Rahm Emanuel is Not Good For the Jews
There are Jews whose first (and sometimes last) political consideration is: "Is it good for the Jews?". They do not understand that what is not good for all is not good for us.
Some might be tempted to think that having an Israeli in such a high political position is to our advantage and he will protect Israel. How wrong they are.
To those Jews, I'll speak in their own language and remind them of the following quotes and teachings when I say that Rahm Emanuel is not good for the Jews and we have every reason to be more concerned about our physical, as well as moral-spiritual, safety now.
From ETHICS OF THE FATHERS we learn:
"Be wary of those in power, for they befriend a person only fortheir own benefit; they seem to be friends when it is to theiradvantage, but they do not stand by a man in his hour of need."
Shemayah said: "Love work; abhor taking high office; and do notseek intimacy with the ruling power."
"Nor should he boast, "I am the ruler of the city"."
Rahm Emanuel's political appointment is the result of one of two possibilities:
1) That Israel is getting far too involved in politics and, in so doing, we are in contravention of the above injunctions of our Sages.
2) He is being set up as the fall guy so that if their megalomaniacal schemes go awry, "the Jew" will be blamed and thrown to the dogs.
In either case, Rahm Emanuel is in precisely the position that our Sages have warned us to avoid.
And remember, always remember, what is required of us as Jews and that being B'nei Torah is greater by far than being royalty.
"Torah is greater than priesthood or royalty. For royalty is acquired [together] with thirty tendencies, and the priesthood withtwenty-four, but for one to acquire Torah, he must have thefollowing forty-eight tendencies:
1) Study,2) attentive listening,3) verbal articulation,4) an understanding heart,5) dread,6) awe,7) humility,8) joy,9) purity,10) serving the sages,11) close association with colleagues,11) sharp discussion with students,12) sobriety,13) [knowledge of] Scripture [and of] Mishnah,14) a minimum of business activity,15) a minimum of preoccupation with worldly matters,16) a minimum of indulgence in [worldly] pleasure,17) a minimum of sleep,18) a minimum of conversation,19) a minimum of laughter,20) patience,21) a good heart,22) faith in the sages,23) acceptance of suffering,24) knowing his place,25) being happy with his lot,26) making a fence around his words,27) remains modest despite his achievements,28) being loved [by others],29) loving G-d,30) loving [His] created beings,31) loving the ways of righteousness,32) loving justice,33) loving reproof,34) keeping far from honor,35) not being arrogant while studying,36) not taking pleasure in handing down [halachic] decisions,37) bearing the burden with his fellow,38) judging him favorably [and giving him the benefit of the doubt],39) establishing him in [the path of] truth,40) establishing him in [the way of] peace,41) deliberating in his study,42) asking and answering,43) listening and adding [to his acquired knowledge],44) learning in order to teach,45) learning in order to practice,46) increasing the wisdom of his teacher,47) properly understanding the intent of what he learns, and48) quoting a concept in the name of its author."
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