A Jewish response to the Attempted Political Assassination of Gabrielle Giffords
Chabad of Mineola’s Rabbi Anchelle Perl urges the President of the USA proclaim a “National Day of Reflection” and that the entire Senate & Congress adjourn for a week.
Let the United States Senate & Congress break for a week & Travel across the USA to teach Civil Behavior
A Lesson from Jewish History: When the Jewish people had first settled the land of Canaan, a terrible civil war broke out. An outrageous and brutal rape and murder occurred in the territory of Benjamin. The other tribes were outraged. The Book of Judges tells us that close to 70,000 people died in the ensuing battles.
In the ancient Midrash, Tana d’Bei Eliyahu Rabba, the sages ask why did so many have to die?
Their answer is very revealing. Because, they say, the great assembly of judges and rabbis that Moses and Joshua had left behind sat in their place next to the Holy Tabernacle and judged the people.
What should they have done? In the language of the Midrash, “they should have lifted their skirts above their knees, girded their loins with iron girdles and wandered from town to town, one day in Hebron, one day in Lod, and taught the people civil behavior.”
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneeerson cited this passage often noting that the proper place of this assembly, known as “Sanhedrin,” is next to the Holy Tabernacle. If they are not there, the law is that no court throughout the land can serve a capital sentence. And yet they were to leave the Capitol and travel across the country.
So here we have a very poignant instance of just what we are talking about: The Sanhedrin was to sacrifice the power of the governing body to administrate and adjudicate for the sake of teaching the people civil behavior. The judges themselves were to leave their place and go to the people. As one commentary explains, the people must see they are taking this seriously.
The USA stands for a society that is obsessed with the concerns of each of its citizens, while it recognizes the supremacy of Divine authority — “one nation under G-d.”
So a senator or congressperson or Supreme Court judge may say, that’s very nice, but it’s not our job to take care of the spiritual welfare of our nation.
To this, the Rebbe, Rabbi Schneerson tells us, on the contrary: the entire purpose of a nation, of law and order, of freedom and of government is the spiritual growth of each individual.
This is the only way a society can establish stability.
Law and order, justice and the security of its citizens are Divine missions of every governing body, but they are not its principal task.
The principal task of government is to provide opportunity for every individual to grow, physically, mentally and spiritually, and to reach the greatest potential of human expression that that individual is able to reach; to teach people civil behavior and engage them in discussion of spiritual growth.
Let’s encourage and respectfully request that all the members of the Senate, of Congress and yes, of the Supreme Court gird their loins and traveling across the USA to ensure a focus on civil behavior and respect for one another.
What Can an Individual Do?
What can we say in the face of such tragedy? What can we do on behalf of a friend and leader who is struggling for her life? So many of us feel powerless to help. Is there anything we can do?
Judaism provides us with a timeless formula for moments like this. As we say every Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, while G-d in His infinite wisdom maps out the course of our days, the three-fold formula of “tzedaka, prayer, and teshuva” have the power to sway our fates.
Tzedaka: Today, make a resolution to give a portion of money to charity in the name of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of her shooter.
Prayer: taps into each person’s unique ability to speak with God. So often we forget about this awesome power that we have; a tragedy like this is a good chance to remind ourselves that we have the power to talk directly with God. One option is to say Psalms. A common psalm that is frequently recited in order to help a sick person is Psalm 20.
Teshuva: means returning to our roots. Today, resolve to take on one step toward spiritual growth in the merit of a speedy recovery of all those who were injured, and in honor of the memory of those who were slain.
Congresswoman Giffords
Its important to underscore, that besides Congresswoman Giffords being a member of public office, she is also Jewish – the first Jewish individual elected to public office in Arizona. We must all look into ourselves and to our community for all the negative things that have been “tossed around” and their domino effect.
elisha
cute only cute
Ober Chuchem
Speaking language of Bible about 70K deaths? Because Supreme Court stayed in Washington?
Oy, what is Lubavitch coming to when every one can take his tiffer seychel to the masses in our name.
Well said
This is beautiful.
Tehillim
She is Jewish. What is her Hebrew name?
Sam
Just a note – she isn’t actually Halachicly Jewish – just her father was Jewish, while her mother was a Christian Scientist … doesn’t make what happened to her any less tragic, and it’s certainly nice that she identified publicly and as part of her reelection campaign as a Jewish woman, but the point stands …
.. that’s what you get when the JTS is your source of information …
To number 6
Why is it good she identified as a yid? If she’s a goy why should she be convinced she’s Jewish and then call herself the first Jewish … aderabe, she’s just making problems for herself and her children by calling herself Jewish when she’s in fact a goyah!
to number 6
To me, Jewish blood is Jewish blood and it makes no sense to turn someone away. We are not living in ancient times where the origin of such laws revolved around worshipping of false gods from intermarriage. Her father was Jewish, she worshipped Hashem! Think about how many people out there have Jewish fathers and are turned away!
To #6
Thanx for the info.
another comment
There are many people who are the product of intermarriage whho have a Jewish father and feel that they and their children are Jewish. I heard once that it is recommended that instead of pushing people away from conversion who have a Jewish father that it is good to try to convert them since they have a spark of Judaism in them.The congress woman should have a refuah shlaima.
To #8
Who’s turning her away? We hope that she’ll make a full recovery. But there are specific criteria of what makes someone a Jew or not, and those don’t change just because “we’re not living in ancient times.”
meir
2 # 1
barry goldwater was elected many years b 4 her
To #8 & #3
It is true that everyone should pray to Hashem. I know many non-
Jews who pray to Hashem and they should be helped to increase in
their belief and faith in Hashem. They should be taught the Shevah
Mitzvot Bnei Noach. I know non-Jews who love to go to 770 to see
the Rebbe and to pray. Of course they should not be turned away.
It is difficult for me to understand why more non-Jews are not
coming to pray in 770 or other shuls throughout the world. I believe it is because of the extreme insecureity of the masses
and majority of the Jewish people, and their lack of understanding
of their purpose in the world, to make a dwelling place for Hashem in THIS world. For sure we Jews should go out to the world. That’s
our shlichut.
To #3
Just scroll down 4 articles from this one and you will see & hear
what the Rebbe MHM says about going out to teach the world about
Torah. It is with English subtitles so that you can read it and try
to understand it. I realize that people do not have a background
in Chasidus in general, and do not have an understanding of Chabad
Chasidus. I am sure that this video will shed some light on the
subject for you. Hatzlachah Rabbah, good luck.
Sam
To my dear # 8 – at the outset, I should recommend a great blog for you – blogs.rj.org – the blog “by and for Reform Jews.” I am sure you will find it to be a great resource, and perhaps more in line with your views …
#5 had merely asked for her Jewish name in order to say Tehillim … I merely informed him/her that the brave and admirable Congresswoman was not in fact Jewish …
Cease
Attempted Political Assassination?? It is this type of rhetoric of blame that continues the cycle of hatred.
Milhouse
1. She is not Jewish, and if #8 doesn’t care about the Torah’s laws and thinks he’s smarter than God then he doesn’t belong on this site.
2. Why all of a sudden should we suspend activity and reflect on these murders? There are murders every day somewhere in the USA. What’s so special about these ones? And why the focus on a woman who wasn’t even killed? I care more about the little girl who with her birth brought hope back into the world after the 11-Sep-2001 attacks, and has now been killed by a crazy person. Why does R Perl care so much about a politician who stands against so much of what he is supposed to stand for?
Annabelle
As someone who’s father was Jewish and because of that had to go into hiding during WWII, and who was raised in both the Jewish and Christian faiths, I believe that every individual is a sum of all parts. So, if Gabby identifies with her Jewish roots then who are any of us to judge whether she is a “real” Jew or not. Our maker will accept her either way. It is precisely this type of isolationist mentality that has caused so many problems over the years. Whether we be Jewish or Christian, we are all children of God. That Gabby herself spiritually considers herself Jewish and is by all accounts 1/2 Jewish should be enough.
To #13
The reason why religious non-Jews don’t pray at shul is because they have their own houses of worship or they pray anywhere and have simpler forms of prayer. People might pray not everyday but when they or someone else are in need. Those who are Christian follow ten commandments, old testament or if they are of another religion, they still have a code of morals, etc.
I think the disparaging comments regarding this woman are sad and heartless. The world is sick with apathy and the negative comments are proof that even those who consider themselves to be good and religious are not exempt from the sickness.
To number 18
I’m not saying don’t care for her or think about her because she’s not Jewish all I’m saying is get the facts straight – she’s not Jewish! And she shouldn’t convince herself she’s Jewish because that’s ultimately a disservice to her and her kids. And there is no advantage to her being proud of her Jewish roots which in actuality are useless because she’s not Jewish! Either way she was a victim of crime and she deserves to be healed and may G-d bless her and let her continue her vital work!
#8
The idea during those times was that the product of interfaith marriages would be lost to Judaism.
She was not lost, she returned to it.
Who is turning her away? Every person who posts with the tone of, “She’s not Jewish, why should we care?”
How would you feel if something bad happened to you and people posted, “They’re Jewish, why should we care?”
reuven
perhaps she has a jewish nishama and a goyish physical body…
for those of you jusding this congressperson and claiming YOU know her faith it may be opposite for you.
please do not judge others and don’t be hard on yourself.
HaShem has ALL of the answers, NOT anyone else.
reuven
perhaps she has a jewish nishama and a goyish physical body…
for those of you judging this congressperson and claiming YOU know her faith it may be opposite for you.
please do not judge others and don’t be hard on yourself.
HaShem has ALL of the answers, NOT anyone else.
Milhouse
Anabelle, we don’t have to guess or judge whether she’s a Jew; God told us exactly how to identify a Jew, and God told us that the child of a Jewish mother is a Jew and the child of a gentile mother is born a gentile and will remain a gentile unless she converts. We did not make this up, God told it to us, so we don’t have to rely on feelings or guesswork.
#21, “The idea during those times” – whose idea, during which times? This isn’t some idea, it is GOD’S LAW. He is eternal, and His law is for all times, and it isn’t optional. Giffords can’t “return” to something she never had. If she would like to become Jewish for the first time, she can convert, but she would have to accept the obligation to keep ALL of the laws, which she is clearly not willing to do.
Reuven, there is no such thing as a goyishe nefesh in a yiddishe body. We may not know her faith, though the fact that she attends a reform temple is a pretty good indicator; but we DO know her status, which is not Jewish. Hashem doesn’t have all the answers alone we have them too, because He gave us the Torah which contains Him and all His answers.