Saying it is ”fundamental” to freedom to be able to display ”religious symbols,” Gov. Charlie Crist has quietly placed a boxed Jewish scroll on the door leading into his formal Capitol office.
Crist put up the mezuzah with the help of Rabbi Schneur Oirechman, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of the Panhandle. The mezuzah was a gift from House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, a Delray Beach Republican, who gave it to Crist, who is not Jewish, while he was on a trade mission to Israel last May.
Crist’s action has drawn the ire of the American Civil Liberties Union, which said Monday it is wrong for the governor to put up any religious symbol in such a public place.
Crist said in response that he is “celebrating the diversity that is Florida: many religions, many people, many opportunities.”
(Source: Miami Herald)
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15 Responses
Setting aside the potentially anti-Semitic ACLU angle for a moment…(if you can)
I have to wonder why it’s appropriate for this Mezuzah to have been given to the Governor in the first place?
This Mezuzah, which contains some of our most holy writings, written by a Sofer with the intention of being used for a Mitzvah now hangs on the office door of a person who is not a member of our religion and to whom it only represents some superficial act of camaraderie with his Jewish constituents? Why is it ok to use a holy item to build political relationships? If a community leader wants to give a gift and memento of the Jewish people or Israel to a gentile then perhaps next time it should be something with less inherent kedusha, like a painting of Jerusalem, or one of those stuffed camels.
Is there any basis in halacha to not do this? Because it just does not seem a respectful way to use a Mezuzah.
Why does the governor of Florida need a Mezuzah?The Lubavitchers should stick to kiruv of Jews and stay away from the public 3 Ms (Mezuzos and Menorahs and Mashiach)
American Civil Liberties Union is right why does goy need a mezuzah
In the Shema I said this morning, it reads: “…al mizuzos beisecha…” Since when are we commanded to give mezuzos to the nations of the world?
I can’t say this makes me very comfortable, but Chabad has their own shitos, so… I wonder if Rabbi Oirechman made a bracha as he put the mezuza up? Granted, Chabad was not the one that gave him the mezuza, but maybe it would have been more appropriate to frame it?
i agree with the American Criminal Liberties Union.would we be quite when the next person hangs a big tzaylom in his office?
the assumption that there’s an actualy klaf in the mezuzah might be a very large stretch. usually when politicians get them it’s just a case, and he probably assumed it was like hanging a painting
I think there was a story, that a King wanted a mezuza and the rabbi of the city said “No Way”, even though they suffered.
While the gov is not a Jew, there are many Jews, religious and not, who go in and out of that office.
it would be nice if some of you would read the article before you attack. The Mezuza was given to him by a friend NOT The Shliach. What should the Shliach do when the Governor calles asking him to help put on a Mezuza? he should tell him NO!
Governor Crist will remove it as soon as the
Meshulachim come for Hachnasas Kallah!
It can’t hurt.
Other yidden might think “you know, I should get one too”.
#10
in and out is not a criteria for a mezuzah.
Rebbi sent Ardeban a mezuzah, and there’s no suggestion in the gemara that he was wrong. (And no, he was not Jewish, and he did not convert.) If the governor wants a mezuzah why shouldn’t he have one? When we leave a house and the next tenant is a goy we take down the mezuzos because we’re afraid that he’ll take them down and throw them out. But if we know he’ll leave them up and treat them with the proper respect, there is no requirement to take them down, ve’aderaba, we should probably leave at least one up if the goy requests it.
The fact that the governor puts a mezuzah on his door is itself a kiddush Hashem. That he does so in order to demonstrate that the Creator is allowed to have a drisas regel in the highest places of the state is a second kiddush Hashem. And that he chooses to make this point with a mezuzah instead of a tzeilem is not only good politics but also a third kiddush Hashem.
BTW, “tzee klug”, I have no objection if a governor wants to put a tzeilem in his office. It’s his office, he can do what he likes there. But I’m glad that this one chose a mezuzah instead.
Did anyone read the article?? All the guy did is put up a mezuzah that the Gov asked him to hang.
It was not the Rabbi who gave it to him!!
Why is there anything wrong with that??
We find in the Gemoro similar things.
#8 has a good point L’choira, and if there’s no Klaf then there’s only a Kiddush Hashem and lots of Geon Ya’akov in the heart of many Yidden who otherwise might be inclined to hide or be bashful of their Yiddishkeit.
The story about Rebbi mentioned by #15 is in the Yerushalmi – Peah Perek Alef, Halacha Alef, (brought also in Breishis Rabba, end of Parsha Lamed-Hey). The conclusion of the story is found in Shealtos Simon Kuf-Mem-Vov.
The Pney Moshe on the Yerushalmi (ibid.) says that Artebon was a “Yehudi Chashuv.” However many disagree and maintain that he was a Nochri – see the Seforim brought in Amudei Yershalayim (by R”Y Eizenshtain) on the Yerushalmi (ibid.) and Sdei Chemed Croch Tes, Divrei Chachomim Simon Kuf-Lamed-Hey.
#3 should make note of the many halachos and Ma’asim B’poel (- Ma’aseh Rav) in the Gemora based on Sh’lom Malchus and Darchei Shalom with Goyim B’chlal (maybe this is #16’s intention).
# 9’s story seems to contradict the story of Rebbi and Artebon, although there were probably other circumstances. It would be interesting to know the source of the story.
#14 should know that in and out is not criteria for a Chiyuv of Mezuza or permission to make a bracha, but walking passed the governor’s Mezuza (case) can definitely trigger Kiddush Hashem and Jewish Pride (which are major parts of Kiruv – #4).
The idea that a Mezuza can provide Shemira even when there’s no Chiyuv or Mitzvah is possibly supported by the existence of a “Makel Sheyesh Bo Bais Kibul Mezuza” and mention thereof in the Mishna in Kailim Perek Yud-Zayin, Mishna Tes-Zayin.
Along with all the concern about the Mezuza (case), anyone getting involved in commenting (in public) about another Yid should bear in mind the Rambam in Hilchos Teshuva (Perek Dalet, Halacha Dalet). There the Rambam says that 5 of the 24 things which are mi’akaiv Teshuva are things which are light in the eyes of the majority of people and they don’t realize that they have thereby commited a chet. The 5th is “Hachosheid B’kisheirim omer bileebo she’aino chet, l’fee shehu omer ‘Ma asisi lo? V’chi yesh shom ela chasod, shemo asa oh lo asa?’, v’hu aino yodeia shezeh avone – shemaisim adam kasher bdato c’baal aveira.” – U’BASI RAK L’HAIR, ub’bakashas selicha al ha’arichus, Kol Tuv.