Jewish leaders unhappy with Donald Trump being presented with Jewish shawl during Detroit visit

Jews were not happy when Donald Trump was presented with the Jewish prayer shawl during his visit to a Detroit church last Saturday. The shawl, also known as the tallit, was given to Trump by Bishop Wayne Jackson. He was scheduled to do an interview with the Republican presidential candidate.

Jackson, the pastor of Great Faith Ministries, reportedly described his presentation of the shawl as an anointing. "This is an anointing and the anointing is the power of God. When woman who had the issue of blood said that 'I only touch the hem of Jesus' garment and was made whole' nothing else could help her but the power of God," said the pastor.

Rabbi Ron Kronish, a senior advisor for the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, told Haaretz that the presentation distorted the meaning of the prayer shawl, adding that the object has no miraculous significance in Judaism.

"I would hope that Mr. Trump would not misappropriate this ritual object for his travels, but with this megalomania almost anything is possible," Kronish remarked.

Seth Farber, an American-born rabbi in Israel, expressed his concern about emphasis on miracles during the presentation. "When any religion's holy objects are mobilized for political purposes - that makes me very uncomfortable," he said to Haaretz.

Jackson also presented Trump with the Jewish Heritage Study Bible and encouraged him to read it when he encounters difficulties. "When things seem like it's almost impossible, you read Mark 9:23, 'If one canst believe, all things are possible,'" he said.

Trump's visit was an attempt to reach out to African-Americans, a voting bloc that is ambivalent about his candidacy. A group of protesters gathered outside the church to express their objections.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Jackson received many calls from people who were concerned about Trump's visit to the church prior to the meeting. The pastor dismissed rumors that he was paid off. Jackson also sparked controversy when he and four other ministers brought George W. Bush to Detroit during his candidacy.