Moshiach and Geulah

THE FRENCH CONNECTION:
SHLIACH OF THE REBBE AND PERSONAL FRIEND OF THE NEW FRENCH PRESIDENT
By Nosson Avrohom

Dozens of policemen and security guards guard the president-elect of France. A huge crowd of fans roars their approval. Then the shliach of the Rebbe, Rabbi Dovid Zaoui comes in wearing a black hat and beard, and with lots of Jewish pride. President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy notices him, stops everything, and goes over to him. He hugs the shliach and warmly shakes his hand. Television cameras capture the scene which is broadcast over and over throughout the French Republic. * The story of the personal friendship between the Rebbe’s shliach and the French president who wrote to the Rebbe and publicly called him “Melech HaMoshiach,” promising to publicize the Seven Noachide Laws. * Exclusive to Beis Moshiach

Even the elderly in France do not recall an election as stormy and momentous as the one the French Republic just experienced recently. Three candidates were whittled down to two: the candidate of the Right, Nicolas Sarkozy and the Socialist candidate, Segolene Royal. They went head to head in a battle for the powerful position of president of France. In the second round, as in the first, most of the Jewish vote went to Sarkozy, who ultimately won the election. “He earned those votes,” said shliach Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Pevsner jubilantly a few hours after the election results were publicized. “As Interior Minister in Jacque Chirac’s government he exhibited zero tolerance for antiSemitic acts. He decried them and instructed the police to do all they could to catch the hooligans.” In a sicha the Rebbe said at the farbrengen on Shabbos Parshas VaYeishev 5752, the Rebbe spoke about the connection between the Chabad leaders and the spiritual refinement of France. This began with the Alter Rebbe, who opposed Napoleon, up until the shluchim who are scattered throughout France these days and who work to refine the sparks in a manner of “u’faratzta,” which contains the same letters as “Tzorfas,” France. The Rebbe pointed out that the French national anthem had been refined and transformed into a Chabad niggun. As a result, France changed its official anthem. “If we are speaking of a birur of France,” shliach Rabbi Dovid Zaoui and personal friend of the president, said to me, “we must include the election to the presidency of a great admirer of the Rebbe.”

R’ Zaoui first became acquainted with Sarkozy in 5756, when he wanted to set up a public menorah in his city, which is predominantly Catholic. “Without asking questions or giving me a hard time in any way, he approved the public menorah.” Since then, R’ Zaoui has become a good friend of Sarkozy, with Sarkozy attending many events held at the Chabad house. Even when he was unable to attend, he would send a letter acknowledging the event. “He is a big believer in the Rebbe MH”M. He has a dollar from the Rebbe in his wallet. He saw the fulfillment of several brachos he received through the Igros Kodesh.”


HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH SARKOZY
“My relationship with Sarkozy didn’t start with the elections, but back in the early days of the Chabad House. It was shortly before Chanuka and I decided that despite the decidedly Catholic demographic of the city, we should also have a public menorah as the Rebbe wants. “A few days before Chanuka I went to the city building where Sarkozy’s mayoral office was. I went to his office and he received me cordially. I made my request and told him that this is done around the world in major cities and within France too. “I didn’t imagine that I would gain the approval I needed so quickly. Those who live in France know that our city is considered an exclusive area where many diplomats and famous artists live. Sarkozy gave me his attention and immediately okayed the menorah. “He was very interested and supportive. From the very beginning I felt that he wasn’t just another French politician but he had a warm regard for Judaism.

That year Sarkozy was unable to attend the menorah lighting and he sent his deputy, Dr. Lagman, who is a Jew. “Just at that time, Sarkozy was chosen as the spokesman of the French government in addition to his position as mayor. People are attracted by his charisma. He radiates strength. Later he rose in rank and served as Minister of the Treasury and later on as Minister of Immigration. Although he climbed the political ladder quickly, we always kept in touch. I sent him an invitation to every event we did as well as the flyers that we published. “Even though he was busy as a French minister, he made the effort to participate in events we invited him to. As time went on, he learned what a Rebbe is and what Moshiach is, as well as the role of the shluchim. When he couldn’t come, he would send warm letters. It was obvious that our relationship was genuine and not merely self-serving.” In 5761, Jacques Chirac was elected for a second term as president of France and he appointed Sarkozy as Interior Minister. Chirac was impressed by his charisma and gave him an important position. This is when Sarkozy’s political career took off on his way to becoming president of France. “I knew that Hashem, with Divine Providence, had guided me into this relationship and I continued to keep in touch with Sarkozy. He used his powerful position to help the Jews. At the menorah lighting ceremony that we held in 5763 he spoke to the media and promised that he would do all he could to protect the Jews of France whose loyalty is unquestioned. He praised Jewish tradition and called on the government to respect it. “At that time, French historians discovered a siddur from the time of Napoleon which had a prayer for the welfare of the government. I showed it to Sarkozy and he was very moved. He noted the loyalty of the Jews to France even back then.”

http://www.scribd.com/doc/129592/Beis-M ... 06?page=12

hanoch wrote:Isaac-

Though you did not say anything directly, I'm assuming from your quote that you believe Mr. Sarkozy to be legit in his dealings with Am Yisrael, and especially in his relationship with the shliach of the Rebbe and others. Is this true?

But the quote reveals just the things I suspected in this man. For instance, Mr. Sarkozy is a baptised and professing Catholic, yet in this article, he is shown professing that the Rebbe is "Melech HaMoshiach". That is quite a flip-flop. Can someone with such a flippant attitude towards personal belief be genuine in his other endeavors? Who does he believe Moshiach to be, J.C. or the Rebbe? Who? Maybe himself?