Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik at the RNC

I can't say I'm surprised. But I sure am proud to say I know him. From the Associated Press (AP) via VIN:

An Orthodox rabbi from New York City’s Yeshiva University has been chosen to give the invocation at the opening session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik (Soh-loh-VAY’-chick) said Monday that it is an extraordinary privilege to deliver Tuesday’s invocation. He said he has been teaching courses about the connection between Jewish ideas and American democracy and that makes it all the more meaningful.

Soloveichik is the director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva. He is also associate rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun (Kuh-HEEL’-ath JESH’-uhr-run ) in New York.

The head of New York’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, has been chosen to give the benediction on the night Mitt Romney accepts the Republican presidential nomination.

Aly Raisman - Proud to be Jewish

Congratulations to 18 year old Aly Raisman for winning 2 gold medals and one bronze at the 2012 Summer Olympics. This is quite an achievement. But that alone is not what merits this post. It is her pride in Judaism that does. Coming from a Reform background one might think that her Judaism doesn't matter that much to her.

But her choice of a Jewish song for all of her floor exercises was done at least in part because of that pride. Choosing a Jewish song - Hava Nagilah to perform her floor exercises may not seem like much to those of us who are observant. But it should. It is that "Pintileh Yid" that often brings out a much fuller commitment to Judaism at some later point in her life.

And even now at the height of her Olympic achievement she had the presence of mind to honor her heritage and the 11 murdered Israelis at the 72 Munich Olympics. Something that happened well before she was born. Such dignity. Such poise. Such maturity. Much to be proud of.