Actually Beth, one of the first admirals of the US navy was Jewish. larry
-- Larry C. Lyons ColdFusion/Web Developer Certified Advanced ColdFusion 5 Developer EBStor.com 8870 Rixlew Lane, Suite 204 Manassas, Virginia 20109-3795 tel: (703) 393-7930 fax: (703) 393-2659 Web: http://www.ebstor.com http://www.pacel.com email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chaos, panic, and disorder - my work here is done. -- > -----Original Message----- > From: Fleischer, Beth [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 1:40 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: RE: An Inspirational Chanukah Story that I hope is True. > > > Wow, I had no idea there were jews in the US in 1775. I will > send to my > mother right away!! > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 7:17 AM > > To: CF-Community > > Subject: An Inspirational Chanukah Story that I hope is True. > > > > The Chanukah Candle > > that Inspired George Washington > > > > Given to Rebbetzen Sternberg to type five years ago > > by Rabbi Yehuda Mandelcorn zt"l . > > May this be a blessing and inspirtation for you, in his Memory > > > > Chanukah (1775) 5537. > > > > A difficult winter. Terrible cold. We are sitting in Valley > Forge and > > waiting. Why? I don't know. Perhaps for better days than > these. I am the > > only Jew here. Perhaps there are other Jews among us, but I > haven't seen > > any. We hunger for bread. We have no warm clothing or shoes > to protect > > our feet. Most of the soldiers curse George Washington for > going to war > > against Britain. > > > > There are those who hope for his downfall, but I believe > that his cause > > is just. We must expel Britain from America. She wants to > put her hands > > in everything her eyes see. Although we are suffering here > terribly, I am > > loyal with all my heart to George Washington. More than > once I see him at > > night, passing through the camp, between the rows of > sleeping soldiers. > > He gazes with compassion upon the soldiers who are > suffering from the > > cold. And sometimes he approaches one of the sleeping > soldiers and covers > > him, as a father would cover his son. > > > > There are times when the hunger and the freezing cold torture me to > > death. But I don't curse General Washington who is fighting for the > > freedom of America. At moments like this I think of my > father in Poland. > > I think about all that he suffers at the hand of the cruel > "Poritz". I > > remember: I was a child then and I saw my father dancing before the > > Poritz. What an awful thing to see! My father was wearing > the skin of a > > Polar bear - and danced like a bear before the Poritz and > his guests. > > What terrible pain! What great shame! My father dancing > like a bear - and > > the "Poritzim" laughing and rejoicing at the sight. I > decided then and > > there that I will never dance like my father before the Poritz. > > > > Afterwards, I escaped to America. > > > > And now I am lying in Valley Forge and shivering from cold. > They say that > > Washington is losing and that he can't win this war. But I > don't believe > > all that. I lie at night and pray for him. > > > > The first night of Chanukah arrives. On this night, years > ago, I left my > > father's house. My father gave us this Chanukah menorah and > said to me, > > "My son, when you light the Chanukah candles, they will > illuminate the > > way for you". > > > > Since then, the Menorah has been like a charm for me. > Wherever I go, I > > take it with me. I didn't know what to do - to light the > Chanukah candles > > here, among the goyim, or not. I decided to wait until they were all > > asleep, and then I took out my father's Menorah. I made the > brocha and > > lit the first candle. I gazed at the light and remembered > my parents' > > home. I saw my father dancing like a bear before the Poritz > and I saw my > > mother's eyes filled with tears. My heart was filled with pain and I > > burst out crying like a small child. And I decided then in > my heart, that > > for the sake of my father and mother, for my brothers and sisters in > > Poland. I must help George Washington make America a free > country, a land > > of refuge for my parents and brothers who are subjected to > the cruelty of > > the Poritz. > > > > Suddenly I felt a gentle hand touching my head. I lifted my > eyes and it > > was he - he himself was standing over me and he asked, "Why are you > > crying, soldier? Are you cold? ". > > > > Pain and compassion were in his voice. I couldn't bear to > see him suffer. > > I jumped up, forgot that I was a soldier standing before a > General, and > > said what came from my heart, like a son speaking to his father: > > > > "General Washington," I said, "I am crying and praying for > your victory. > > And I know that with the help of G-d we will win. Today > they are strong, > > but tomorrow they will fall because justice is with us. We > want to be > > free in this land. We want to build a home here for all > those who flee > > from the hands of "Poritzim", for all who suffer across the > ocean. The > > "Poritzim" will not rule over us! They will fall and you will rise!" > > > > General Washington pressed my hand. > > "Thank you, soldier," he said. He sat next to me on the > ground, in front > > of the Menorah. > > > > "What is this candlestick?", he asked. > > I told him, "I brought it from my father's house. The Jews > all over the > > world light candles tonight, on Chanukah, the holiday of the great > > miracle". > > > > The Chanukah candles lit up Washington's eyes, and he asked > joyfully, > > "You are a Jew from the nation of Prophets and you say we will be > > victorious?!" > > > > "Yes sir," I answered with conviction. "We will win just like the > > Maccabees won, for ourselves and for all those who come > here after us to > > build a new land and new lives." > > > > The General got up and his face was shining. He shook my hand and > > disappeared in the darkness. > > > > My faith prevailed. Washington's victory was complete. The land was > > quiet. My General became the first President of the United > States and I > > was one of its citizens. I soon forgot the terrible days > and nights in > > Valley Forge. But I kept the memory of that first night of > Chanukah in my > > heart like a precious dream. I did not relate it to anyone > because I said > > to myself: Who will believe me? I was certain that the > General forgot it > > completely. But that was not the case. He didn't forget. > > > > The first night of Chanukah (1776) 5538. > > > > I was sitting in my apartment in New York, on Broome Street, and the > > Chanukah candles were burning in my window. Suddenly, I > heard a knock at > > my door. I opened the door and was shocked: my General, > President George > > Washington, was standing in the doorway (there himself), in all his > > glory. "Behold the wonderful candle. The candle of hope of > the Jewish > > People," he proclaimed joyously when he saw the Chanukah > candles in my > > window. > > > > He put his hand on my shoulder and said, "This candle and > your beautiful > > words ignited a light in my heart that night. Soon you will > receive a > > Medal of Honor from the United States of America, together > with all of > > the brave men of Valley Forge. But tonight, please accept > this token from > > me." > > > > He hung a golden medallion on my chest and shook my hand. > Tears filled my > > eyes and I couldn't speak. The President shook my hand again and > > departed.... > > > > I came to, as if from a wonderful dream, then I looked at > the medallion > > and saw an etching of a beautiful Chanukah Menorah. Under > it was written: > > "A token of gratitude for the light of your candle - George > Washington". > > > > This is a true story. > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Get the mailserver that powers this list at http://www.coolfusion.com Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
