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Obama's Prayer Excavated from Cracks of Western Wall and Published in Newspaper

July 25, 2008 10:19 AM

There are conversations between a man and his wife, a patient and his doctor, a client and his attorney... But this is about as intrusive as it gets.

After Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, left a written prayer in the cracks of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a Jewish seminary student dug it out and the newspaper Ma'ariv published it (assuming of course that the note is the correct one).

The note Ma'ariv published -- written on stationery from the King David Hotel, where Obama stayed -- states: "Lord - Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will."

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz, the rabbi of the Wall who accompanied Obama on his visit there told Israeli Army Radio, per the AP, that "the notes placed between the stones of the Western Wall are between a person and his maker. It is forbidden to read them or make any use of them." Ma'ariv's decision to publish the note "damages the Western Wall and damages the personal, deep part of every one of us that we keep to ourselves," he said.

On his plane Thursday morning Obama declined to tell reporters what he had asked of the Lord in his note.

- jpt

July 25, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (213)

User Comments

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She's not too bright. She
was asked in a recent tv
interview what are duties
of the Vice President.

She drew a blank.

You can google and find
out in a few minutes what
the Veep does.

Mr. Mediocrity McCain picks
Ms. Mediocrity from Alaska
who is not a woman of substance.

Posted by: anon | Sep 2, 2008 8:26:19 PM

How naive are we going to be, just back up and look at these two pictures? This is the same man who sat on the floor of congress and denied the rights of a living breathing child, who survived an abortion. He voted NO, this living child should not receive medical care or be allowed to live. CHECK HIS VOTING RECORDS IT’S A FACT. This is the man who sat and listen to hatred and slander for years in a church then denied knowledge of the message. Then picture him writing this prayer and putting it in the wall. Sorry it just does not add up. Jesus who he says he serves was an expression of ultimate love, you be the judge does the above facts sound like love.

Posted by: beau | Aug 15, 2008 5:31:57 PM

I knew the Obama Kotel note was a transparent PR-Stunt the minute I read it's content. This was a deliberate effort to counter the public image Obama has earned, of being elitest, snobbish, and high-browed. "...guard against pride and despair" ? Come on, can it be any more obvious ? "pride" ? He needs to be guarded from "pride", because everybody has seen how tremendous his ego is - and he knows it. Puhleeeaze !

Posted by: Barack Is God | Aug 12, 2008 11:32:04 AM

If it is so intrusive and if a Rabbi tells you that the notes placed between the stones of the Western Wall are between a person and his maker. It is forbidden to read them or make any use of them, then why did YOU just publicize the contents of that note? You have no personal integrity.

Posted by: tom | Jul 29, 2008 5:42:24 PM

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HIM, SAYING HE IS AN UNGODLY MAN, WHEN HE DOES PRAY, YOU STILL SAY HE IS FAKE. LOOK THERE IS A SAYING IN THE CHURCH, THERE ARE SAINTS AND THERE ARE AINT'S.NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES, SOME PEOPLE ALWAYS SEEM TO TALK NEGATIVE ABOUT HIM. DAMM IF YOU DO DAMM IF YOU DON'T. GOD BLESS YOU BARACK AND HAVE HIS ANGLES TO PROTECT AND GUIDE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

Posted by: marian | Jul 28, 2008 10:05:46 PM

To Anon...
So many confuse religion with doctrine a person may acknowledge his or her religion anywhere he or she chooses, it is the dictates of its doctrine which should impede on or deny the civil liberties of persons.

Posted by: Curtis J | Jul 28, 2008 5:20:54 PM

The politcal genius he is, it wouldn't surprised me if Obama orchestrated the entire thing, from the guy stealing the note from the Wall right down to the publication.

Posted by: Kristi | Jul 28, 2008 3:13:23 PM

I've always thought in many ways the Bible was an allegory waiting to be revealed in the development of individual and collective experiences. The first most puzzling one was the tree of knowledge and why a God who had given free will, would in any way forbid the partaking of it, the second being the tower of Babel, now I think understand the inherit dangers of knowledge and language, my great fear is that the human race will forever be separated by both!!

Posted by: Curtis j | Jul 28, 2008 12:41:20 PM

What a prayer! does it remind anyone of King Solomon's prayer for wisdom in the Bible? I'm so deeply touched by this prayer. God bless Obama

Posted by: Jeshurun | Jul 28, 2008 11:13:38 AM

They should take that student outside and whip him with a 1,000 lashes.

Posted by: JD | Jul 28, 2008 8:18:13 AM

Obama (and I'm certain McCain as well) recognizes divine authority, as did the founders of our nation. Obama is absolutely correct to pray for divine protection for himself and his family, and it is encouraging, I think, that he prays to be an instrument of God's will.

Collectively and individually, Americans need to look to God, we have many problems to face as a nation, and we need God's help with them.

Posted by: American | Jul 27, 2008 1:17:52 PM

The place of religion in a
modern secular democracy is
the church, the home, the
seminary, the department of
religion at the university,
or institutes dedicated to
its study and research.

Religion has no place in
public schools, the courts,
the military, businesses and
corporations, and the halls
of government.

Posted by: anon | Jul 27, 2008 12:15:52 PM

Perhaps YOU need to step up your research. Obama joined his wife's family church when he married her. In it. A very common practice.

Posted by: whosyerkitty | Jul 27, 2008 10:44:16 AM

McCain is a God fearing man and Obama is a God fearing man. Let's be careful with what judgement we make or say, because God is no respector of persons, just blessings. If you think just because a person has all of the highest protection he/she can receive from the SS in the US and they don't need the most highest protection that they can receive from the God of the universe, you are a sad individual and I hope that everyone who is writting on this blog will pray for you as a person, that you receive more wisdom and knownledge as a person. Yes, I am a Obama supporter, but whomever God allows to be President, we shall pray for their guidance be from God on their decision making for this country. When we pray in our daily lives this effects what our life and country will be like.

Posted by: shirley | Jul 27, 2008 10:36:45 AM

Someone picked up the note
stuck in the wall. A
newspaper published its
contents.

What's dumb or low-life
about that?

Dumb is sticking a personal
prayer into the wall in the
first place.

Posted by: anon | Jul 26, 2008 8:53:14 PM

Can Obama have any privacy. Gee! I thought better of folks overseas , what a dumb thing to go and print

Posted by: 1 Obama | Jul 26, 2008 7:47:51 PM

I see they got the same kind of low-lifes overseas. What goes around comes around and the folks that printed it are just as bad.
Indeed , what a SHAME.

Posted by: k2007 | Jul 26, 2008 7:45:55 PM

Obama had no business going
to that Solomon's wall as a
public official on a political
tour.

Posted by: anon | Jul 26, 2008 7:41:19 PM

the spiritual leader of the wall has said that such prayers can't be touched or used for and any or made the subject of discussion. Yet people still have the boldness to violat this devine warning. Obama did what God promised Solomon at the dedication of the temple that if the people should pray at that place He will from heaven hear their prayers.Therefore, people should be carefful what they say. He has prayed the way he feels he should pray, lets leave the young man alone. The question Obama's critics should ask themselves is our business is Obama's business with God?. As men have gone into those issues meant for God alone because of election, this election will be decided the powers of devine providence. Those who lean on the arm of flesh will cover their faces in shame. May God help America. Amen.

Posted by: ANTHONY EGBE SON | Jul 26, 2008 6:33:03 PM

There will come a time when all evil sayings and irrational thoughts will be brought into judgement. Ladies and gentlemen please consider the things you say about our presumtive leaders (Barack/McCain). They are both decent men and should not be demoralized and demonized in such a manner. Let kindness and brotherly love exude from your hearts and ultimately your lips. We are tired of the hatred and filth that is now suffocating our society. Each person is entitled to their opinion but have we forgotten about objectivity in our conversations? LORD HELP US!!

Posted by: stimey | Jul 26, 2008 2:47:42 PM

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