By COLlive reporter
The Jerusalem Post drew indignation for including only one rabbi or religous leader in its first list of the ‘world’s 50 most influential Jews‘ published in its Shavuos supplement.
While most readers, in letters to the newspaper and in talkbacks on its website JPost.com, supported the decision to put Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the top of the list, others were critical that revered rabbis and other prominent personalities were left out.
“The only rabbi mentioned in your article is Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the UK,” Hannah and Joe Sonhelm wrote from Jerusalem.
“It is hard to imagine that you couldn’t find at least one or two additional rabbis in that list with all the prominent rabbis we have here in Israel, in America and in other countries.”
Joyce Kahn from Petah Tikva expressed similar sentiments. “This list is devoid of any great religious Jewish personality (with the exception of Lord Sacks),” she wrote.
“Perhaps Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau deserves a place or any of the great religious thinkers of today who generate Jewish values – for example someone from the Chabad institution who, over the last 50 years, created an unparalleled awareness of Judaism – or perhaps any head of a great charitable organization which ensures that thousands of poverty-stricken people get food on their tables.”
Sharon Glass from Winnipeg, Canada, went even further, suggesting that next time, the Post include teachers on its list.
“There was mention of only one rabbi, the chief rabbi of the UK and his role as a spokesman. There was absolutely no mention at all of a teacher of any kind or subject. Is influence limited to wealth, business success, entertainment, organizational leadership, media or political power? How sad,” she wrote.
“Since this was the first annual list of those who are shaping the future, I suggest that next year’s list include teachers of children and youth who are our future.”
Here are some who they chose with ties to Chabad-Lubavitch:
1. Binyamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel, deeply influenced by the Rebbe
3. Rahm Emanuel
White House chief of staff – lit Lubavitch’s National Menorah
6. Dominique Strauss-Kahn
Head of the Int. Monetary Fund – attends Chabad DC events
7. Shimon Peres
President of Israel – appreciates Chabad’s outreach
9. Alan Dershowitz
Law professor, speaker at Kinus Hashluchim, advocate for Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin
13. Irwin Cotler
Canadian MP, human rights activist – familiar with Chabad Montreal
18. Avigdor Lieberman
Foreign Minister – close ties to Israeli Chabad officials
19. Sheldon Adelson
Entrepreneur and philanthropist – donor to Chabad of Las Vegas
21. Natan Sharansky
Jewish Agency Chairman – openly champions Chabad’s work
25. Michael Steinhardt
Investor and philanthropist – friendly with some Shluchim
26. Mortimer Zuckerman
Real estate mogul, NY Daily News publisher – davens at Chabad East Hampton
27. Ronald Lauder
WJC President, influenced by the Rebbe, supports Chabad Vienna
30. Elie Wiesel
Nobel Prize winning writer, deeply influenced by the Rebbe
31. Steven Spielberg
Filmmaker, supports Chabad’s Children of Chernobyl
32. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Chief Rabbi of the UK, deeply influenced by the Rebbe, author of “Torah Studies – Discourses by the Rebbe”
34. Joseph Lieberman
US Senator, deeply influenced by the Rebbe, close ties to Lubavitch officials
35. Eric Cantor
US Congressman – attends Chabad DC & Virginia events
36. Lee Rosenberg
President of AIPAC, campaigned for Barak Obama at Miami Chabad
46. Bob Dylan
Musician, was close to Minnesota Rabbi Manis Friedman
47. Roman Abramovitch
Investor, Chelsea FC owner, benefactor of Chabad’s Marina Roshcha Moscow Shul
All of you, get off the computer and do something with your lives!!! It is called top 50 most INFLUENCIAL jews for a reason. Apparently Chabad Rabbis aren’t that influential. That is all!! All of the foolish people sitting and writing, what waste do you cast upon your lives! Instead of complaining, airing out you dastardly negative energies, why not go and help someone. I assure you that nothing good has come, or will come out of the pointless opinions shared on these senseless stories.
No.#8 it does not matter if you are religious. The Rebbe taught every Jew is equal!
How many of these people are even religious?
deeply influenced
lol
so cool!
and this is the reason they got good marks!!
l’chaim
almost everybody on the is a spineless pandering jew
7. Shimon Peres
President of Israel – appreciates Chabad’s outreach
Great Purim Torah. Unfortunately wrong time of year.
Cat got lost and was found on chabad owned pick up truck
Why does averything have to do with Chabad??? get out of your box ..you try to tie everything and everybody to Chabad .
PS: you forgot to mention number #39 once donated tissues to Chabad!!
Marcel Reich Ranicki is known as an influencial literature criticer!
Rahm Emanuel and Shimon Peres close to Chabad. Big deal he lit the menorah. Look what he’s doing to Israel now. Shimon Peres has shown very little appreciation for the Rebbe and his causes. And since when does campaigning for Obama during an election year in a public forum make someone close to Chabad?