Monday, July 25, 2016

God alone is great

I loved the prayer by Rabbi Julie Schonfeld at the opening night of the Democratic Convention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzUQHBmXO9wI


"God who is great, mighty and awesome in a season so filled with chatter of who is great and what is great and what shall be great-- 
Let us remember Scripture's clear, simple explanation of greatness: God is the great, the mighty and the awesome--for God defends the cause of the widow and the orphan and loves the stranger residing among you...."

Her prayer brought me to tears.

What a witness!  

May we all remember this true definition of greatness and not be fooled into seeking bombastic greatness or military greatness.

http://forward.com/news/346062/why-rabbi-julie-schonfeld-saw-lot-of-familiar-faces-at-historic-dnc-benedic/

http://www.jta.org/2016/07/27/news-opinion/politics/at-dnc-rabbis-and-a-14-year-old-draw-from-scripture-to-rebuke-donald-trump 

Many thanks to this beautiful rabbi from White Plains, New York, for leading us all to remember the only One who is truly great--our Creator--and to follow Scripture as we measure greatness in our political candidates.

Note about her:  Julie Schonfeld is the first female rabbi to serve in the chief executive position of an American rabbinical association, having been named the executive vice president of the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly in 2008.

Another note: Bernie Sanders supporters booed the opening prayer by the Reverend Cynthia Hale when she mention Clinton's name in her prayer.  See the commentary by David Gibson of the Religious News Service:

http://religionnews.com/2016/07/26/who-boos-an-opening-prayer-the-berniacs-of-2016-thats-who/

Gibson writes:


Then again, Schonfeld, a leader in the Conservative Jewish movement, never mentioned Clinton. And she delivered what was the most biblically profound meditation of the day-old convention — with perhaps a sidelong dig at Trump, who party leaders hope will emerge as the one true opponent by week’s end:
“In a season so filled with chatter of ‘Who is Great’ and ‘What is Great’ and ‘What Shall Be Great,’
Let us remember Scripture’s clear, simple explanation of greatness:
God is the great, the mighty and the awesome,
For God defends the cause of the widow and the orphan,
And loves the stranger residing among you.
This is God’s greatness and this is the greatness the American people must strive to imitate.”

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