Rabbi Shea Harlig, director of Chabad of Southern Nevada, opened up Senate proceedings on June 25th with an invocation to honor the 15th anniversary of the death of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The invitation came from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
After saying that he came in the spirit of the seven Noahide laws, Harlig said, "I beseech you, Almighty G-d, to grant renewed strength and fortitude to all who protect, preserve and help further these ideals so essential to the dignity of the human spirit. Please grant that our beloved Rebbe's vision of a world of peace and tranquility -- free of war, hatred and strife -- be realized speedily in our days.
A transcript of Harlig's prayer can be read here, and below is the video of his appearance in the Senate.
Transcript from Chabad.org
"Almighty G-d, the members of this prestigious body, the United States Senate, convene here in the spirit of one of the seven Noahide Laws which were set forth by You as an eternal universal code of ethics for all of mankind.
"These seven laws are: To worship You alone; never to blaspheme Your Holy Name; not to murder; not to commit adultery or any such aberration; not to steal or be deceitful; not to be cruel to any living creature; and that every society be governed by just laws which are based in the recognition of You, O G-d, as the Sovereign Ruler of all people and all nations.
"On this twenty-fifth day of June, 2009, which corresponds to the Third Day of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, we are 15 years - to the day - from the physical passing of our esteemed spiritual leader, The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory, who consistently extolled the virtues of this great land as a "Nation of Kindness".
"I beseech you, Almighty G-d, to grant renewed strength and fortitude to all who protect, preserve and help further these ideals so essential to the dignity of the human spirit. Please grant that our beloved Rebbe's vision of a world of peace and tranquility - free of war, hatred and strife - be realized speedily in our days.
"G-d Bless this hallowed body. G-d Bless our troops who stand in defense of this great land. G-d Bless the United States of America."
"We, the citizens of this blessed country proudly proclaim this recognition and our commitment to justice in our Pledge of Allegiance "One Nation - Under G-d - with Liberty and Justice for All." "Grant us Almighty G-d that those assembled here be aware of Your presence and conduct their deliberations accordingly. Bless them with good health, wisdom, compassion, and good fellowship.
Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts
Friday, July 03, 2009
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Obama sends condolences to Chabad
US president-elect expresses his profound sorrow over terror attack at Jewish center in Mumbai, says 'Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg carried out in their corner of the world Chabad Lubavitch's mission of service to the Jewish community'
Yisrael Bardugo
US President-elect Barack Obama send a letter of condolences to the Chabad community, expressing his sorrow over the terror attack in the Jewish center in the Indian city of Mumbai, which left six people dead.
The letter was handed over to Chabad emissary in Chicago, Rabbi Daniel Moskowitz."Michelle and I want to express our profound sorrow and heartfelt condolences over the terrible tragedy that befell the Chabad Lubavitch community, and indeed the entire Jewish community, last week in Mumbai," Obama wrote.
He went on to express his condolences to the Holtzberg and Rosenberg families, who lost their son and daughter in the Chabad center terror attack.
"We mourn the loss of Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, and all their Chabad House guests, in these attacks. They were taken from us by terrorists with no regard for human life, and we must remain steadfast in support of efforts to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice."
Addressing the ultra-Orthodox organization's activity in Mumbai, Obama said, "In running the Chabad House in Mumbai, Gavriel and Rivka provided a home away from home for so many Jewish travelers, carrying out in their corner of the world Chabad Lubavitch's mission of service to the Jewish community. They gave selflessly of themselves to others, and touched many lives along the way.
The US president-elect concluded his letter by saying, "As you mourn and remember those we lost, you should know that so many Americans share your grief and pain. May their memories be a blessing."
Chabad's ties with the White House go far back. Many Americans view the late Lubavitcher rabbi as a particularly influential person. Since the 1970s, in honor of the rabbi's activity, his birthday is marked as a special education day.
Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Chabad’s representative in Washington and the person who founded the Capitol Jewish Forum, told Ynet about the connection between Chabad and the White House.
"Only recently the White House praised the Chabadniks' activity in the New Orleans floods and the resourcefulness they showed during the California fires, when they lent a hand to thousands of helpless people," he said.
Shemtov explained that the Jewish organization's connection with the White House was "Way beyond the traditional candle lighting and making the presidential kitchen kosher on Hanukkah."
Yisrael Bardugo
US President-elect Barack Obama send a letter of condolences to the Chabad community, expressing his sorrow over the terror attack in the Jewish center in the Indian city of Mumbai, which left six people dead.
The letter was handed over to Chabad emissary in Chicago, Rabbi Daniel Moskowitz."Michelle and I want to express our profound sorrow and heartfelt condolences over the terrible tragedy that befell the Chabad Lubavitch community, and indeed the entire Jewish community, last week in Mumbai," Obama wrote.
He went on to express his condolences to the Holtzberg and Rosenberg families, who lost their son and daughter in the Chabad center terror attack.
"We mourn the loss of Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, and all their Chabad House guests, in these attacks. They were taken from us by terrorists with no regard for human life, and we must remain steadfast in support of efforts to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice."
Addressing the ultra-Orthodox organization's activity in Mumbai, Obama said, "In running the Chabad House in Mumbai, Gavriel and Rivka provided a home away from home for so many Jewish travelers, carrying out in their corner of the world Chabad Lubavitch's mission of service to the Jewish community. They gave selflessly of themselves to others, and touched many lives along the way.
The US president-elect concluded his letter by saying, "As you mourn and remember those we lost, you should know that so many Americans share your grief and pain. May their memories be a blessing."
Chabad's ties with the White House go far back. Many Americans view the late Lubavitcher rabbi as a particularly influential person. Since the 1970s, in honor of the rabbi's activity, his birthday is marked as a special education day.
Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Chabad’s representative in Washington and the person who founded the Capitol Jewish Forum, told Ynet about the connection between Chabad and the White House.
"Only recently the White House praised the Chabadniks' activity in the New Orleans floods and the resourcefulness they showed during the California fires, when they lent a hand to thousands of helpless people," he said.
Shemtov explained that the Jewish organization's connection with the White House was "Way beyond the traditional candle lighting and making the presidential kitchen kosher on Hanukkah."
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Russia chief rabbi: Repeal Jackson-Vanik
Russia's chief Chabad rabbi castigated the United States for its refusal to repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment.
In an interview published Wednesday in a Russian newspaper, Rabbi Berel Lazar said the only reasoning behind retaining the amendment was political and that it's usefulness had long ago passed.
The Cold War-era measure places restrictions on countries that do not allow their citizens to freely emigrate. Enacted 33 years ago, it was targeted at alleviating the constraints on Jewish intellectuals.
Jackson-Vanik, named for the two major co-sponsors in the U.S. Congress, remains in place for Russia and several other former Soviet countries, preventing their admittance to organizations such as the World Trade Organization.
Lazar said Chabad representatives have brought up the issue with President Bush and the U.S. State Department.
Jews have been able "to emigrate and to freely travel" for a long time, Lazar told Nezavisimaya Gazeta, while many have returned to Russia.
"No one has forced them to return," he said. "It was their free choice."
Lazar said the amendment is now harming the Jewish people because their struggle for human rights has been tied to economic policy.
"The repeal of the amendment is now tied to things like American chicken imports to Russia," Lazar said. "People and their spiritual freedom have been placed on the same plane with chicken."
In an interview published Wednesday in a Russian newspaper, Rabbi Berel Lazar said the only reasoning behind retaining the amendment was political and that it's usefulness had long ago passed.
The Cold War-era measure places restrictions on countries that do not allow their citizens to freely emigrate. Enacted 33 years ago, it was targeted at alleviating the constraints on Jewish intellectuals.
Jackson-Vanik, named for the two major co-sponsors in the U.S. Congress, remains in place for Russia and several other former Soviet countries, preventing their admittance to organizations such as the World Trade Organization.
Lazar said Chabad representatives have brought up the issue with President Bush and the U.S. State Department.
Jews have been able "to emigrate and to freely travel" for a long time, Lazar told Nezavisimaya Gazeta, while many have returned to Russia.
"No one has forced them to return," he said. "It was their free choice."
Lazar said the amendment is now harming the Jewish people because their struggle for human rights has been tied to economic policy.
"The repeal of the amendment is now tied to things like American chicken imports to Russia," Lazar said. "People and their spiritual freedom have been placed on the same plane with chicken."
Friday, April 18, 2008
Bush cites Chabad education project
A U.S. president for the 30th consecutive year has proclaimed Education and Sharing Day USA, a project of Chabad-Lubavitch.
Ten Chabad emissaries from around the world visited President Bush in the Oval Office Tuesday. Bush signed a proclamation making Wednesday Education and Sharing Day USA.
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the chairman of the executive committee of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, said the annual event was instituted by the Lubavitcher rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in 1978 when Jimmy Carter occupied the White House.
It is repeated annually on Schneerson’s Hebrew birthday, which began Tuesday night, in honor of his interest in teaching moral values in school. Schneerson was an early advocate of a Department of Education separate from the former Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
“It’s symbolic but an important component of calling attention to education, which the rebbe said was far more than teaching tools” such as math and reading skills, “but involve the development of character,” said Shemtov, who also is the national director of Friends of Lubavitch. “Education is the root of civilization, and the lack of it, or its distortion, is the reason for all the evils in the world.”
Some presidents receive the annual delegation more warmly than others, Shemtov said, adding that "today we came away with the feeling it was more than symbolic.”
The emissaries presented Bush with a Passover Haggadah. Bush signed a second Haggadah that will be sent to Jewish troops overseas.
Ten Chabad emissaries from around the world visited President Bush in the Oval Office Tuesday. Bush signed a proclamation making Wednesday Education and Sharing Day USA.
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the chairman of the executive committee of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, said the annual event was instituted by the Lubavitcher rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in 1978 when Jimmy Carter occupied the White House.
It is repeated annually on Schneerson’s Hebrew birthday, which began Tuesday night, in honor of his interest in teaching moral values in school. Schneerson was an early advocate of a Department of Education separate from the former Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
“It’s symbolic but an important component of calling attention to education, which the rebbe said was far more than teaching tools” such as math and reading skills, “but involve the development of character,” said Shemtov, who also is the national director of Friends of Lubavitch. “Education is the root of civilization, and the lack of it, or its distortion, is the reason for all the evils in the world.”
Some presidents receive the annual delegation more warmly than others, Shemtov said, adding that "today we came away with the feeling it was more than symbolic.”
The emissaries presented Bush with a Passover Haggadah. Bush signed a second Haggadah that will be sent to Jewish troops overseas.
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