Israeli paper publishes Obama Western Wall prayer

[kskiska]

Source: AP

JERUSALEM (AP) - A written prayer that Barack Obama left this week in the cracks of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, asks God to guide him and guard his family, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday.

"Lord _ Protect my family and me," reads the note published in the Maariv daily. "Forgive me 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."

The paper's decision to make the note public drew fire. The rabbi in charge of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitz, said publishing the note intruded in Obama's relationship with God.

"The notes placed between the stones of the Western Wall are between a person and his maker. It is forbidden to read them or make any use of them," he told Army Radio. The publication "damages the Western Wall and damages the personal, deep part of every one of us that we keep to ourselves," he said.

Read more: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=213&sid=1446796

[madaboutharry]

1. This is very upsetting to me.

Now I read a seminary student pulled it out of the wall after Obama left. It is such a breach. These notes are not supposed to be disturbed. This student, who studies Torah, knows better and showed complete disrespect.

[BonnieJW]

7. I agree!

I am a Jew and The Western Wall is sacred. It is a place where individuals go to become one with God and Sen. Obama's most personal and private thoughts were invaded. I'm glad that Rabbi voice his objections.

[UndertheOcean]

19. who is sen ?

[nodehopper]

26. senator obama

[UndertheOcean]

27. oh

[Lost4words]

65. are you so thick you couldn't imagine what sen in front of Obama means!?

you need to get out a little more, and dont be so angry!

8643

[rainbow4321]

15. Hopefully the person is now an ex-seminary student n/t

[AspenRose]

60. I hope so

They just demonstrated they cannot keep a confidence. That's kind of an important skill for clergy of all faiths to have.

[LeftishBrit]

31. Agreed; that is just wrong!

[Fran Kubelik]

2. It was SO wrong to publish that prayer.

But that being said - go Obama! What a great prayer. Makes him seem human, and makes me love him more.

[madaboutharry]

3. Yes, it is a beautiful note.

He is a very deep person. I feel the same.

[UndertheOcean]

20. He believes in the big father figure in the sky

that's not deep at all , that's rather shallow

[MellowDem]

28. I think calling someone's deepest beliefs...

of which no one really knows, "shallow", is disrespectful. How do you know Obama thinks of God as a "father figure"? What about cultures with literal representations of their gods? Are they really shallow as well?

Is being an agnostic or an atheist any more "deep"? I don't see how it is. Let's try not to rank people's beliefs based on our own prejudices. It comes across as judgmental.

[UndertheOcean]

44. "Is being an agnostic or an atheist any more "deep"?"

Is 1+1=2 ?

[POAS]

48. 1+1=10

[UndertheOcean]

49. only in binary

[POAS]

50. So you didn't get the point.......figures

[UndertheOcean]

51. No, you are the one who is confused .

Changing 1+1=2 to binary arithmetic does not alter the truth of the original statement or point to a new truth.

[POAS]

52. It points to your dogmatic fixation

and almost religious anti-religious zeal.

I have a real problem with zealots of any stripe, including atheist zealots. Although you are sure to deny it you share an important character trait with those you attack, a complete and utter confidence that you hold knowledge of the absolute truth, any deviation is heresy.

Hope you have fun in that shallow world of yours, I'll be going now.

[MellowDem]

58. So you think it is

I know atheists who are quite shallow people, who rarely give a thought to anything beyond themselves, who are most concerned with their lives and totally apathetic about politics or the world around them. I also know atheists who are passionate about social issues and who discuss the meaning of life and try to understand the world around them better. According to you, all atheists are deep because they reject a belief in God. There is no evidence to do so, but somehow, that is more deep than believing in God.

I also know many religious people who love talking about their beliefs and have no problem questioning aspects of their religion. They enjoy studying other religions as well and have a deep interest in social issues and trying to better society. Then there are those who say they are religious, but obviously do not follow their stated beliefs or could really care less about studying their religion or about social issues in general.

Honestly, I don't see how being an agnostic or atheist automatically makes one more substantive. Either way, you are being disrespectful to other's beliefs. There are many dogmatic religious types out there that think atheists are the shallowest people alive. It's funny how dogmatic atheists tend to ape their hated religious brethren.

Personally, Senator Obama is less shallow than a lot of people I know, atheists included. :)

[Lost4words]

66. Great reply MelloDem! Welcome to DU btw!

:hi: 8643

[undeterred]

32. Only to a shallow person.

[UndertheOcean]

45. You prove my point.

[LeftishBrit]

33. I'm no believer in anyone up in the sky

but Obama is, so leaving this note was appropriate enough for him.

What WAS really shallow was for the seminary student to sell it to the papers, and for the paper to publish it. There are 'paparazzi' everywhere, so it seems.

[Divine Discontent]

35. thank you for showing many that most non-believers are respectful

of others faith. Bless you! And your point about the paper is what is shocking, they were happy just to get a scoop on something they knew he'd sell to whomever, because the pursuit of cash is strong when you have no morals apparently, how disrespectful to Sen. Obama to steal his prayer and then for the news company to print it! shallow...


More at - www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[pokercat999]

59. I had just thrown the dice a little too hard and one of them

bounced off the table. "No Roll" shouted the box-man. I called for any two dice to the stickman to maintain the speed of the game. The player next to me picked up his large free odds bet on the point and on the next roll I hit it, he would have won a huge bet.
I didn't criticize him for his superstitions but I knew in this area he was a fool.
Common superstitions say the roll after the dice are thrown off the table will be a seven out (loser for the point), that if you do throw them off the table you should always call for "same dice" because changing the dice in the middle of a roll is always bad luck, and any regular player adheres to these superstitions like they were the commandants.........maybe they are....for dice players.

Religion = superstition, not a trait I admire in a presidential candidate or anyone else that is thought of as an intelligent and educated person.

[Divine Discontent]

34. oh goodness ---- You are a piece...

first you ask who Sen is, when the sentence said, "between God and Sen. Obama", thinking that the period after the abbreviation for Senator was the end of the sentence, and therefore was a name of a god or something, and then you mock every person who believes we are created and not here by accident, and you have no right to attack someone's believe in a higher power.


thanks for embarrassing yourself thoroughly...

More at - - - www.cafepress.com/votenoon8 and PRO-OBAMA MAMA & Anti-McSame items at www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[UndertheOcean]

46. Whats eating you up ? offended your deep seated beliefs ?

How First Amendment of me.

[The Croquist]

55. Not First Amendment of you at all

Just rude...

[silverweb]

21. Agreed.

It's a beautiful prayer and appropriate in every sense.

Also, knowing human nature and the press these days -- and I say this without a bit of cynicism -- I think Obama isn't the least bit surprised by this invasion of his privacy, and made sure he wrote a prayer appropriate for the publication that was almost certain.

[The Stranger]

4. I'm with the Rabbi Rabinowitz on this one.

But I really like Obama's prayer nevertheless.

[SpiralHawk]

5. BREAKING: George AWOL Bush's prayer published

"Dear Yahweh Dude,
Please help me and my cabal of republicon cronies to continue to reap massive profits, maintain a fascist grip on the noisy little American proles who refuse to drink the kool aid and pledge fealty to The Republicon Homeland, and help us find ways to continue to cover up our lies, corruption, and treason. I promise, you will get a cut of the action. Smirk."

- George AWOL Bush, Skull & Boner Bad Boy Occultist

[Megahurtz]

9. Lol! n/t

[blue52power]

13. rollin....that's good stuff nt

nt

[Pathwalker]

6. They STOLE his prayer? That is sacrilege!

I thought I had lost the ability to be shocked by the press anymore, but this is abominable!

[endelfam]

8. Shame on them!

I have stood at the wall and placed my own note between the stones with a personal prayer. This absolutely disgusts me. There are thousands and thousands of notes tucked between the stones. No one, absolutely no one, disturbs those notes.

[orleans]

23. "No one, absolutely no one, disturbs those notes" -- until now

what an asshole! how dare he take that note. and what a fucked up piece of shit paper to publish it.

(yeah, it pisses me off--and i'm not a religious person)

[Triana]

10. HOW DARE they publish that. I agree with the rabbi - it is an intrusion on Obama's...

..personal spirituality and his relationship with God.

TOTALLY wrong.

It's a wonderful prayer - but it's damn wrong to publicize it.

[daleo]

11. There's a good reason prayers should be kept private

Frankly, I would prefer not to have read that Obama wrote this: "And make me an instrument of your will."

That kind of sentiment can cover a lot of ground - both good and evil. Let's face it, from Bush, that line would give most of the creeps. I assume it is just a vague generality from Obama, though, since he doesn't seem like a religious fanatic.

[ohio2007]

12. Whats' "stuck in the wall....stays in the wall"

The pope left a note in the wall. I doubt it was picked up for a proof read.

jmo

[livingon]

14. This was very wrong!!

[TaffyMoon]

16. outrageous

[Ian David]

17. If it were *ME*, I would have written...

"These notes are supposed to be PRIVATE, motherfucker! Put it BACK in the wall NOW. PS: Good luck finding my REAL prayer."

[Divine Discontent]

37. AMEN IanDB1! Lol.... eom

[Ian David]

38. But if I were running for President, I'd probably be indicted before the first Primary anyway. n/t

[AspenRose]

61. ROFL

That was a little crude, but it sure was funny :rofl:

[Trajan]

18. Can they stoop any lower ?

Sheeesh ....

Even as an atheist; these messages are to be inviolate .... Whatever I believe (or dont believe), Obama has every right to participate in this ritual and maintain whatever secrecy is customary for this ....

Maariv ? .... Who is this ? .... related to MEMRI ? .... the JPOST ?

On another note: It is GREAT to see Kskiska still Kskicking here in LBN ..... I remember the day when Kskiska and Khephra kept the LBN posts rolling most the day .....

THANKS for being you, Kskiska .....

[Ian David]

42. Good thing the media is giving Obama such a free ride, huh?

Imagine if he had just put in a blank piece of paper?

Or written something stupid on it?

But you know what would have been REALLY cool?

If he had written it in Hebrew from memory.

But still, it's an awesome prayer, so Obama wins this round against the low-lifes.

[truthisfreedom]

22. It's natural for someone to be curious, but what the reporter did was pure evil.

If and when that reporter puts his/her prayer into the Western Wall, I hope the last thought after leaving is whether it simply blew away.

[Ian David]

43. There is only TWO things they could have done that would have been worse

1) Lie about what the note said.
or

2) Decide to publish it ONLY if it were embarrassing somehow, but put it back and pretend they never took it if they thought it would cast Obama in a positive light.

[Codeine]

24. Who gives a shit.

A piece of paper. That's all.

[Divine Discontent]

36. 90% of the population finds an intrusion into one's private spiritual matters very offensive

and furthermore, this is the Jewish people's most revered area, and to have one of their own violate the privacy and sanctity applied to the prayer wall is beyond shocking, you may not be able to comprehend, but even those who aren't Jewish get it. It's obnoxious and disrespecting someone else's beliefs.

[Ian David]

40. It's like bugging The Pope's confessional. n/t

[Ian David]

39. That's great you feel that way. Bring a taperecorder to your next Confession.

Or, if your religion doesn't DO confession, then bring it to your next A.A. meeting, or your next visit with your psychiatrist or urologist or...

Geesh.

I can't believe you don't "get it."

Maybe you're just not an "it-getter?"

[JerseygirlCT]

25. It's a lovely prayer, but this is a horrible violation.

Totally horrible.

That's a private prayer, not something meant for public consumption. Shame on whoever pulled it out, and shame on the publishers, too.

[xxqqqzme]

29. When I saw the clip of Obama leaving

the note, I wondered if some creep would take so it could be published. There goes another illusion.

[notadmblnd]

30. it's a damn shame

A damn shame that someone's privacy was invaded

A damn shame because people that profess to be deeply religious (religious enough to believe that god will get their message from a wall) would do something like this proving that their belief is only a faux front.

[Ian David]

41. This is a BIG deal and desrves more than 3 recs. n/t

[JI7]

47. it is forbidden to read them also ?

[POAS]

53. Kick

[Flagg]

54. A liberal wanting to be God's instrument ?

That's a little too 'centric' for my taste. Sorry.

[Meeker Morgan]

56. Who cares?

Shame on Barack Obama for pandering to superstitious ninnies by putting the prayer in the wall in the first place. Or does he really think anyone up there cares about this shit?

Democrats should stop pandering to superstitious ninnies already.

It doesn't win over the Republican superstitious ninnies, so what's the point? A few cheap debating points to feel smug about?

[AspenRose]

62. Who said he was pandering?

He's a Christian. That is (or should be by now) well known.

[NYC Liberal]

67. I'm an atheist....and that's just dumb.

Quite clearly that note was meant to be PRIVATE. How could he possibly be "pandering" with a note that was never meant to be read by anyone?

[Stuart G]

57. Saint Francis Prayer.

A well known prayer of St Francis of Assissi




"Lord, make me a channel of thy peace, that where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that where there is error, I may bring truth; that where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that where there is despair, I may bring hope; that where there are shadows, I may bring light that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted; to understand, than to be understood; to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life."

[Odin2005]

63. I am disgusted beyond words by this violation of Obama's privacy

Nosy paparazzi are scum.

[kskiska]

64. UPDATE: Probe paper for printing Obama note

Attorney Shahar Elon petitioned Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz on Sunday to order police to open a criminal investigation against the editor of Ma'ariv and other correspondents from the newspaper following its publication of the note US presidential candidate Barack Obama placed between the stones of the Western Wall early Thursday morning, Israeli media reported.

"With its actions, in my opinion, the newspaper broke several clauses of the 1967 Preservation of Holy Sites Law and violated rights based on Basic Law - Respect for Man and his Freedom," wrote Elon.

In addition, Elon called for a consumer boycott of the newspaper until it publishes an apology to Obama.

"I declare a consumer protest against Ma'ariv starting today. I urge all MKs, ministers, judges, soldiers and other public sector officials to freeze or cancel their subscriptions to Ma'ariv in the coming month," he wrote.

more…
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331112489&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[AspenRose]

68. HUH?

"In response, a Ma'ariv spokesman said that "Barack Obama's note was approved for publication in the international media even before he put in the Kotel, a short time after he wrote it at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. In any case, since Obama is not a Jew, publishing the note does not constitute an infringement on his right to privacy."

Soooo....since Obama's not Jewish, he's not entitled to privacy?!

That's the most asinine suggestion I've ever heard.

[bean fidhleir]

69. Do you guys REALLY think this wasn't a setup by the campaign?

You have GOT to be kidding me!