By Jeff Lipton
I've called the entire congregation together so that they could join with me in prayer, praying for the welfare and safety of our families, and our nation and our brave men and women who prepare to do battle against the forces of evil in Iraq, said Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, spiritual leader of Temple Israel of Lawrence.
Ironically, about 2,600 years ago, the Jewish people took up arms against the wicked ruler Haman, routed his forces and removed him from a position of power in Ancient Persia. Jews across the world commemorate this victory with the holiday of Purim, which is celebrated on the night of Monday, March 17, and Tuesday, March 18.
History repeats itself this evening as we celebrate a victory of the Jews over a tyrannical personality, in the region of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, who sought the destruction of the Jewish people and all who would stand up for freedom, Rosenbaum said on Monday.
The rabbi likened Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, to Haman, and said a similar fate will befall Hussein.
We must look to God for strength, help and comfort and we must be prepared to do battle and take up arms ourselves when our safety, security, sanctity, our faith and very survival is threatened, Rosenbaum said. And we pray now that again right and righteousness will triumph over evil and hatred.
Rabbi Rosenbaum recently returned from a trip to Paris, France, where he visited the country along with a contingent of 36 rabbis, who are presidents of the Boards of Rabbis across U.S. and Canada. The contingent went to France, upon the invitation of France's Jewish community and Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, archbishop of Paris who was born Jewish and was a Holocaust survivor, said Rosenbaum, director of the North American Boards of Rabbis.
The trip was organized by the European Jewish Congress, the World Jewish Congress, the North American Boards of Rabbis and the Episcopal Committee for the Relations with Jewry.
The main purpose for this conference was to express our outrage to France and the sense of abandonment that France sits not only on the sidelines but has taken a position in opposition to that of the U.S., in dealing with the evil that is Saddam Hussein and the profound threat he poses toward Democratic societies and their way of life, Rosenbaum said.
I expressed my disbelief that the French actually believe that an evil despot would remove himself from power, change his agenda of domination and destruction of his own accord.
He said it was not unbelievable that Hussein could follow in the footsteps of Hitler, in light of the history of Europe and France during the last century.
Rosenbaum said he reminded members of the French government at the conference, There would have been no concessions whatsoever made on the part of Saddam Hussein if a quarter-million American troops were not poised to strike in the Gulf.
Rosenbaum said he also addressed the conference on the topic of anti-Semitism, which has been spreading in France.
He said he believes he got the attention of French officials who attended the conference.
Rabbi Nathan Rose, president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami, who also attended the conference, said, It was a very worthwhile trip. I think we accomplished a lot with the ministers and made our presence known. I think we also accomplished our goal of securing the protection of the French-Jewish community, which is a very, very important thing to do.
It is a very tough situation in France, he added. The people are leaving from there, they are afraid.
