We Are One

People That is absolutely true!

Thank you for sharing that. Reply

Comment on tefillin as per Tzvi & the Rebbe Tzvi& the Rebbe:
The professor nodded enthusiastically. He hadn’t realized it before, but yes, this is all that a computer is: A synthesis of media and processing devices.
"Now look at your...self....a brain....in one world. Your heart...in another....your hands...in something [else]. Three diverse machines.
"So you put on tefillin....you connect your head, your heart and your hand with these leather cables -- all to work as one with one intent....when you go out to meet the world, all your actions find harmony in a single coordinated purpose."

Tefillin link you to yourself but also to Gd. Your actions harmonize with Gd's will. You link with all the others who lay tefillin. Your mitzvah blesses and strengthens all Jews and all people everywhere by increasing the human/GD network.

. Reply

About black Jews. Most black Jews that I know are lovingly accepted in synagogues around the world and speak with pleasure of that fact.

Howver, there are black people who have created for themselves, on their own, a "Jewishness" that comes neither from Jewish ancestors nor from being converted by an Orthodox rabbi, which are the only ways anyone, including myself, can be a Jew.

So, are you a Jew from orthodox Jewish ancestors on your mother's side? Or, are you a Jew from yourself, or your mother, or your mother's mother, having been converted by an Orthodox Jewish rabbi? If you are, then you are indeed a Jew and I cannot understand anyone doubting you.

And if you are not Jewish by either of these ways, then you belong to another group, and we wish you well, but you have not joined the the Jewish tribe. If you want to be part of the Jewish tribe, convert. The Ethiopian Jews converted via an orthodox rabbi. It's good enough for them & it's good enough for you. Reply

Jewish People are one???? It is very interesting to read the respected Rabbi say that the Jewish people are one, which is a truism. However, I cannot reconcile this with the way black Jews like myself are continually relegated by the larger jewish population. Jewish is eternal!
The other day, a white Jew was shocked, and couldn't believe I am Jewish, or worse still, that there are black ethnic Jews. This to me, is the height of ignorance. How can we break this ignorance and segregation?
Thanks Rabbi. Reply

we are onw in what way does it affect a jewish soldier in Israel, if a jew wears a tefillin in america. Reply

thankyou this is a wonderful reminder that wherever we are we all look to the ONE G-d for our ways and responsibilities, and equally our judgements and understandings and that we are ONE in Him through observant Torah recognising that we are all striving for perfection through forgiveness and i humbly feel understanding that we are ONE in spirit and soul combined. it is therefore not loyalty to any one Country but loyality first to G-d and to the Home that G-d designated as Holy and recognised as a common place/piece of land... we share... and call equally 'home'

blessings and peace be yours Reply

4 men only too bad the honor of tefillin is only reserved for women. i would place them daily even if doing so did not help Israeli soldiers Reply

With respect to Samuel Ramiriz Some have tried to ask Samuel Ramirez for clarity. These attempts have been unclear.
I, too, will try to ask. Perhaps I may be clear. Please forgive this & all other unclear attempts. I ask because I really need to know.
1st, Rabbi Freedman said:
The Jewish people are one. A Jew putting on tefilllin in America affects the safety of a Jewish soldier in Israel.

Samuel Ramirez responded thus:
I believe we are Americans first and formost. You cannot be an American and commit an act against your country. This is dangerous self serving ideology. The lessons of the past are clear to me; you cannot serve two masters.

I do not understand this response. How does it relate to what the rabbi said? Where does the rabbi advocate “an act against our country”? Where does he advocate “serv[ing] two masters”? I ask Samuel Ramirez to clarify how his words relate to those of the rabbi—or to say how the rabbi evoked such a response. Reply

Current discussion I think more is being read into the comment I made than what I said.. The Rabbi said "we are one" which to means just that. I did not say anything abiut being disloyal. That is your interptretation ascending from your thoughts, not mind. I believe in the seperation of church and state; do you?
Brandon Phillips has an idea of what could occur, but I don't agree with evrything he has.said. I also served in the military and I do not consider that duty above my belife in G-d. This is a discussion and nothing more.
I do not pretened to know what I don't know but I certainly seek to learn...isn't that a meaning of the Torah? One must speak to be heard and understood as well as corrected if it requires correction. I enjoy debate as long as it is kept in a frame of exchange for the purpose of learning. I would not state my name publicly in a hostile environment or a forum with no history of civil debate. Let the Rabbi decide who has sinned in thought and action.
Thanks to all. Reply

"place it second" You have still not explained why you think the rabbi said to "place it second to your loyalty".

What did the rabbi say that makes you think he recommends being less than loyal to the USA? I don't see anything that suggests any such thing.

Please quote what he said that bothers you, and please explain how that quote suggests anything less than true loyalty to our country, the USA. I am dying of suspense. I really want to know where you get the idea that the rabbi suggested anything lack of loyalty to the USA.

I think that his meaning was totally and clearly different from that, and if you tell us why you think his words mean what you keep saying, then we can discuss whether his words really do mean that.

OK?

And maybe the rabbi will also tell us whether the words you quote do or do not mean what you think (and it is not clear what you think, except that you believe in loyalty to the USA, which I think we Americans can agree on, Gd bless her!)

Thanks. Reply

teffellin I agree I am a student of Chabad. However, I do know that people can be one in religious practice but not be first a citizen in the country where you live and enjoy its harvest. And place it second to your loyalty is incompatible to my thinking. If you can explain the error of my thinking process, please do. We can all learn through discussion and become better... Reply

Brandon Phillips You are reminding us of the old dual loyalty thing. But there is nothing in the rabbi's remarks to suggest this. And Samuel Ramirez's remarks seem to suggest far more than dual loyalty. He spoke of "an act against your country." How is laying tefillin an act against our country? Or, what else does he mean?

I still need Samuel Ramirez to say what he had in mind when he said those things about a Jew who uses tefillin. Or whatever he was talking about. Reply

RE: Samuel R. I believe that I understand what Samuel is saying. If the USA stopped allying itself with Israel, and went to war against Israel, them Jewish Americans would have a tough choice to make. Some see themselves as Jewish-Americans, and some see themselves as American-Jews. There is quite a difference. So, it seems, that Mr. Ramirez feels that if we went to war with Israel, it would be an act against America. He is right about one thing, …"You can only serve one master."
Hashem. I served in The US Air Force, and If you think that one country or another is your master, I think that that is a warped perception. Hopefully this will never be a choice ( as Jewish-Americans) that we will have to make. Reply

Samuel Ramirez I just don't get it. Please explain.

The rabbi was describing the normal daily prayers that we have been saying for 2000 years. These prayers are for health and good harvest and good years and the resurrection of the dead and most of the items having nothing to do with nationality. In the Bible, Gd commands Jewish men to wear tefillin while saying these prayers. Tzvi says that any time a Jew obeys any of Gd's commands, Gd blesses all Jews everywhere.

WHAT, in Zvi's posting, constitutes "an act against our country"? I have read Tzvi;'s posting and yours and cannot find, in his posting, anything about "an act against our counry" or being "self serving" or "serving two masters" or "dangerous" or being anything other than an "American first and foremost".

PLEASE explain exactly what you have in mind that fits those strange expressions you used.

What is it you want? For us to disobey Gd's command to wear tefillin? Or for Gd to bless only those Jews who obey? Reply

Samuel Ramirez Do you know what "tefillin" means?

They are little leather boxes, one for the forehead and one for the arm. Inside are verses of scripture. The Bible commands Jews to think of these verses twice a day, to recite them morning and night, to write them upon our doorposts (where they are called mezuzot), and to place them on our forehead and left arm when we pray. This practice increases the Presence of Gd in our prayers, in our homes, and in our lives. It direct our thoughts and our love to Gd.

The rabbi merely says that if we faithfully carry out these commandments, it also increases the presence of Gd in the life of every Jew in the world, including those Jews who are neglecting the commandment, because the commandment was given to us as a people, rather than as individuals, so if one of us fulfills any commandment, we all get "the benefit of it," so to speak.
Are you saying we should stop obeying the commandments for fear of benefiting someone who isn't American? Reply

Samuel Ramirez Are you saying that if a Jewish soldier in Iraq or elsewhere prays with Tefillin he is committing an act against our country?

Or what ARE you saying? What is the act "against our country" that you are thinking of? And how can praying for peace and security for one of America's most loyal allies be "against our country"? The US government says otherwise.

The Bible says, "In ALL your ways, serve Gd." That means to serve Gd first and foremost, above all else.

I cannot imagine what action, in that article, stated or implied, that you can possibly imagine to be "an act against our country"! Please specify. Reply

All Jews are one I recently returned to Judaism, I have always been proud to be a Jew.
But we segregate ourselves, from each other, by how "Jewish" we are. Hassid, Orthodox, Reformed, Secular, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, the racism among our people is abhorrent.
I Pray (Ani Ma'amin) everday, but not in a Synagogue. I say the Shema, but I don't put on Tefillen, because it's too expensive for me right now.
Last Shabbat, My Son, daughter, and I were taking a walk, we were not wearing yarmulkes. We passed six Hassidim, two teens, and four men, three in their 30's-40's, and one who was very old. My six year old son said "Shabbat Shalom" (loudly to them). The only one who responded was the oldest (and obviously the wisest) man.
I could almost here the others thinking "apikosrim". If Israel was ever threatened with being "Wiped off the Map", I would go there to fight our enemies, and you can put on Tefillen for me.
"…Am I my brother's keeper?" (Bereshit 4:9)
Yes, Yes we are. Reply

We Are One Well what about the Jewish Soldiers serving in Iraq and else where that are putting on Teffilin? Reply

WE are one. I believe we are Americans first and formost.
You cannot be an American and commit an act against your country. This is dangerous self serving ideology. The lessons of the past are clear to me; you connot serve two masters, Reply