Dear Reader,
This is the first time I have invited a guest to contribute to this blog. As our elected representative to the United States Congress I welcome Rep. Wilson to express his views on this non-partisan issue. We should know how our congressman thinks at this critical time for Israel, Egypt and the Middle East. I thank him for taking the time to contribute to this blog. I would welcome your viewpoint on his remarks.
Shalom,
Brad
Excerpt from Congressman Wilson
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Patel, NealRabbi, Below is the excerpt the Congressman would like to submit for your blo...
Feb 4 (3 days ago)
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Rabbi,
Below is the excerpt the Congressman would like to submit for your blog regarding the situation in Egypt. Please let me know if our office can help you in any other way. Also, I have attached a high resolution photo from your recent trip to Washington.
Thanks.
“As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am deeply concerned with the recent events surrounding the current administration in Egypt. Mr. Mubarak’s announcement to not seek re-election was the first step in moving toward a democratically elected government.
Egypt’s current administration should immediately take steps to schedule an open and free election. This political reform must happen without further delay so as to minimize the current violence and on-going chaos engulfing the country.
Leaders of the opposition movement must not embrace extremist elements who are merely attempting to gain power as a means to damage Egypt’s relationship with countries like the United States and Israel. Mr. Mubarak’s administration should see to it that the will of the people is satisfied sooner rather than later.”
Neal Patel | Communications Director
Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02)
2229 Rayburn HOB | Washington, DC 20515
O: 202.225.2452 | C: 202.731.6987
2 comments:
Shalom Chaverli R'Brad:
We are happy you are home safely from DC.
May I comment briefly on your past 3 posts in one comment?
First: Your poetry is wondrous and your imagery touches my heart. The stating of God crying is so Judaic. The Zohar teaches us that we know God exists because we suffer. We suffer because He suffers. The way to end human suffering is via acts of Tikun Olam, repairing His broken face, shattered during His contraction during creation. As we spread love, we repair the world and its inhabitants. However when we hurt others, we injure the world and cause God to suffer and cry.
Second: What I always find ironic is that some of the main issues that separated Rabbinic Talmudic Judaism from Hebraism, were the concepts of Messiah, Bodily Resurrection and Olam Ha Ba. It seems that Reform rejects these 3 concepts, harkening back to Sadducitic- Hebraism. It is up to us to do social justice as if there is no Moshiac.
Lastly to Egypt:
In keeping with your concept of Fusion of the Torah with modernity, allow me please, Chaverli R'Brad, to add this.
What can we learn from the biblical story about the Pharaohs, the Plagues, the Sea of Reeds and Sinai and struggles in the Wilderness -- about our own generation? What can we learn about arrogant and unaccountable power, nonviolent resistance, the importance and the difficulty of birthing a new kind of community?
My mind goes back not only to the Exodus but also to an earlier biblical story: the story of "Hagar the Egyptian," the second wife of Abraham, (Gen.25:1), mother of his first son Ishmael, ancestors of the Arab peoples.
Hagar and Ishmael were thirsting to death amidst a rocky desert. Her tears opened her eyes, her tears watered a wellspring of new life. She named the waters "The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me."
The wellspring of new life and love in Egypt today is rising from a rock-strewn desert of despair. They are standing up to be seen by the Living One Who Sees Us All.
Like the ancient Pharaoh, the Egyptian rulers of today had become arrogantly addicted to their own power over their people. Mubarek's successor, Omar Suleiman as head of Egyptian "intelligence," oversaw the torture of hundreds of his fellow-citizens. He was the point person for US deliveries of prisoners to be tortured, when the USA was too weak of stomach to do the torturing itself.
As Jews we were taught to be angry at pharaohs and tyrants and brutal overseers each year at Passover. We eat the bitter herb to remind us, choking on each bite, how bitter was our humiliation, hunger, torture, death.
I pray my dear friend, that we all learn by acting as if the Earth is ONE because the Breath of Life, YaHWeH, is ONE. Love the Breath of Life, and love our neighbors as ourselves. We can't love either ONE without the other, because each ONE is the other.
Shalom uvracha:
R'Avrael
Rabbi Arthur Segal
www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org
Shalom Chaverli R'Brad:
We are happy you are home safely from DC.
May I comment briefly on your past 3 posts in one comment?
First: Your poetry is wondrous and your imagery touches my heart. The stating of God crying is so Judaic. The Zohar teaches us that we know God exists because we suffer. We suffer because He suffers. The way to end human suffering is via acts of Tikun Olam, repairing His broken face, shattered during His contraction during creation. As we spread love, we repair the world and its inhabitants. However when we hurt others, we injure the world and cause God to suffer and cry.
Second: What I always find ironic is that some of the main issues that separated Rabbinic Talmudic Judaism from Hebraism, were the concepts of Messiah, Bodily Resurrection and Olam Ha Ba. It seems that Reform rejects these 3 concepts, harkening back to Sadducitic- Hebraism. It is up to us to do social justice as if there is no Moshiac.
Lastly to Egypt:
In keeping with your concept of Fusion of the Torah with modernity, allow me please, Chaverli R'Brad, to add this.
What can we learn from the biblical story about the Pharaohs, the Plagues, the Sea of Reeds and Sinai and struggles in the Wilderness -- about our own generation? What can we learn about arrogant and unaccountable power, nonviolent resistance, the importance and the difficulty of birthing a new kind of community?
My mind goes back not only to the Exodus but also to an earlier biblical story: the story of "Hagar the Egyptian," the second wife of Abraham, (Gen.25:1), mother of his first son Ishmael, ancestors of the Arab peoples.
Hagar and Ishmael were thirsting to death amidst a rocky desert. Her tears opened her eyes, her tears watered a wellspring of new life. She named the waters "The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me."
The wellspring of new life and love in Egypt today is rising from a rock-strewn desert of despair. They are standing up to be seen by the Living One Who Sees Us All.
Like the ancient Pharaoh, the Egyptian rulers of today had become arrogantly addicted to their own power over their people. Mubarek's successor, Omar Suleiman as head of Egyptian "intelligence," oversaw the torture of hundreds of his fellow-citizens. He was the point person for US deliveries of prisoners to be tortured, when the USA was too weak of stomach to do the torturing itself.
As Jews we were taught to be angry at pharaohs and tyrants and brutal overseers each year at Passover. We eat the bitter herb to remind us, choking on each bite, how bitter was our humiliation, hunger, torture, death.
I pray my dear friend, that we all learn by acting as if the Earth is ONE because the Breath of Life, YaHWeH, is ONE. Love the Breath of Life, and love our neighbors as ourselves. We can't love either ONE without the other, because each ONE is the other.
Shalom uvracha:
R'Avrael
Rabbi Arthur Segal
www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org
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