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| The President speaking to Holocaust survivors at Yad VaShem (TOI) |
At the time, I noted that that there were many Poskim that allowed for an exception in cases like this one. And that shaking the hand of a member of the opposite sex with no sexual intent by either party would be permissible. A leniency based on a dispute among latter day Halachic authorities about whether the prohibited physical contact between the sexes meant only with sexual intent (Derech Chiba) – or included even platonic contact.
The rationale for that leniency is that it would prevent embarrassing someone whose hand was left hanging in a attempt to offer a congratulatory handshake - with no sexual intent. Not knowing anything about Jewish law, that individual might feel insulted by such a refusal. Which might constitute a Chilul HaShem.
But as I noted above the opposite happened. That was indicated by US ambassador to Israel Thomas Richard Nides who according to VIN said the following:
In a video clip, Nides said that Biden was very impressed with Dayan’s performance and with the fact that she is loyal to her faith and to her own personal beliefs.
Nides said that “I want to send a message to you Yuval, who performed a special rendition of “Let It Be”. The president was so appreciative of what you did on behalf of the Israeli people and the American president as well as your being true to your religious values. Thank you in the name of the American people for your beautiful singing.”
After Miss Dayan sang last Thursday, the visibly moved president came towards her and offered his hand. Dayan, who is Shomer Negiah, bowed to him but did not offer her hand.
Visibly moved. Wow. That is impressive. More about that later. I just want to say that this incident does not detract a bit from my initial reaction to it. My view based on what was stated by 2 illustrious students in the name of their Rebbe, R’ Yaakov Kaminetsky, has not changed. When one of the greatest Gedolim of the 20th century says that a leniency may be relied upon to prevent public embarrassment, there is no reason, in my view, not to use it. Even though not relying on it happened to work out in this case.
One of the most positive things that can be said about the President is his Mentchlichkeit. His respect for beliefs of others and empathy for tragedies they may have suffered - is genuine. That has been demonstrated on more than one occasion. One of which was mentioned in the above mentioned VIN article:
Previously the president had a similar experience when Rivka Ravitz visited the White House as aide to former president Rivlin. Ravitz also refused the proffered hand of the president, but later he bowed to her after hearing that she was a mother of 11 children.
It was during his recent trip to Israel that the following also happened:
US President Joe Biden conducted an emotional visit on Wednesday to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, where he honored victims and spoke at length with two survivors…
The emotional climax of the visit was Biden’s warm, extended conversation with two female Holocaust survivors, Rena Quint and Giselle (Gita) Cycowicz. The president told the women to remain seated, then crouched on one knee to speak with them.
Cycowicz was born in 1927 in Chust, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. She was rounded up and confined in the ghetto before being deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, and later to forced labor camps, according to Yad Vashem.
Joe Biden is a good man, He is kind - and sensitive to the suffering of others. He should be respected for that. If one contrasts Biden’s essential humanity with that of his predecessor, Donald Trump - one would be hard pressed to understand how he can command such adulation by so many American citizens who – at the same time ridicule a man that replaced him. But that, sadly, is the world in which we live. For the record, I reject ridiculing either of them. Even though their differences in this respect are so stark, it serves no purpose to ridicule the leader of the free world no matter who he is.
That being said, I wish character were enough. But when it comes to policies that affect us all, we need leaders that are – not only of high moral character. but whose decisions benefit the American people and even the entire world. As it pertains to those of us that care about the State of Israel and religious rights, in my view the President is on the wrong track on both issues.
Not because of any ill intent. To the contrary. I think he has the best interests of both the US and Israel at heart in all of his decisions. I just think he’s seriously mistaken about some of them. Like the desire to restore the nuclear deal with Iran. Same thing his domestic policies. It is in fact his basic desire to protect the rights of all Americans that motivates him to support abortion on demand and gay marriage – two things that violate his own Catholic tenets. Which I’m sure he personally adheres to.
Although I am with him on gun control, and… like him - would have preferred SCOTUS left Roe V Wade alone, leaning politically conservative as I do, I do not agree with his liberal domestic agenda nor with his foreign policy agenda with respect to Iran and Israel. I would not vote for him in the next election despite his truly fine character.
Biden will surely run for a second term despite his current extremely low polling numbers. I hope his opponent is just about anyone other than Trump. Nikky Haley recently implied she might seek the Republican nomination in 2024. I hope she does and wins the nomination. That will make my choice an easy one. If on the other hand Trump is the nominee which, sadly, seems almost certain despite his despicable behavior just before, during, and even after the January 6 attack on the Capital that day, I may sit out that election – and fear for the welfare of this great nation regardless of who wins. May God save us all.
