Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 >"Chabadonline.com" <subscriptions ><feedback ><vedic108 >SPECIAL REPORT: Torah Message and Prayer With President Bush >Wed, 26 Dec 2001 13:08:23 -0500 > > > >B”H > >Dear Subscriber, > >In our long, storied journey as a nation certain events stand out for their >historic significance. Sometimes the importance is evident to all from the >start but more often we begin appreciating what happened only with the >clarity afforded to us by hindsight. > >On Monday, December 17, in honor of the just-begun Chanukah holiday, >President George Bush met with a group of Jewish leaders in the White >House, >hours before hosting a Chanukah party in his residence. For half an hour >the >president spoke forcefully about his war against terror and about the >terror >perpetrated against Israel. As reported later in the media, the leaders >were >both moved and very encouraged by the content and tone of the President’s >speech. > >After the president finished speaking two of the leaders spoke briefly and >then all eyes turned to Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of the Executive >Committee of Chabad Lubavitch’s umbrella organization, Agudas Chassidei >Chabad-Lubavitch, and the movement’s longtime envoy to the White House. > >The transcript of Rabbi Shemtov’s words was just released and we rush to >make them available to you. > >May their historic import stand us all in good stead and may it be G-d’s >will that all our prayers be answered in full. > >Sincerely, > >CHABAD ONLINE > >[P.S. The rabbi’s straightforward words clearly found their way to the >President’s heart; when the President saw the rabbi at the Chanukah party >held in the White House residence a few hours later he gave him a warm >embrace…] >---------------------- > >TRANSCRIPT >December 17, 2001 > >RABBI SHEMTOV: Mr. President! > >I am honored by the privilege of meeting you as President. > >Jewish law warrants that I now recite a special blessing in which we thank >the Almighty G-d for “imparting of his glory to a human being.” > >This blessing is one we are obligated to intone in your presence in the >most >“normal” of times. How much more so now, in such a critical time, when the >very freedom of the entire world is on the line, and you have been uniquely >entrusted by Divine Providence with the enormous responsibility and >opportunity to lead the world through this crisis, this blessing takes on >extraordinary meaning and depth. > >Our prayers are constantly with you that, just as the Almighty G-d has >given >you strength and wisdom to guide your -- our -- government and the entire >world to successful achievements until now, you be blessed to continue your >mission to its completion, eradicating the world of evil and darkness. > >It is appropriate that we meet during these days of Chanukah, when the >National Menorah on the Ellipse which was lit last night along with >millions >of others around the world, reminding us of an event in the past very >similar to one we are now facing on a global scale. > >Then, too, the enemy threatened peace and liberty. Then, too, there was a >battle between good and evil. > >Just as then it was the faith and dedication of the Maccabees that >succeeded >to triumph over the forces of evil and darkness, so too now, as we witness >the success of the struggle by all freedom-loving people of the world, >under >your guidance, it is our fervent hope and prayer that you, Mr. President, >with your faith in G-d and deep resolve to do what is just, will succeed to >bring the world to complete triumph and victory. > >The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, >would always stress the need to illuminate the world with light. The >brighter the light, the weaker the darkness. Darkness is eradicated with >light. > >One of the participants asked earlier, “What can we as Jewish communities >do >to help?” In addition to our patriotic duty to do everything in our power >to >support our government in its all-important mission, we must rally >ourselves >and the world to pray on your behalf, on behalf of our government, on >behalf >of our Armed Forces and on behalf of the entire world. We must also >increase >in our acts of loving kindness to ensure the success of this all-important >mission. > >PRESIDENT BUSH: I strongly believe that prayers such as these have >sustained >me until now and they are greatly responsible for the success that we have >enjoyed so far. Please convey my message to the members of your community >to >continue.” > >RABBI SHEMTOV: I remember as a child attending an underground Hebrew school >in the city of Tashkent, in Uzbekistan. > >There I learned about G-d’s creation of the world and how He assigned the >Holy Land to our ancestors and their descendants, the Jewish People, >forever. > >Mr. President, we look toward you to do your best to assure that G-d’s will >continues to be fulfilled. > >Mr. President, in coming here today, I represent my colleagues, the more >than 4,000 emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. >Schneerson, of righteous memory, throughout the U.S. and the world over >working tirelessly to fill the world with light. I will be happy to bring >your message back to them and to their communities all over the world. > >Thank you and, May G-d be with you. > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >** Chabadonline has more than 20 regular e-mailings! To > to more Torah e-mailings please > http://www.chabad.org// > >** To to this e-mailing please forward this email to: > remove and type "remove" in the subject line. > (Please allow up to three days for your request to be processed.) > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >Chabadonline.com >A Division of Chabad Lubavitch Media Center >770 Eastern Parkway * Brooklyn, NY * 11213 >http://www.chabadonline.com >E-mail: feedback > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > > > > _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.