Chief Rabbi Lau & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Meet!
Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau is a tall man who brightens any room with his Torah depth and stature. He is viewed as a someone who has achieved wondrous feats! From surviving the Holocaust and continuing on the Rabbinic dynasty that he hails from, to serving as the Chief Rabbi of Israel and now Tel Aviv—he remains a legendary figure to all of Jewry. On the complete opposite spectrum stands the legendary Lakers Center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Born Ferdinand Lewis “Lew” Alcindor, Jr., he had a prolific college and NBA career becoming one of the best basketball players of all time. In 1971 Lew Alcindor converted to Islam and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. To the naked eye it would seem that the only thing he shares in common with Rabbi Lau is that they are both luminous figures.
And yet, these two men—one a Jew and another a Muslim—are eagerly looking forward to meeting one another this July in Israel!
Why?
The former NBA star is making a film about none other than World War II, and will honor the final wish of his father. You see, Ferdinand L. Alcindor Sr., had one dying wish. He requested that his son visit Israel and meet the little boy that he personally rescued from Buchenwald and turned into a prominent Rabbi. This Rabbi is none other than Rabbi Lau!
Indeed, Rabbi Lau, who also serves as chairman of the Council of Yad Vashem remarked that, “the fact that such a famous basketball player, and a Muslim, is about to attach himself to the Holocaust issue is very exciting. I will certainly give my blessing to this initiative.”
Rabbi Lau said he clearly remembers how an African American solider came up to him during the liberation, picked him up, and told the residents of the German city of Weimer: “Look at this sweet kid, he isn’t even eight yet. This was your enemy, he threatened the Third Reich. He is the one against whom you waged war, and murdered millions like him.”
As someone who grew up in Los Angeles and followed the Lakers, I never thought I’d see these two figures mentioned in the same sentence—let alone meeting in The Holy Land! However, after reading about what Mr. Abdul-Jabbar intends to do with his film and his visit, I look forward to seeing these two legends of their respective fields work towards educating the world about the horrors of the Holocaust.
For the full story see here.
UPDATED: Kareem Responds to my blog post on ESPN.com! http://j.mp/ljvaTr
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19 Responses to “Chief Rabbi Lau & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Meet!”
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It is, somehow, a sad commentary on the human condition that we should have to find it unusual and noteworthy that a Muslim and a Jew are able to relate to one another as human beings.
2 years ago, a college student of mine, who happens to be a practicing Muslim from The Gambia, needed a place to live. With the help of the college official responsible for International students, he moved in with me, who happens to be a Jew. I’m 71; he’s 27. He was my student; he needed a place to live when his support money dried up. I welcomed him into my house.
For 2 years, he has brought me more joy and pleasure, simply because of the person he is, than I would have believed I could experience at this point in my life. He is a sweet human being, utterly moral, completely ethical, and definitely non-judgmental.
He and his family think of me as “Grandpa.” I think of him as my 6th grandchild. I feel as if the same blood runs through our veins. If my wife were still alive, she would have been “Grandma,” I am certain. I do not necessarily believe in his God; but I believe in his belief. It’s as simple as that. What a gift!! What joy!!
Cheers!
It is, somehow, a sad commentary on the human condition that we should have to find it unusual and noteworthy that a 71 year-old Jew with room to spare is able and willing to offer a place to live to a needy student who is a practicing Muslim and that the two of them, hold on now and get ready for this, are able to relate to one another as human beings.
The student, from The Gambia, received help from a college official responsible for International students. Just wondering, in terms of getting the whole story, if that means that the 71-year-old received any remuneration for his largesse. I assume not, given all of the other wonderful benefits he received.
There were many chistians that woke up to the plight of the jews and the jews in isreal honor them as the righteous ( unlike american blacks who have no monuments to the white martyrs that died defending abolition).
the holocaust wound is a vast festering rift in time and historcal events. It will never close. It will never heal. One would think that a charitable american black muslim convert would of his own volition seek to make peace gestures across religious lines without his father’s last dying wishes. I see this as a drop in the bucket. i see no real and lasting reconciliation between Muslims and Jews- the Koran is a war book- the jews are passive, peaceful and a little war weary ( especially in isreal). This basketball player is carrying out his father’s wishes not his own. That is the hypocrisy in his gesture.
There are always at least two ways in which to view a situation. The perception depends on which platform the viewer is standing. I am completely dismayed by the cynicism expressed by the previous commenter.
Upon reading the above about Rabbi Lau and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, I felt surprise, pleasure, and hope. I am touched by Jabbar’s intent to carry out his father’s wishes. Obviously, while he may not have thought of this himself, he has enough respect for his father and no negative feelings about doing this that would prevent him from following through. I adored the anecdote about his father saving the Jewish child who would become Rabbi Lau. And I enjoyed thoroughly the college professor’s story of the Gambian student.
Rather than relate the antagonistic history of Jewish/Muslim relations - as horrid and horrible as it has been and most regrettably continues to be in most parts of the world - why not view these incidents as the promise and potential they are for people being able to care for each other as human being, as individuals.
The words of Jabbar’s father to the residents of Weimar were poignant and speak precisely to the idiocy of deciding, when completely unwarranted, that another is the enemy.
While Israel has every right and, G-d willing, every strength to defend itself against those who wish to destroy it, these little golden lights of human connection and caring give us hope for a better world.
My (Jewish) 94 year old friend, Mimi Toabe, always said to me: “Live in the moment, Kimi, in the moment. The past is ashes and no one knows what the future will be. The moment is the only place we can make change.”
A young Muslim took care of my mother in Israel for several years. Mom resided in Tel Aviv but this young man took Mom home to Gaza on visits, where his parents and extended family treated my mother as a valued relation. I’m so grateful to them. My mother died young of illness, but knew she was loved by many. The young man spent his life savings to come to the States and sit by Mom’s side for 10 days when it became clear that she would not recover.
Unfortunately - and I don’t know why this would be done - American Blacks have been learning that Jews follow the teachings of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, described by Wikipedia as, “a fraudulent, antisemitic text purporting to describe a Jewish plan for achieving global domination.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Protocols_of_the_Elders_of_Zion
Other Jew haters around the world have for decades been selling the idea that the holocaust never happened. If this is the version of history some people who do not share hatred of Jews happen to have learned, they will believe this. This position is not particular to Black Americans. Having a Black celebrity figure promote the truth of the holocaust will certainly help make the truth about this horror known.
As for monuments: the people of African descent enslaved in the United States own a legacy of enriching their oppressors; of tenderly caring for - and raising to adulthood - the children of the families which they served in slavery and since emancipation; and of preserving in the United States a culture of hope, faith and celebrating life that persisted - and even grew - throughout decades of the inhuman persecution of their people, which has enriched all of the residents of this land. This legacy is a wonderful living monument that has no need of adornment.
I just wonder when they were to have gotten together? It is now June of 2011 and I have heard nothing. I also see no mention of when these two tall men are getting together. Rather odd!
Anyone hear anything?????
theyve met before when rabbi lau was the chief rabbi of israel.its not the first time….
Based upon what I last read in the Israeli Press, they are scheduled to meet sometime in July. If they have met, and I am unaware of them meeting, it certainly will not be under this pretense though…
Kareem has stated publicly that this story has been twisted:
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/30461/kareem-abdul-jabbar-on-youth-lebron
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