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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman's avatar

Is it possible that some day Trump’s abomination of a meme, hitting the heights of narcissism by portraying himself as the pope, might have been the “October Surprise” that swung the Conclave in favor an American, someone who might help to “drain the swamp?” Not even James Comey had such bad timing for such a colossal blunder. The AI generated photo was beyond blasphemous. And the cardinals were all hanging together in Rome, still in grieving mode when it came out. Ya think it didn’t come up in a few conversations? Nothing else explains how they were able to settle on an American so quickly. There’s a Yiddish saying, “Man plans and God laughs.” Well, in this case, one man planned something beyond distasteful and dumb, and God was not laughing. And from this moment on, when Trump looks into his magic mirror each morning and asks who is the most powerful American of all, a guy from Chicago will stare back.

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Catherine Bridge's avatar

108 of 133 Cardinals appointed by Pope Francis. Did he pack the conclave? I have been praying that he would work some divine intervention to right the hate that has been allowed to surface in this country.

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Catherine Sykes's avatar

Beautiful! Thank you. I’m not a believer but I think I like this new pope. Bless him.

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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman's avatar

I like him already. And Chicago is going ga-ga over him

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Margie Landis's avatar

Thank you, this piece is excellent.

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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman's avatar

Thanks!

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Nina Gerber's avatar

Thank you for a thoughtful and moving piece. I don’t use social media at all, but if I did, I have the adolescent fantasy of organizing a massive group message to Donald Trump: “Eat s—- and die.” Everything the man says or does defies the concept of Tikkun Olam.

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Kikist's avatar

Thank you, Rabbi Hammerman, for bringing us together with Yentl´s song, beautiful and fitting. And - absolutely! - there is now a KING, an American at that, that the whole world adores and respects (except for a few Dummkopf MAGAs),who is younger than president Donald, brilliant and has more hair...oy oy oy! ´Love it!

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Nancy Sen's avatar

Excellent writing. May we all have the fortitude to follow out of the darkness to the light, bridging religious & political divides.

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Carol H Black 🇨🇦🇺🇸's avatar

Thank you for your erudite post.

Our people can appreciate a good man of another faith.

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JOY A. SIMMONS's avatar

Lovely and informative Thank you

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Jackie's avatar

Crystal clear message. For sure.

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Gordon H DeFriese's avatar

Wonderful! Amen! Thanks so much.

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Diana's avatar

Bravo Bravo Bravo, a perfect sentiment at the exact perfect moment. Thank you 🤩✊

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Susan Raquel's avatar

Good evening Rabbi. I thought that was Barbra Streisand singing PaPa. I checked to make sure and ended up watching the movie Yentl. I thought I might have seen the movie; but, i don't remember it at all.

If anyone wants to watch the movie, it is free on Pluto: https://pluto.tv/us/search/details/movies/5901422ba1041ca52b5ab8b6

I think that Pope Francis had earmarked Cardinal Prevost to be his successor. I'm glad that Pope Leo has already stood up to Trump and Vance.

When I first learned that a Jesuit had been elected as Pope I figured that there would be some changes made. I think Pope Leo will continue on in the same way. Appears that the Augustinians and Jesuits are cut out of the same cloth :-)

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Claudia Allred's avatar

Dear Rabbi Hammerman. A quick note to wish you a peaceful new week and to tell you I’ve been thinking of you non stop since I learned about President Biden’s diagnosis. No amount of worry on my part will make you better but a want you to know I’m praying for you and……well I don’t know what else to say, but get better! I loved your Pope essay yesterday. Just the other day I commented (Jake is a Jerk!). Hoping your spirits are up, yours Claudia.

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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman's avatar

Thanks so much, Claudia. I'm very sad for President Biden - and for what has happened to decency in America. There's a fine line separating my diagnosis from Presdient Biden's - but it's one that makes all the difference. So I'm feeling very lucky at the moment, but humbled by how quickly fortunes can change and how medical professionals are still human, in the end, working with the tiniest margins of error.

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Claudia Allred's avatar

That tiny line is a chasm. Praying for you and the medical professionals you believe in. (Also sneaking in some thoughts and prayers for P.B. and his poor suffering family). P.S. Jake is still a jerk!

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