I Am Jewish, I Am American, I Am Free

NSCI ^ | 9-15-04 | Rabbi Steven Mason

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

Should the ACLU be listening in, that would be Leviticus 25:10 on the Liberty Bell. Too late to take it off now.

[Brian Allen]

<< “Ukratem dror baaretz lchol yoshveha, proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof – let the Torah’s words on America’s bell and the sounds of the Shofar of freedom call us into this new year, 5765 - the 350th Rosh Hashanah in America!

Amen >>

Brian

[KC_for_Freedom]

25:10
And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

[Victoria Delsoul]

In three and a half centuries of Jewish life in America, we have heard the call to freedom – from the moment we disembarked from our Mayflowers and alighted at the Plymouth Rock called Ellis Island. In 1776 the words of Torah rang across this land. Let them resonate now. And, as we hear them, with gratitude and in freedom we can affirm – as if we could speak the words simultaneously, “I am Jewish!” and “I am American!” - “I am American” and “I am Jewish.”

Great article, Jackson.

[Kackikat]

The Year of Jubilee....is that this year?

[SJackson]

Actually, most Jewish translations would say ...proclaim release throughout the land. The Jubilee year after all. But that's not a very catchy phrase.

[SJackson]

The Year of Jubilee....is that this year?

No. I'm open to correction, but the Jubilee year has been extant since the destruction of the Temple. 5761 (2000-2001) was the end of a seven year cycle, and I believe a 49 year cycle (someone correct me if I'm wrong), thus 2001-2002, the first year of a cycle, would have been a Jubilee in Israel had the Temple been rebuilt.

[SJackson]

One of you help me on 8. I'm thinking eight year cycles are counted now.

[RMDupree]

Bookmarked for later reading...

[Kackikat]

Okay, thanks

[woofie]

I sawa sign tonight that said "Moses Loves You"

[WVNan]

Beautiful.

[Fiddlstix]

Turn the page in the community’s life story from 1654 to August 17, 1790, and a letter addressed that day to President George Washington, by Moses Seixes, the warden of Newport RI’s Kahal Kadosh Yeshuah Yisrael synagogue. He expressed what this country had already come to mean to the small group of Jews who had settled in by the end of the 18th century: “Deprived as we heretofore (in other lands) have been of the invaluable rights of free citizens…we now behold… a Federal Union whose basis is philanthropy, mutual confidence, and public virtue…a government which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance….” (A History of the Jews in America, Abraham J. Karp, p.22)

New and different? In his answer to Seixas, Washington affirmed that “It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights.” And confirming Seixas’ point of view, the president wrote “…happily the government of the United States, which gives bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it, on all occasions, their effectual support.”

I have a "copy" of President Washington's letter referenced in this article.
(Not just the words but an actual "photocopy" of it written in his own hand.)

You see, my great-great-greatfather was Jewish. (On my mother's sides of the family)
(I won't bore anyone with the details. Suffice it to say, he ended up marrying a Christian lady and their children were Christian. Those were the days of what we now call the "old west". Different time.)

When I was a child growing up (1940's-50's) and someone "made a slur" against "the Jews", I was always told by my parents and grandparents......Remember....you have a Jewish "great--grandfather.

'Nuff Said.

(This is America. I have the blood of several "races" (about 8) in my veins. I am an American-American!)

[Pete98]

Yeah, too bad American Jews have to live under the Bush regime (who is worse than Hitler, don't you know!).

I've actually seen DUers defending Hitler because "At least Hitler was a combat veteran unlike Bush."

GAG!

[Sam Cree]

A very inspiring sermon (with the exception of his mention of several embarassing American leftist Jews).

I married a beautiful Jewish lady 30 years ago, when we were both young. Even though my background was not Jewish and hers was, we thought and continue to think that we were made for each other.

My ancestors, Dutch, came to New Amsterdam in 1654...when I saw that the first American Jews arrived at the same place the same year, 1654, my head started spinning a little bit, to tell you the truth.

I'm going to print this out for her.

“Ukratem dror baaretz lchol yoshveha, proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof"

[SJackson]

A very inspiring sermon (with the exception of his mention of several embarassing American leftist Jews).

People are free to be wrongheaded too.

[SJackson]

Yeah, too bad American Jews have to live under the Bush regime (who is worse than Hitler, don't you know!)...I've actually seen DUers defending Hitler because "At least Hitler was a combat veteran unlike Bush."...GAG!

I can see you read the article closely. Thank you for an informative comment.

[Fiddlstix]

I've actually seen DUers defending Hitler because "At least Hitler was a combat veteran unlike Bush."

Yes. I've been informed of same. (I don't go to DU anymore. It makes me sick.)

I'm an older man as you can tell by my post. I sometimes find it very difficult to accept the "changes" ,in this... My Beloved Country.., such as I see these days.
May G-D help us all.
&
G-D Bless America.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I believe you have as good an understanding as I can find.