Blogging

The Blame Is on Who?

Throughout history, leaders made grievous mistakes, often more pronounced during times of war. George Bush's misjudgment of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler, are among these historical blunders.…

I Appreciate You

In the State of the Union, the President acknowledged the hard-working middle class of our country. He thanked the Americans whose labor builds our nation. Appreciating workers is a Jewish value. I found it in the final verses of Exodus. In…

Be an Angel

You don’t have to be an angel to have meaningful relationships. But you might learn something from the angels. The lesson? It’s all about how we focus on loving each other. From the design of the Tabernacle, described in the Torah, we…

Prisoner of Age

I have been in emotional and spiritual confinement. I am a senior-aged man and I have an older mother living nearby. Each day begins with worrying, continues with caring, and ends with anticipating. My "detention" is not about being an attentive…

Good Fats, Bad Fats

The data about consuming fats is confusing. There are good fats and bad fats. The distinction is important if we are trying to eat healthy.  In doing so, I try to avoid the bad fat. However, we need some fat to feel full. If you try to eat…

Green Torah

This century is a heyday for the cardboard industry. Nearly every delivery on your doorstep comes in a cardboard box. Wood pulp and cellulose combine to form cardboard. Accordingly, the cardboard craze exacerbates deforestation. The environmental…

Privilege and Power

Abusers of power undermine our society. Whether politicians or rabbis, those entrusted with power often betray their privileges. Thereafter comes the "conversation" about abuse, power and privilege. The problem is made worse by the internet…

Don’t Touch, Don’t Look

Boundaries can keep us protected. With concern for health and safety we learn that there are things we don’t touch, and even times when we don’t look. Of course the Torah sets out a compelling case of healthy boundaries serving as holy behavior,…

I’m (Not) Complaining But . . .

All people complain. Jews elevated complaining to a holy art. Just read the Torah. The text is peppered with complaints. Perhaps Torah anticipated the “gig” economy, where the world revolves around the threat of complaints. I'm not complaining,…

Moses and Martin

Given the many parallels in their lives, Martin Luther King, Jr. is often compared to Moses. For each man, their most important work was during times of great oppression of their people. Both spoke their truths to power – whether it was the…