••• Prayers recited for Gabrielle Giffords at graves of Biblical figures in Israel •••

[breadandwine]

Giffords being Jewish I sent for prayers for her at Jewish Biblical sites in Israel where there are people there all the time who pray for those for whom prayers are requested. I sent messages with details of the situation with requests for prayers to the graves of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives including Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel and others.

In Jewish tradition Gabriel is the angel of strict judgment and severity, while Michael is the angel of mercy. In general, the Democrats are the party of mercy and the Republicans are the party of strict judgment. (E.g., extend unemployment benefits vs. "Get a job!") We can only hope that heaven will sweeten the stern judgments.

[snagglepuss]

1. Just for accuracy her father is Jewish her mother is a Christian Scientist

and she was raised in both faiths though she has strong ties to her Jewish roots. S,nce her Mom isn't Jewish I don't think it can be said that she is Jewish given that her mother is gentile.

[breadandwine]

2. Do you have a link on that?

Giffords is not a Jewish name but her mother's name includes "Kay" which may be her maiden name and may be Jewish.


Got a link for this?


There are two points you're making, that the father is Jewsih and the mother is a Christian scientist. Even if she is that could be by conversion, the mother could have been born a Jew.

Anyway, just curious, do you have links about these things, both parents?

[snagglepuss]

4. She identifies but hasn't converted. Lots of info on google. JTA news.

http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.jewish.moderated/browse_thread/thread/0bbf5c3dfd792be7

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Just for accuracy...

She has identified herself solely with Judaism since 2001, belonging to Congregation Chaverim, a Reform synagogue, in Tucson.<2><1> She is Arizona's first Jewish Congresswoman.<56><57> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielle_Giffords#Personal_life_and_philanthropy

And, yes, she can be a Jew even if her mother is not Jewish.

[breadandwine]

5. Actually, I have to agree Snagglepuss is right, and thanks for the info.

I did my own research now and indeed it is her father who is Jewish. Unless we go by Hitler's definition of a Jew (any grandparent) and not the ancient one, then Giffords is not a Jew unless she formally converts and then takes the conversion seriously. Nice to see she appreciates the Jewish heritage. Judaism is not only a creed where you join like you join a club or committee. It is also a family and it has rules how the lineage is established.

I guess the really notable thing in all this is that the shooter thought she was Jewish and that was enough for him to come after her. In terms of her being a Democrat she is a self-professed blue dog and there are a lot of Democrats to the left of her. Yet the shooter singled her out and there is much evidence that he was really anti-Semitic. And it seems he is using Hitler's definition of a Jew --- anyone with one Jewish grandparent, regardless of which one, is, in the Nazi view, a target.

As for Reform, it is not the greatest authority on this. There are no uniform standards in Reform. If a Reform congregation votes that blowing soap bubbles on the beach in Malibu makes someone a Jew, then that is the standard in that Reform congregation.

Giffords' grandfather, Akiba Hornstein, the son of a Lithuanian rabbi, had acquired the nickname of Gifford during elementary school and changed his name to "Gif Giffords" once he was in the desert, to protect himself from anti-Semitism. Some Jews change their names. This evidently did not help in the sense that his granddaughter was still shot. See here ---

http://azstarnet.com/news/article_ca22c3e8-57df-593b-87f0-b1e3617ef74b.html

That article also says Giffords' mother is not Jewish.

So I have to agree with Snagglepuss, and thanks, Snagglepuss, for the heads up.

I hope Giffords pulls through. The whole thing is such a monstrous tragedy. And now the right wing is saying, "Who me?"

[Behind the Aegis]

6. So you are saying she is not a Jew in your eyes?

Well, it may not follow the laws to a "T", but someone who has, for more than 10 years, practiced Judaism, attends synagogue, participates in Jewish activities, and self-identifies as a Jew is a Jew to me. There is nothing saying she has or hasn't converted to Judaism, but she does identify herself as a Jew and therefore, it could still be a motive.

[reggie the dog]

8. the fact that she is a practicing member of a faith is all that

should count, she considers herself to be Jewish, practices the Jewish faith, therefore she is Jewish, end of story!

[Control-Z]

9. So, does this mean she is

no longer qualified to have special prayers recited for her at the graves of biblical figures?

Religions sure do have some funny beliefs and practices. :crazy:

[Poll_Blind]

13. Wow. n/t

PB

[Divine Discontent]

7. K&R 5!

my prayers certainly go up for her and the others who've suffered.

[xchrom]

10. that was a very nice thing to do. nt

[DeadEyeDyck]

11. KnR

[roguevalley]

12. it will give her and her family comfort that this is done in holy

places. god bless us all.