Yeshiva Student Who Dug Obama’s Prayer Note from Western Wall Feels Guilty, Atones
EmailHis face hidden, his identity only revealed with the first Hebrew initial of his name — Aleph — a yeshiva student went on Israel’s Channel 2 on Sunday to confess that he had taken the prayer note of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, from Obama’s visit to the Western Wall and given it to the press.
“I am asking for Obama’s forgiveness," said Aleph. "If he was offended by it… of course he was, this is not a nice thing to do. It was sort of a prank. I hope he will forgive us, and we hope that he will win the presidency."
The Rabbi in charge of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitz, harshly condemned Aleph’s pilfering of the prayer, as well as the publication of the prayer by the Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv.
“Heaven forbid that one should read them or use them in any way,” Rabinovitz said. “This sacrilegious action deserves sharp condemnation and represents a desecration of the holy site.”
Aleph gave the note to Channel 2′s religious affairs reporter who gave it to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation which returned it to the Western Wall.
- jpt
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so now what happens to the guy who took the stolen material and published it.
Not so much that it was Obama’s but thet some Newspaper Editor/Publisher who obviously showed bad judgement early on with the cartoon of Obama painting the white house black.
He obviously should be taken to task…then again we have Foxnews…
although I think even there some of the footsoldiers are starting to rebel against their own Ailes.
Posted by: dl | July 28, 2008, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Obama did it to himself by showboating all over the world. Obama probably left the note on purpose knowing someone would dig it out
Posted by: ambrose. | July 28, 2008, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
This was the correct thing to do. He is mistaken in his voting preferences however!
Posted by: JD | July 28, 2008, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
and geevil
the paper Maariv said today that obama gave them the note while this guy apologizes for stealing it… but after they say dubiously that they were given the note…
they say this as quoted by other Israeli news agencies…
The campaign might be less pleased with another pronouncement by Maariv: “In any case,” the spokesman said, “since Obama is not a Jew, publishing the note does not constitute an infringement on his right to privacy.” Apparently, to the paper, Gentile prayer doesn’t count.
Posted by: dl | July 28, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Does Barack Obama Indulge in all religions?
If The Jewish Religion is not his belief why should he be upset?
If It is one of the religions he Holds as one of his beliefs, does he have a specific religion He hold as his own?
If it is not part of his religion, why would he participate in a ritual of any kind in a different religion?
Is it a Campaign ploy to snag votes?
If he does not hold his own religion sacred, and no one Else’s sacred, Then he is just using religion as everything else for his own purpose.
Black Liberation Theology is the Religion Obama embraces as his own. Now one has done anything wrong against his religion.
Posted by: seah | July 28, 2008, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm
There was nothing in the note, or the open microphone, that seems important, although it is suspicious that both incidents were unplanned. According to tracking polls the candidates are still in a virtual tie, in a year where generic democrats are well ahead. It’s inexplicable how a 71 year-old man, with no support from his base, less money than his opponent, and no public speaking skills, can stay so close. Wonder what’s going on here?
Posted by: Independent | July 28, 2008, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
So Obama gave a copy of the note (prayer) to the press and when it was published acted like it was the students’ fault. OBAMA IS A DUD.
Posted by: Mary | July 28, 2008, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
anyone care to link to the story where Obama released his note to the media BEFORE it was ripped out of the crevace? Anyone? I need a reputable news organization, so please no foxnews.com links. I’m waiting.
Posted by: Mark Billingsley | July 28, 2008, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
First, I want to say I’m a McCain supporter and a Jew.
Second, I want to say that Ma’ariv’s sudden claim that Obama released the note to “media outlets” is simply not credible. Ma’ariv originally claimed that the Yeshiva student gave them the note. The copy of the note that they printed included fold marks. Most telling is that, despite their claim, no other media outlet has stepped forward to say that they were also given the note. It seems obvious that Ma’ariv is making these claims because of the threatened police investigation.
Third, I’m fairly new to this blog. The level of discourse in the comments – from both sides – is pathetic.
Posted by: Elia | July 28, 2008, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
@dl: “Apparently, to the paper, Gentile prayer doesn’t count.”
It counts to the one to whom it is addressed. That’s all that matters.
Have a good day, dl.
Posted by: len | July 28, 2008, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
It is just amazing what you people blame Obama for.
If he did all the stuff you blame him for he would be lower than Bush in the polls.
Posted by: becky | July 28, 2008, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
Why would a person confess to something he had not done? Of course he took it and the news paper that printed it when other papers turned it down is now trying to cover their ***.
Posted by: Iam4thisCountry | July 28, 2008, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
dems for reps: that is not true. Obama is now up in the polls by 9 points. And there are lots people out there that are getting very tired of McCain’s attackes on him. What is the problem. Can’t McCain win on his own merits. I guess not.
Posted by: Iam4thisCountry | July 28, 2008, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
Do you people believe what you actually write or do say anything because you don’t like the man. what you need be doing looking at your own guy cause he selling you down the river in oil.
Posted by: T | July 28, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Why do some people think that Obama should not have gone on his trip when all he did was go to the same places and meet the same people McCain did?
Posted by: Iam4thisCountry | July 28, 2008, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
I think it is wonderful that an apology was made. Apparently, no one was interested in the March 2008 prayer John McCain put in the wall. During McCain’s trip in March 08, he did not visit the troops in Germany. McCain had the time for a fundraiser in London.
A sample of 1,000 “Likely” voters for the entire country does not seem large enough to get reliable results. I am really curious where the get the individual’s information to call. In my state we do not register with any particular party.
Has anyone looked at the polls for individual states?
The map contains information for each state. You can click on each state and see a several areas within a state. You can also click on the final information from the 2004 election. There is an amazing difference. McCain’s home state of Arizona is light blue, which means leaning to Democrat. Strong Democrat is dark blue.
In several of the maps, Obama is the projected winner.
Posted by: Julie | July 28, 2008, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
len
I agree with you…I do not agree with the paper.
Posted by: dl | July 28, 2008, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
Julie:
“During McCain’s trip in March 08, he did not visit the troops in Germany. McCain had the time for a fundraiser in London.”
But notice the absence of the paparazzi and hooplah!
McCain has made many visits to the troops in hospitals….. check it out!
And he is entitled to have a fundraiser in London…… .
What’s your point?
Posted by: hmmmmm | July 28, 2008, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
I thought atonement was a private, not a media, matter.
Posted by: kat | July 28, 2008, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
President Obama, sounds good to me
Posted by: Abbie Baker | July 29, 2008, 1:39 am 1:39 am
I think that it was wonderful of John McCain to condemn these actions, and it was also nice of him to send flowers to Obama while he is in the hospital nursing his bum hip from trying to play b-ball like a teenager. Grow up Obama, you are pushing 50.
Posted by: Jerome | July 29, 2008, 10:13 am 10:13 am
Obama did it to himself by showboating all over the world. Obama probably left the note on purpose knowing someone would dig it out
Posted by: ambrose.
Ambrose…Obama was right in assuming it would be private. If you’ve no knowledge on this wall, please do research. That is why it has been controversial not by Obama’s team but by the Israeli people who see such a vile disregard for the sacred wall by one of their own. The only reason the paper published it was cause it was Obama. Why then is that his fault? The person responsible has stepped forward. The paper is being blasted and surprise…they actually flipped the script and changed their story now that they didn’t get the response they wanted. Go do some more research. If you haven’t noticed subscribing to one news source or even a couple doesn’t get you the true story…keep digging and perhaps you’ll find a credible issue to complain about.
Posted by: Disenchanted... | July 29, 2008, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
Obama clearly was a part of another
staged event, courtesy of the Idiots
that run his P.R. machine. As if we
would not find out about his “signed press release” for “Maariv” newspaper
to print his “private” yet authorized
released “private prayer”.
An American voting for Obama is like
a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders!
Posted by: Genusrightwingus | July 30, 2008, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
Mc Cain made the same trip as Obama in March 2008?
Did anyone take a photograph? Are you sure he was there?
Posted by: DG | July 31, 2008, 12:29 am 12:29 am