Lighters and Fighters
By Getzy Markowitz – Jewish Thought in Simple Words
President Barack Obama talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call from the Oval Office, Monday, June 8, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
The Obama administration may have offended a significant number of Israelis by releasing a photo of the President displaying the soles of his shoes, rested atop the Resolute desk while on a call with the Israeli premier. To Middle Easterners, showing the bottom of ones shoes is considered a low insult. Yet, whether or not the President meant any harm or hint in his casual pose, it is certainly insulting to the office of the President to be captured in that position.
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