President
Bush’s Valiant Battle Against Terrorism
By Yoram Ettinger
This week portion
of the Torah (beginning of Exodus) features Moses and the Burning Bush.
IT IS RELEVANT TO PRESIDENT BUSH’S VALIANT BATTLE AGAINST ISLAMIC TERRORISM.
I recall that President George W. Bush was greeted, at his Austin United
Methodist Church, upon winning the Nov. 2000 election, by his friend,
Pastor Michael Craig. Pastor Craig employed the metaphor of Moses: We’ve
just crossed the Sea; we’re following you to The Mountain, and together
we shall reach The Promised Land.
2. Jewish sages
have taught us that the Burning Bush, which was not consumed by fire,
stands for leaders, who are committed to a mission (e.g. combating terrorism!),
and would not be deterred (consumed) by any odds. The spirit of the
Burning Bush Which Was Not Consumed reflects TENACITY, which is based
on VALUES, thus enabling true leaders to pursue their commitment regardless
of the military, ideological and political adversity.
It has been the
commitment to positive values, which has bolstered such leaders! The
noise of the dry branches of the Burning Bush stands for the on-going
struggle between the Positive Values of the Burning Bush and the Fire
of negative values – NO FREE LUNCH IN THE BATTLE FOR A FREE, SECURE
and MORAL SOCIETY.
Moreover, approaching
the Burning Bush, Moses was commanded to take off his shoes. Walking
barefooted on a holy soil reinforced the connection between MOSES and
the SOIL, and Moses’ sensitivity to the soil. The Hebrew word for soil
is Adamah, which consists of three words: Adam (human-being), Dam (blood,
which stands for soul in Jewish tradition), and H’ (GOD) three of the
most fundamental elements in human life. Walking barefooted at that
site represented Moses’ COMPASSION and SENSITIVITY to human needs –
a prerequisite for a just leadership. Being barefooted is a demonstration
of HUMILITY, which – according to the Moses/Jewish tradition – has been
The essential quality of true leaders! President George W. Bush has
certainly introduced humility into the White House, following in the
footsteps of Moses who was described by the Torah to be The Humblest
of all human-beings!
Shabbat Shalom,
and may President George W. Bush sustain his leadership of the Free
World in the JUST battle against Islamic – not just Taliban – terrorism.