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patgundAs a follow up, from Ynet in Israel:
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Western Wall rabbi apologizes for publication of Obama’s note
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz sends letter to US Democratic presidential candidate expressing his regret for extraction of Obama's private note from wall, says it has been returned to its rightful place
Neta Sela, Published: 07.29.08, 19:36 / Israel News
The rabbi overseeing the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinowitz, sent a letter on Tuesday to US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, in which he expressed his sorrow over the removal of the note written by Obama from the wall and its subsequent publication in local media.
In addition, the Yeshiva student who removed Obama’s note from the Wall also apologized and asked for Obama’s forgiveness. He said the note had been returned to its place with Rabinowitz’s help.
In the letter, Rabinowitz wrote that as the Western Wall and Holy Sites Rabbi he deeply regrets the aberrant act.
He also said that many people visit the Western Wall; Jews and non-Jews alike and their honor and the honor of their prayers are top priority.
Expressing regret over the “sacrilegious” actions of the young man, the rabbi said that it is unfortunate that the Wall's sacred atmosphere did not touch the young man's heart as it touched Obama’s.
Rabinowitz reassured the Democratic senator that his prayer has not been harmed and is not damaged by the publication. He also wished Obama that all his prayers come true.
The rabbi signed the letter with a blessing that Obama may be a loyal representative of the Creator of the universe and for those who work for and see to Jerusalem’s wellbeing.
The note that Senator Obama put in the Kotel said, “Lord - protect my family and me. Forgive 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."
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So here we have the Rabbi in charge of the Western Wall AND the student who took the prayer out of the wall saying it was stolen from the wall. Not to mention the Rabbit stating that non-Jews prayers at the wall are to be treated with the same respect as a Jews prayer there.
Both of these things go directly against the newspaper who published it, who made the claim after the fact and after they were denounced for it, that:
a) The prayer was released by the Obama campaign, and
b) That privacy didn't matter because Obama isn't Jewish.
So I think we can safely assume that the prayer was stolen, the student sent copies to the paper, realized the mistake he made, and has done his best to make amends. (and you have to really understand the seriousness of his actions - that student brought shame on his teachers and his calling, and should he complete his studies and become a Rabbi himself, he may find it difficult to get a job or even a wife because of how notorious he is in his own religious community. His actions violated tradition, and that's not something many Orthodox Jews take lightly.)
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Western Wall rabbi apologizes for publication of Obama’s note
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz sends letter to US Democratic presidential candidate expressing his regret for extraction of Obama's private note from wall, says it has been returned to its rightful place
Neta Sela, Published: 07.29.08, 19:36 / Israel News
The rabbi overseeing the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinowitz, sent a letter on Tuesday to US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, in which he expressed his sorrow over the removal of the note written by Obama from the wall and its subsequent publication in local media.
In addition, the Yeshiva student who removed Obama’s note from the Wall also apologized and asked for Obama’s forgiveness. He said the note had been returned to its place with Rabinowitz’s help.
In the letter, Rabinowitz wrote that as the Western Wall and Holy Sites Rabbi he deeply regrets the aberrant act.
He also said that many people visit the Western Wall; Jews and non-Jews alike and their honor and the honor of their prayers are top priority.
Expressing regret over the “sacrilegious” actions of the young man, the rabbi said that it is unfortunate that the Wall's sacred atmosphere did not touch the young man's heart as it touched Obama’s.
Rabinowitz reassured the Democratic senator that his prayer has not been harmed and is not damaged by the publication. He also wished Obama that all his prayers come true.
The rabbi signed the letter with a blessing that Obama may be a loyal representative of the Creator of the universe and for those who work for and see to Jerusalem’s wellbeing.
The note that Senator Obama put in the Kotel said, “Lord - protect my family and me. Forgive 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."
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So here we have the Rabbi in charge of the Western Wall AND the student who took the prayer out of the wall saying it was stolen from the wall. Not to mention the Rabbit stating that non-Jews prayers at the wall are to be treated with the same respect as a Jews prayer there.
Both of these things go directly against the newspaper who published it, who made the claim after the fact and after they were denounced for it, that:
a) The prayer was released by the Obama campaign, and
b) That privacy didn't matter because Obama isn't Jewish.
So I think we can safely assume that the prayer was stolen, the student sent copies to the paper, realized the mistake he made, and has done his best to make amends. (and you have to really understand the seriousness of his actions - that student brought shame on his teachers and his calling, and should he complete his studies and become a Rabbi himself, he may find it difficult to get a job or even a wife because of how notorious he is in his own religious community. His actions violated tradition, and that's not something many Orthodox Jews take lightly.)
