May 23, 2008
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President,
In my humble opinion, your historic speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem Israel needs to be read by every freedom loving, law abiding, and civilized person in our world.
As the Jewish representative to the White House for National Prayer Day two years ago, I had my opportunity to meet with you at The White House.
You made a very deep impression on me, as a champion of values and their being paramount on your agenda and in your heart, over any public opinion polls.
You moved me greatly with your attentiveness to my remarks and prayers that day, as you honored the words which I prepared that were rooted in our 3000 year old tradition. The "Amens" coming from your heart and lips, were heard right back to me at the podium. Repeatedly, you shook your head in a knowing nod and said Amen to each paragraph of G‑d's biblical truths.
It was at that moment, and your unexpected lurch from your seat to give me a hug and congratulations after my remarks, when I realized as an absolute truth that we were connected by G‑d's biblical truths. I had the honor to sit by your side and will hold this meeting in a very special place in my heart, in unforgettable fashion.
Your remarks at The Knesset are historic in so many dimensions. The palpable, sincerity of the deep rooted truths, from you, G‑d's appointed, world leading Commander in Chief, must be heard by all.
You, Mr. President have kept to your word and principles. Unwavering you have stood against the avalanche of the negative spirited assaults on what you are trying to accomplish for our world, but especially in our holy land of Eretz Yisroel
You deserve the highest accolades of any President in recent history for your friendship to Israel, the epi-center of G‑d's world and to his people who He entrusted this land, The Jewish people in Israel and throughout the world.
Your understanding of our people and the significance of the G‑dly endowed holiness of our Holy Land is shared by 2.5 billion bible believing human beings in our world today.
While a palestianian state might be envisioned, the question which must beckon any rational mind is the unfathomable pressure on Israel, with her tiny piece of land, to alleviate the issues of these people. The Palestinian people's own “brothers,” utterly reject them.
History speaks for itself. Each of these brotherly countries, hundreds of times the size and resources of tiny Israel, have done not a scintilla of good for their own people. Israel, though, is held up to a measuring stick of unimaginable Chutzpah, also mentioned in your glorious speech as it has become victim to unjustified, repeated assaults beginning in the world body of The UN and reverberating from there throughout the world.
Let the facts remain facts. The President resolutely stated that G‑d has given the Land of Israel to the children of Jacob. A quote from a verse considered an unalterable and absolute truth, shared by half of the world's population.
Congratulations to us, the American people for having such a principled President and Leader, one of the greatest principled Presidents in our modern history.
I truly believe that just as President Truman was scorned by our own people and world opinion for the stunning leadership he showed in enacting unprecedented measures for a new era in world history and beginning the first phase of a drawn out, but very critical role of The United States in the era of world history which is now called “The Cold War,” so too, you, will go down in world history as putting into place institutions never heard of before as part of our government and a foreign policy based on the principles of bringing democracy, freedom and liberty to all.
Long after the bitter partisan politics of this campaign and perhaps a few others will be over, and after all the debris settles, I truly hope that you and I will live to see the lush fruit of your heroic leadership in a world which is on the threshold of world war three, a war against spreading fundamentalist Islam which holds high its banner of terror and murder of innocence the world over.
Unfortunately, at this point to be at the pinnacle of moral clarity, integrity and unwavering principles in world leadership is a lonely place. But you continue on, it has not affected you an iota; thus your historic Knesset remarks and your ongoing battle throughout the world to root out the evil in our society.
Again, as someone who had the merit to meet you on several occasions at the White House but especially on that day of National prayer, I believe in the depths of my heart that you should be genuinely honored that The A-lmighty Himself has chosen you, to lead our world of confusion and calamity, at this new era of Human civilization.
I wish you a heartfelt Mazel Tov for the wedding of your beloved daughter, and may that Mazel Tov - good luck - saturate you and The First Lady in everything you need in your personal lives. May that good luck, gifted by G‑d, allow you the continued strength and fortitude in your crucial global efforts .May The A-lmighty allow the fruition of your dreams and aspirations for Israel and for our world; A G‑dly place of liberty, freedom and peace for all – which of course must include a nuclear free Iran.
G‑d bless President and Mrs. Bush. G‑d bless America.
In great esteem and highest respect,
Rabbi Sholom Ciment
Spiritual Leader, Chabad-Lubavitch of Greater Boynton
Palm Beach County, Florida