The Torah commands us not to stand on the blood of our fellow. This is understood to mean that we if we have the ability to help another who is in trouble we are commanded to do so. During the riots over the death of Freddie Grey we witnessed people violating and fulfilling this commandment. What can we learn from this tragedy and how can it help us to fulfill the commandment to “Love your fellow as you love yourself?”
As the 2016 race for the White House heats up some of the presidential hopefuls are being criticized for a lack of transparency. They can learn an important message by studying the leadership of Moses.
The recent Pew study confirmed what we already know; American Jews are losing their Jewish identity at an alarming rate. How do we maintain our Jewish identity in America?
Was Jordan right to hang two terrorists in retaliation for the murder of one of their captured soldiers? The sixth commandment is often translated as, “Thou shalt not kill.” Is that an accurate translation? Is killing permitted in certain circumstances and if so, when?
After Charlie Hebdo, the satirical French magazine’s offices were attacked by terrorists and 12 people were killed, Charlie Hebdo published a cover with a heading over a weeping Mohammad saying, “All is forgiven.” A journalist for Charlie Hebdo who worked on the piece explains that the cover is a call to forgive the terrorists who killed her colleagues. Should they be forgiven? It has been suggested that Louis Head should be charged with inciting a riot for the provocative comments he made after learning that the police officer who killed his step son, Michael Brown would not be indicted by a Ferguson, Missouri grand jury. Obviously, charging Brown’s step father would further inflame an already volatile situation. Both the Pharaoh of the Exodus and the Pharaoh of Joseph’s time were confronted with the challenge of balancing the need for justice against the need for peace but in very different ways.
After we die God and humanity will judge the story of our life. Let’s ensure we like the story we will leave behind now, while we still have the opportunity to write our own ending. Furthermore, how can we stop the story of American Jewry from ending in disaster and reverse the trend of the disappearance of the American Jew?
Yom Kippur, Kol Nidre 5775: You will Leave Tonight Being Shomer Shabbat (Sabbath Observant)6/4/2015
We think of Yom Kippur as our day in court to stand before God in judgment. But when God thinks of Yom Kippur does he think in term of judgment or relationships? Furthermore, do we have to wait for Yom Kippur to improve our relationship with God and our fellow?
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December 2017
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