîªḥ; Aramaic: משיחא, Aramaic/Syriac: ܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ, Məšîḥā; Arabic: المسيح, al-Masīḥ) Literally, Messiah means "The Anointed (One)", typically someone anointed with holy anointing oil. Figuratively, anointing is done to signify being chosen for a task; so, Messiah means "The Chosen (One)"
So please lets be united because a Meassiah finally is someone in whom you believe or choose to be your leader in any way, political, religious, socially or the last three. This is the moment to show calm, union and what a wise we can do.
My dear, dear Hannah
If you have a problem with Obama for having ran as a black man, you need NOT look at Obama(as a African American, I am sure as heck that he ran as a human being.If you disbelieve me please, please just read his "Dreams of My Father"). You need to just look at these United States historically and recognize that African Americans are the only group of people who came here without being consulted. They were the only group of people who were stripped of everything except their souls. They were very deliberately stripped of their cultures, identities, names, languages and et cetera because how does a slave have all those things and remain a slave? Anyone who is/was 99% White and 1% Black is/was automatically Black. That, until recently meant rejection/discrimination by the White culture and usually acceptance by the Black subculture. Hannah if you have a problem, it is with the white culture. Obama and the Black subsulture did NOT do the categorizing!
But like Obama, we must look ahead and NOT behind lest like Lot's wife we be turned to statues of salt
Last I checked, not a single soul on the left has ever to this day “beatifying President Elect Obama. I might suggest to Mr. Hirschfield, that after battling the past 30 months of direct frontal attacks from the right; often based on smears, dirty tricks and outright racism, our new president might some day become a legitimate candidate for sainthood!
Barack Hussein Obama may well be the antichrist spoken of by Christians. I am not a Christian and did not vote for him because he will destroy the country I love.
This election has polarized our nation more than anything else....each day I meet white people who say they will never trust black people again, because now they see that they care more about getting one of their own elected than what is really important for the safety and well-being of this country.
They elected a Marxist just because he was black!! I am coming around to agreement with those who say they feel black people cannot be trusted to do what is right for this country.
This is for "Ken"
"YOU" will know when the anti-christ is among us, as you and all your people will embrace him for you are ALL a product of him!!!!
He will not be black as the creator and first Original jews.
ANNETTE,
YOU know what, perhaps the sins of your ancestors are haunting you, and you know what, considering the fact of how many generations of black families white america has murdered robbed and raped, "YOU" have the nerve to speak of TRUST, hahahhahahhahahhahhahhahhah, Im glad there are still people like you out there, you are the "NEW" MINORITIES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a blessed day, The true anti-christ(s) must take a back seat now..........PRAISE BE TO THE MOST HIGH!
WHOEVER SAID THAT OBAMA IS THE MESSIAH HAS MUCH TO LEARN AND READ. NOT TO MENTION THE RACIST AND NEGATIVE PRINCIPALITIES TO KEEP US LIVING IN FEAR. THE DEMAGOUGES TRY THIS ALL THE TIME AND THIS IS SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH TODAYS SOCIETIES. THE FEAR AND
IRRATIONALITIES TRY TO TAKE US BY SURPRISE IF WE ARE NOT WISE. THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST WEEK OF ABAMAS SWEET VICTORY, BUT HE ALONE KNOWS THAT HE IS NOT THE MESSIAH. YOU HIPOCRITES SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF FEAR
MONGERING AND SIT DOWN IN THE TABLE OF BROTHERHOOD. BEEN A POLL WORKER FOR THE PAST 24 YEARS IN NEW YORK AND VIRGINIA, I SEE WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES AND THE POLICY MAKERS ARE IN SHAMBLES. INSTEAD OF FINDING FAULT AS THE AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TRIED TO PASS JUDGEMENT ON THE NEW GERMAN POPE. NO ONE IS PERFECT, AND HE WAS FORCED INTO THE WAR BY THE GERMANS. GOD ALONE HAS THE RIGHT AND THE
POWER TO JUDGE ANY MAN, REGARDLESS OF RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL BACKGROUND. WE NEED THE CHANCE TO SEE CHANGE AND NOT FEAR THE FUTURE. SURELY OBAMA HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM, BUT THE POLITICS OF THIS AGE ARE TERRIBLE. LETS PRAY THAT WE CAN ALL SHARE THE VISIONS OF THE
NEW AGE. ON DEC.21, 2012 WE WILL SEE DIVINE SIGNS FROM HEAVEN AND EARTH.LOOK DEEP WITHIN WHEN TRYING TO UNDERSATND THESE HEAVENLY AND
SUPERNATURAL SIGNS WORLD WIDE. BRACE YOURSELF, MANNY ROD
For my part, I applaud and cannot even begin to express how proud I am of the White people who rejected the politics of fear and embraced the politics of hope by voting for Obama.
For my dear Annette and her "...white people who say they will never trust Black people....." I have one question.
When did mainstream Whiteness ever trust Blackness? When they brought them from Africa in chains to labor and die in cotton, sugar plantations? When they ripped babies off mothers breasts and separated families to sell them off and make profit? When they lynched them for the great sin of attempting to learn how to read and more recently as much as whistle at a white women (even when the white women were their seducers?)and then went and raped Black women? When they denied them the humanity of 'one-man-one-vote"?. When they discriminated everywhere in schools, in hospitals, at jobs, in restaurants, bathrooms, buses and trains and even toilets and Drinking water fountains? Come On!! And thanks Mary X. It is so refreshing to see that some of us are "...studying and proving ourselves..."
OY, VEY!!! I suspect that not everyone that posts on this site is religious, however, you guys are driving me nuts as well as into a fit of laughter for the MERE FEAR you speak in some of your posts! How can anyone who follows the teachings of G d condemn a person as the anti christ? I don't know much about Christianity but Christ was also slandered and called all sort of names; how different are your posts from that done to the person that some look towards as their savior? Consider that and what you post in here...it's like a WITCH hunt. Pointing fingers is not what the bible teachers, but then I must admit that I never studied the bible to any length just the feelings that come from my soul....
Farahkan, the leader of Islamic Nation here in America spoke of Obama as the Messiah. It appears that many Islamic's are partying because Obama is upcoming president. Do this tell any of you people anything? Or as usual blind. As of HOPE....read Obama's book Odacity of Hope...get a feel of what he truely is. How about the book "Post-America" (written by a Muslim???)
Farrakhan compared Obama to the religion’s founder, Fard Muhammad, who also had a white mother and black father.
Wallace D. Fard
Wallace Fard was born 1891 in New Zealand. He was the founder of the Black Muslim sect, “Lost-Found Nation of Islam in North America”. Fard arrived in the United States in 1913, settling briefly in Portland, Oregon.
He was arrested in 1918 for violation of the Woolwine Act (California prohibition law) and in 1926, for the violation of the State Poison Act (sale of narcotics) and was sentenced to San Quentin. After his release from prison in 1929, he went to Chicago, then on to Detroit as a silk peddler.
In 1934, Fard left Detroit and was never heard from again. A San Francisco newspaper article written in 1963 exposed Fard as an enterprising racketeering fake. (So Farahkan states Obama is like this man :\ )
And as for whites and blacks.....go back in history and you find that it was Muslims who sold blacks from Africa.
As for people speaking of antichrist/false messiah..if you do enough study in history, you would understand that Obama speaks as such to put people in a trance or almost a trance with "crying people". Read oh how the antichrist will sway people to him. (Hitler also did this...let that time be a lesson for us all.)So its not so far fetched that Obama may very well bring about the antichrist/Muslims messiah.
I hink many white people have lost their minds! Comparing Obama to Hitler is not only stupid, but crazy! Obama is a Baptist and has no Islamic ties, except his mane, which his father gave him, so get over it!
If you want to compare Hitler to anyone, compare him to the Republican Party, (whom I have shamely been a member of, but voted for Obama, because I truely believe he can get us out of the situation we are in now due to Repubilican rule.)who wants to make a fool of us all, and laugh their welthy butts to the bank saying "trinkle down', and we all know that does not work. If you can't sell your goods, because of high prices you'll starve too!
Jobs must be returned to America! We are strong only if we look out for our own first then others after. Hw can you help someone up, if yu are down yourself?
Jennifer..Obama is a Baptist..and where have you been...lol. His church was/is Trinity United Church of Christ with a minister that taught hate in his church against white's. He was caught on video spewing hate. Read below...and you tell me (where he speak well of any whites.) If you a man of God , you love all races but hate the evils. And if you a man of God...the "TRUTH" will be there and not no "LIES".
These are words directly from his church.....
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trinity United Church of Christ
About Us
We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian… Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.
Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:
1. Commitment to God
2. Commitment to the Black Community
3. Commitment to the Black Family
4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education
5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence
6. Adherence to the Black Work Ethic
7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect
8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of "Middleclassness"
9. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the Black Community
10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions
11. Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System
12. Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System.
The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:
1. A congregation committed to ADORATION.
2. A congregation preaching SALVATION.
3. A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.
5. A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
6. A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
7. A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
8. A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
9. A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
10. A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.
----------------------------------------------------------
Ahhhhh...a commitment to Africa (but not America).
This man is a racist if I ever saw one and this was Obama's mentor/pastor for what...20+ years.
After all known facts of Obama's past...is there any reason we should trust him now. Lets wait this one out and see what Obama's produce. You may be in for a rude awakening. But as I say....Go Forward Christian Soldiers and never let God Almighty Down. God is much stronger..more powerful than any man.
Obama has to prove himself!
No but he may easily turn out to have a lot in common with FDR who had his problems both personal and political thruout his life. He even had be accused of being a anti-semite, and regardless of this he turned out to be the President the US needed at that time.
Hugs
Laura
my comment is Obama is the evil who want's to bring all the african to America and help only for his race,
soon or later all the people will see the truth about Obama and his family. hahhhahahh boooooooooo
Jennifer..I like to let you know. I am not white but I am Native American. I don't judge people of today for what happen over 100 years back. I have my own opinion about peoples actions, white..black..asian...natives...Muslims..Hindus....etc. I will show history such as Farahkan used to compare Obama to Fard Muhammad. This gives a guide to why people such as Farahkan speaking of Obama as a messiah..etc. Hitler is history but we can learn from history and compare today to then. The Holy Word of God mentions the antichrist that will appear in these last days (which we already in)..this generation that is living within time frame (generation) of return of Jews to Holy Land of Israel..which was in 1948..shall see all this. A generation today live to be pass 70 years..go figure. So it is not so far fetched that Obama will help bring about the "man of sin"..antichrist/Muslims messiah.
LOL Hey, Bill Maher will you be my Messiah?
hummm...now that I think about it... Issaih said that the Messiah's name will be Emanuel. Maybe it isn't Obama who is the Messiah. Maybe he is leading the way for the Messiah. Maybe it is Emanuel...Rahn Emanuel...who is the Messiah. Hummm......
sorry for the wrong spelling of Isaiah...all the pondering made my fingers slip.
The following was sent to be via email noting Emanuel's background. I find it interesting especially since Obama's position towards Israel was being questioned. ***I did not do a fact check on the information......................
Interesting to note that this morning of November 5, the first official
thing Obama decided to do as President Elect was to offer the White
House Chief of Staff position to Rep. Rahm Emanuel. Rep. Emanuel isn't
just a Jew by name - here are some interesting facts:
Emanuel's father, the Jerusalem-born Benjamin M. Emanuel, is a
pediatrician and was a member of the Irgun, a Zionist military
organization that later became part of the Israeli Defense Forces, in
the 1940s. His mother, Martha Smulevitz, worked as an X-ray
technician; she was the daughter of a local union organizer, and would
herself become a civil rights activist; Emanuel's older brother,
Ezekiel, is a noted oncologist and bioethicist, and his brother, Ari,
is a high-powered talent agent in Los Angeles and inspired Jeremy
Piven's character Ari Gold on the HBO series Entourage.
Rahm himself is also the inspiration for the character Josh Lyman on
The West Wing. He also has a younger sister named Shoshanna, fourteen
years his junior.
During the 1991 Gulf War, Emanuel was a civilian volunteer in Israel:
rust-proofing brakes on an army base in northern Israel.
Emanuel's wife Amy Rule, a graduate of the Wharton School of the
University of Pennsylvania, was non-practicing before converting to
Orthodox Judaism around the same time as her wedding. They are "active
members of a modern Orthodox congregation, Anshe Shalom, in Chicago".
Amy is "heavily involved with the Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School in
the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago." They have three children, son
Zacharias and daughters Ilana and Leah. The children attend "the
Conservative Jewish day school, which Emanuel himself attended as a
child". Rabbi Asher Lopatin of Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation,
is quoted as sayi ng: "It's a very involved Jewish family"; "Amy was
one of the teachers for a class for children during the High Holidays
two years ago." Emanuel has said of his Judaism: "I am proud of my
heritage and treasure the values it has taught me."
Please feel free to pass along to Jewish voters who may have still have
fears about whether they can trust a President Obama
To Tobi. Emanuel (or Immanu-el) was not referring to be Messiah's actual name. The word translates as "G-d with us" and refers to Messiah's divine nature.
Nancy, you are being picky. According to my Tanakh in Isaiah 7:14 it says: "Assuredly, my Lord will give you a sign of His own accord! Look, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel." But rest assured. I really don't think that the Messiah is here. Simply wishful thinking.
Someone offered a comment saying more facts about BHO's background will be made public in the months to come.
Yes, and what a revelation they will be....
The main stream media who fawned all over him, will now be held accountable for not asking the hard questions during the election campaign.
BHO likes to ride on the coat-tails of being African American and having the connection to slave history to get the guilt empathy vote.
But he is "new" to America.
He has had 2 years experience in Washington!!!!!!! That's all.
He's "new" to politics in comparison to other presidents.
Now he's jockeying all the Clinton backroom people for his team for a 3rd time around of pulling strings.
Silly, silly humans.
Mr. Emanuel has a record of viscious politics, very much in keeping with the tradition of the Chicago Democrat machine that produced Mr. Obama. Less than intellectually accomplished, Mr. Emanuel seems to misunderstant the meaning of small "d" process in favor of receiving favor from the party power players. One suspects that Mr. Emanuel is prepared to make "adjustments" for position, including never speaking out about the rants of Mr. Wright, the "retired" terroriats, Mr. Ayers and Ms. Dorn, the posiioning of Mr. Obama vis a vis the demonic forces in Iran, or tolerance for Mr. Jackso, Mr. Sharpton, Mr. Farakhan and those Obama supporting pro-Hamas elements. This, I suspect, is additional evidence of the hubris of politics and the politics of hubris. Mr. Emanuel prefers position to substance and the role of "Court Jew."
To Wanjira,
If you check back on your history you will find that it wasn't the white man that brought the first black slaves to America but in fact they were black slave traders that sold out their own people for money.
It seems that here in the United States, we love to hero-worship, to place people on pedestals. Once we begin to tire of them however, or if they prove to be human (which all people will do eventually) we enjoy knocking them down.
Some misguided people have placed Mr. Obama on just such a precarious pedestal. He has a terribly difficult task ahead of him, and inevitably, some things will go wrong. The people who have looked upon him as some nearly mythical being will be the first to attack, along with those who had an exaggerated idea of him being some evil force sent to destroy both Israel and the American Way.
He is a smart man with a great presence. I voted for him and I wish him luck. I hope everyone will give him a chance.
Lucy G.
I am APPALLED that any thinking american let alone a jew would fall for this sycophant --- he is no friend of jews, Israel or caucasians --- his election should be a day of mourning when truth, facts and integrity have been substitued for the ever increasing myth, opinion and fantasy --- his election is not historic but just another example of racism in action as so many voted for him BECAUSE he was black and not bc he truly represented the better candidate -- his policies are frightening and his call for a civilian army is chilling causing thoughts of progroms, nazi germany and various other dictatorships to mind --- his call to change was phony as the rest of him as evidence by the cabinet he has already pulled together --- clintonites and washington insiders -- we are in dark days and if we don't wake up and start taking a literate active intellectual role in our govt we won't have one let alone any person freedoms left
I would suggest a note of caution writers Monte and Wolberg - your rhetoric seems to indicate a harsh and inflexible view for which I have seen little or no evidence to link Mr. Obama to Farakhan and others.
Rather, if we are looking for terrorist radicals, we need look no further than Timothy McVey and other white, home-grown folks who use terrorist and hate tactics.
Such ad-hominem arguments are rightly called faulty logic, and can lead to erroneous beliefs based on emotional isues without the corroborating evidence of the "target's" observed behavior or statements.
I am proud to be a citizen of a country wherein opinions, even those without logical support, can be spoken and published, and put "to the test of the public."
Being on the "losing" team is always a let down. All the reasons why the opponent did not deserve the end results are too fresh! So, who's perfect? Who has ever met all our expectations? Some of us even question our own G d. Yes, some of us do! When I question G D I don't always get my answers when I think I should and many times I don't understand that I have already received them until time passes. So, what I'm 'suggesting' is that there comes a times when issues need to just be put aside & allow trust; Obama's job has not even officially begun... give him a chance for goodness sake.
Here we have this man who was elected & the people's choice; yet, the sort of dialog that is going on in here continues to fear his right to have earned the job. I'm still not quite clear as to the driving force that makes this elected official your enemy rather than your leader? He's about "CHANGE" and actually is so symbolic of the word. As much as we ask and look for CHANGE it is one of the most difficult shifts in our daily lives. Comfort zones are just what they're called. He will do things differently. HE works off of the internet and communicates to the youth. He is not too blind to recognize the wisdom of those around him and appears to be utilizing it to the best of his ability. He looked tired the other day--he knows the urgency of the work hes taken on and is stepping to the plate on our behalf. Time will tell...at least allow him that much.
This really is not a matter of winning or losing; Mr. McCain was simply the lesser of both political party evils. It is a matter of values and national identiity. Mr. Obama has never done anything of singular substance and is clearly o voice very left of center. Every indication is that he has had a past mired in the left. It is ironic that because of his associations with Mr. Ayers, Ms Dorn, Mr. Farakahn and others, as well as his self-admitted dalliance with alcohol, pot and cocaine, as well as his inability to kick smoking, all self-admitted, Mr. Obama would never have gotten through a security test any Americans are required to take for sensitive Federal or even state employment. He isnot given to indications of real intelligence--rhetoric without content can only go so far. Mr. McCain lacked the rhetoric or vision or ability to maintain a coherent campaign. He had experience and knowledge, had been tested in substance, but was just an awful and unappealing candidate. But he would defend the Constitution, where Mr. Obama would call a meeting and has expressed reserve. Mr. McCain understands the need for a stron military in a dangerous world where Mr. Obama would have a meeting and vote present--he lacks experience or understanding of military needs. Mr. Obama has no background in energy, does not understandthe economic, scientific or technical aspects of oil, coal, gas, nuclear, and on and on. One gets the sense of "the empty suit" notion of a very typical Chicago pol, mor akin to Mayor Daley, old or younger, with the slick overlay of a rhetoric class. The presence of kindred spirits such as the mean spirited Mr. Emanuel, equally devoid of intellect is not a good indicator of a constructive administration.
"Winning" and "Losing" is merely the end result of a slew of things, i.e,. policies, issues & background and the articulate means of pursuation! I hope we all took into consideration the slanders & the associations of President elect Obama..all which proved to be false as far as the DEPTH or extent or intent. Guilt by association could easily land a few of us in jail if we would research back into our lives! Just like the situation with his Aunt--I have a few distant relatives that I love and do it from a distance!
Bush Jr. was not prepared for 911--you tell me how any of us are prepared for a day that is so unlike any that we have known? Surely it was not the format he had planned on executing during those four years....BUT, right or wrong his first reaction was swift and strong. History for Bush was set in place for the good or the bad. Surely, what we're dealing with now is not too far off? Look at Bush's cabinet? Cheney was a 'ghost' who seemed always to be underground. Whatever we were told about Husain took us into a scripted war written in part by the disastrous information presented by our CIA.... SO what did Bush know about defense or the economy? His advisors of EXPERTISE lacked a bit of credibility? I still have a thorn in my side when it comes to the oil and the Bush's and their 'CONNECTIONS' and investments...& Cheney's job on the board of .......WELL, that is the past !
I believe that Obama will fill that suit just as every leader has done in the past. They leave their mark by the nature of our world's issues. He has the same investment in this country as do YOU and I! A President does not stand alone and decisions are made by many before presented by our leader.
We all recognize the tremendous job he is walking into come January. I don't envy his tenure what so ever but I sense that he is the one that will set our course in a better direction. There is a Man or Woman for moments in time...this is Obamas....
Monte E
I am APPALLED that any thinking american let alone a jew would fall for this sycophant --- he is no friend of jews, Israel...
I agree and have been saying so for months.
But let's face, he won the election. The GOP needs to rebuild the base. We're gonna need to reach out to Jews and the youth as well as others. Barry-0's first to years will be his test, the 2010 election he'll graded on that test.
Waiting... tic toc tic toc tic toc
Thank you so much for your thoughtful, inspiring comments, Rabbi. I really needed to read this, especially since I am one of those on the left to whom you were referring. It's important to realize that Mr. Obama is just a mortal, and that he will need our support and involvement to be the best president he can be.
The Rabbi says, "I would rather live in a thoroughly secular world than one in which people make prophetic claims about American politics - especially when they seem to think that they are the prophets."
I say, "Well said. Me too. Any day."
Best to you.
Bee Tree
Rabbi, I beg your difference: Perhaps you are too close for comfort to step back and look at the big picture as the Metaphoric force that is represented. Those of us that can actually refer to the President Obama as the "Messiah" are some of the chosen that can see beyond what is in front of us and familiar to what we know. By no means would I, (speaking for myself) compare Mr Obama with the All Mighty " I AM". But we live in a world, and time in this life's journey where the Metaphysical aspect of events, people, places and things play a prime role in our going outs and coming in. Therefore, for this time and the next leg of the journey of our great "United States of America", Mr Obama is, from my point of view, the "Messiah" that will lead.
Respectfully,
Julia
Obama is not the messiah.We christians did not vote for him because we thought he was dangerous but because of what he stands for.He believes in abortion and homosexual marriage.You must understand that God will judge a nation for the sins of it`s people.You can coddle yourself if you please but there comes a point in time when God says "enough".We are a people who are spoiled and selfish.This election year morals went in the trash can in place of money.People voted their pocketbooks and they will end up paying with their pocketbooks.If you think Obama is going to give you the golden age you are a fool.He is a smooth talker who fooled a lot of people .He is not the messiah and he probably is not the antichrist but this is just an example of how people will fall for the real antichrist.They are just ripe for the real one and someday in history he will appear.We don`t know who the real antichrist is yet but he will have a willing audiance when he does arrive.People will fall at his feet and that is what is truely scary.Debra.
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