TheYeshiva.net - Rabbi YY Jacobson

"Mr. President, G-d Promised the First Jew: I Will Bless Those Who Bless You"

Rabbi YY Jacobson Introducing President Trump

35 min

November 12, 2019: Rabbi YY Jacobson asking President Trump not to fear defending Israel and the Jewish People

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Class Summary:

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (YY) Jacobson introducing President Donald J. Trump, at a luncheon of America First Action, November 12, 2019, at the InterContinental New York Barclay, in Manhattan. The event, organized by Leizer Schiner, brought together American Jewish donors expressing their gratitude to the President for his unique friendship to Israel and the Jewish people.

Program: MC of event was Kivi Bernard. US Anthem by Beri Weber. Invocation by Rabbi Yisroel Reisman. Words of introduction by Rabbi YY Jacobson. Address by President Trump.

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M
Anonymous -3 months ago
For those of us with a keen sense of American history, seeing the "America First" logo between some of the most prominent rabbanim in America, most notably the great Rabbi YY, was jarring. Hearing frum yiddin scream "4 more years" with that logo in the backgrop was likewise disturbing. While President Trump may indeed be a far better president for the immediate needs and interests of the world of Torah jewry (I think that is clear, given what has transpired on the left), his very personality, personal morality, aversion to truth, promoting personal attacks on others, etc., makes it a busha for such major talmudei chachamim to full-throatedly on a very public platform express adoring feelings for him. I know this is not a popular opinion in our kehilla, especially while Israel is at war..
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- Anonymous -3 months ago
  https://fpif.org/the-ugly-origins-of-trumps-america-first-policy/
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Y
Yisroel -4 years ago
Awesome

I just read your Mishpacha Magazine article about the presidential fundraiser. I just felt the need to tell you that this was an unprecedented demonstration of Hakoras hatov and Kiddush Hashem.

it is unprecedented in history that it's specifically the ultra-orthodox Jews that have the ear of the leadership instead of other people. The president has gone out of his way to demonstrate his support for the Jewish community.

It is so important that the ultra-orthodox community express their appreciation and support for our president and to continue to do so publicly.

We may not be complacent about having friends in high places but we must recognize this unbelievable time that we are experiencing and utilize it for the betterment of all the Jewish people.

Emails, letter writing and even calling the White House switchboard are all logged and documented are very important for creating a public record of a communal support for the president. This is something that should be promoted and encouraged continuously.

מגלגלין זכות על ידי זכאי, אשרי חלקך שזכית לכך.

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S
Shmuel -4 years ago
What was your source for a beracha for seeing President Trump? Your brother brought down numerous sources that we don't, and according to the Alter Rebbe, that includes even without shem and malchus.
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- Anonymous -4 years ago
  There is an argument among rabbinic authorities whether or not this blessing is said for an elected president, who is not a monarch.
  
  I followed the many halachic opinions (the Shevet HaLevi, Rav Shmuel Wosner; the Shearim Metzuyanim B’Halachah, Rav Shlomo Zalman Braun; Ravi Dovid Yosef, and others) that the blessing should be made even on a president if he has the authority to commute a death sentence and can declare war.
  
  In addition, as the leader of the free world, the president of the United States has a unique status that increases the validity of making such a blessing.
  
  The Baal HaTanya, the Alter Rebbe (Seder Birchas Haneehenin, ch. 13) does quotes the Shlchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 224) verbatim, and does not negate Preisdents. However we explain the Shlchan Aruch, we can explain the Alter Rebbe, so there is no proof this way or that.
  
  On a side note, if I recall correctly, the Rebbe once shared with Rabbi Moshe Feller, that in Halacha he can rely on the Shearim Metzuyanim B’Halachah.
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- Anonymous -4 years ago
  There is an argument among rabbinic authorities whether or not this blessing is said for an elected president, who is not a monarch.
  
  I followed the many halachic opinions (the Shevet HaLevi, Rav Shmuel Wosner; the Shearim Metzuyanim B’Halachah, Rav Shlomo Zalman Braun; Ravi Dovid Yosef, and others) that the blessing should be made even on a president if he has the authority to commute a death sentence and can declare war.
  
  In addition, as the leader of the free world, the president of the United States has a unique status that increases the validity of making such a blessing.
  
  The Baal HaTanya, the Alter Rebbe (Seder Birchas Haneehenin, ch. 13) does quotes the Shlchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 224) verbatim, and does not negate Preisdents. However we explain the Shlchan Aruch, we can explain the Alter Rebbe, so there is no proof this way or that.
  
  On a side note, if I recall correctly, the Rebbe once shared with Rabbi Moshe Feller, that in Halacha he can rely on the Shearim Metzuyanim B’Halachah.
  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.
CL
CHANY LIGETI -4 years ago
Thanx for showing our support
Thank you so much Rabbi Jackobson for showing our support towards president trump with such beautiful words
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Anonymous -4 years ago
Thanks to all for your candid feedback, please allow me to explain my position on this.

I do not condone any behavior of any President that is wrong. I do not embrace unrefined language or any actions that are wanting, Yet the facts remain, that Donald Trump, notwithstanding all his flaws and shortcomings, canceled the horrific and dangerous Nuclear deal with Iran, a regime yearning to create a second Auschwitz, a despicable leadership which craves to see rivers of blood flowing—heaven forbid—from Jerusalem to Washington. He has been a staunch friend of Israel and the Jewish people. Despite radical pressure and criticism, he in contrast to many former Presidents who promised and did not deliver, relocated the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Under his leadership, the US acknowledged the Golan Heights as part of Israel. He commuted the sentence of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin who did not deserve to sit 27 years in a prison cell. Does he not deserve a thank you?

Israel is fighting now in Gaza. In the past, the US always called on both sides to show restraint. No more. The President knows the difference between terrorists and the victims of the terrorists—and he calls a spade a spade. He knows this is not a battle of two equal sides. This is a quantum shift in US policy toward Israel. Does he not deserve a thank you?

The Palestinian Authority was giving billions of shekels a year to the families of ‘Sahids,’ who murdered Jews. In 2016, the PA distributed 303 million dollars in stipends to families of people who axed, stabbed and gunned down Jews—money coming from US taxpayers. The shameful tradition was happening both under Republican and Democratic presidents. Trump was the first leader who said no more. He stopped it. Does he not deserve a thank you?

The President has made it a priority to fight and destroy terror groups and has worked hard to protect this country from terror. He says it the way it is and does not confuse the good guys with the evil monsters. Does he not deserve a thank you?

It is not only about the past, but also about the future. He is the President of the US, no matter if one likes it or not. We, the Jewish people, want to use our influence to influence politicians to use their power to defend the good and the innocent, to fight anti-Semitism, to support Israel, to combat terrorism, to cut down ISIS and all other Islamists who crave to see a world drenched in the blood of infidels. How can we try to yield positive influence, if all we do is discuss the flaws of one leader or another, no matter whether true or false?

In all honesty, do you think as a result of my words at the luncheon, the President might be friendlier to Israel or conversely? In the book of reality, that’s what matters to me: the safety and security of seven million of our brothers and sisters living in the Holy Land.

Let’s even assume for a moment that you are correct in all of your accusations concerning the President. So what? In Judaism, we always show respect to the office of the presidency, no matter its leader. No other man than Reb Chanina ben Tradyon states in Pirkei Avos: “You must pray for the welfare of the government.” And he was referring to the vicious Roman Empire who tortured him to death! G-d commanded Moshe to show respect to Pharaoh, and Elijah to show respect to Achav—both vicious kings.

Throughout history, Jews went to meet all types of leaders, of all shades and hues, for this exact reason: to help tip the scale to the good. Sometimes they met with leaders of very low moral standing; sometimes they met heinous and evil kings. The Talmud and Midrash are filled with these narratives. In the Tanach, Esther went to meet Achashverosh who killed his own queen and agreed to a genocidal plan of Haman, because she knew that G-d wants us to employ the natural means to influence leaders to try to do the right thing at the right moment.

Even if you disagree, there is no need for you to box me into a primitive model just because I disagree with you on this issue. Instead of assuming abruptly that I mortgaged my soul, you can say: I disagree, but I can respect that maybe Rabbi YY was acting in good faith and trying to do the right thing, at least in his estimation. If you could not even entertain such a thought, I pray that you expand your horizons, and that your commitment to kindness, compassion, sensitivity, and decency is internalized by you even when judging someone who went to meet the President of the United States.

That's one of the reasons it is important to learn Talmud. Every page of Talmud is full of debates and disputations; the sages argue about almost everything. Yet, always with respect and dignity. They do not vilify each other.

Regardless, life moves on. The President went back to his business, and I went back to my business. It is time to resume our study of Torah, our dedication to prayer, our celebration of Mitzvos, and our work to turn our world into an abode for the Divine, a world filled with goodness, kindness, compassion and holiness.

Respectfully, and with many warm blessings to all!

YY Jacobson
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- Anonymous -4 years ago
  excellent response Rav YY.
  
  brocho vehatzlocho!
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- S
  S.A. -4 years ago
  כמה נכון וכמה צודק!
  
  שכינה מדברת מתוך גרונך!
  
  תודה לרב ג'ייקובסון, לאחרונה יוצא לשמוע אותך הרבה ואני תמיד יוצא מחוזק מהדברים,
  
  תודה רבה! חיזקו ואימצו!
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