This Shabbat Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to visit a synagogue to mark international Holocaust Remembrance Day. In view of Ban Ki-moon’s anti-Israel stance, this visit is rather hypocritical. The double standard he displays by inferring that terrorism against Israelis is justified whereas all other acts of terrorism should be condemned is just one example of this.
What is remarkable about this visit is the weekly Torah portion. The Torah, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, has been divided into fifty four portions so that over the course of the year the entire Torah is read and expounded upon.
The book of Exodus includes details of the laws given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai. The heading for the parasha (portion) for this Shabbat (Ex 21 – 24) is Mishpatim, usually translated as judgments. The commandments in these chapters are defined as those which relate to the relationships between people.
“Thou shalt not raise a false report; put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. … Keep thee far from false matter” (Ex 23: 1-7).
One cannot but marvel that this is the portion to be read in the presence of a man who has done the very things we are instructed to avoid.
Take a few minutes to read the open letter to Ban Ki-moon written by Hillel Neuer of the UN Watch.
