Obama's Private Prayer 'Leaked' by Orthodox Jewish student

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Following Jewish tradition, Obama donned a yarmulke and went to the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, where shortly before dawn on Thursday he stuffed his prayer into a crevass between the giant white stones, hewn over 2,000 years ago. Traditionally such prayers, and there are over a million every year, some arriving by fax and email, are collected twice a year and buried on the Mount of Olives. It is considered taboo to read the prayers.

But after Obama and his entourage left the sacred site, an orthodox seminary student went to the Wall, fished out Obama's personal note and delivered it to Maariv newspaper, which duly printed the senator's prayer.

The newspaper's decision to publish Obama's private words was "an outrage", said Rabbbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, supervisor of the Western Wall. "It damages the personal, deep part of every one of us that we keep to ourselves," the rabbi told Army Radio. "The note placed between the stones of the Western Wall are between a person and his maker. It is forbidden to read them or make use of them."

Obama didn't pray for an election victory, a lottery win to help pay for his campaign, or for his Republican rival Senator John McCain to be felled by lightning or a pecadillo. On the contrary; his prayer hints at the struggle within, how Obama is seeking divine guidance to surmount the obstacles that lie ahead of him in his lonely, awesome challenge to become the next president of the United States. On hotel stationary, he penned the following prayer, according to Maariv, which ran a photo of the note: "Lord, protect my family and me," Obama wrote. "Forgive me my sins and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will."

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8...1826734,00.html

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Nothing scandalous about his words. Scandalous that someone would violate their own traditions and apparent beliefs to get 30 seconds of fame.

[Fandango 1,440]

It's ####### that the student fished it out, but it was prolly staged anyways....

[Ban Hammer 14,585]

It's ####### that the student fished it out, but it was prolly staged anyways....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It's ####### that the student fished it out, but it was prolly staged anyways....

When (any) political figure visits Jerusalem, especially for the first time, they almost always post prayers in the western wall. Its always staged.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's ####### that the student fished it out, but it was prolly staged anyways....

When (any) political figure visits Jerusalem, especially for the first time, they almost always post prayers in the western wall. Its always staged.

I don't know if staged is the right word for it. It's no different than laying the wreath at Arlington Cemetery...it's more a ceremonial tradition and a gesture of goodwill. Who is anyone to say just how much of a candidate or a President is being sincere or not? I believe those were real tears when Bush cried.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Which God was he praying to?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It's ####### that the student fished it out, but it was prolly staged anyways....

When (any) political figure visits Jerusalem, especially for the first time, they almost always post prayers in the western wall. Its always staged.

I don't know if staged is the right word for it. It's no different than laying the wreath at Arlington Cemetery...it's more a ceremonial tradition and a gesture of goodwill. Who is anyone to say just how much of a candidate or a President is being sincere or not? I believe those were real tears when Bush cried.

I didn't mean it to sound negative - but yes this western wall thing is not really any different to laying wreaths at national cemetaries. But by the same token any event of that type is clearly orchestrated - and politicians are obliged to be there whether they are sincere about it or not.

To clarify - I'm not questioning his sincerity. I don't believe its fair to do that.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's ####### that the student fished it out, but it was prolly staged anyways....

When (any) political figure visits Jerusalem, especially for the first time, they almost always post prayers in the western wall. Its always staged.

I don't know if staged is the right word for it. It's no different than laying the wreath at Arlington Cemetery...it's more a ceremonial tradition and a gesture of goodwill. Who is anyone to say just how much of a candidate or a President is being sincere or not? I believe those were real tears when Bush cried.

I didn't mean it to sound negative - but yes this western wall thing is not really any different to laying wreaths at national cemetaries. But by the same token any event of that type is clearly orchestrated - and politicians are obliged to be there whether they are sincere about it or not.

To clarify - I'm not questioning his sincerity. I don't believe its fair to do that.

Understood.

[Asante Maroon 0]

It's kind of messed up that someone would stoop sooooooooooooooooooooo LOW!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Sorry:

Identified only by the first initial of his name, Aleph, and with his face obscured, the student went on Channel 2 television Sunday to confess that he took the presidential contender's note last week and passed it to the press.

...

"I'm sorry. It was a kind of prank," Aleph said, his hands shaking as he fingered the tightly wadded-up sheet of King David Hotel letterhead.

[chri'stina 190]

Nothing scandalous about his words. Scandalous that someone would violate their own traditions and apparent beliefs to get 30 seconds of fame.

I thought his prayer was very nice.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The Israeli press doesn't have much decency either it seems.

[Staashi 371]

I know that it is ceremonial for Obama, like all others, to make a visit to the Western Wall. But, I have to say that I was really PO'd that someone took his prayer out to show to the world...furthermore, that kid is a rabbinical student - I think he should be kicked out of school.

Edited July 28, 2008 by Staashi

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its worse that he is rabbinical - says that he doesn't have respect for his religion or traditions.