On Saturday evening, YWN published an article from the Jerusalem Post which reported that the Chasidic newspaper, Der Zeitung, had altered an iconic photo released by the White House last week. The photograph showing President Barack Obama and staffers in the White House Situation Room carefully watching the raid in progress by US forces in Pakistan on the bin Laden compound last Sunday was published far and wide.

Der Zeitung, however, had chosen to alter the photo – excising Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and another female staffer from the picture. There are now empty spaces where Clinton had been sitting and where the female staffer had stood.

As published by YWN earlier today, the articles spread from the Jerusalem Post to the NY Post, to a being a lead story on Fox News, TIME, Washington Post, Yahoo News, NY Daily News, CNN, Huffington Post and dozens and dozens of other news outlets.

In response to the firestorm created, the newspaper has released the following statement:

The White House released a picture showing the President following “live” the events in the apprehension of Osama Bin Laden, last week Sunday. Also present in the Situation Room were various high-ranking government and military officials. Our photo editor realized the significance of this historic moment, and published the picture, but in his haste he did not read the “fine print” that accompanied the picture, forbidding any changes. We should not have published the altered picture, and we have conveyed our regrets and apologies to the White House and to the State Department.

The allegations that religious Jews denigrate women or do not respect women in public office, is a malicious slander and libel. The current Secretary of State, the Honorable Hillary R. Clinton, was a Senator representing New York State with great distinction 8 years. She won overwhelming majorities in the Orthodox Jewish communities in her initial campaign in ’00, and when she was re-elected in ’06, because the religious community appreciated her unique capabilities and compassion to all communities. The Jewish religion does not allow for discrimination based on gender, race, etc.

We respect all government officials. We even have special prayers for the welfare of our Government and the government leaders, and there is no mention of gender in such prayers.

All Government employees are sworn into office, promising adherence to the Constitution, and our Constitution attests to our greatness as a nation that is a light beacon to the entire world. The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. (See below.) That has precedence even to our cherished freedom of the press! In accord with our religious beliefs, we do not publish photos of women, which in no way relegates them to a lower status. Publishing a newspaper is a big responsibility, and our policies are guided by a Rabbinical Board. Because of laws of modesty, we are not allowed to publish pictures of women, and we regret if this gives an impression of disparaging to women, which is certainly never our intention. We apologize if this was seen as offensive.

We are proud Americans of the Jewish faith, and there is no conflict in that, and we will with the help of the Almighty continue as law-abiding citizens, in this great country of our’s, until the ultimate redemption.

Inquiring minds would like to know if any of the Shuls in the communities that this newspaper caters to, has ever said the appropriate prayer that they claim they have. Do any of their Sidurim have the Tefilla printed in them?

(AskMoses.com has the following info on this prayer:) The “prayer for the welfare of the government” is found in some Siddurim after the Torah reading. In synagogues where it is recited, it is recited on Shabbat and festivals after the Torah reading, before the Torah is put back in the ark.

In the 14th century, Rabbi Dovid Abudraham first included this prayer in the Siddur, writing that it is the “custom to bless the King, and to pray to G-d that He may give him victory.1” 

The idea of praying for the government has its source in the Bible:2   “Seek the welfare of the country where I have sent you into exile; pray to the L-rd for it, for your welfare depends on its welfare.” In the fifth century BCE, after the first expulsion from Jerusalem, the Jewish people found themselves unable to govern themselves, so they implored G-d to guide their foreign rulers. The prayer itself is actually a composite of selections from Psalms 145:13 and 144:10, Isaiah 43:16, Jeremiah 29:7, and Isaiah 59:20.

The Mishnah, too, enjoins us to pray for the government. In Pirkei Avot,3   it states: “Rabbi Chanina deputy of the Kohanim said ‘Pray for the welfare of the government. If it were not for the fear of the government, each man would eat his neighbor alive!’”

Rabbeinu Yonah explains that praying for the peace of the government is a means to a greater end. According to Rabbeinu Yonah, one should pray on behalf of the entire world, and be pained at the pain of others, which is the way of the righteous. One should pray not just for one’s own needs, but rather should pray on behalf of every person, that they too should have peace. And when there is peace in the government, everyone else lives in peace.

As for the expression “each man would eat his neighbor alive,” Rav Ovadia Bartenura explains that just as larger fish in the sea eat smaller fish, if it weren’t for the fear of the government, greater men would “swallow” up smaller men. In other words, without law and order, people would take great advantage of each other—or worse.

[CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE HEBREW & ENGLISH PRAYER]

Here is a translation of the prayer for the welfare of the government:

He Who grants salvation to kings and dominion to rulers, Whose kingdom is a kingdom spanning all eternities; Who releases David, His servant, from the evil sword; Who places a road in the sea and a path in the mighty waters – may He bless the President, the Vice President, and all the constituted officers of government of this land.

The King Who reigns over kings, in His mercy may He sustain them and protect them; from every trouble, woe and injury, may He rescue them; and put into their heart and into the heart of all their counselors compassion to do good with us and with all Israel, our brethern. In their days and in ours, may Judah be saved and may Israel dwell securely, and may the Redeemer come to Zion. So may it be His will.

Now let us respond: Amen. (Cong.- Amen.)

(Eli Gefen – YWN)