Donald Trump is the right candidate on Israel and national security (Shmuley Boteach)

timesofisrael.com ^ | May 13, 2016 | Shmuley Boteach

[RoosterRedux]

I am friendly with Donald Trump’s son-in-law and daughter, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. They are both extremely fine people. Jared is a leading advisor to his father-in-law on Israel and is rock-solid on all matters pertaining to the Jewish state. He stems from a famously philanthropically Jewish family who are devoted in every way to the interests of the Jewish community.

I am in accordance with Mr. Trump on his strong position on issues of national security, fighting ISIS and terrorism, and tearing up the disastrous Iran nuclear deal which has already been breached by the Iranian government, making a mockery of the agreement. In addition, Iran continues to breach the1948 UN Anti-Genocide Convention, to which the United States is signatory, through repeated genocidal incitement against Israel, making a mockery of that agreement as well. Neither President Obama nor Secretary Clinton has ever held Iran accountable for their repeated threats to annihilate the Jewish state.

The Iranian government is a gang of outlaws to whom Hillary Clinton, with her constant bragging that she is the architect of the Iranian nuclear agreement, has given a pass. This should be of great concern to any supporter of Israel.

In addition, the pro-Israel community must be deeply concerned about Hillary Clinton’s incredibly close ties to her foremost advisor, Sidney Blumenthal, and his son Max, who also advises her on the Middle East and whom she has called “a mitzvah.” While the father is merely an arch-critic of Israel, the son is the foremost Israel hater in America, regularly comparing Israel to a Nazi State and the IDF – where my son Mendy serves bravely as an IDF combat soldier – to the SS.

[Genoa]

No doubt at all that Trump would be good for Israel. Not that this will make any difference to Jewish liberals. But it’s good to keep the endorsements coming from Jews who care, and publicize them.

[Parley Baer]

Of course he is. Problem is the majority of Jews in this country do not see it that way.

[RoosterRedux]

Ping

[Genoa]

keep the endorsements coming

Strong on Israel is a key to getting evangelicals on board too.

[Pollster1]

There are areas where Trump concerns me, but Israel is not one of them. The vast majority of democrats hate Jews, while Trump respects them and clearly supports Israel.

[faithhopecharity]

Boteach has a lot of respect among faithful Christians and Jews. And this statement wil help reassure them about Trump considerably on a letter where a couple of Trump’s remarks had raised serious concerns. But Boteach can’t influence the many atheistic or “progressive” voters. They ignore or only have contempt for believers of any and all Biblical persuasions. Trump will attract many of them for his “anti-establishment” and “anti- corruption” aura. In these, he will get a surprisingly large number of D votes - especially if Corruptoid Hillary the Liar manages to buy the D nomination)

[acoulterfan]

Interesting comments at the end of the article.

[onyx]

B T T T ! ! ! ©

[Tax-chick]

These are very positive observations.

[Albion Wilde]

No doubt at all that Trump would be good for Israel. Not that this will make any difference to Jewish liberals.

You have only to read the bigoted comments at the link to see that your second sentence is still, unfortunately, accurate. The majority of the commenters are still on the plantation. But there are a few who have broken free.

[Tax-chick]

Even though I don’t support Trump, the fact that you do makes me feel better. When (if) the evidence comes in, I’m prepared to accept that I was mistaken and you and others were correct.

I wish I could say that I’m fully reassured, on this topic, by Rabbi Boteach’s opinion, but he was totally dead wrong about Michael Jackson. One can’t help but observe that Mr. Trump’s son-in-law won’t be making the decisions if Mr. Trump is President.

[Albion Wilde]

I do support him, my FRiend. I am flattered that you would consider my opinion. Fwiw, I've been publishing a twice-daily pinglist of all relevant articles about him that are posted to FR since Nov. 2, 2015 — literally thousands of articles, most of which I read or scan. It's a lot of research.

I've been following his career in the business press since the 70s because I was a corporate contractor for 40 years. Although his divorces and all that mess grossed me out, at this point with the problems in our nation hinging largely on our wrecked economy, military and security, I believe he has the best skills to address those problems and clear the way for a subsequent president to restabilize constitutional governance in our traditions. Our society will never be the same again, however, due to the progressives' purposeful destruction of our Christian and cultural majorities.

I watched his grown children start taking the helm during the ten years of The Apprentice, and was very impressed not only by them, but implicitly by his fathering of such competent adults. Also, his relationships with the contestants stood out, his mentoring and coaching not just of talent and intitative, but also his even-handedness with men and women, all races, young and old. One of his winners was an 82-year-old woman, and she earned it fair and square; but that wouldn't have been possible had he not given her the opportunity even to be there and be taken seriously.

To reassure yourself further, if you have the chance, take a look around his business web site, certainly including the "Next Generation" video of his children who work in the business: Trump Organization

Here are a couple of other links:

The Thinking Man’s Guide to Donald Trump: Why Donald Trump should be President –American Spectator

Donald and Melania Trump's interview as newlyweds (video Larry King show 2005)

With regard to his sketchy Christian bona fides, that's worth another post if you so desire. I've come to terms with his desire at least to set aside some of the outright persecution of Christianity in the public square that has been going on.

I have lots of links on various issues, if I can be a source of specific info. I would also have supported most of the other GOP candidates had they secured the nomination And it ain't over 'til it's over.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks for the response. I appreciate your taking the time to provide additional information.

Regarding his sketchy Christian bona fides (nicely put), I’d respect his positions more if he didn’t pretend. I’m much less concerned with his personal beliefs than I am with what he might do, if elected, regarding the suppression of religious values in the U.S.

[Albion Wilde]

I’m much less concerned with his personal beliefs than I am with what he might do, if elected, regarding the suppression of religious values in the U.S.

He's been campaigning on protecting Christian values, but I believe he is strategically avoiding detailed promises, knowing how much of a hot button this is. What area specifically worries you in terms of "suppression"?

[Tax-chick]

There are a variety of elements. Pro-life activities, for example, such as being able to pray or speak about abortion in public. The right of Christian students or adults to meet at school. Business owners’ right not to serve homosexual-themed events. Moral rights of doctors, therapists, and so on.

A growing area is the conflict between the free speech rights of Christians and the “freedom from offense” of Moslems.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me. ..................

Of the three, he certainly is.

[Albion Wilde]

I hear you on his not sounding 100% sincere; but I attribute that to a number of factors, including Biblical illiteracy.

He was raised in a "respectable" Presbyterian cult of personality with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale as pastor, in his day the Joel Osteen of New York City protestants. So Trump's childhood understanding of Christianity was skewed towards the fruits of success in this world instead of the Cross. Peale was greatly influential and had one of the earliest television programs and media empires from his "Power of Postitive Thinking" book and theory. Just from the title, you can see the influence on the way Trump thinks and speaks. Apparently that part has served him well in business, but hasn't thus far led to the deeper levels, or so it seems.

Secondly, picture yourself a handsome young man in a dense cosmopolitian area where the newspaper makes instant celebrities out of good-looking, wealthy, "eligible bachelors." Being an extrovert, the young Trump came of age just as the Sexual Revolution was hitting the cities hard. Fortunately, he had long-married and decent parents, a military school background and a lifelong commitment to no drinking, drugs or cigarettes, having seen his older brother succumb to alcoholism and squander his birthright, a heartbreak for his parents. Donald was then groomed to take the eldest's place as the natural heir to his father's real estate empire (which was huge by 1964 local standards; little by today's international Trump Organizaton accomplishments). Perhaps having survivors' guilt, he became driven, and focused most of his energy into work rather than contemplative activities like Bible study or prayer, or even vacations. He has attributed the failure of his first two marriages to having worked all the time and not being available enough at home.

The first wife Ivana was the one who reportedly drove much of the aggressive social life of the 80s and celebrity status, and her competitive drive also helped bring down the marriage. She wanted to see and be seen in famous but decadent venues like the notorious Club 54; Donald wanted to go home shortly after arriving. She blabbed tidbits to the gossip press; he did not like these exposures. But the exposures did help build a brand and he allowed himself to slide down the slipperty slope. The tone was set for celebrity and trashiness, continuing through his early 90s business disasters with the Atlantic City properties and the his divorce and five-year marriage to the homewrecker Marla. The best that can be said of that era on the personal/spiritual level is that at least he married his mistress, and at the same time made business corrections so that no other properties going forward would ever be as financially vulnerable as the Atlantic City ones. He appears to have learned the value of stability and caution from both of those downfalls.

By the time he met Melania 18 years ago at age 52, he was starting a period of personal growth and going steadily in the direction of greater prudence and awareness of his role as a father and role model to his greatly adored children; and also crafted his business mentoring persona with books and The Apprentice. All of his children had been put to menial work by their father from early childhood, clearing brush, driving bulldozers, whatever he could do to help them learn the construction business from the ground up, and to appreciate the value of a dollar and hard work. They had allowances, but had to buy things they wanted out of their own savings. Each one joined the business on graduation, and now in their mid-30s, all are married, each has continued the temperance lifestyle, and each is a multi-millionaire from their individual businesses in addition to their work for their father's business.

Don Jr, 38, is married to a Catholic woman and has 5 children. Ivanka, 34, converted to Orthodox Judaism on marriage to Jared Kushner, a real estate executive in his own right and son of parents who run two Judaism academies, and they have 3 children; and Eric, 30, married a Jewish woman last year, but they have no kids yet. In spite of being wealthy heirs and NYC socialites, they have lived a remarkably scandal-free existence. Each majored in business at UPenn or Georgetown.

So in midlife, Donald Sr found his companion Melania who seems to suit him temperamentally, and the infidelity scandals seem to have come to a halt, although it's possible more dirt will be flung before November.

Like many celebrities, he is hounded whenever he goes in public. All of his life, women have thrown themselves at him seductively and both women and men have wanted to make deals or bask in reflected celebrity. If he associates with any organization, he is expected to donate and donate heavily. These experiences are not conducive to learning the Biblical ethos of humility. It would be very hard for him to bare his soul with a confessor without being tapped to build a new wing; who can he trust? It would be very hard to find a Bible class and reveal his shortcomings in understanding or to be regarded as an equal in searching with others in the group. You saw what happened when he didn't express "2nd Corinthians" in the common vernacular. But he also did surround himself with groups of pastors from the beginning of the campaign and did ask for prayer.

Donald Trump Prays with Religious Leaders

Melania has taken him for some years to church services when they are at their Palm Beach residence, Mar-a-Lago. There, they can enter the small church without papparazzi. Everyone in their section of Palm Beach is very wealthy and would consider it "bad form" to gush over someone else who is wealthy or even who is famous, because it might compromise their own vanities. So at least he can attend services from time to time. Here he is last Christmas looking over at Barron and Melania:

It looks like he may win the presidency. As such, the this-world fates of millions will come to rest on his shoulders. He has been long reported to be a generous and caring donor to causes and individuals in his private life, and I believe he does have a heart for people, and will suffer as Lincoln did with the burdens of assuming the cares of our military and their families, criminals, the poor and the immigrants. So he will be open to leaning on Christ as never before. He will have more incentive to find spiritual advisors who will respect the Office, understand the life-and-death neture of it, and perhaps view encounters with the President as unique evangelical/pastoral callings. And he will certainly need our prayers.

God in His Word has given us many examples of working through pagan kings and warriors to achieve His plan and benefit His people: I'm thinking of David, Cyrus, Darius and Nebudchanezzar off the top. At least Donald wants to be a Christian. I hope he will tip over into surrendered servanthood as a result of his current experiences.

I see that I have not answered your particular concerns about issues. There is more that I could write about how I see his particular relationship to Christianity working in our favor in the culture, if you are still interested, I'll have to do that another day!

Blessings, FRiend,

[Tax-chick]

Looks like interesting information which I will read when I get up in the middle of the night to let the cat in.

I don’t expect you (or Rabbi Boteach) to convince me that Mr. Trump will do what I would like him to do in terms of religious freedom issues, or in terms of economic issues, etc. We just can’t know until the events occur.