From Sinai to Alabama

Israel National News ^ | Aug 28, '03 / 30 Av 5763 | Jack Engelhard

[yonif]

As this is being written, America's eyes are turned to the State Judiciary Building in Montgomery, Alabama, where the Ten Commandments are being removed from public view. A federal court has ruled that this two- and-a-half-ton granite monument, stationed as it was at the foot of the courthouse, violates the separation of church and state.

Roy Moore, chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, and a devout Christian, has also been removed for failing to comply with orders that proclaim – "The Ten Commandments must go."

Moore has been steadfast. For several weeks, as played out over all the cable news networks, Moore has insisted that the monument stays. But the monument is gone (from public view) and so is Moore. Moore has been suspended from the bench, all the while declaring that, from the beginning, America has been sustained by the Judeo-Christian belief in God as brought down by Moses. Moore refused to blink, and thousands (soon to be millions?) of protestors have joined him in a kind of nationwide revival meeting. They want those Ten Commandments back, and they're prepared to shake up America until this is done. These protestors, as far as I know, are all Christians, and they cite Moses as the author of American mercy and justice.

Isn't it remarkable that all this uproar stems from the Jewish Bible? My father never tired of reminding me that American Democracy is rooted in the Torah. "Never mind the crack in the Liberty Bell," he said. "Read the inscription." This is what it says: "Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." That's from Leviticus.

I'm not into the legal part of this issue, you know, separation of church and state, states' rights versus federal rights, but what does interest me, fascinates me, is the fighting spirit of these Christian Americans as they hold up the banner of the Jewish Bible and the Jewish lawgiver, Moses. But where are the Jews?

This uproar in Alabama, coincidentally, comes at a time when Zionist Christians go to Israel, on foot or on the wings of prayer, to provide comfort to the Jewish State. Evangelicals like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson tell us that here in America there are between 60 and 70 million Zionist Christians ready to support Israel as God's covenant to the Jews.

That's quite a number – and who knew we Jews had a fan club, 70 million strong?

All that's missing are the Jews. Seldom will you hear a Jewish leader speak of the Bible in a religious sense, or mention the Bible as the genesis of America or Israel. It's part of the business of "don't rock the boat"... "don't make trouble"... "don't call attention to yourself"... "don't be too Jewish."

Not so these Christians. They're out there in Montgomery, singing, praying, and praising Moses for bringing the Ten Commandments from Sinai to Alabama. The courts may not be on their side, and Judge Moore may be on the wrong end of the law, but history is on the side of these Evangelical and Zionist Christians. From the Mayflower Compact onward, virtually all documents that relate to our laws owe their allegiance to the "Old Testament."

Forgetful American Jews ought to remember that when the Puritans made their voyage, they imagined the Atlantic ocean to be their Sea of Reeds.

To our earliest settlers, America was the Promised Land, their new Canaan.

Their escape from King James I was, to them, a reflection of the Hebrews' deliverance from Pharaoh.

These original settlers fought their battles quoting Moses and Joshua and singing the Psalms of David.

The first book printed in America was the Bay Psalm Book.

Though American (and Israeli) Jews may be reluctant, even ashamed, to admit it; God is everywhere. Yes, our God of the Jewish Bible. But don't wait for the Jews to make this announcement, that The Bible Is Us.

Leave it to the good Christians.

[yonif]

Not so these Christians. They're out there in Montgomery, singing, praying, and praising Moses for bringing the Ten Commandments from Sinai to Alabama. The courts may not be on their side, and Judge Moore may be on the wrong end of the law, but history is on the side of these Evangelical and Zionist Christians. From the Mayflower Compact onward, virtually all documents that relate to our laws owe their allegiance to the "Old Testament."

[SJackson]

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[EdReform]

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[SJackson]

Demonstrators pray outside the Frank M. Johnson Federal Court Building in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003. The protesters marched from the Alabama Judicial Building to the federal court where a lawyer representing them will file a lawsuit later in the day to try and get the Ten Commandments monument returned to the rotunda of the judicial building. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

About 100 demonstrators kneel in prayer outside the Frank M. Johnson Federal Courthouse in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003. The protestors marched from the Alabama Judicial Building to pray at the federal building where their lawyer will present a lawsuit Thursday in an attempt to have the Ten Commandments monument returned to public viewing in the judicial building. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Workers move the Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of the State Judicial building in Montgomery, Alabama(AFP/Getty Images /Gary Tramontina)

Protestors pray after the monument of the Ten Commandments was removed from the rotunda and moved to a undisclosed area of the Alabama Judicial Building where Superior Court Justice Roy Moore had refused to take down in Montgomery, Alabama, August 27, 2003. Justice Moore has been suspended from the Judicial Review Board pending a review for not complying with the federal order, drawing protests from Christians who wanted to keep it there. REUTERS/Tami Chappell

[catonsville]

Two Orthodox Rabbis representing over 1000 congregations were there in Alabama suppporting Moore. They know it is a struggle for all of us.

[bereanway]

Fascinating and insightful from a different perspective.

[Vindiciae Contra TyrannoSCOTUS]

All that's missing are the Jews. Seldom will you hear a Jewish leader speak of the Bible in a religious sense, or mention the Bible as the genesis of America or Israel. It's part of the business of "don't rock the boat"... "don't make trouble"... "don't call attention to yourself"... "don't be too Jewish."

Two Major Rabbinical Groups Support "Ten Commandments" Judge Roy Moore

[kspiro]

I couldn't agree more with Mr Engelhard. I recently published a book: "WorldPerfect-The Jewish Impact on Civilization" (Health Communications Inc., 2002) In my book I devoted sevaral chapters to the Jewish/Biblical roots of American Democracy.
It is very sad that so few people, especially Jews, are aware of the tremendous positive impact that Judaism has had in shaping the values of America. This information should be required reading for every U.S. citizen. We must understand that to undermine this Biblical heritage is to destroy the moral foundation of the United States.
Ken Spiro