tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post1217249776288611042..comments2024-03-15T20:20:40.718-06:00Comments on Rabbi Joe Black: Refugees: A Prayer In The Face of HorrorRabbi Joe Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09392641515181150108noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post-78775794582121095642015-09-07T03:25:00.492-06:002015-09-07T03:25:00.492-06:00I am sure that I, in my almost 73 years, have had ...I am sure that I, in my almost 73 years, have had compassion for the oppressed at least 36 times. However, during the past (and continuing) 22 years, I have had the resources to immediately and personally assist only one oppressed, essentially homeless, person, as a member of my family -- and as-of July 10, 2015, protecting her as my legal spouse -- plus occasional tzedkah cast thither and yon.Clarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01586981928663374963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post-10420868095534510132015-09-06T08:47:32.049-06:002015-09-06T08:47:32.049-06:00I acknowledge the response. However, my problem is...I acknowledge the response. However, my problem is that it is very tempting to "repair the earth" and not attend to immediate, harder to deal with human needs.JBGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16518371613023113114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post-55323893518980313402015-09-06T07:24:17.405-06:002015-09-06T07:24:17.405-06:00Here's a Torah principle: " do not oppre...Here's a Torah principle: " do not oppress the stranger, for you know the heart of the stranger- having yourselves been strangers in theLand of Egypt." The torah commands us to have compassion for the oppressed- no less than 36 times. Rabbi Joe Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392641515181150108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post-71520413925099199712015-09-05T17:54:03.233-06:002015-09-05T17:54:03.233-06:00There is the life-saving advice: Do not try to swi...There is the life-saving advice: Do not try to swim against a rip tide; swim cross-wise until out of it, then swim to shore.<br /><br />In the wild, animals artificially fed increase in population size according to the food supply, then eventually starve when the food supply decreases. That also happens as the natural food supply fluctuates. Thus the sayings: "Do not feed the animals"Clarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01586981928663374963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post-53833532619030247902015-09-05T12:16:51.746-06:002015-09-05T12:16:51.746-06:00Thank you for your response. My clergy are a mixed...Thank you for your response. My clergy are a mixed bag. Some are not craning their necks for donors, some are. I am one who well understand that synagogues, despite their beautiful mission, cannot exist on "love and air." That is a quote from someone involved in another major Jewish organization. As a Rabbi you are aware that most congregants shoulder a heavy schedule of dues payments JBGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16518371613023113114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post-83986227720994800682015-09-04T15:21:36.876-06:002015-09-04T15:21:36.876-06:00I'm sorry to hear this. I would recommend tha...I'm sorry to hear this. I would recommend that you talk to your clergy about this - maybe s/he / they are unaware? Shabbat Shalom.<br /><br />Rabbi Joe Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392641515181150108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post-24495247312843576392015-09-04T14:24:29.069-06:002015-09-04T14:24:29.069-06:00I appreciate your prompt response and kind words. ...I appreciate your prompt response and kind words. The problem is that it is easy to be compassionate for distant people on remote shores while ignoring our own. It is not only in job searching that I have found rabbinical time scare; even when parents were dying, the attention is often fleeting. Such as Rabbis or cantors excusing themselves with "I have to talk to someone" after 30 JBGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16518371613023113114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post-81713425116691133162015-09-04T14:03:27.133-06:002015-09-04T14:03:27.133-06:00I agree that we need to care for our own - but I a...I agree that we need to care for our own - but I also believe that when we see people dying, being raped, starving, enslaved and in abject fear and pverty - we also have an obligation to do something. Your situation sounds very bad - and I'm sorry to hear that you are in need. At the same time - you can at least be thankful that you are not a Syrian refugee. BTW - the State of Israel has Rabbi Joe Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392641515181150108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313695036114939210.post-91142021879988888912015-09-04T13:41:11.901-06:002015-09-04T13:41:11.901-06:00It is great that people are so compassionate and g...It is great that people are so compassionate and gushy about people that come to the West not necessarily to work but be fed. Noble sentiments and high-sounding words are great. But the Jewish community should take care of its own. It sadly doesn't. Personally I have a very strong work ethic. I lost my job through changes in the legal field and am flexible towards working in general JBGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16518371613023113114noreply@blogger.com