front windows smashed by vandals who scribbled anti-Semitic words on the walls. Among them were “Jewish pigs.” The police investigator said that “this is not the Denmark I know and admire.” He said that all vandalism is serious, but more attention must be paid to this particular location. In France, hundreds of graves in the Alsace region were desecrated, but this has happened several times in the past, it was noted.
Did Pharoah Do an About Face ?
Right here in the U.S. an amazing thing occurred on the day of the Belmont Stakes, June 6. It was bershert that the horse running that day was named American Pharoah, who ran like the wind, taking all three of horse racing's biggest prizes: the Belmont, the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness.. Winning jockey, Victor Espinoza, incredibly repeated what last occurred 37 years ago when Secretariat won the Triple Crown.
Something quite different occurred on the Thursday prior to Saturday’s race. Espinoza visited the grave of the Lubavicher rebbe in Queens, NY. and prayed for success. In his hand was a copy of Joseph Telushkin’s book, Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in
Modern Jewish History. After reciting several psalms, Espinoza wrote out his own prayer in Spanish, and placing the bit of paper among the other prayers left at the grave, he turned and left the gravesite walking backward, always
facing the rebbe’s grave out of respect. Espinoza said he was not Jewish but is a spiritual man. He remarked that no matter what religion one believes in, one always comes away with renewed energy.
Before the race, the diminutive jockey said that, if he won, he might make the trip to the rebbe’s gravesite a new Belmont tradition. He won by more then five lengths. That was some blessing! The owners of American Pharoah are devout Egyptian Jews.