noahidelaws
05-20-2009, 09:53 AM
Israeli, Iranian Children Get Acquainted At World Chess Championship
THESSALONIKI, GREECE -- (May 12, 2009)
Staff Writer
(lubavitch.com) After the trophies and closing ceremonies at last week’s World School Chess Championship in Thessaloniki, Greece, the Israeli and Iranian teams met with their coaches and local Chabad Rabbi Yoel Kaplan to talk chess and peace.
“I was with the kids all week at our center and cheered them on at the tournament,” said Kaplan. “The coach of the Iranian team approached me toward the end of the competition and asked me to help arrange a meeting for his team and the Israeli team.”
Coach Ebrahim Maddahi, his five players and their family members met with Israel’s team of six youngsters, family members, coach Naftali Ben Pinchas and Rabbi Kaplan in a private room at the Grand Hotel competition center after closing ceremonies.
“With a lot of excitement,” said Kaplan, Maddahi addressed the group, calling it a great opportunity and a demonstration that kids are above the political issues separating the countries. He spoke in English and Rabbi Kaplan translated.
“I spoke about the coming of Moshiach, and the idea that swords will turn into plowshares,” said Kaplan. “For a week we played together and had chess in common. Similarly, the whole world will be united in the future.”
Attention Rabbi Kaplan and staff writers at Lubavitch.com: The "differences" between arab countries and Eretz Yisroel are not just political. Arab countries object to our right to the land, while in truth the entire land belongs to the Jewish people because of the word of Hashem in Torah. And this affects also Jewish children, for they are also part of the Jewish people, and they have a share in the land!
Similarly, we find matters of shleimus ho'oretz referred to regularly as "politics", i.e., unrelated to religion, when in reality it's pikuach nefesh, which is a Torah imperative to the extent that it overrides kol ha'Torah kula.
Promote goodwill--fine. But don't water down the truth in the process.
THESSALONIKI, GREECE -- (May 12, 2009)
Staff Writer
(lubavitch.com) After the trophies and closing ceremonies at last week’s World School Chess Championship in Thessaloniki, Greece, the Israeli and Iranian teams met with their coaches and local Chabad Rabbi Yoel Kaplan to talk chess and peace.
“I was with the kids all week at our center and cheered them on at the tournament,” said Kaplan. “The coach of the Iranian team approached me toward the end of the competition and asked me to help arrange a meeting for his team and the Israeli team.”
Coach Ebrahim Maddahi, his five players and their family members met with Israel’s team of six youngsters, family members, coach Naftali Ben Pinchas and Rabbi Kaplan in a private room at the Grand Hotel competition center after closing ceremonies.
“With a lot of excitement,” said Kaplan, Maddahi addressed the group, calling it a great opportunity and a demonstration that kids are above the political issues separating the countries. He spoke in English and Rabbi Kaplan translated.
“I spoke about the coming of Moshiach, and the idea that swords will turn into plowshares,” said Kaplan. “For a week we played together and had chess in common. Similarly, the whole world will be united in the future.”
Attention Rabbi Kaplan and staff writers at Lubavitch.com: The "differences" between arab countries and Eretz Yisroel are not just political. Arab countries object to our right to the land, while in truth the entire land belongs to the Jewish people because of the word of Hashem in Torah. And this affects also Jewish children, for they are also part of the Jewish people, and they have a share in the land!
Similarly, we find matters of shleimus ho'oretz referred to regularly as "politics", i.e., unrelated to religion, when in reality it's pikuach nefesh, which is a Torah imperative to the extent that it overrides kol ha'Torah kula.
Promote goodwill--fine. But don't water down the truth in the process.