Rabbi Marc Schneier, chairman of the World Jewish Congress United States, has delivered his annual end of year sermon in Palm Beach where he spoke about "change" as it relates to several topics, including US president-elect Barack Obama and alleged Wall Street fraudster Bernard Madoff. “Obama rightly sensed what the American people wanted was change and change was not only heard in America it was heard around the world," Schneier said. "Change can be very bewildering and frightening, especially during a time of radical change through this economic crisis," Schneier said. "During this time of rapid change, we need the wisdom to cling to those things that do not change, namely family, compassion, faith, prayer, the ability to improve our lives to make the world a better place. These are things that do not change."
The Madoff scandal, Schneier said, had ignited a rash of anti-Semitic talk worldwide. Schneier and Palm Beach resident Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, convened a meeting of the executive of the World Jewish Congress United States two weeks ago in New York to address the repercussions.
"The calls that we're receiving from our leadership in Europe, in Russia, in Kazakhstan, in Latin America, regarding increased anti-Semitic chatter, rhetoric and diatribe as a result of this 'scandal of the century.' This whole scandal has fueled the fire of our community being blamed for the financial ills and woes of the world. They are looking to focus blame as a result of this whole financial meltdown worldwide."
Schneier's message was a reminder to all to remember their core spiritual values. "In response to this unparalleled ‘Ponzi’ scheme, I say shame on us, shame on our community and shame on our society, for promoting valuables at the expense of values, for elevating men and women to positions of prominence based on their wealth rather than their worth," he told the gathering. "We need to take a hard look at ourselves, at our materialistic society."