Florida Governor Charlie Crist said his written prayers that were placed at the Western Wall (Kotel) have prevented hurricanes from striking the state the past two years.
Crist, a Methodist, told real estate agents that during a trade mission to Israel in 2007, he went to the Western Wall and placed a note that said, “Dear G-d, please protect our Florida from storms and other difficulties. Charlie."
Crist noted that the state, often devastated by hurricanes, was hit eight times in 2004 and 2005 but has been spared since his prayer. Last year, he wrote the same prayer on a second note that was placed for him by legislator Nan Rich when she traveled to the Holy Land. A third note was placed this year for him by a friend.
He said he is not taking the credit from the A-lmighty for the lack of deadly storms in Florida.
The governor, touted as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, said he could send prayers through the Internet but would “rather have it physically in there.”
Jews have a centuries-old custom of placing notes in the crevices in the ancient wall, which was part of the wall surrounding the Holy Temples before their destruction. Politicians from around the world routinely visit the holy site to leave a prayer.
Israeli economics student Alon Nil recently came up with the idea that enables people to send notes through Twitter, from where he writes them down and places them at the Western Wall. He began the service free of charge, but after having been swamped with prayers, he has asked for donations to cover his time.
“I’m swamped. I can’t keep up with all the tweets,” he told The Associated Press. “I can’t keep maintaining it by myself. But I’m determined to not lose even one prayer.”