"We Are The World 25"--Commentary

            The original We Are The World was written by Lionel Richie and the Late Michael Jackson, and was produced by Quincy Jones.  It came out in 1985.  Some of the many artists featured were Kenny Loggins, Diana Ross, Cindy Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, The Late Ray Charles and The Late Michael Jackson.  In Response to the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010 and its victims, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie thought it would be a great idea to release a new version of We Are The World, entitled We Are The World 25.  Though the lyrics have not changed, all new artists, such as Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Wyclef Jean, Josh Groban and Will.I.Am are featured in this new version.  In the same way proceeds of the sales of We Are The World were to go towards fighting famine in Ethiopia, the proceeds from sales of We Are The World 25 are to help the earthquake victims in Haiti.

            Two weeks ago, Micaiah and I were watching the winter Olympics opening ceremony.  During a commercial break, an abridged version of the video to We Are The World 25 was aired.  The tempo was the same, but the drums thumped out a hip-hop beat.  In the first refrain, saying, "We are the world, We are the children…," the original track from the original version in which Michael Jackson was singing was spliced in.  That was, then, followed by the new artists singing the rest of the song.  In addition, there were brand-new lines inserted by rap singers to serve as extra verses of the song.  Having heard the original We Are The World numerous times, and now having heard the new version, there is nothing that can ever compare to the original We Are The World.  Not only did the original grab our attention and held it there, but the solo parts backed up by the choir made-up of many other artists gave it a heavenly quality.  The way it was composed gave the audience assurance that the production was well-thought out before it was recorded.  To this day, We Are The World maintains the same quality and feelings to those who heard it many times when it was originally released as well as to the younger crowd who were not born yet or were too young to understand at the time of its release.  We Are The World 25, on the other hand, made the song sound like a composition that was put together adhoc.

            I believe that inserting Michael Jackson singing, "We are the World, We are the children" may be to remind people that Michael Jackson co-wrote the song With Lionel Richie as well as to honor The Late Michael Jackson.  I thought it was tactless and insensitive to the public feelings of respect for the late singer.  In addition, it also did not take into account the feelings of his children.  The Hip-Hop beat and the rap singers who  added their own verses dramatically changed the integrity of the song.  The new versus and beat may have been to make the song more contemporary with the times.  However, the changes took away the awe-inspiring feeling the original version evoked.  

 

Makedah bat Leah

 

PS.:  Below is the complete information about the two versions.

 

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"We Are the World"
Single by USA for Africa
Released	March 7, 1985
Recorded	January 28, 1985
Label	Columbia Records
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie
Producer(s)	Quincy Jones
Chart positions
#1 (US Hot 100) #1 (UK Singles Chart)

"We Are the World" is a 1985 song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced and conducted by Quincy Jones and recorded by a supergroup of popular musicians billed as USA for Africa. The charity single was intended to raise funds to help famine relief efforts in Ethiopia.

Harry Belafonte initiated the idea for a fundraising effort. His manager, Ken Kragen, suggested the multi-artist approach, inspired by the success of the British supergroup Band Aid and their 1984 fundraising single "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

The performers gathered at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, on January 28, 1985. Kragen selected the night of the American Music Awards to ensure as many artists as possible could attend. Jones famously advised them, in his written invitation, to "check your egos at the door." In all, 45 musicians attended the recording session, including Bob Geldof, who had arranged the Band Aid effort in the United Kingdom. Lead vocals were rotated among 21 of the performers, including Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Steve Perry, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

Columbia Records donated their manufacturing and distribution costs to the effort. "We Are the World" hit stores on Tuesday, March 7, 1985, and all 800,000 copies sold out before the end of the weekend. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number twenty-one. On April 5 (Good Friday in that year), more than 5,000 radio stations played the song at the same time. It became the United States' number one single on April 13 and held the position for four weeks.

The song went on to win 1985 Grammys for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group.

Ultimately, the single sold 7.5 million copies in the US. It was released on an album, We Are the World, which sold over three million copies. In addition to "We Are the World," the album included previously unreleased songs by Prince, Springsteen, Rogers, Turner and other artists. It also included another famine relief fundraising song, "Tears Are Not Enough", which was performed by Canadian supergroup Northern Lights.

Including revenues from the single, the album, the video and related merchandise, "We Are the World" raised about $50 million for famine relief.

On November 15, 2006 Michael Jackson performed the song in the World Music Awards.[[1]] Kenny Rogers has also performed a solo version of the song, which is featured on a 1986 concert video at Texas stadium.

• Dan Aykroyd
• Harry Belafonte
• Lindsey Buckingham
• Kim Carnes
• Ray Charles
• Bob Dylan
• Sheila E.
• Bob Geldof
• Hall and Oates
• James Ingram
• Jackie Jackson
• LaToya Jackson
• Marlon Jackson
• Michael Jackson
• Randy Jackson
• Tito Jackson
• Al Jarreau
• Waylon Jennings
• Billy Joel
• Cyndi Lauper
• Huey Lewis and the News
• Kenny Loggins
• Bette Midler
• Willie Nelson
• Jeffrey Osborne
• Steve Perry
• The Pointer Sisters
• Lionel Richie
• Smokey Robinson
• Kenny Rogers
• Diana Ross
• Paul Simon
• Bruce Springsteen
• Tina Turner
• Dionne Warwick
• Stevie Wonder

 

 

• The group name U.S.A. for Africa actually stands for United Support of Artists for Africa.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../w/e/_/We_Are_the_World_ef64.html"

 

 

 

 

 

 

the 2010 version will be headlined by Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Wyclef Jean, Josh Groban and Will.I.Am. It features a newly penned hip-hop break written by the Black Eyed Peas leader that makes reference to the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, the victims of which will benefit from the song's proceeds.  Among the rap artists making the cut for "We Are the World — 25 for Haiti" are T-Pain, Kanye West, Bizzy Bone, Kid Cudi, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Mann, Nipsey Hussle, Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz.  The sessions did feature a number of current stars such as Miley Cyrus, Keri Hilson and Best New Artist Grammy winner Zac Brown.  There were the requisite classic artists who pitched in, including Barbra Streisand; Carlos Santana; Natalie Cole; BeBe Winans; the members of Heart; Freda Payne; Harry Connick Jr.; Earth, Wind & Fire; the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and Al Jardine; Tony Bennett; "Slumdog Millionaire" film score composer A.R. Rahman; "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson; Patti Austin; Celine Dion and Gladys Knight. A few actors were in the studio (Jeff Bridges and Vince Vaughn), as well as the offspring of co-producers Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, Nicole Richie and "Parks and Recreation" star Rashida Jones, and the members of 3T (the sons of Tito Jackson), Taj, Taryll and TJ Jackson.  Joel and Benji Madden were on hand, as were Akon, Brandy, Melanie Fiona, Mya, Musiq Soulchild, Katharine McPhee, Trey Songz, Faith Evans, "Heroes" actor Jimmy Jean-Louis ("the Haitian") and former Michael Jackson guitarist Orianthi.  Also pitching in according to a press statement from organizers were the members of Sugarland, Jennifer Hudson, Jason Mraz, India.Arie, Mary Mary, Tyrese Gibson, Raphael Saadiq, Pink, Jordin Sparks, Rob Thomas, Usher, the Fray's Isaac Slade, child prodigy pianist Ethan Bortnick, Enrique Iglesias, Robin Thicke, Jamie Foxx, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, the Jonas Brothers, Nicole Scherzinger and Julianne Hough.

 

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631021/20100202/west_kanye.jhtml

 

 

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

                                                            Mirror Mirror On The Wall

                                                            Micaiah Ben Malachi

           

 

Makedah and I post our thoughts on issues, which are directly Jewish related.  However, there are times non-Jewish issues, events and subjects cause us to be moved and we must speak.  Makedah posted her thoughts and feelings about the new Michael Jackson DVD, "This Is It".  Before that, in our private blog, she wrote her book review on "The Michael Jackson Tapes".  What does Michael Jackson have to do with Jews beyond the reported story that Michael's older children " Prince and Paris" have a Jewish mother?  Two words come to mind, "social change".  Michael not only sung about change but put it into action in his public and private life.  There are a group of words and phrases that describe man who dared rewrite his story and thereby history.  They are compassion, generosity, sensitivity to others feelings and unconformity.  Although Michael Jackson was not Jewish whether by birth or conversion, he demonstrated the core values of Judaism better than almost any Jew I have met to date.  I say "almost" because there are two other Jews who come to mind.  I wished I could say their names, but I know they would be embarrassed.  They are selfless individuals, who reached out to Makedah and myself with no regard as to whether we looked Jewish or not or whether we had white enough skin to pass the "whites only" religious test that so many minorities and poor white perspective converts to Judaism have and still encounter.  In addition, there are those who are adopted and those have one or both parents being Jewish, that come for inclusion. 

One of these individuals reached into their meager purse and gave to us when we could not do for ourselves.  Neither of them expected us to come to them for inclusion, they came to us.  In some of our worst days when we did not think we could go on, one got behind us and pushed, while the other pulled us up that steep mountain pass.  Being Jewish, is not a label to us it is our identity. It is our reason to fight.  We are in a constant battle for our and other Jews recognition, by fellow Jews.  All of us are Jews regardless of our skin color(s), ethnicities, nationalities and branches of Judaism we are affiliated with.  Our existence as Jews is directly based on how we accept or reject our Jewish brothers and sisters.  

Acceptance and recognition alone will not forge a strong defense against an anti-Semitic world.  Compassion, generosity, sensitive to others feelings, charity, social responsibility and social change are the very shields that will sustain our faith and our people.  Peoplehood is not merely attending religious services, serving on various committees, donating to various Jewish causes.  Peoplehood is an oneness that is inclusive of "all" Jews.  It is not only reaching out to those who belong to our Jewish communities and congregations but those that do not.  We do not have to attempt to change this world in one sweeping motion. But we should not allow our communities and congregations to be satisfied with the status quo either. A wall is strong not because of the bricks but the mortar as well. Our Jewish communities and houses of worship may appear strong. But, they are only strong as the people within them. How many times do we see the same names on mailings? Usually, they are the socially connected, financially well off, higher educated and conservative among our communities and houses of worship. These people are not the Jewish community. They are but a small part of it. Social change cannot occur if it is being carried on the back of one person or a small group of people. Unfortunately, for all his efforts, the late Michael Jackson learned he alone could not change the whole world.  Without you and me, nothing can happen.  If we focus on only those Jews who can afford to be Jewish, on those that look Jewish, on those with Jewish sounding last names and those who meet our expectations of a Jew; we will miss those Jews who are able to help us change our communities from those dying to those that are revitalized.   In conclusion, the late Michael Jackson's song "Man In The Mirror" illustrate the path our Jewish people, our Jewish houses of worship and our Jewish communities must follow, if we are to save our faith for those who come after us.

                        I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror,

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place

Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change

You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time

Cause When You Close Your Heart

You  Close Your . . .Your Mind!

 

           

The Grammies & This Is It movie

            I normally don't watch the Grammies.  At least, that's been the case for the last twenty-five years.  But, I watched it last Sunday night because I knew that there was going to be a tribute segment to Michael Jackson.  The Grammies was held at Staple Stadium in Los Angeles, California, where Michael Jackson was last rehearsing before he died on June 25, 2009.  As those nominated for Best Pop Male Vocalist, Song of the Year, Album of the year, etc. came up to receive their awards, I thought of the many categories Michael Jackson was nominated for and the many times he kept appearing up on stage all in one Grammies ceremony.  Yes, I saw some promising musicians, like Taylor Swift and Beyonce, that I normally don't listen to, but I found myself caught up with emotion inwardly as I watched and reflected back to the Grammies in 1984.  When Taylor Swift came up to receive her Album of the Year award, my mind flashbacked to when Michael Jackson got the same award in 1984 for his album, Thriller.  I wanted to cry.  Though Taylor Swift is not the greatest singer in my opinion, I'm still happy that she got some awards, especially in lieu of what rap singer, Kanye West, did to her.  In September, or October, of last year, I believe that MTV was holding their awards.  (I don't watch that channel anymore.)  Taylor got some kind of award.  When she stepped up to receive it, Kanye West grabbed the microphone, saying that Beyonce should've gotten the award instead.  Though he was saying what many were thinking or chatting about on the Internet, it still didn't give Kanye the right to steal the limelight from Taylor Swift, especially being that she's a new upstart of eighteen years old who wrote all of her songs.  In the tribute segment to Michael Jackson, Usher, Smokey Robinson, Celine Dion and Beyonce sang along to Earth Song with scenes from the movie, This Is It, on a video screen behind them.  The scenes were that of the forest and various kinds of environmental destruction by mankind as shown in the movie when Michael was actually performing Earth Song in the movie.  Celine Dion and Beyonce were the only ones who could reach Michael's high notes.  Usher did what he could in his range with improvisations, but Smokey Robinson sounded like a dog trying to howl.  While I was amazed with Celine Dion and Beyonce's part because of how beautifully their voices blended in with Michael's or highlighted his voice, I couldn't help but start laughing when Usher and Smokey Robinson sang their parts.  I, probably, shouldn't have laughed, but I couldn't help myself.  After that performance, Lionel Richie appeared onstage to present the Lifetime Achievement award to Michael Jackson, which was given to Michael's children.  I imagine that Blanket was there, but Prince and Paris were the two who were up onstage.  Blanket is only seven or eight years old, and to expect him to be able to sit still for three hours is a lot for that age.  Anyway, Prince spoke first with his well-rehearsed lines, thanking everyone for supporting his father and how much his father loved his fans.  Of course, Prince started tearing up, and, thus, forgot the remaining rehearsed lines.  So, he concluded with thanking everyone.  Then, Paris stepped up.  I'm not sure whether she meant to say it the way she did, but her words shyly came out saying that her dad was going to perform at the Grammies but couldn't because he couldn't perform last year.  Either way, all she could do was thank the audience, as she, too, was starting to tear up.  Of course, the audience gave them a standing ovation not only because of their courage to talk to the public, but also because of all that they've been through over the last seven months.  Like Prince and Paris, I, too, started to tear up.  My mind flashbacked to the memorial service, which was held there at Staple Stadium.  The last time Paris was up on that stage was at the conclusion of the service, when she attempted to tell everyone that Michael was the best daddy she'd ever had and then started to cry.  When Paris attempted to give her speech that day, the audience applauded her for her courage.  Once again, when I saw the children this time at the Grammies, I wanted to hug them, and I, especially, wanted to hold Paris and rock her in my arms.  For them to reappear at Staple Stadium and for me to see them seven months later was like Deja Vou; thus, making Michael Jackson's death seem like yesterday all over again.  Of course, I cried my eyes out later that Sunday night while Micaiah held me.  I feel the pain they're still feeling even after seven months not only because of Michael Jackson's death, but because of the children's great loss of their father, who they loved dearly.

            I finally bought the movie, This Is It, last Monday and watched it last night with Micaiah.  As most people likely know, the movie is made-up of the rehearsal sessions for the This Is It tour that was to take place in England.  Of course, the dancing and the choreography were great, but I felt that there was more to the movie than that.  As one who watches movies to be entertained as well as to learn something or examine critically, I look beyond the superficial.  Then, I think about what I saw and heard while sleeping, or trying to sleep, before putting my thoughts on paper.  Most of us have heard Michael Jackson singing lead with the Jackson Five in such songs as The Love You Save and I'll Be There.  Back then, he was a kid with a very high voice.  The above two songs were included among the list of songs he was going to sing on the This Is It tour.  Though he no longer had that high kid's voice to sing it as was done forty years ago, it still sounded beautiful and more mature.  I loved how mature-sounding it was that I wished there was an audio file of it to put on CD so that I didn't have to pull out the movie just to hear him sing those two songs.  The other part I liked was when they were rehearsing for the performance of Smooth Criminal.  There was some point at the beginning of the song in which Michael was supposed to turn a certain way in his dance move, but his back was to the electronic billboard that displayed the song title.  The director of the session asked Michael how he would know when to turn since he wasn't facing the billboard.  Michael replied that he would go by feel and timing, which is how blind people like me function on a daily basis.  Though Michael was a perfectionist, he was very patient with the dancers and musicians as everyone worked together to get things to sound and look satisfactory.  Unlike most perfectionists I've personally met, Michael openly admitted when he made a mistake.  I cannot remember what song they were practicing, but he thought that there were two verses when there was only one.  He apologized to the band and then everyone backtracked to work on the song as if nothing happened.  However, there were two things that caused me concern if the tour had actually started.  The first was his voice, one comment he made here and there throughout a few of the rehearsal sessions was that he had to save his voice.  Unlike when he was younger and could sing for hours on end without a break, he wasn't able to do that now.  The second was his stamina and physical ability to be precise at all times.  A couple times that he was dancing, one of his feet slightly dragged as he was shifting from one foot to the other or turning.  Unless you look closely, you wouldn't notice that.  Then, there was a dance move in which he quickly shifted from a standing position to a lying down position on the stage with his feet up in the air.  Not only was he breathing heavy as he tried to catch his breath and got back up, but he was overheating.  The director noticed that he was getting dehydrated and needed to get something to drink.  The two months of rehearsing before his death were draining Michael Jackson mentally and physically.  He knew, like most people who followed Michael Jackson over the years or watched the movie as critically as John and I did, that a fifty-date tour was impossible for him to meet.  He would've been hoarse by the time one performance was over and, probably, would've still been somewhat hoarse the next day for the next performance.  He was also suffering from chronic back pain, which greatly limits one's endurance.  In turn, the person is often breathing heavily to catch their breath as they seek to regain their composure to continue on.  Speaking from personal experience of currently suffering from chronic back pain, even with painkillers, the physical stamina needed for the subsequent performances wouldn't have been there as it was in the first performance.  Twelve to twenty-four hours is not enough time to recuperate, but the scheduled performances were one day after another.  As one gets older, their voice is not as crisp, nor can they sing as long as when they were younger.  Their physical ability to dance the way they did when they were younger is not there anymore because the body is not as elastic as it used to be.  Michael Jackson was fifty years old, not twenty-five or thirty-five years old.  So, to expect him to fulfill a fifty-date tour was like expecting someone to literally jump over the moon.  Yet, he was forced to do the This Is It tour so that he could pay his debts off.  Yes, it was sad the tour never took place for Prince and Paris to attend and see what their daddy did for a living.  It was also sad that all the hard work the musicians and dancers put in during the rehearsals was as if it was all for nothing.  But, based on the two things that concerned me, his voice and physical stamina to withstand the harsh and demanding schedule would have, probably, done more irreparable harm to his body.  Michael Jackson fulfilled his two greatest desires, that being never to grow old and never to be forgotten.  He has, in deed, created his own history and left a legacy to his children and his fans.

 

 Makedah bat Leah

 

 

 

The Ingathering Of World Jewry

Genesis 17:4-9

 

4. As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations.
5. Neither shall thy name anymore be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.
6. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7. And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.
8. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
9. And God said unto Abraham: And as for thee, thou shalt keep My covenant, thou and thy seed after thee throughout their generations.

 

The Ingathering Of World Jewry

                        By

                                          Micaiah Ben Malachi  & Makedah Bat Leah

                                                        Sunday, January 31, 2010

 

                        Reform Jew, Conservative Jew, Orthodox Jew, Reconstructionist Jew, Ashkenazi Jew, Sephardi Jew, Mizrahi Jew, Soviet Jew, American Jew, Israeli Jew, Ethiopian Jew, Caucasus Jew, India Jew, Black Jew, African Jew, White Jew, Asian Jew, Indian Jew, Native American Jew, Jew By Choice, Chabad Jew, Converted Jew, Birth Jew, Secular Jew, Observant Jew.  We are all the descendents of Abraham. 

According to the estimates for 2007 of the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, the world population of Jews is 13.2 million.^[1] Adherents.com cites figures ranging from 12 to 18 million Jews.^[2] These statistics incorporate both practicing Jews affiliated with synagogues and the Jewish community, and approximately 4.5 million unaffiliated and secular Jews. (1)       

Many of us came to Judaism because we were drawn to it, like a magnet is drawn to steel. Judaism has given us a sense of Peoplehood, even if many of us have little or no contact with other Jews, attend a house of worship or able to participate in a Jewish community.  Makedah and I came to Judaism because we are able to investigate, discuss, ask questions and agree or disagree with one another or other Jews interpretation of various Jewish text, culture or ideas.

            Unfortunately, even within such an open and diverse religion, we as Jews, have preconceived notions of what a "true" Jew should looks like, how a "true"Jew should behave, dress and their worship etiquette, even circumcision.  There are also many Jews among us who base their recognition of another Jew by skin color, hair color, hair texture, last name and or what branch of Judaism they are affiliated with.  Likewise, the Goyim also make the same distinction when deciding who is White enough to be accepted as marriage partners, head most of the Fortune 500 corporations here in America, be their neighbors and even what their grandchildren should look like.  There are many false misconceptions about Jews. Some examples are, we have a large "hooked nose", dark curly thick textured hair, olive colored skin, Jewish sounding last names, are dressed in a long black coat which is below the knees and black felt hat and two braids, that young women wear scarves, have lots of money or rich, wearing the Magen Star jewelry; all are supposed to be outward ways of recognizing a Jew in the Goyim world.

The "true" Jews are as diverse as the stars in the night sky.  We come from every racial group and nearly every corner of this blue globe we live on.  There are those whose have never been inside a synagogue or shul and would not know proper etiquette, which last names might be Campbell, Brown, Johnson or Jones, whose hair might be kinky, wiry, straight or curly.  Yes, they might have ivory, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, yellowish skin and any combination of hues that G*d or Grandfather might chose to create.  Some of the real or true Jews could have doctorate degrees, bachelor degrees, and high school or GED diplomas.  They could be doctors, lawyers, nurses, politicians, social workers, advocates, and cashiers at Wal-Mart, McDonalds or unemployed. But they are all Jews.  They have always been Jews since the beginning of time.  It was man who chose to separate himself from his brothers and sisters of a different hue, not G*d or Grandfather.  It was not G*d or Grandfather that caused them to be used as slaves in the past and economic slaves today.  There is little we Jews can do about the world of the Goyim. But there is a lot we can do within our own house.

We must embrace those who come to our communities and sincerely wish to be accepted and cherished as members of our communities and houses of worship. We must strip our communities, houses of worship and even leaders of the inherited racism and other "isms" that hinder our growth and respectability.  How can we lead the Goyim world, if we are blinded by our own shortcomings? Our Jewish communities are similar to a child.  They begin small but constantly grow over time.  Like a child, we must continually learn and evolve.  Colorful toys not single color toys keep a child's attention. Yes, there have been many Jewish families adopting interracially and transracially. However, what will happen to these children when they grow up and seek a Jewish partner, a Jewish homelife? Will the doors of acceptance be slammed in their face? Will they become disillusioned because everyone is one hue and they were born another?  Will they be made to feel less Jewish because they facially do not resemble the culturally accepted norms of what a Jew is to look like?  Will they feel ashamed of the texture and or color of their hair?  If we are to continue to survive as a "people", then we must stop classifying and begin unifying.  Both the narrow-minded Jews and Goyim are wrong in what a Jew looks like physically, their manner of dress, their educational level, their income, their knowledge of worship etiquette or whether they are circumcised. 

When the next holocaust comes, the killers will not be concerned with outer appearance as before, but rather our public declaration of being Jews.  It will not matter if you are a Reform Jew, Conservative Jew, Orthodox Jew, Reconstructionist Jew, Ashkenazi Jew, Sephardi Jew, Mizrahi Jew, Soviet Jew, American Jew, Israeli Jew, Ethiopian Jew, Caucasus Jew, Indian Jew, Black Jew, African Jew, Euro-American Jew, European Jew, Asian Jew, Indian Jew, Native American Jew, Jew By Choice, Chabad Jew, Converted Jew, Born Jew, Secular Jew, Observant Jew or have relatives who are or were Jewish.  If we refuse to accept our Jewish brothers and sister at a time of peace, then whom do we depend on in time of war?

 

Micaiah Ben Malachi

Makedah Bat Leah

 

 

 

 

 

                                                        Foot Notes

1.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population