Jews Demonstrate Commitment to Family; Palin Does Not

The beginning of a baby boy’s life as a member of the Jewish community begins with a Bris.  Of course the baby will never remember who was in attendance at his Bris.  Attendance is important for the participants as an opportunity to demonstrate in a very tangible way an ongoing commitment to the entire extended family.  In Jewish tradition a Bris for a baby boy, and a naming for a baby girl, are two of many examples of the recognition of the importance of family.  As I sat next to our 77 year old Great Uncle at the Bris for a new member of the Litman family, the eldest member of the Litman family reminded me that he had come to Dallas for the Bris and naming for each of my three children.  As I looked around the room I appreciated each person who had taken time out of their hectic lives to travel to a borough of Manhattan to celebrate this new life.   Some had driven several hours to attend, and some of us had traveled several hours by plane.

After the ceremony the baby fell asleep in my arms where he remained for over an hour.  It seemed like yesterday that I was holding each of my children when they were newborn.  They are now 22, 19, and 17 years old.  As radiation was leaking out of the nuclear power plant in Japan, a different kind of energy filled the home of my husband’s cousin.  Freedom fighters in Libya are engaged in the battle for their lives and their freedom that this baby boy was given as a gift upon his birth. The Jewish people, more than most Americans,  internalize a greater appreciation for the importance of America and the freedom we enjoy.

None of the Litmans present at this Bris, including my husband, would be alive today if “Poppie” had not fled his home with his family in 1941 in search of freedom.  Poppie was a Jew living in Liege, Belgium who escaped just three days before the invasion by the Nazis.   Poppie’s only two remaining children and all six of Poppie’s grandchildren were in attendance at the Bris.  Each of these eight family members have celebrated together the weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and funerals of every member of the family.  Having been a part of this family for the last 26 years, I have shared their joy and enthusiasm at weddings and their sorrow as we mourned the loss of a family member,  Even though I have never converted to Judaism, the fact that I was the only one holding this precious baby, other than the parents, was symbolic that I am an integral part of this special family.   In spite of feeling a unique connection to the Litman family, and in spite of raising my three children as Jews, I have never worn a Star of David.  My children have, and I am proud of them for feeling a part of this amazing tradition.  However I felt it would be disingenuous for me to wear a Star of David if I were not myself a Jew.  Sarah Palin has a history of using people for political gain.  When I saw the picture of the Empress sporting her necklace with the Star of David I was offended.  I resented her use of this sacred symbol to suggest that she was in any way aligned with the principles and values of the Jewish people.

As I listened to the words of the Rabbi at the Bris, I was reminded of Sarah Palin’s presence in Israel.  As I appreciated the importance of each family member’s presence at the celebration, I was reminded of the absence of any family members at the excursion  of Todd and Sarah’s to India and Israel.  My 28 hour trip to New York, was completely different from Sarah’s trip to India and Israel.  My trip was necessary; hers was not.  She went shopping.  I did not.  The two trips are a perfect example of the difference between people who are committed to family and those who are not.  It was also an example of the difference between people who respect and cherish the Jewish traditions, and those who do not.

Sarah Palin does not hold any public office.  Her presence in these foreign countries was not required or necessary to enhance the relations between America and India or Israel.  In fact some might argue that her comments were counter-productive.  Some might feel that the presence of Sarah Palin in a foreign country is harmful to the perception of the United States.  Even if you were a Sarah Palin “fan” and perceived this trip as essential to the future political aspirations of Sarah Palin, how was Todd’s presence important or necessary?  Did Sarah ask Todd to accompany her to make sure that he didn’t need any more massages while left alone in Alaska?  Why was this trip made at a time when Piper and Willow were still in school?  Wouldn’t Piper and Willow have benefited from experiencing the rich culture of India and Israel?  Were the girls simply not interested in shopping in India and Israel?  Who was meeting Trig’s “special needs?”   I had misgivings about leaving my 17 year old daughter at home alone for one night.  If I could have scheduled the Bris to be at a time that she was not in school, I would have done so, and we would have taken my daughter with us.  However the Bris is traditionally performed on the 8^th day after the baby’s birth, so postponing the Bris to a non-school day was not an option.  My daughter at 17, is old enough to understand the importance of my presence at the Bris.  Trig and Piper are not old enough to appreciate the absence of either parent.

Trig is not old enough to understand the continuing lack of a mother in his life.  He doesn’t understand that mom’s goals for this trip could have been accomplished without Todd.  He simply wonders if he is part of a family and who his mother is?  Piper and Willow are old enough to understand that mom and dad felt there was something more important than being with them.  They are probably wondering why their “stay at home” dad didn’t stay at home?  Who is there to help with their homework?  Maybe they aren’t worried about doing their homework, because they have no expectation of going to college?

In Palin’s own book she says that there is no substitute for “quantity” of time with your kids.  Sarah and Todd Palin have two college age kids who are not in college.  Their kids have been associated with vandalism, drugs, alcohol,  and attacking other kids using disparaging names, including “faggot.”   Their “special needs” child is not getting his “special needs” met by either parent.  Bristol became a mother at age 17 while living away from her mother.  Sarah Palin has proven by her example that truly there is no substitute for “quantity” of time with your kids.  She has proven by her choice of jewelry that she is using the Jewish people for her personal benefit, and has little regard for their religion or values.

I wish Sarah Palin had taken her own book, America by Heart, on the plane to read while traveling to Israel and India.  If she had done so, maybe she would have realized that there is no substitute for “being there.”  Parents who are committed to family and children find a way to “be there” unless finances are so limited that supporting the family requires that family member to report for work instead of attending to the needs of their child.  The millions of dollars in net worth of Sarah Palin is proof of the fact that she values money and fame over her family.  Her choice is different than mine.  Although I don’t agree with that choice, I respect her right to choose money over family.  What is repugnant is her use of Israel and her children when it suits her purposes, suggesting that she is a champion for Israel and family values. Sarah Palin is void of appreciation for the challenges of her children, and of Israel, when she perceives no personal benefit to being focused on the needs of either.