Here's a thought experiment.
Imagine you are looking at a drop of blood under a powerful microscope. You are able to see white blood cells attacking and consuming foreign invaders. You say: It sure does seem like the white blood cells want to go after those foreigners! But they are pretty complacent when there are no invaders. What vigilant guardians are these beings! But then you come back to reality and realize that although it seems that they have a will and mind of their own, it's really all just chemical reactions.
Imagine giant alien beings are looking down at humanity. One says: Look at those humans, they seek pleasure, avoid pain, they often act according to a moral code; they even make scientific discoveries! The other one says: It sure does seem that way, but we both know that it's really all just chemical reactions.
How are we different from the white blood cells?
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
New Look, New Direction
It's been a long time. I will be posting on things that have been on my mind in the last couple of years.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Friday, July 14, 2006
What Goes 'Round
"Now the detestable bastard is rumored to have lost an arm and a leg and while he lays in some hospital bed with a catheter up his penis and a collector catching his blood oozing from his stapled sutures, he will look up to the ceiling with his one remaining eye and will know - firsthand - how Israelis suffer when demented Islamo-Nazi homicide bombers blow up Jews at pizzerias, weddings, and shopping malls. For those poor Jews who do not perish in the Muslim homicide bombings, they instead suffer as cripples and paraplegics, paralyzed and deformed"
I found these words posted by Smooth Stone not long ago, written about Mohammed Deif, a known Hamas killer who was wounded by an Israeli attack.
Harsh words, yet I can not escape their truth. When you live a life of violence, violence will likely find you. How many people will suffer before this sick culture will build rather than destroy?
I found these words posted by Smooth Stone not long ago, written about Mohammed Deif, a known Hamas killer who was wounded by an Israeli attack.
Harsh words, yet I can not escape their truth. When you live a life of violence, violence will likely find you. How many people will suffer before this sick culture will build rather than destroy?
Restraint
There are nations that are urging Israel to practice restraint in protecting herself from her enemies. My question to you is: In whose interest is this call for restraint? Is it in Israel's benefit to show restraint at this time, or is it really in the interest of other nations with nothing to lose to call for restraint? Certainly no nation should have to (or would) sacrifice the security of her citizens for the interests of another nation.
And speaking of nations calling for restraint, I have some questions for Russia and China:
How much restraint was shown in Tienamin square?
How much restraint was shown in fighting Chechen rebels?
It is easy to call for restraint when you don't have much to lose. It's like being generous with someone else's money.
And speaking of nations calling for restraint, I have some questions for Russia and China:
How much restraint was shown in Tienamin square?
How much restraint was shown in fighting Chechen rebels?
It is easy to call for restraint when you don't have much to lose. It's like being generous with someone else's money.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Prayer For Members Of The Israel Defense Force
He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Arabah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea. May Hashem cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor. May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you. Now let us respond: Amen.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
A Terrible Loss
First Lt. Yehuda Bassel was killed in a gun battle during an IDF raid in Beit Lahia on Thursday.
" Yehuda thou art he whom thy bretheren shall praise: thy hand shall be on the neck of thy enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Yehuda is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?"
HaMakom Yinachem...
" Yehuda thou art he whom thy bretheren shall praise: thy hand shall be on the neck of thy enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Yehuda is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?"
HaMakom Yinachem...
Monday, July 03, 2006
The Jewish Heart
The Jewish heart aches.
The Jewish soul yearns.
The Jewish prayer screams.
The Jewish warrior fights.
The Jewish voice cries.
The Jewish tears flow.
The Jewish heart aches for its son.
The Jewish soul yearns.
The Jewish prayer screams.
The Jewish warrior fights.
The Jewish voice cries.
The Jewish tears flow.
The Jewish heart aches for its son.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
The Ark Of G-d Was Taken
"And the one who had reported the news, answered and said: Israel fled before the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people, and also your two sons perished, and the Ark of G-d was taken".
Every Israeli soldier is as precious as the Ark of G-d itself. May Gilad Shalit be returned safely to us.
Every Israeli soldier is as precious as the Ark of G-d itself. May Gilad Shalit be returned safely to us.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
The Folly Of Political Dogma
Inspired by the good folks at Just Another Jewish Conspiracy, and the always entertaining DovBear, I have decided to share with you this amazing story:
According to very reliable sources, Al Gore has discovered the sinister Bush racist weather machine in the basement of the White House. Built by evil Zionist scientists and financed by evil corporate greed (as a result of tax cuts to only the richest Americans, and Bush-sponsored price gouging by the oil industry), this is a truly remarkable piece of equipment. Tested first on New Orleans last year, causing only minorities to get wet, the purpose of this machine is to hasten the coming of the rapure to White America by eliminating minority needs, so all funding can go directly to the evil imperialist Zionist regime who will rebuild the Temple and bring about the end of days. Also, since we know that wet minorities are not allowed to vote in America's heartland, we can expect yet another stolen election in 2008.
As a part of the world zionist conspiracy, I am privy to the details of this amazing technology. I know that I risk my life by sharing this information, but my journalistic creed impells me to report this to the world:
Somehow, the hot air generated by Noam Chomsky, the shrill frequencies of Hillary's voice, and the toxic alcohol-induced fumes emitted from the various orifices of Ted Kennedy are combined in a secret process and released into the atmosphere to cause global warming. Then, in a process that only Al Gore and all of the world's scientists understand, hurricanes of unusual intensity are released upon the minority populations of the United States. This machine has also been suspected as the cause of the recent Tsunami disaster, but that is only speculation. It is not currently known how a weather machine could cause an earthquake-related Tsunami, but with Zionists and corporations behind it, anything is possible. In fact, a prominent member of the Bush administration was overheard by Michael Moore saying " Who cares about Tsunami victims? there are no rich christian white men living in that part of the world".
The good news is that we don't have to take it! This administration has been a part of one conspiracy after another. From the shooting of JFK, to the 9-11 conspiracy, we say enough is enough! Let's impeach this president and put in the real winner of the 2004 elections, a man of real integrity, and a man who will promise to dismantle the Bush racist weather machine - Ralph Nader.
Up next: How Bush's drilling in ANWR will endanger the Moonbat.
According to very reliable sources, Al Gore has discovered the sinister Bush racist weather machine in the basement of the White House. Built by evil Zionist scientists and financed by evil corporate greed (as a result of tax cuts to only the richest Americans, and Bush-sponsored price gouging by the oil industry), this is a truly remarkable piece of equipment. Tested first on New Orleans last year, causing only minorities to get wet, the purpose of this machine is to hasten the coming of the rapure to White America by eliminating minority needs, so all funding can go directly to the evil imperialist Zionist regime who will rebuild the Temple and bring about the end of days. Also, since we know that wet minorities are not allowed to vote in America's heartland, we can expect yet another stolen election in 2008.
As a part of the world zionist conspiracy, I am privy to the details of this amazing technology. I know that I risk my life by sharing this information, but my journalistic creed impells me to report this to the world:
Somehow, the hot air generated by Noam Chomsky, the shrill frequencies of Hillary's voice, and the toxic alcohol-induced fumes emitted from the various orifices of Ted Kennedy are combined in a secret process and released into the atmosphere to cause global warming. Then, in a process that only Al Gore and all of the world's scientists understand, hurricanes of unusual intensity are released upon the minority populations of the United States. This machine has also been suspected as the cause of the recent Tsunami disaster, but that is only speculation. It is not currently known how a weather machine could cause an earthquake-related Tsunami, but with Zionists and corporations behind it, anything is possible. In fact, a prominent member of the Bush administration was overheard by Michael Moore saying " Who cares about Tsunami victims? there are no rich christian white men living in that part of the world".
The good news is that we don't have to take it! This administration has been a part of one conspiracy after another. From the shooting of JFK, to the 9-11 conspiracy, we say enough is enough! Let's impeach this president and put in the real winner of the 2004 elections, a man of real integrity, and a man who will promise to dismantle the Bush racist weather machine - Ralph Nader.
Up next: How Bush's drilling in ANWR will endanger the Moonbat.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
We Are Not Going To Burn In Hell
A quote from the book "We Are Not Going To Burn In Hell" by S. J. Greenstein:
"At nine years old, I was playing with my neighbors in their back yard and their mother called me over and read to me the following passage from the book of Isaiah:
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
(The word "virgin" is a deliberate christian mistranslation of the original Hebrew word "almah" which means young woman - JF)
She said that Immanuel was referring to jesus and that because my family and I did not believe in jesus, we were going to burn in Hell. Although this was my first such experience, it was certainly not my last. When my children were young and they were playing with their christian friends, it made me realize what a horrific thing this woman did to me. I would never have entertained the thought of telling any of these children that jesus was not God and that they and their families were going to burn in Hell for practicing idolatry."
"At nine years old, I was playing with my neighbors in their back yard and their mother called me over and read to me the following passage from the book of Isaiah:
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
(The word "virgin" is a deliberate christian mistranslation of the original Hebrew word "almah" which means young woman - JF)
She said that Immanuel was referring to jesus and that because my family and I did not believe in jesus, we were going to burn in Hell. Although this was my first such experience, it was certainly not my last. When my children were young and they were playing with their christian friends, it made me realize what a horrific thing this woman did to me. I would never have entertained the thought of telling any of these children that jesus was not God and that they and their families were going to burn in Hell for practicing idolatry."
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The Religion Is Gone, But The Prejudice Remains
In an otherwise good post by JE Holman, contributor on Debunking Christianity I found the following objectionable statement:
"I'm afraid of our nation having to one day face greater difficulties because of religiously influenced leaders and commanders who feel compelled to put our soldiers in harm's way out of the Christian compulsion to keep helping the Jews fight their wars, while it costs the lives of our boys in green."
To which I replied:
"You may not realize it, but your charge of the US fighting wars for the Jews is highly offensive. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this is the last place I expected to see a typical anti-semetic blood libel. If you are the open-minded skeptic that you claim to be, you wouldn't believe all of the claims you hear from the left without investigation."
I was rather surprised at the answer that I recieved from Mr. Holman. Instead of a honest quest for knowledge and clarification, I got a very defensive diatribe full of christian prejudice.
The following is his response, with my own thoughts interspersed in blue.
First, I am no leftist. I'm not a rightist either. I am a staunch independent. Second, I have a decent grasp of political knowledge, nothing to brag about, but decent.
This is true, if decent means almost no knowledge of middle east politics.
I research everything I write before I write it. If I am found to be wrong, I'll gladly stand corrected.
Good, I'll look forward to your retraction.
The reference you are taking offense to was a small side point in my article, and a summation of a fact about what motivates America -- Christian religion. Christianity was being faulted, not Judaism.
I never claimed that Judaism was being faulted, only that you make an unfounded accusation of the Jewish people.
Whether it's in the past or present, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam end up creating factions and wars. Always has been this way.The very reason you are taking issue with this is because your people are in a religious holy war over land and religion.
Obviouly, you understand nothing about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel is a secular democracy, not a theocratic state. Its founders were mostly secular Jews. The secular government of Israel has no religious agenda, it has only the security of its citizens in mind. Israel has demonstrated in the past that it has been willing to give up land for peace.
It should sicken you.
What sickens me is the venomous hatred and callous disregard for life of the Arab/Islamic terrorists.
Third, I am no where close to anti-semitic.
I'll bet that some of your best friends are Jewish.
It's just that you guys tend to see everything as anti-semitic.
"You guys"? I've heard that before.
It sounds like a classic projection of the old Persecution Complex. You know, in this stupid, paranoid day and age, even if you don't like rap, you're basically a racist! Get off persecution and racism claims. They've lost their power because everyone has abused them.
Perhaps you are right. Just because a third of my people were mudered just 60 years ago, and Iran is currently threatening six million Jews in Israel today is no cause for alarm. I guess I am just too sensitive.
Fourth, the US is fighting Jewish wars for them in some very real ways. At least, that's what it amounts to. By talking about fighting the Jew's wars for them, I was talking about the US's Christian compulsion to support and help Jewish causes because of Jesus and their belief that he is returning to re-establish the Kingdom on Earth, save the Jewish people...the throne of David...etc. Just listen to John Hagee, who represents most of orthodox Christianity on this.
Silly me, I thought that the US was fighting wars to protect itself from terrorism.
I catch the Dennis Prager and Michael Medved shows quite often, and callers call in vouching for the need to bless and help Israel financially and otherwise.
Dennis Prager and Michael Medved are christian ass-kissers. Their views do not represent the majority of Jews. They are pandering to a christian audience.
I heard a commercial about this very subject just the other day. Tons of campaigns are being run with these goals in mind.
It must be the vast Jewish conspiracy at work again.
You can't even turn on TBN without all those religious commercials about cruises to the Holy Land with Pastor so-and-so. You don't think all this influences American thought and war motives, especially when some profit is involved (aka "oil")??? You don't think Bush's "God told me to invade Iraq" thinking had something to do with this??? Think again, my friend.
No sir, it is you that needs to think again. If the US was really fighting a war for Israel, why didn't it fight Iran which is a much greater threat to Israel, or the palestinian terrorists which are the most immediate threat?
I once published an article by an Orthodox Jew when I was editor of the College Hill Counselor on how much Christians have done for Judaism, and that's why, he said, all Jews should praise the US's efforts.This obsession saturates our leadership and filters down into their decisions. We've done so much in those holy land disputes, I couldn't list it all here. Israel and the US are superclose allies for obvious religious reasons.
Yet another myth perpetrated by the anti-semitic left.
Israel and the US are allies because Israel is the only stable democratic state in the region that guarantees rights for all its citizens regardless of race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. In fact, it is the only state in the region in which women are not second class citizens, and in which homosexuality is not a criminal offense.
Israel has been a bastion of freedom in the region during the years of the cold war, and today fights for the same freedoms that Americans hold dear (and take for granted).
We are always discussing sanctions and other consequences for totalitarian and human rights abusing nations. Should we not support a nation that has democratic freedoms? Especially in that part of the world?
I think you realize this and only take offense to the part about Israel needing the help to fight off those Islamic savages over there. I cant help that.
Israel has been far more successful than the US in fighting terorism. Except for US soldiers supervising patriot missiles during the first Gulf war, no US soldier has ever fought for Israel. In fact, there have been many instances in which the US has hindered the military progress of Israel.
Aside from basic surveilance to watch for growth of terrorist training camps and weapons of mass destruction (as all nations should be concerned with to a degree), being over there and supporting these efforts is none of our government's business. My nation's leader talking about putting democracy to the savages involves us in a war that has been dressed up to be about a lot of other things than what it really is about: religion and oil. Christianity plays a tremendous part in this and gets many of our people killed. That was my point. Superstition, as it always has done, ends up promoting hatred and war. I wish it weren't so.
It seems like you can take the man out of the church, but it is harder to take the church out of the man. Many of your prejudices about Jews come from the same church that you have so noisily rejected. Israel is not full of Sadducees and Pharisees running around in robes, and Jews are by no means monolithic in their opinions regarding Israel, religion or anything else. Many non-religious Jews are very nationalistic, and there are many ultra-orthodox religious Jews that vehemently oppose the state of Israel. If you read my writing you will see that I am no great fan of christianity, and I don't care for any type of religious fundamentalism. On this we agree. My point is this: to say that the US is fighting and dying for Jewish interests is irresponsible and dangerous. Our people have been killed in the past for far lesser claims.
Addendum: Shortly after I published this post, Mr. Holman wrote a comment apologizing for any offense. It would seem that Mr. Holman is a man of integrity with a truly open mind. While we don't need to agree on everything, Mr. Holman has demonstrated that his ego does not stand in the way of his knowledge, and that is very impressive indeed.
"I'm afraid of our nation having to one day face greater difficulties because of religiously influenced leaders and commanders who feel compelled to put our soldiers in harm's way out of the Christian compulsion to keep helping the Jews fight their wars, while it costs the lives of our boys in green."
To which I replied:
"You may not realize it, but your charge of the US fighting wars for the Jews is highly offensive. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this is the last place I expected to see a typical anti-semetic blood libel. If you are the open-minded skeptic that you claim to be, you wouldn't believe all of the claims you hear from the left without investigation."
I was rather surprised at the answer that I recieved from Mr. Holman. Instead of a honest quest for knowledge and clarification, I got a very defensive diatribe full of christian prejudice.
The following is his response, with my own thoughts interspersed in blue.
First, I am no leftist. I'm not a rightist either. I am a staunch independent. Second, I have a decent grasp of political knowledge, nothing to brag about, but decent.
This is true, if decent means almost no knowledge of middle east politics.
I research everything I write before I write it. If I am found to be wrong, I'll gladly stand corrected.
Good, I'll look forward to your retraction.
The reference you are taking offense to was a small side point in my article, and a summation of a fact about what motivates America -- Christian religion. Christianity was being faulted, not Judaism.
I never claimed that Judaism was being faulted, only that you make an unfounded accusation of the Jewish people.
Whether it's in the past or present, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam end up creating factions and wars. Always has been this way.The very reason you are taking issue with this is because your people are in a religious holy war over land and religion.
Obviouly, you understand nothing about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel is a secular democracy, not a theocratic state. Its founders were mostly secular Jews. The secular government of Israel has no religious agenda, it has only the security of its citizens in mind. Israel has demonstrated in the past that it has been willing to give up land for peace.
It should sicken you.
What sickens me is the venomous hatred and callous disregard for life of the Arab/Islamic terrorists.
Third, I am no where close to anti-semitic.
I'll bet that some of your best friends are Jewish.
It's just that you guys tend to see everything as anti-semitic.
"You guys"? I've heard that before.
It sounds like a classic projection of the old Persecution Complex. You know, in this stupid, paranoid day and age, even if you don't like rap, you're basically a racist! Get off persecution and racism claims. They've lost their power because everyone has abused them.
Perhaps you are right. Just because a third of my people were mudered just 60 years ago, and Iran is currently threatening six million Jews in Israel today is no cause for alarm. I guess I am just too sensitive.
Fourth, the US is fighting Jewish wars for them in some very real ways. At least, that's what it amounts to. By talking about fighting the Jew's wars for them, I was talking about the US's Christian compulsion to support and help Jewish causes because of Jesus and their belief that he is returning to re-establish the Kingdom on Earth, save the Jewish people...the throne of David...etc. Just listen to John Hagee, who represents most of orthodox Christianity on this.
Silly me, I thought that the US was fighting wars to protect itself from terrorism.
I catch the Dennis Prager and Michael Medved shows quite often, and callers call in vouching for the need to bless and help Israel financially and otherwise.
Dennis Prager and Michael Medved are christian ass-kissers. Their views do not represent the majority of Jews. They are pandering to a christian audience.
I heard a commercial about this very subject just the other day. Tons of campaigns are being run with these goals in mind.
It must be the vast Jewish conspiracy at work again.
You can't even turn on TBN without all those religious commercials about cruises to the Holy Land with Pastor so-and-so. You don't think all this influences American thought and war motives, especially when some profit is involved (aka "oil")??? You don't think Bush's "God told me to invade Iraq" thinking had something to do with this??? Think again, my friend.
No sir, it is you that needs to think again. If the US was really fighting a war for Israel, why didn't it fight Iran which is a much greater threat to Israel, or the palestinian terrorists which are the most immediate threat?
I once published an article by an Orthodox Jew when I was editor of the College Hill Counselor on how much Christians have done for Judaism, and that's why, he said, all Jews should praise the US's efforts.This obsession saturates our leadership and filters down into their decisions. We've done so much in those holy land disputes, I couldn't list it all here. Israel and the US are superclose allies for obvious religious reasons.
Yet another myth perpetrated by the anti-semitic left.
Israel and the US are allies because Israel is the only stable democratic state in the region that guarantees rights for all its citizens regardless of race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. In fact, it is the only state in the region in which women are not second class citizens, and in which homosexuality is not a criminal offense.
Israel has been a bastion of freedom in the region during the years of the cold war, and today fights for the same freedoms that Americans hold dear (and take for granted).
We are always discussing sanctions and other consequences for totalitarian and human rights abusing nations. Should we not support a nation that has democratic freedoms? Especially in that part of the world?
I think you realize this and only take offense to the part about Israel needing the help to fight off those Islamic savages over there. I cant help that.
Israel has been far more successful than the US in fighting terorism. Except for US soldiers supervising patriot missiles during the first Gulf war, no US soldier has ever fought for Israel. In fact, there have been many instances in which the US has hindered the military progress of Israel.
Aside from basic surveilance to watch for growth of terrorist training camps and weapons of mass destruction (as all nations should be concerned with to a degree), being over there and supporting these efforts is none of our government's business. My nation's leader talking about putting democracy to the savages involves us in a war that has been dressed up to be about a lot of other things than what it really is about: religion and oil. Christianity plays a tremendous part in this and gets many of our people killed. That was my point. Superstition, as it always has done, ends up promoting hatred and war. I wish it weren't so.
It seems like you can take the man out of the church, but it is harder to take the church out of the man. Many of your prejudices about Jews come from the same church that you have so noisily rejected. Israel is not full of Sadducees and Pharisees running around in robes, and Jews are by no means monolithic in their opinions regarding Israel, religion or anything else. Many non-religious Jews are very nationalistic, and there are many ultra-orthodox religious Jews that vehemently oppose the state of Israel. If you read my writing you will see that I am no great fan of christianity, and I don't care for any type of religious fundamentalism. On this we agree. My point is this: to say that the US is fighting and dying for Jewish interests is irresponsible and dangerous. Our people have been killed in the past for far lesser claims.
Addendum: Shortly after I published this post, Mr. Holman wrote a comment apologizing for any offense. It would seem that Mr. Holman is a man of integrity with a truly open mind. While we don't need to agree on everything, Mr. Holman has demonstrated that his ego does not stand in the way of his knowledge, and that is very impressive indeed.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Does Anti-Zionism = Anti-Semitism?
In the past several years I have heard the same nauseating complaint over and over again:
"If I criticize the State of Israel, I am automatically accused of anti-semitism"
This claim has been made by many, including Arabs, Europeans, Leftists, and even some Jews!
For those who are suddenly so concerned about being labeled an anti-semite, simply ask yourself the following question: Do you in any way criticize Israel's right to defend her citizens? If you do then you are an anti-semite, plain and simple.
"If I criticize the State of Israel, I am automatically accused of anti-semitism"
This claim has been made by many, including Arabs, Europeans, Leftists, and even some Jews!
For those who are suddenly so concerned about being labeled an anti-semite, simply ask yourself the following question: Do you in any way criticize Israel's right to defend her citizens? If you do then you are an anti-semite, plain and simple.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Rememberence Day Was Tuesday April 25
Every day six million murdered Jews speak to me. Some days they scream. Tuesday they screamed. "Do you appreciate the gift of life?" they ask. "Do you make the most of your life?" Are you living to your potential?". Sometimes they even have the nerve to ask if I am enjoying my life! "Well, I guess I enjoy my life overall" I answer meekly. "But you know, some days work is frustrating, and some days the kids are difficult - those days are very trying".
The response is harsh - " My job was taken from me, and my children were ripped from my arms and killed right in front of me" say my murdered brothers and sisters. "I wish I had a job to be frustrated about, you see a man does not feel like a man without a job". "And I long for the days when my kids were difficult, that is part of life - the life that was stolen from us". "A man who is robbed of the ability to provide for and protect his own family, one who sees the corpses of his children in front of him is dead even before his soul leaves his body".
They don't stop there either. "What do you do with the life that you have, with the opportunities you have been given?" "Do you do what is right and good?" "Do you use your good fortune to help others?" "Do you comfort those in need?" "Do you stand up for the oppressed?" "Do you take a stand against evil?"
"And what of us?" "How can you, with your comfortable life, safeguard our heritage?" " Will you sacrifice any of your comforts to protect your own people?" " Will you work to right the wrongs of a world that ignored our cries?" " A world that sacrificed us to the idols of indifference and outright hatred?" " Even now your people are being murdered for the very same reason we were - because they are Jews". "What are you going to do about it?"
It's that last question that stings the most - "What are you going to do about it?"
What can I do about it? What do they want from me? I am only one person. Do I need to speak out more against the murder of innocent Jews? Should I volunteer my time? Should I donate my money?
I don't know what they want, but the question still rings in my ears - "What are you going to do about it?"
The response is harsh - " My job was taken from me, and my children were ripped from my arms and killed right in front of me" say my murdered brothers and sisters. "I wish I had a job to be frustrated about, you see a man does not feel like a man without a job". "And I long for the days when my kids were difficult, that is part of life - the life that was stolen from us". "A man who is robbed of the ability to provide for and protect his own family, one who sees the corpses of his children in front of him is dead even before his soul leaves his body".
They don't stop there either. "What do you do with the life that you have, with the opportunities you have been given?" "Do you do what is right and good?" "Do you use your good fortune to help others?" "Do you comfort those in need?" "Do you stand up for the oppressed?" "Do you take a stand against evil?"
"And what of us?" "How can you, with your comfortable life, safeguard our heritage?" " Will you sacrifice any of your comforts to protect your own people?" " Will you work to right the wrongs of a world that ignored our cries?" " A world that sacrificed us to the idols of indifference and outright hatred?" " Even now your people are being murdered for the very same reason we were - because they are Jews". "What are you going to do about it?"
It's that last question that stings the most - "What are you going to do about it?"
What can I do about it? What do they want from me? I am only one person. Do I need to speak out more against the murder of innocent Jews? Should I volunteer my time? Should I donate my money?
I don't know what they want, but the question still rings in my ears - "What are you going to do about it?"
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
More thoughts on Purim
"And Haman went out on that day, happy and with a cheerful heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and he neither rose nor stirred because of him, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordecai".
There have been times in our history when our bodies were forced to bow before men, but the heart of a Jew will bow for no man.
I wish you all a happy Purim.
There have been times in our history when our bodies were forced to bow before men, but the heart of a Jew will bow for no man.
I wish you all a happy Purim.
Some Thoughts on Purim
The Book Of Esther is the prototypical story of the Jews in exile throughout the centuries. As you read through it you will find themes that are painfully familiar to us.
"And Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered and separate among the peoples throughout all the provinces of your kingdom, and their ways differ from those of every people, and they do not keep the king's ways; it is therefore no use for the king to let them be. If it pleases the king, let it be written to destroy them, and I will weigh out ten thousand silver talents into the hands of those who perform the work, to bring it in to the king's treasuries".
Haman represents the individual, (or small group) that hates moral ideals so much that he can not tolerate the existence of the people who represent those ideals.
"And the king took his ring off his hand and gave it to Haman...the adversary of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to you and the people - to do to them as it pleases you".
The king represents all people who stand by, or even give tacit approval while the haters of morality carry out their evil plans.
It is interesting to note that in this story, the king is not as evil as Haman, but his attachment to morality is tenuous, and that is exactly what Haman is counting on. and precisely what is needed to bring his evil plans to fruition.
Without those like the king giving tacit approval or even just looking the other way, Haman would be just another marginalized extremist; another frustrated megalomaniac vainly seeking expression. It is my sincere wish that all people of the world learn this valuable lesson and take it to heart.
"And Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered and separate among the peoples throughout all the provinces of your kingdom, and their ways differ from those of every people, and they do not keep the king's ways; it is therefore no use for the king to let them be. If it pleases the king, let it be written to destroy them, and I will weigh out ten thousand silver talents into the hands of those who perform the work, to bring it in to the king's treasuries".
Haman represents the individual, (or small group) that hates moral ideals so much that he can not tolerate the existence of the people who represent those ideals.
"And the king took his ring off his hand and gave it to Haman...the adversary of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to you and the people - to do to them as it pleases you".
The king represents all people who stand by, or even give tacit approval while the haters of morality carry out their evil plans.
It is interesting to note that in this story, the king is not as evil as Haman, but his attachment to morality is tenuous, and that is exactly what Haman is counting on. and precisely what is needed to bring his evil plans to fruition.
Without those like the king giving tacit approval or even just looking the other way, Haman would be just another marginalized extremist; another frustrated megalomaniac vainly seeking expression. It is my sincere wish that all people of the world learn this valuable lesson and take it to heart.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Quote in Honor of Purim
"And Haman told Zeresh his wife, and all of his friends everything that had befallen him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, If Mordecai before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, then thou shalt not prevail against him, but thou shalt surely fall before him." - The Book of Esther, 6:13.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
I Am a Jew
I am a Jew.
I sat and wept by the rivers of Babylon.
I rebuilt with Nehemiah.
I fought the Greeks and was victorious.
I watched with disbelief as the walls of the Temple fell.
I saw rivers of blood at Beitar.
I died at Masada.
I watched in horror as Rabbi Akiva was martyred.
I studied at Yavneh.
I learned philosophy at the feet of Maimonides.
I witnessed in fear, the debate at Barcelona.
I experienced the disappointment in Shabbetai Zvi.
I marvelled at the Vilna Gaon.
I was outraged at the Dreyfus trial.
I had my wife and children torn from my arms in a death camp in Poland.
I heard Nazi guards sing christmas carols the day before my death.
I could not believe my eyes when the Germans retreated from the Warsaw Ghetto.
I helped build the atom bomb.
I followed the voice of Ben Gurion to the promised land.
I fought alongside Ariel Sharon.
I cried at Maalot.
I shocked the world in 1967.
I paid for my arrogance in 1973.
I was rescued by Jewish soldiers at Entebbe, and it felt like G-d himself took us home.
I saw smiles in Oslo, tears in Israel.
I said goodbye to Gaza, hello to Hamas.
I am a Jew. I am every Jew that ever lived. I brought morality to the world. I rejoiced at Einstein's Nobel Prize. I took pride in our great thinkers. I was shamed by every scandal. I cried after every attack. I comforted the survivors. I have died and I rose up from the ashes.
I am a Jew.
I sat and wept by the rivers of Babylon.
I rebuilt with Nehemiah.
I fought the Greeks and was victorious.
I watched with disbelief as the walls of the Temple fell.
I saw rivers of blood at Beitar.
I died at Masada.
I watched in horror as Rabbi Akiva was martyred.
I studied at Yavneh.
I learned philosophy at the feet of Maimonides.
I witnessed in fear, the debate at Barcelona.
I experienced the disappointment in Shabbetai Zvi.
I marvelled at the Vilna Gaon.
I was outraged at the Dreyfus trial.
I had my wife and children torn from my arms in a death camp in Poland.
I heard Nazi guards sing christmas carols the day before my death.
I could not believe my eyes when the Germans retreated from the Warsaw Ghetto.
I helped build the atom bomb.
I followed the voice of Ben Gurion to the promised land.
I fought alongside Ariel Sharon.
I cried at Maalot.
I shocked the world in 1967.
I paid for my arrogance in 1973.
I was rescued by Jewish soldiers at Entebbe, and it felt like G-d himself took us home.
I saw smiles in Oslo, tears in Israel.
I said goodbye to Gaza, hello to Hamas.
I am a Jew. I am every Jew that ever lived. I brought morality to the world. I rejoiced at Einstein's Nobel Prize. I took pride in our great thinkers. I was shamed by every scandal. I cried after every attack. I comforted the survivors. I have died and I rose up from the ashes.
I am a Jew.
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