Showing posts with label Kevin Rudd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kevin Rudd. Show all posts
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Rudd sees the light
KEVIN Rudd is back in the good books with the Jewish community. The PM copped some flak last month for scheduling his two-day 2020 Summit on the same weekend as the religious festival Passover, leaving practising Jews unable to attend. But on Friday he was welcomed with open arms at Bondi's Yeshiva Centre, the HQ of Chabad NSW. In front of 600 people, including Jewish community leaders and more than 40 rabbis, Rudd was presented with a menorah (Jewish candelabra) by Yeshiva's dean and spiritual leader, Rabbi Pinchus Feldman. Chabad is the largest Jewish outreach movement in the world, operating in more than 100 countries. Its aim is to encourage acts of goodness and kindness. So maybe we can expect tax cuts in Tuesday's budget.
Rudd gets Chabad rabbi's blessing
Published: 05/04/2008
The chief rabbi of Sydney’s Chabad-Lubavitch movement blessed Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
U.S.-born Rabbi Pinchus Feldman presented a menorah to Rudd before more than 600 people Friday at the Yeshiva Center, Chabad’s headquarters in Bondi.
In blessing the prime minister, Feldman recited a prayer for the nation’s leaders. Feldman, a Kohen, also bestowed the priestly blessing on Rudd.
“The menorah is a symbol of light,” said Rudd, who was making his third public address to the yeshiva. “It is about the Jewish people’s tradition, in the words of the biblical prophet Isaiah, of being ‘a light unto the nations’ and illuminating this world with acts of goodness and kindness."
Chabad has a longstanding tradition of presenting a menorah to political leaders.
After his address Rudd, who also baked challah during his visit to the Yeshiva Center, received a standing ovation.
Eli Feldman, one of Feldman’s sons, told JTA: “The menorah is a symbol of the yeshiva, a symbol of Jewish life."
“Rudd’s outdoing John Howard,” he said, referring to the extraordinary support Israel and the Jews received under the 10-year rule of Howard’s now-opposition Liberal Party. In March, Rudd led a bipartisan parliamentary motion congratulating Israel on its 60th anniversary.
The chief rabbi of Sydney’s Chabad-Lubavitch movement blessed Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
U.S.-born Rabbi Pinchus Feldman presented a menorah to Rudd before more than 600 people Friday at the Yeshiva Center, Chabad’s headquarters in Bondi.
In blessing the prime minister, Feldman recited a prayer for the nation’s leaders. Feldman, a Kohen, also bestowed the priestly blessing on Rudd.
“The menorah is a symbol of light,” said Rudd, who was making his third public address to the yeshiva. “It is about the Jewish people’s tradition, in the words of the biblical prophet Isaiah, of being ‘a light unto the nations’ and illuminating this world with acts of goodness and kindness."
Chabad has a longstanding tradition of presenting a menorah to political leaders.
After his address Rudd, who also baked challah during his visit to the Yeshiva Center, received a standing ovation.
Eli Feldman, one of Feldman’s sons, told JTA: “The menorah is a symbol of the yeshiva, a symbol of Jewish life."
“Rudd’s outdoing John Howard,” he said, referring to the extraordinary support Israel and the Jews received under the 10-year rule of Howard’s now-opposition Liberal Party. In March, Rudd led a bipartisan parliamentary motion congratulating Israel on its 60th anniversary.
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