PHOTO: U.S. Senator Cory Booker writes about visit from 3 young Lakewood boys

So grateful when I get visitors in my office from New Jersey. I can’t always say hello but am grateful when I can. These young men are from Lakewood, New Jersey.

I appreciated their kindness toward me and enthusiasm at being in the nation’s Capitol.

It was said that God favored Abraham because he kept his tent open on all four sides. In other words he made people feel welcome and extended people grace and kindness who approached from any direction.

There is a story about Abraham that is one of my favorite all time stories. When he was sitting, recovering from his having circumcised himself (ouch!). He noticed people, strangers, approaching in the distance. The Torah says that Abraham didn’t just wave to them from afar, but he actually got up and ran to them welcoming them. He didn’t wait or see if they prayed like him, looked like him, or if they had his same political beliefs; he saw other humans, and saw their dignity and worth and was good to them.

More than just this, Abraham welcomed them into his tent and tended to his guests with his best food and drink.

The strangers then revealed themselves to be angels.

I believe in the power of human kindness, of grace, mercy and believe it is often best expressed in our small acts.

There is a Hebrew word for that: Chessed.

Though I am a Christian, my study of the Torah has deepened my respect for all 3 of the Abrahamic faiths: Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

But I often say: “before you tell me about your religion, show it to me in how you treat other people.” And: I will take a kind, loving atheist over a mean, cruel Christian any day.

I want to thank these 3 religious young men, for showing me kindness; for showing me Chessed and for evidencing the values of Abraham in their smallest of actions.

May we all be kinder to one another – especially those different than us.

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9 COMMENTS

  1. Nice letter but I will never vote for him again after what he did on the Iran nuclear deal. Not only did he support the deal, he also filibustered and didn’t allow a vote in the Senate to take place. The majority of Senators were voting against it so Cory filibustered and abandoned our community when we needed him.. Note, Senator Schumer was against the nuclear deal!

  2. I agree with frumyid, supporting the nuclear weaponization of a rogue nation ruled by an extremist ayatollah is one of the final steps in the plan the Clintons hatched years ago when the facilitated the sale of 20% of U.S. uranium to Russia so they could sell it of to Little rocket man and psycho ayatollah. Shameaa

  3. remember backstabber voted for the iran deal and he voted against the taylor force act in committee a law which would ban giving money to the palestinians until they stop paying terrorist to kill Jews

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