Israeli Newspaper Publishes Obama Wailing Wall Prayer

While in Israel, Barack Obama, visited The Wailing Wall, which

is thought by Jews to be the most sacred of places, because the temple itself was thought to be the place where God resides on earth. Praying at the Wailing Wall signifies being in the presence of the Divine. Jews from all countries, and as well as tourists of other religious backgrounds, come to pray at the wall, where it is said one immediately has the “ear of god.” [snip]

[Written p]rayers sent in are placed into the cracks of the walls and are called tzetzels.

Obama did so while on his visit, but now an Israeli newspaper is coming under fire for publishing the specifics of the prayer, as well it should.

AP:

The rabbi in charge of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitz, said publishing the note intruded in Obama’s relationship with God.

“The notes placed between the stones of the Western Wall are between a person and his maker. It is forbidden to read them or make any use of them,” he told Army Radio. The publication “damages the Western Wall and damages the personal, deep part of every one of us that we keep to ourselves,” he said.

A conversation between God and one of His creations is a place I wouldn't want to intrude--especially this particular creation.

Maariv published a photograph of the note, which it said had been removed from the wall by a student at a Jewish seminary immediately after Obama left.

As much as I stand against Obama as president, this is shameful behavior.

UPDATE: Donald Sensing provides more history and tells of his trip to the Wailing Wall.

The Anchoress is aghast at the behavior of the newspaper in question, the student and at that of some faith-based entities regarding the topic.

Donald also provides this comment from the Jerusalem Post's Caroline Glick:

This was supposed to be a private benediction, and it was extraordinarily improper for someone to take this prayer and sell it to the media. On the other hand, in the world of paparazzi, the exposure of the prayer was predictable, and Obama apparently constructed the prayer for public consumption. Like everything else about his visit, this was a carefully crafted statement, designed not to ruffle very many feathers. And like this prayer, there was nothing extraordinary about Obama’s visit. As you would expect from a politician, he tried to be all things to all people. And he probably succeeded.

Glick is probably one of the few people brave enough to say what many are thinking. Still it's unseemly to judge the quality of communication between another and God. Let's just hope (and pray) that his prayers are answered in the affirmative.

Comments

[Venomous Kate]

Agreed. People don't surrender their right to privacy between themselves and their makers merely by running for office. It's shameful that student defiled both the Wall and Obama's privacy. I can't stand the man, but I respect that he's a human being who's entitled to a personal relationship with his Creator.

[Donna B.]

That's really an unbelievably crude act on both the student's part and the paper's.

It sounds like the kind of stunt PZ Myers would pull, not a student of religion.

[Tully]

Call me a cynic, but....

Nah. I'm not gonna say it. It's too cynical.

[baldilocks]

I'm thinking it too, Tully.

[JBean]

Me too, Tully, me too.

[notropis]

I'm wondering if we'll see it for sale on e-bay?

(But yes, Tully, it crossed my mind as well.)

[Dick Stanley]

Notice the sly way AP gets to be shocked and take the Israeli paper "under fire" while still satisfying its own curiosity, and that of its oh, so correct readers, by republishing the prayer?

As prayers go, it's a pretty nice one, though.

[Airbarbi]

Yeah, I'm thinking it, too, Tully, and have already been slammed by another blogger for even suggesting it, so tuck the thought away to peruse later as the election looms and we get a better picture of the whole cloth of the candidate.

No matter what, they were wrong to take it, wrong to publish it, and it is wrong to politicize it. Beyond that, we can only speculate, and we are all much better off to keep that to ourselves, as you other, more wise readers have already realized (I come late to the game).

[Brian H]

Actually, since he's GOT to be aware by now of how juvenile and unrestrained many of his adoring flock are, it was either very poor judgment or arrogant overburdening of the site's dependence on visitor restraint and reverence to make this particular PR gesture. For sure he has no actual allegiance to or respect for Jewish tradition.

It's impossible to be too cynical in assessing Oblabla's behavior.

[Tully]

...tuck the thought away to peruse later as the election looms and we get a better picture of the whole cloth of the candidate.

It's gonna be tough to move my own humble opinion on the cut of that cloth from "empty suit." I've been following his career since before he reached the Senate.

No matter what, they were wrong to take it, wrong to publish it, and it is wrong to politicize it.

I think we're all likely in very solid agreement there. Not just wrong, but offensive. Regardless of your own religion, or even lack thereof.

[Eric]

I think the Obama campaign (handlers?) intended all along for the note to be found and published. This is not a prayer I would expect from someone attending a Marxist, Black Liberation Theological church for 20 years.

[eve radcliff]

is nothing sacred?

[eve radcliff]

IS NOTHING SACRED?

[grace]

was this an Obama setup???? very strange!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Susanne]

I am deeply shocked that a student at a seminary, or anyone for that matter, would remove a prayer from the wailing wall.I think the disrespect and possible payment by the newspaper need be addressed: the student expelled, any payment be refunded and the paper publish an effusive apology for the harm it has caused Israel and anyone who has ever put a prayer in the wall.

[Ben-David]

I agree with Donald Sensing - the story does not pass this Israeli-of-American-extraction's smell test.

1) Most of these notes are written on scraps of paper. Maybe the tourists use an entire sheet, but... ya gotta cram it into the Wall.

2) None of the traditional-to-devout regulars at the Wall would ever do such a thing. For most of them, Obama is unknown and relatively irrelevant - or at least the content of his prayer would certainly be so.

3) Obama was met at the Wall - which was supposedly an impromptu, unofficial stop - with people holding Obama posters. Which was itself in bad taste, but indicated that SOMEONE in the O organization viewed this as a campaign stop.

On the other hand, our local news media have proven themselves to be pretty slimy and sensationalist (see, we're a modern Western democracy just like you!)

[bethtopaz]

Go to this link and go to Israel Insider. Halfway down the article you'll find the new Obama campaign ad, complete with photos of Obama in church, Obama at the wailing wall, the text of his prayer flashing on the screen and beautifully accompanied by "Amazing Grace." There's also a request for a donation at the end - "Help Elect Obama!"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2053165/posts

[Shirley Lutzky]

I am very saddened by the lack of ability to judge character that I see in some of these posts. Those who see Obama in such a skeptical and negative light - why? What ever has he done to cause this? The man is so very clearly an intelligent, caring, capable and wise American. I do not understand those of you who can not see this. Perhaps you have never come across such a person before? Or perhaps your life has made it impossible for you to trust anyone? Have you read his autobiography? On what are you basing your judgement exactly?

[baldilocks]

Ms. Lutzky: This blog has a search function.