New York – Former President Jimmy Carter recently sent a letter to the JTA, which is a wire service for Jewish newspapers. The letter was made public by the JTA on December 21st, along with the following statement:
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Jimmy Carter asked the Jewish community for forgiveness for any stigma he may have caused Israel.
In a letter released exclusively to JTA, the former U.S. president sent a seasonal message wishing for peace between Israel and its neighbors, and concluded: ‘We must recognize Israel’s achievements under difficult circumstances, even as we strive in a positive way to help Israel continue to improve its relations with its Arab populations, but we must not permit criticisms for improvement to stigmatize Israel.
As I would have noted at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but which is appropriate at any time of the year, I offer an Al Het for any words or deeds of mine that may have done so.’ ‘Al Het’ refers to the Yom Kippur prayer asking God forgiveness for sins committed against Him. In modern Hebrew it refers to any plea for forgiveness. Carter has angered some U.S. Jews in recent years with writings and statements that place the burden of peacemaking on Israel, that have likened Israel’s settlement policies to apartheid, and that have blamed the pro-Israel lobby for inhibiting an evenhanded U.S. foreign policy.”
Having known Jimmy Carter when I was a Congressman and Mayor, I have a minimum of high regard for him. I believe that he has often used his position — most recently as a writer of books – to damage the State of Israel, and in doing so, he has injured the Jewish community worldwide. Catholics in every land have a special reverence for the Vatican as they should, it being the heart of the Catholic religion, the abode of the Pope. Jews likewise hold a special tie with Israel. That bond comes from, among other things, the knowledge that wherever there is a Jewish community somewhere in the world in peril, there is a country – only one country – that will immediately take Jews in and provide them with assistance, protection and full citizenship. That of course is Israel. That is why Jews feel so protective about that small land, which now for the first time has a Jewish population, according to Wikipedia, 5,435,800, that is the largest of any country in the world. Formerly, that distinction was held by the United States with 5,128,000 Jews making up its population.
When Jimmy Carter asks the Jewish community for forgiveness, I believe it is incumbent upon him to list what he believes he has done that requires forgiveness. I also think we should know, if after leaving the presidency he received any gifts, lecture fees or loans from Arab nations. He should make available any correspondence he has had during that period with Arab governments and list all the compensation he has received from them. I also would suggest that he hold a press conference at which journalists could ask him questions on the entire subject. Then and only then would the Jewish community be in a position to decide whether or not to grant him forgiveness. He should also know there is no one person who can grant him forgiveness in the Jewish community.
The thought surely has occurred to many as it has to me, why is he suddenly so concerned and in need of forgiveness? I believe he, like most of us at his age, 85, have thoughts concerning our mortality. I know that I do. He is a religious man, and occasionally, a Sunday school teacher. His Baptist faith tells him that he will be held accountable by God for his statements and actions here on earth. I suspect he is mindful of the Biblical admonition in Psalms 129, “They will be humiliated and will fall backwards, all enemies of Zion.” Skeptics say his sudden interest in bettering relations with the Jewish community comes as a result of his grandson’s running for public office in a community with a large Jewish population.
My advice to Jimmy Carter is to come clean. I believe that we Jews are a forgiving people, but we are also a people who, having been brutalized through the centuries, are suspicious of those who at the end of their lives wish to make amends but have not demonstrated any repentance. What does President Carter intend to do with the balance of his life to remedy the harm and injury to the Jewish people that he has inflicted over the years?
Actions speak louder than words… His actions do not reflect his words.
I do not trust one single word that Jimmy Carter says. The only reason he made his so-called “Al Chet” is because his son his running for elected office in Georgia in a district that has a large Jewish Community which is vehemently pro-Eretz Yisroel. Be aware of this Wolf in Lamb’s clothing.
Thank you Ed – that was awesome!
Reshoim afilu al pischom shel gehinom do not do tshuva. Let him wait for our acceptance as many years as he’s intimated us.
I rarely agree with Ed Koch but this is an exception. I do not believe a word that comes out of Jimmy Useless Carter. He has always lied when it comes to Israel, especially when he conned Menachem Begin OB”M into signing the Sinai Accord which has not helped Israel in the least bit because Egypt is still the same enemy that it always was. All I can say to Jimmy Carter, one of the two worst presidents we ever had (and I am sure you know who his partner is, the current occupant), Gehinom is waiting for you so please put a rush on it.
Priceless! Thank you Mayor Koch for your devotion to the State of Israel and the Jewish faith!
The only way to be sure if he is really sorry, if Carter will publish another book, same format with appologies
Beautiful Ed! I think you’re doing a beautiful job.
I was having those same thoughts. A general I’m sorry is meaningless.
He has to tell the world which sin he is asking forgiveness for, such as calling Israel an apartheid state, saying Jews have a right to live in their biblical homeland.
Tell the world what he truly regrets.
Otherwise, he has not changed and is just a manipulator.
“Having known Jimmy Carter when I was a Congressman and Mayor, I have a minimum of high regard for him.”
Kol Ha Kavod!
Thank you Mayor Koch!!! Carter is a disgrace, and is to blame for the problems we have today stemming from Iran. He should just shut up and go away somewhere to hide his head in shame. How does that failure have the nerve to hold his head up in public? He can take his “apology” and stick it where the sun don’t shine.
Ed- I didn’t know that you could write as good as you did – kol hakovod to you, and of course the points that you make are 100% accurate.
The ‘Voice of Reason’ once again hits the nail on the head.
It’s too bad Ed Koch flip floops on Israel & all issues!! He is a regular commentator on the NYC cable new channel NY1 & he always sucks up to black nazis such as Al Sharpton!!!
Jimmy Carter is evil.
I do not think he is capable of sincere teshuva at this point in his life. People dont just change viewpoints overnight.
His anti-semitism is deeply rooted and he is beyond repair. His damage is beyond repair.
VOTE NO TO ANYONE RELATED TO THE DESPISED JIMMY CARTER.
Once again I will say Carter never admitted to wrong doing. “I may have done,” is ambiguous and places fault on the misinterpreter of his actions. He thinks that he is blameless.
Ed speaks his mind and the truth.
Sure, I would consider forgiving him….right after I decide to forgive Hitler, yimach shemo…..
“Jews likewise hold a special tie with Israel…… that will immediately take Jews in and provide them with assistance, protection and full citizenship. That of course is Israel”
Jews hold a special tie with Israel because Hashem gave us this land. It belongs to us. We don’t need Israeli citizenship to legitimize our right to live there.
If we will insist on NEVER stating the truth about our G-d given right to the land we will continuously have to debate the issue. What are we ashamed of? And why won’t anyone else rectify this misstatement by Ed Koch? We are living in very dark times, and there is rarely any truths spoken anymore. Even as Ed stands up to Sone Yisroel Jimmy Carter, an honorable thing to do, he can’t state the truth.
Is the Jewish liberal who will be buried in a christian cemetery lecturing Carter on Jewish sensitivity?
Ed its time for your Al Chait…i remember how you insulted Rabbi Kahane many times and by doing that you hurt the entire jewish community.
So lets hear your Al Chait……
reb ed, nice article yasher koach!
The topic was Jimmy Carter, not how religious or observant (or not) Mayor Koch is. Believe it or not, true and poignent things can be written by non-religious Jews – even (believe it or not) by non-Jews. I’d like to add my personal request to the rules and requests of this forum; let’s maintain derech eretz and avoid even subtle ad hominem attacks.
Pres. Carter has a lot to explain and request forgiveness for; personally, I need a lot more convincing, and, as pointed out, none of us has the right or ability single handedly to forgive him. Like the gossip in the classic tale who was told by the rabbi to scatter the feathers from her pillow, Mr. Carter has a lot to “take back.”
There is only one thing in the article that I’d disagree with, namely, “His Baptist faith tells him that he will be held accountable by God for his statements and actions here on earth.” Fundamentalist Christians believe that, if they accept Jesus, all is forgiven. Interestingly, this actually works in Carter’s favor; if he believes that he’s forgiven and “saved” regardless, maybe there’s some degree of sincerity to his “al cheit.” Who knows? Certainly not I. I’m still awaiting the sequel.