Jerusalem – A contingency of 30 Amish from the U.S.—many of them excommunicated from their own churches for non-conformity—traveled to Israel over the past week in order to offer an “in-person” apology to the Jewish people over past transgressions, including a rejection of Israel and the Jews.
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THE TIMES OF ISRAEL (http://bit.ly/184tL9Z) reports that the contingency was led by Bishop Ben Girod of the Amish community in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
Girod said they had come to apologize for a long-standing component of anti-Semitism that is incorporated into the tenets of Anabaptism, the Christian doctrine that dominates Amish culture.
On Thursday, as the Amish group waited to meet with Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau, they celebrated the first day of Hanukkah by filling the halls of the building with verses of the Religious hymn “Days of Elijah,” singing, “Lift your voices, year of jubilee, out of Zion’s hills salvation comes. Behold he comes, riding on the clouds, shining like the sun, as the trumpet calls.”
Upon Lau’s entrance, the group stood and cheered, causing Lau to respond that he’d like to hear another song.
The group responded, singing, “Let your love flow through me, let your love flow through me, make me a blessing Lord, wherever I may be. Keep us pure keep us clean so that you might be seen, let your love flow through me.”
Explaining to the group Hanukkah and the lighting of the menorah, Lau told them, “I want to add warmth, to add light, all my life. I can’t sing at your level, but if I could, maybe I’d sit with you.”
The songs of the Amish filled the building, causing MK Aliza Lavie join the group just as she was leaving the building.
In the spirit of Hanukkah Lau was presented with a traditional Amish oil lamp by a trip leader who said, “In order for us to come to our destiny with the Lord, we need to bless our Jewish brothers. We are commanded to pray for Jerusalem. The Lord told Abraham that those that bless you shall be blessed. We in our past and in our history have had a somewhat anti-Semitic view of Jews. And we have come to repent for that. Now we want to develop a relationship with you. We want to draw close to you.”
MK Lavoie said, “We need your friendship, we want your friendship,” before pulling out her cellphone to show off pictures that MK Dov Lipman had sent to her of his meeting with the group earlier in the day.
This is so moving and touching. I just wonder what made them recognize their mistake and go all the way to Israel for repentance and start a relationship with the Jewish people?
The Amish are the least of our problems.
Another lost tribe?
I wonder when Satmar will have the guts and decency to apologize for all the years of their vicious insane hatred against their own country and people.
But i won’t hold my breath
I wasn’t aware there was anti-semitism in the Amish (apart from their Germanic heritage.) Certainly the ones I see taking tours of Crown Heights are very positive. Just proves we never know & that at the end of the day, we are always “those damned dirty Jews” even to those we think are our friends.
to #3:
Maybe they need to selll a few swing sets or sheds.
Vhakesef yaaneh es hakol
First of all let me start off by saying that what they did was amazing & wonderful. However, aren’t they suppose to shun technology? If so, how did they get on a plane?
These interfaith meetings are so stupid.
Does anyone see the start of Israels push to get new friends?
Ha ha. I have to laugh at some of the self-righteous comments above. You know what I would love to see? A delegation of heilige rabbunim apologizing to non-Jews for the teachings in the Gemara that are so shockingly bigoted toward non-Jews that most of us are embarrassed to talk openly about it. How about something like” We sincerely apologize for not teaching our talmidim that many hateful comments about non-Jews in our tradition were uttered long, long ago when our sages were surrounded by pagans and idol woshippers and before various forms of monotheism had influenced so many people. Forgive us for fostering such a negative attitude about non-Jews that many of our young people are shocked and confused when they leave their little shtetels and learn that most people are actually good, honest and decent.”
Now if only the Pope would apologize for those murdured by the Church and the wagonloads of seforim that were burned by Church leaders. As far as I know the Amish bear a lot less guilt than the Catholic Church. He could also return the vessels from the Bais Hamikdosh that are in the Vatican.
There will now be chol hamoed trips from Bnei Brak to amishtown
Number 13 sure touched a nerve.
The article mentions that the delegation was comprised of Amish who had been “excommunicated for non-conformity”. I guess that answers an earlier posted question about how they traveled by plane as well as explains their non-traditional wardrobe.
The unfortunate thing is that while non-conformists are willing to offer this apology, it seems that the main stream Amish are not.