Over the past few years, my wife and I have had the distinct privilege of hosting a number of high level missions visiting Israel under the auspices of the American Israel Friendship League. Participants in these missions have included politicians (including U.S. Senators), clergy from different religions, educators (ranging from high school teachers to University professors) and business leaders. This past [...]
Archive for October, 2007
Pass the Humanity, Please
Posted in Events, Ideas, Organizations, tagged AIFL, Attorney General, Israel, Shabbat Dinner on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 | 1 Comment »
“Just Say No” is Bad Advice
Posted in Ideas, Torah Portions, tagged Abraham, Criticism, Lot, Positive, Sodom on Sunday, October 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
In the Torah portion read yesterday, we are told that God 1) “remembered Abraham” and then 2) saves Abraham’s nephew Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gemorah, the cities in which Lot had been living prior to being evacuated by God’s representatives. Based on the juxtoposition of these two themes, our Sages teach us [...]
You Are Wrong – But Also My Teacher
Posted in Ideas, People, Torah Portions, tagged Abraham, Criticizing the Avot, Diversity in Judaism, Ramban on Thursday, October 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Be sure to see the video below also as it relates to the following.
Also, consider this statement from F. Scott Fitzgerald while reading this post: “The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.”
In last [...]
Was Moshe A Hasid?
Posted in Uncategorized on Thursday, October 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Why Accountants Hate Jerusalem
Posted in Books, Ideas, Practices, tagged Jerusalem, joy, Outreach, Torah Study on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Here’s an amazing midrash for all you lovers of Jerusalem. In Eicha Rabba, Rabbi Yochanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai that it was the custom of anyone who needed to do a financial accounting – for business or personal reasons – to leave their home in Jerusalem and travel to a place [...]
In Memory of Perry Stern – A Modern Day Abraham
Posted in 7, Ideas, People, Torah Portions, tagged Abraham, Eulogy, Sacrifice, Suffering on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 | 3 Comments »
This past Rosh Hashana I spoke from the pulpit about a recent visit I had with my Uncle Perry Stern. Although in his 90’s, he greeted me warmly, with a bright sparkling smile and a twinkle in his eyes. Nothing new about that — Perry was always in a good jovial mood. As usual, he [...]
The joy of multiple meanings
Posted in Book Recommendations, Ideas, tagged democracy, diversity, mitzvoth, Rotenberg on Monday, October 22, 2007 | 1 Comment »
I am fascinated by the ability of traditional Judaism to be all things to all people.
One conundrum for example: how can there be both hippies and yuppies who are “orthodox” Jews? These “types” of people, who disagree on almost everything, both perform the same set of mitzvot with what must be very different understandings [...]
The Joys of Motherhood
Posted in Books, Ideas, People, Practices, tagged Abraham, Akiva, Azure, God, Love, motherhood, Sarah, Shabbat, Soloveichik on Friday, October 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
One of the subplots of this week’s Torah portion is the theme of just how important — yet difficult – the process of giving birth is. Whether that process entails the birthing of a nation – as it does this week with the selection of Abraham and Sarah as the first Jews – or an individual [...]
Joys of Motherhood Video
Posted in videos, tagged motherhood, Song, William Tell on Friday, October 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
The Vegetarian That Eats Meat
Posted in Ideas, Practices, tagged giving, joy, meat, Vegetarian, wine on Thursday, October 18, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Cross posted on The Jew & The Carrot.
For vegetarians, one Talmudic phrase is particularly bothersome: “There is no simcha (joy) without meat and wine.” The customary way to deal with this dictum — that is, if one is a vegetarian — is to argue that the Talmud was speaking subjectively not objectively — i.e., it [...]
