Whitney Houston and Israel

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Whitney Houston and Israel

by Rabbi Shraga Simmons; Feb 12, 2012 at 03:13:46 AM

Whitney Houston, the pop sensation who died on Saturday, was many things to many people. She was one of the first black women to achieve international superstardom, and raised awareness of two issues that she experienced personally: domestic violence and drug addiction.

Another side of Houston is less known: in 2003, she visited the Jewish state for what she called a "spiritual retreat."

Houston met with Israel's Prime Minister, and spent time with the controversial Black Hebrews, a group of nearly 2,000 black Americans who moved to Israel in the 1960s and believe they are descendants of the ten lost tribes.

For her "crime" of having visited Israel, anti-Israel activists conducted an unrelenting smear campaign against Houston. Yet Whitney's support held tight, in contrast to the chorus of musicians (Elvis Costello, the Pixies, Gil Scott-Heron, Carlos Santana, to name a few) who have succumbed to pressures and cancelled tour stops in Israel.

Houston will long be remembered as a friend of the Jewish state. While in Israel, she said: "I've never felt like this in any other country. I feel at home."

with thanks to Yvette Alt Miller

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Published: February 12, 2012

Visitor Comments: 19

(16) Betty Silberman, December 18, 2012 2:20 AM

Whitney's meeting w/prime minister

Whitney snubbed Netanyhu on her visit to Israel, not accepting his offer of a handshake. I'm not sure her trip to Israel was so much about wanting to connect with Jews or Israelis...but rather to connect with her Christian roots.

(15) Anonymous, April 29, 2012 4:03 PM

She willalways be remembered

Good

(14) jojo, March 23, 2012 8:36 PM

I read and viewed Whitney's visit to Israel and witnessed her distain at shaking Ariel Sharon's hand because he did not recognize those who she was visiting as "black" Jews coming back to their homeland. In fact, the people she visited were Americans from Chicago with no historical roots to that country.

(13) Anonymous, March 6, 2012 2:26 PM

as an israeli i am proud of whitney's visit to israel

we are very proud of your visit to israel you are a real "eshet chail" a woman of valor r.i.p.

(12) Anonymous, February 19, 2012 3:38 PM

She looked very ill

בס"ד To me. in the footage I saw of her on her last performance, she looked very ill. Why did everyone just assume she was affected by substances and not, at least get her to a doctor?

(11) Phyllsi lewkowicz, February 13, 2012 8:45 PM

Help for Whitney Houston

Why was nobody able to help her in her last days? Were people blind to the fact that she needed help? Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol are a deadly comination.

(10) Dorothea Harris, February 13, 2012 2:22 PM

Happy to know she didn't give in to people against Israel May all God people grow backbone and stand for their belief and convictions. Glad to know she did!

(9) batya dagan, February 13, 2012 5:05 AM

Huston untimely death.

It was wonderful to find out that Huston was a friend of Israel .Too bad that this came up on the day of her untimely death.One wonders what could have been done and was not done to help her and save her. I will miss her marvelous singing.

(8) LVCSTEVEO1, February 12, 2012 11:18 PM

A 'Spritual' Friend of Israel

While in Israel she probably experienced an 'awakening' that probably had never had happened previously, especially when one takes into consideration the chaos in her life(style). Remember, her (singing) beginnings began in her church in NJ when she was a youngster. In Israel, given her religious beginnings, it didn't take much of her senses to become aware of Israel's significance/role as being the true earthly 'home' of her, and many others, religion. May her soul find peace that her earthly being was unable to accomplish. We'll miss u Whitney - u left behind a a musical legacy to will be the standard 4 others that will follow in the future.

(7) david frankel, February 12, 2012 9:01 PM

yes she raise the awarness for drugs but she her self did,nt beleve in it she was a drug addicet and alcholic sorry a person like that is not a roll modell in our family

ladydi, February 13, 2012 1:18 PM

Have a heart

David - drug use and alcoholism are both diseases, and both are very very hard to break away from. Im sure she tried to beat these evils, but not everybody is strong enough to do this. I feel very sorry for you. You are so cold and have no compassion. Yes, she was a super star with a voice that was a gift from G-d...., but for all the drug addicts and alcoholics who are not famous or blessed, I pray they can find the strength and courage to beat the demons that plague them. David, I will also pray that nobody you love becomes addicted. If this does happen (I hope not) maybe only then will you see the picture from a different angle.

(6) Anonymous, February 12, 2012 7:37 PM

She Influenced Many

May Hashem send comfort to her family and close loved ones, especially her children. Whitney was a Christian and went to Israel, I suspect, to connect with those roots, not necessarily with the Jewish people. MANY Christians go to Israel, many live there today, certain that it's the place to be because they feel at home, in anticipation of their books being fulfilled one day.

(5) Manasseh, February 12, 2012 5:02 PM

I understand her feeling

I understand her feeling Visiting Israel and taking teams many times and everytime has been a home coming for my soul

(4) Al greenberg, February 12, 2012 4:59 PM

Whitney

No matter how successful a person is, a good or bad influence can affect your future.

tsedek, February 12, 2012 8:28 PM

I agree

with you, al greenberg. 100%

David, February 13, 2012 12:00 AM

in Judgement of????????????????

At this,Tragic,time,is that all you can say?.....Why,so judgemental???????

(3) Cheryl, February 12, 2012 3:03 PM

True Inspiration

Whitney Houston was a true inspiration to those of us who love music and singing. No one has ever sang the Star Spangled Banner like her. She reached out to many with friendship, mentorship, and love. Her spiritual side was deep and rooted in honesty and goodness. I hope to hear you singing with the angels someday on the other side.

(2) Anonymous, February 12, 2012 1:44 PM

NOT SURPRISED.....

Israel has healing for many- if they would only avail themselves.....

(1) Michal, February 12, 2012 1:07 PM

She felt like me

When I came to Israel for the first time more than 50 years ago, I used the same words. "I have never felt like this in any other country. I feel at home. This feeling never left me.- And happily it turned out for me, that it was true. Israel is my home. May Hashem accept her after her sudden death as "His daughter" in Olam Haba.

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About the Author

Rabbi Shraga Simmons

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Rabbi Shraga Simmons spent his childhood trekking through snow in Buffalo, New York. He holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He is the senior editor of Aish.com and the director of JewishPathways.com.

An expert on media bias, he was the founding editor of HonestReporting.com, and is the author of David & Goliath: The Explosive Inside Story of Media Bias in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2012). With drama and a biting edge, David & Goliath is a definitive treatment, fully resourced with over 2,000 footnotes. Readers are privy to secret negotiations with CNN executives, and how a grassroots campaign was cited by the New York Times as effecting sweeping changes in Mideast media coverage.

David & Goliath has been praised by politicians, professors and journalists: Former New York Mayor Ed Koch hails it as "Invaluable for anyone wanting the inside story," and James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal calls David & Goliath "of crucial importance for the future of the Middle East."

Rabbi Simmons lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel.

Whitney Houston and Israel

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