I like to read intelligent, well educated articles with a great sense of humor. Thank you.
I don't believe in any religion nor in God, but in humanity, democracy and freedom. I also believe, that true believers behave in a way that serves mankind.
I don't believe that Trump sees himself as God, but he is convinced he can make others believe it in order to gain the greatest advantage for himself. Quasi religion! Pseudo president on a messy mission!
I'm a retired German history teacher and what I see today is nothing new to me.
“Providence has predestined me to be the greatest liberator of mankind.
The dogma of the vicarious suffering and death of a divine redeemer is replaced by the vicarious life and action of the new Führer legislator, who relieves the mass of believers of the burden of free decision.” A. Hitler
Thank you Rabbi - I haven’t run into your writings before and appreciate the fullness of information and history and logic. I’m sure there’s a better word but I needed all three today.
Thank you, Rabbi Hammerman. This was a beautifully insightful piece. You are Wisdom. trump is no king. No messiah, and No "president". trump is evil incarnate.
Thank you so much Rabbi, for such a wonderful tutorial! If I HAD to identify what “religion” best describes me, it would be christian (with the small “c” emphasized). For years my husband and I identify more as spiritual than religious, following these guidelines: “Love the Lord your G-d with all your heart, soul and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” I especially appreciate this timely article because the other day I Googled: “What/who does the Messiah mean in Judaism.” I don’t need to tell you I got very different answers for Orthodox vs Reformed traditions. I want to take a moment to say how appalled I was by the horrific antisemitic attack in Boulder! I am praying for healing ~ physical, emotional and spiritual for everyone. Unfortunately I predicted that tRUMP and his regime would hijack it and make it all about immigration! 😫 I am sure you have noticed that the antisemitic murder of the two young people in Washington DC has already faded from their rhetoric! It serves no purpose to “them” because the perpetrator was a white American male with his legally purchased firearm. 😖 My husband and I are praying for more proactive protection around Jewish events. But also for less rhetoric from Netanyahu that does nothing but inflame violence. Hatred begats hatred, and around and around it goes. [Just a clarification ~ I changed my “handle” on Substack. I used to write here as “JED”. I had to delete my account and start over due to the abuse I received because some people cannot differentiate between my horror at what is happening at Gaza with supporting the terrorist organization Hamas.]
Thank you Rabbi! An important point for me is that we work to make the world a place of beauty, to combine love and social justice—we know we’ll never get there but that isn’t the point. It’s getting as close as we can. Progress is always possible, perfection never. It’s a joyful journey.
Trump’s narcissism has never allowed him to think he ever was anything but perfect already. The lemmings who surround him have helped his narcissism transform into this messiah complex. He is an abomination. They are creepy.
Thank you Rabbi. I'm an Orthodox 70 yr old grandmother, educated about democracy, child of survivors. All my beliefs have shattered with the hateful orgies released by T. And the absurdity/ hypocrisy of supporting him by frumper rabbis and what I now believe is that my community are cultists and fools. So this woman is scared every day. I fear that all minorities ( including Jews), poor people, decent people, the vulnerable, my grandchildren no longer live in a democracy and T, insane dictator has not a shred of interest in their future.
Thank you, Sara. Know that you are not alone - which is one of the main reasons for this Substack. Most Jews “get it” that Trump has been using us - and Israel - not to defend against antisemitism, but to stoke it, and to create more division in America. You have courage to speak out and I commend that. But many Orthodox agree with you. I do wish - as you said - more rabbis (and not just Orthodox) had the courage that you have.
The stupidity narcissistic dangerous man in the world after Putin has been fall Donald J Trump is not god or has any compassion dignity or respect empathy zero
I really like your essays, Rabbi! Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
I treasure your teaching here. Thank you.
I like to read intelligent, well educated articles with a great sense of humor. Thank you.
I don't believe in any religion nor in God, but in humanity, democracy and freedom. I also believe, that true believers behave in a way that serves mankind.
I don't believe that Trump sees himself as God, but he is convinced he can make others believe it in order to gain the greatest advantage for himself. Quasi religion! Pseudo president on a messy mission!
I'm a retired German history teacher and what I see today is nothing new to me.
“Providence has predestined me to be the greatest liberator of mankind.
The dogma of the vicarious suffering and death of a divine redeemer is replaced by the vicarious life and action of the new Führer legislator, who relieves the mass of believers of the burden of free decision.” A. Hitler
Never again! Learn! Think! Teach!
Thanks for this, Astrid. I appreciate your perspective and the historical context you add. Americans need to hear it!
No False Gods!
Thank you Rabbi - I haven’t run into your writings before and appreciate the fullness of information and history and logic. I’m sure there’s a better word but I needed all three today.
Should be NO TYRANTS.
You state it correctly. And I'm Christian.
Thank you, Rabbi Hammerman. This was a beautifully insightful piece. You are Wisdom. trump is no king. No messiah, and No "president". trump is evil incarnate.
Thank you so much Rabbi, for such a wonderful tutorial! If I HAD to identify what “religion” best describes me, it would be christian (with the small “c” emphasized). For years my husband and I identify more as spiritual than religious, following these guidelines: “Love the Lord your G-d with all your heart, soul and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” I especially appreciate this timely article because the other day I Googled: “What/who does the Messiah mean in Judaism.” I don’t need to tell you I got very different answers for Orthodox vs Reformed traditions. I want to take a moment to say how appalled I was by the horrific antisemitic attack in Boulder! I am praying for healing ~ physical, emotional and spiritual for everyone. Unfortunately I predicted that tRUMP and his regime would hijack it and make it all about immigration! 😫 I am sure you have noticed that the antisemitic murder of the two young people in Washington DC has already faded from their rhetoric! It serves no purpose to “them” because the perpetrator was a white American male with his legally purchased firearm. 😖 My husband and I are praying for more proactive protection around Jewish events. But also for less rhetoric from Netanyahu that does nothing but inflame violence. Hatred begats hatred, and around and around it goes. [Just a clarification ~ I changed my “handle” on Substack. I used to write here as “JED”. I had to delete my account and start over due to the abuse I received because some people cannot differentiate between my horror at what is happening at Gaza with supporting the terrorist organization Hamas.]
No kings and no messiahs either- tRump is neither except in his head. Very dangerous!
And in the heads of too many others.
unfortunately true
Thank you Rabbi! An important point for me is that we work to make the world a place of beauty, to combine love and social justice—we know we’ll never get there but that isn’t the point. It’s getting as close as we can. Progress is always possible, perfection never. It’s a joyful journey.
Trump’s narcissism has never allowed him to think he ever was anything but perfect already. The lemmings who surround him have helped his narcissism transform into this messiah complex. He is an abomination. They are creepy.
Yes, creepy, and very, very dangerous.
Thanks
Thank you Rabbi. I'm an Orthodox 70 yr old grandmother, educated about democracy, child of survivors. All my beliefs have shattered with the hateful orgies released by T. And the absurdity/ hypocrisy of supporting him by frumper rabbis and what I now believe is that my community are cultists and fools. So this woman is scared every day. I fear that all minorities ( including Jews), poor people, decent people, the vulnerable, my grandchildren no longer live in a democracy and T, insane dictator has not a shred of interest in their future.
Thank you, Sara. Know that you are not alone - which is one of the main reasons for this Substack. Most Jews “get it” that Trump has been using us - and Israel - not to defend against antisemitism, but to stoke it, and to create more division in America. You have courage to speak out and I commend that. But many Orthodox agree with you. I do wish - as you said - more rabbis (and not just Orthodox) had the courage that you have.
Thank you. You comforted me.
Mike Johnson thinks he's Moses. Lots of mental health issues in this regime. Noem, Mace, Patel, Pirro, MTG, Vance, Miller, Holman to name a few.
I'm not qualified to diagnose mental health pathologies, but the dangers of the kind of mass psychosis that false messiah movements have spawned often in history - cannot be ignored. See https://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/thom-hartmann/false-messiah-trumps-cult-personality-danger-america-democracy/
Maybe read a little in the history of god kings... cuz...
Trump is the ass that can speak.
From the Book of Numbers. But Balaam’s donkey spoke with much more wisdom and compassion than the other one will ever have!
Thank You Rabbi!
The stupidity narcissistic dangerous man in the world after Putin has been fall Donald J Trump is not god or has any compassion dignity or respect empathy zero