In a three page article titled The Suicidal Passion, Ruth Wisse discusses the ideology of anti-Semitism. Click here to read an erudite essay about the roots of anti-Semitism.
The following excerpts were taken from an article at Matzav by Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz a while back.
"Why is it that despite all that Israel has done to demonstrate its interest in living peacefully with its neighbors, it is never enough, and the world persists in blaming the tiny country for being the aggressor?
These logic-defying circumstances are meant to remind us that we are in golus. If we want to merit redemption, we have to want it, we have to pray for it, and we have to earn sources of merit...
For the Jewish people throughout the ages, every chapter of our history since the churban has reinforced the teaching of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai that “halacha hi beyoduah she’Eisav sonei leYaakov.” ... The only way to suppress that hatred and to keep Eisav from destroying us is by strengthening our connection to Torah and mitzvos."
21 Nov 2011
Parents and teachers
Thomas Friedman has an op-ed at the New York Times titled How About Better Parents? in which he discusses that teachers can "make a huge difference in a student’s achievement, and we need to recruit, train and reward more such teachers. But here’s what some new studies are also showing: We need better parents. Parents more focused on their children’s education can also make a huge difference in a student’s achievement."
He writes about a Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA which recently published the following conclusion.
“Fifteen-year-old students whose parents often read books with them during their first year of primary school show markedly higher scores in PISA 2009 than students whose parents read with them infrequently or not at all. The performance advantage among students whose parents read to them in their early school years is evident regardless of the family’s socioeconomic background. Parents’ engagement with their 15-year-olds is strongly associated with better performance in PISA.”
Schleicher explained to me that “just asking your child how was their school day and showing genuine interest in the learning that they are doing can have the same impact as hours of private tutoring.
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-about-better-parents.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general
Emunah Braverman writes an open letter to teachers on the eve of parent-teacher conferences scheduled to take place this week. She cautions the teachers to focus not only on the weaknesses and flaws but also to see the positive. She concludes with the following advice.
"I certainly don’t want to shirk my parental responsibilities and place everything on the school. And the reverse is also true. If you take the time to appreciate and understand my child, my gratitude will know no bounds and I will excited to work with you in helping her achieve her potential.
But if you are only harsh and critical – well, I won’t respond in kind but I will probably think you should have chosen another profession."
So, let's not blame one side or the other. Let's join in partnership to produce children who thrive and achieve to the best of their abilities.
Incidentally, I came across an article about Mr. Friedman which provides elucidating details about his life including that his sister became religious and "works for a Lubavitch Jewish day school, where her husband also teaches."
A childhood friend described him "as a '20-year overnight sensation. . . . Tom has become really smart,” he says. “I don’t know that he started out really smart. Now he has a gift because he’s worked hard for 20 years.'”
He writes about a Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA which recently published the following conclusion.
“Fifteen-year-old students whose parents often read books with them during their first year of primary school show markedly higher scores in PISA 2009 than students whose parents read with them infrequently or not at all. The performance advantage among students whose parents read to them in their early school years is evident regardless of the family’s socioeconomic background. Parents’ engagement with their 15-year-olds is strongly associated with better performance in PISA.”
Schleicher explained to me that “just asking your child how was their school day and showing genuine interest in the learning that they are doing can have the same impact as hours of private tutoring.
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-about-better-parents.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general
Emunah Braverman writes an open letter to teachers on the eve of parent-teacher conferences scheduled to take place this week. She cautions the teachers to focus not only on the weaknesses and flaws but also to see the positive. She concludes with the following advice.
"I certainly don’t want to shirk my parental responsibilities and place everything on the school. And the reverse is also true. If you take the time to appreciate and understand my child, my gratitude will know no bounds and I will excited to work with you in helping her achieve her potential.
But if you are only harsh and critical – well, I won’t respond in kind but I will probably think you should have chosen another profession."
So, let's not blame one side or the other. Let's join in partnership to produce children who thrive and achieve to the best of their abilities.
Incidentally, I came across an article about Mr. Friedman which provides elucidating details about his life including that his sister became religious and "works for a Lubavitch Jewish day school, where her husband also teaches."
A childhood friend described him "as a '20-year overnight sensation. . . . Tom has become really smart,” he says. “I don’t know that he started out really smart. Now he has a gift because he’s worked hard for 20 years.'”
20 Nov 2011
Judges
This post doesn't have to do this week's parsha. Rather, it deals with parshat Shoftim.
This morning I read an article about the appointments of Israeli Supreme Court Justices being hindered.
The Committee for Appointment of Judges convened in Jerusalem Sunday afternoon in a stormy showdown between leftist forces led by Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch and centrist-nationalists, as three vacant Supreme Court positions wait to be manned. The meeting ended at around 8:00 p.m. with no agreement having been reached. The next sessions will be held in January and February.
Read full article: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/149930
If being a "rightist" or a "leftist" is the consideration for being appointed a judge these days, I resolved to find what theTorah has to say about the subject.
2.What qualifications should one look for when appointing a judge?
2.What qualifications should one look for when appointing a judge?
16:18 - That he is expert in the law and that he is righteous.
http://ohr.edu/1195
According to the law they instruct you and according to the judgment they say to you, you shall do; you shall not divert from the word they tell you, either right or left (17:11)
Even if this judge tells you that right is left, and that left is right. How much more so, if he tells you that right is right, and left is left!
(Sifri; Rashi)
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/in-depth/default_cdo/aid/55289/jewish/In-Depth.htm
Wow! Rashi knew about right and left even in the old days.
And here's something that is perplexing to me from a hearing that took place on Friday.
On November 19, the deputy campaign manager of the Obama campaign posted that, "yesterday, four Republicans in the New Hampshire State House allowed a hearing requested by Orly Taitz..."
I thought that the hearing was based on an individual filing a complaint challenging the eligibility of a candidate. I didn't realize that the four Republicans had to allow the hearing before it could be addressed by the New Hampshire Ballot Commission.
This morning I read an article about the appointments of Israeli Supreme Court Justices being hindered.
The Committee for Appointment of Judges convened in Jerusalem Sunday afternoon in a stormy showdown between leftist forces led by Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch and centrist-nationalists, as three vacant Supreme Court positions wait to be manned. The meeting ended at around 8:00 p.m. with no agreement having been reached. The next sessions will be held in January and February.
Read full article: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/149930
If being a "rightist" or a "leftist" is the consideration for being appointed a judge these days, I resolved to find what theTorah has to say about the subject.
2.What qualifications should one look for when appointing a judge?
2.What qualifications should one look for when appointing a judge?
16:18 - That he is expert in the law and that he is righteous.
http://ohr.edu/1195
According to the law they instruct you and according to the judgment they say to you, you shall do; you shall not divert from the word they tell you, either right or left (17:11)
Even if this judge tells you that right is left, and that left is right. How much more so, if he tells you that right is right, and left is left!
(Sifri; Rashi)
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/in-depth/default_cdo/aid/55289/jewish/In-Depth.htm
Wow! Rashi knew about right and left even in the old days.
And here's something that is perplexing to me from a hearing that took place on Friday.
On November 19, the deputy campaign manager of the Obama campaign posted that, "yesterday, four Republicans in the New Hampshire State House allowed a hearing requested by Orly Taitz..."
I thought that the hearing was based on an individual filing a complaint challenging the eligibility of a candidate. I didn't realize that the four Republicans had to allow the hearing before it could be addressed by the New Hampshire Ballot Commission.
Actions speak louder than words
Last week a lecturer gave a riveting speech to the women in the neighborhood. I was unable to attend but a friend told me that the message was that our children are a reflection of ourselves. The messages the children receive in the home, and the actions and sights they are exposed to will form the basis for their development.
I was reminded of the message when I read an article in the Hamodia about how the actions of Rav Nosson Zvi Finkel zt"l, influenced a talmid for years to come.
A talmid in the Mir Yeshiva had asked the Rav if he could learn with him. When the bochur arrived at the Rosh Yeshiva's home, he saw that the Rav was spent from a long day. In utter exhaustion the Rav walked over to the boy. When the bochur asked the rav what he wanted to learn the rav told him, "You're the boss, what do you think?" The student suggested leanrning "mussar, perhaps something about laziness."
At that point, the Rosh Yeshiva did something which would remain indelibly engraved in the boy's memory.
"Without a second thought, and as tired and as weak as he was, he jumped out of the chair, hurried to the bookshelf, and pulled out a mussar sefer. It was as if a suddent burst of energy filled his body. I watched in utter shock as a man who was completely exhausted just moments before came back to life right before my eyes."
The talmid concluded that he didn't remember what they learned that evening but he would never forget the lesson, not of words, but of actions. His memories of that night with the Rosh Yeshiva would galvanize him to action for years to come whenever he was too tired or not in the mood to do something.
I was reminded of the message when I read an article in the Hamodia about how the actions of Rav Nosson Zvi Finkel zt"l, influenced a talmid for years to come.
A talmid in the Mir Yeshiva had asked the Rav if he could learn with him. When the bochur arrived at the Rosh Yeshiva's home, he saw that the Rav was spent from a long day. In utter exhaustion the Rav walked over to the boy. When the bochur asked the rav what he wanted to learn the rav told him, "You're the boss, what do you think?" The student suggested leanrning "mussar, perhaps something about laziness."
At that point, the Rosh Yeshiva did something which would remain indelibly engraved in the boy's memory.
"Without a second thought, and as tired and as weak as he was, he jumped out of the chair, hurried to the bookshelf, and pulled out a mussar sefer. It was as if a suddent burst of energy filled his body. I watched in utter shock as a man who was completely exhausted just moments before came back to life right before my eyes."
The talmid concluded that he didn't remember what they learned that evening but he would never forget the lesson, not of words, but of actions. His memories of that night with the Rosh Yeshiva would galvanize him to action for years to come whenever he was too tired or not in the mood to do something.
19 Nov 2011
Stop complaining
I was in the middle of reciting a litany of complaints about my job to a woman in the neighborhood when she stopped me by saying, "stop complaining. I wish I had a job." She confided that she had been occupied babysitting for her young grandson the past couple of years, but now that he was in kindergarten, her services were no longer needed. She told me that there were days she had to push herself out of bed because she had no schedule to follow.
I learned a lesson from her and resolved not to complain about my job. It worked. For a while.
I learned a lesson from her and resolved not to complain about my job. It worked. For a while.
President in the news
Maddie Hanna reports on New Hampshire state election officials rejecting a petition to keep the President's name off the New Hampshire ballot.
Speaking of the President, the Daily Caller has a clip in which he appears on a televised Black History Minutes segment from 1991, the year that he graduated from Harvard Law School.
Sorry, I thought the President had said the word coterie in the clip, but an alert reader explained to me that it was cadre. Mea culpa.
Speaking of the President, the Daily Caller has a clip in which he appears on a televised Black History Minutes segment from 1991, the year that he graduated from Harvard Law School.
Sorry, I thought the President had said the word coterie in the clip, but an alert reader explained to me that it was cadre. Mea culpa.
18 Nov 2011
Lessons from Avraham
Rabbi Yissocher Frand discusses the "it's coming to me" attitude in relation to this week's parsha.
Such is the attitude of a person who does not go through life with an "It's coming to me" (es kumpt mir) philosophy. The opposite of the Yiddish expression "es kumpt mir" is "es kumpt mir gornisht" which means I deserve nothing. I take nothing for granted. Every little gift is a bonanza! This was exactly the attitude of Avraham. That is why he died a very happy and satisfied man and that is why the Torah praised him with this behavior.
When the Chofetz Chaim finished writing the Mishna Berurah, he said, "Ribbono shel Olam you have been so good to me. How can I finally pay You back?" If you or I wrote the Mishna Berurah, our attitude would most likely be "G-d, I wrote the Mishna Berurah. I put the Orach Chaim on the map for You. Now it is my turn. When is it going to be payback time?"
Read full devar Torah at http://www.torah.org/learning/ravfrand/5772/chayeisarah.html# by scrolling down to second article titled "Avraham Died A Happy Man -- For Good Reason."
In the video below, the rabbi discusses living every day to its fullest.
Such is the attitude of a person who does not go through life with an "It's coming to me" (es kumpt mir) philosophy. The opposite of the Yiddish expression "es kumpt mir" is "es kumpt mir gornisht" which means I deserve nothing. I take nothing for granted. Every little gift is a bonanza! This was exactly the attitude of Avraham. That is why he died a very happy and satisfied man and that is why the Torah praised him with this behavior.
When the Chofetz Chaim finished writing the Mishna Berurah, he said, "Ribbono shel Olam you have been so good to me. How can I finally pay You back?" If you or I wrote the Mishna Berurah, our attitude would most likely be "G-d, I wrote the Mishna Berurah. I put the Orach Chaim on the map for You. Now it is my turn. When is it going to be payback time?"
Read full devar Torah at http://www.torah.org/learning/ravfrand/5772/chayeisarah.html# by scrolling down to second article titled "Avraham Died A Happy Man -- For Good Reason."
In the video below, the rabbi discusses living every day to its fullest.
Two religions
Click here to read about a Toronto synagogue which was sprayed with anti-Semitic graffiti.
The other day I posted about a Park51 book signing event. It seems that the developer of Park51 is not having it easy as Con Ed wants to evict Ground Zero mosque developer over $1.7M back rent.
The other day I posted about a Park51 book signing event. It seems that the developer of Park51 is not having it easy as Con Ed wants to evict Ground Zero mosque developer over $1.7M back rent.
17 Nov 2011
Question Time
A CNN poll has shown, "Americans have typically been optimists about the future, but when it comes to how things are going in the country, a new national survey suggests that may no longer be the case."
In the video below, a number of people were asked on the November 3 edition of Question Time what makes them happy. Listen to commentator Peter Hitchens' response about G-d.
And here's a quote from an email I received the other day.
"Honk if you like G-d; text and drive if you want to meet him!"
In the video below, a number of people were asked on the November 3 edition of Question Time what makes them happy. Listen to commentator Peter Hitchens' response about G-d.
And here's a quote from an email I received the other day.
"Honk if you like G-d; text and drive if you want to meet him!"
Infinite possibilities
Foro those who missed an article by Moshe Kempinski titled "Judaism: Reb Shlomo and Infinite Possibilities" click here to read about important lessons to be learned from Reb Aryeh Levin and Shlomo Carlebach.
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