The Wisdom of Gersonides

 It is tragic even bizarre that most rabbis today sermonize by quoting Midrashim as if what the Midrash states, despite being contrary to nature, actually occurred. They also quote the views of mystics, but not rational thinkers such as Maimonides other than to quote a legal view of his that parallels those of mystics, leading congregants to think that the rabbi is teaching them what Judaism wants them to know. They do not tell congregants that Midrashim are parables, stories designed like Aesop’s fables to make us think. They do not encourage congregants to think. They are, in essence, anti-rational. In view of this tragic practice, it is a good idea to view the ideas of some rational Jewish thinkers such as Gersonides. He was not of the intellectual level as Maimonides, but he was a thinker and will prompt us to think as well. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

The Wisdom of Gersonides Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in the Mid-1950s

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy sits high on a bluff overlooking the Thames River in New London, Connecticut. A group of colonial, brick, Georgian buildings, trimmed in white moldings and shutters, sit serenely among tall trees and a pampered lawn that goes on forever. Pyracantha bushes with bouquets of pouting red berries line the driveways and keep order. Midshipman in their crisply pressed black and white uniforms walk briskly from class to class for four years of nurtured perfection, until they graduate. The rewards are shiny gold ensign’s bars designating them as the next generation of leaders. [Ira Spector]

Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in the Mid-1950s Read More »

Lifestyles, USA

Transition time for elected officials and staffs

The weeks immediately following an election are exciting ones for officeholders, their campaign staffs, and for the staffs of outgoing officeholders.  This is the time when legislators learn what committees they’ll serve on; when campaign workers learn whether they will be hired by the new officholders, and when the staff of retiring or defeated officeholders begin looking for other jobs, both inside and outside government. [Donald H. Harrison]

Transition time for elected officials and staffs Read More »

Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA

Biden Declared Winner Of Arizona After Decades Of GOP Dominance

On Thursday night, President-elect Joe Biden was projected to win the battleground state of Arizona.Despite Arizona’s long tradition for voting for Republicans, the growth in the Latino population, which strongly favors Democrats, the increase in migrant residents from prominent blue states like California and the unpopularity of Trump with suburban voters were the major factors

Biden Declared Winner Of Arizona After Decades Of GOP Dominance Read More »

USA

Trump lawyers withdraw from key Pennsylvania case challenging vote count

PHILADELPHIA — The law firm leading President Donald Trump’s legal effort to challenge the results of Pennsylvania’s election abruptly withdrew from his campaign’s marquee case late Thursday.Lawyers from Columbus, Ohio-based Porter Wright Morris & Arthur offered no explanation for their departure from a federal lawsuit filed Monday in Williamsport that asked a judge to block

Trump lawyers withdraw from key Pennsylvania case challenging vote count Read More »

USA

Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s ex-envoy who helped broker UAE-Israel deal, celebrates daughter’s engagement in Dubai

The former White House Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt celebrated his daughter’s engagement in Dubai just weeks after the normalisation of relations between Israel and the UAE.Greenblatt’s daughter, Anna Greenblatt, said yes to a surprise proposal from her boyfriend in Dubai where she was travelling with her father.Greenblatt, who played a key role in drafting

Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s ex-envoy who helped broker UAE-Israel deal, celebrates daughter’s engagement in Dubai Read More »

Middle East, Travel and Food, USA

After 60 years, the Jews in Australia’s coal capital have a rabbi

The Australian coal mining city of Newcastle now has a rabbi for the first time in 60 years, with Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Yossi Rodal taking up the post, the Australian Jewish News reported.Established in 1905, Newcastle’s Jewish community is one of the oldest in Australia, and while the city is now one of the country’s largest

After 60 years, the Jews in Australia’s coal capital have a rabbi Read More »

International, Jewish Religion

Sinai helicopter crash kills 7, including 5 Americans

A helicopter crash in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula involving a multi-national observer force killed seven people on Thursday — five Americans, a French national and a Czech citizen, the force said.”We are deeply saddened by the loss on November 12, 2020, of seven of our uniformed military colleagues from three countries who died in a helicopter crash during a routine mission. This included one Czech, one French, and five US MFO members,” the peacekeeping force said late Thursday. [Agence France Presse]

Sinai helicopter crash kills 7, including 5 Americans Read More »

Middle East, USA

Memoir: A Social Worker’s Life in Switzerland

There are two possible ways of behaving when coming into a new environment if one stands out for some reason—like being the only woman, the only foreigner, or someone with different skills. One can try to blend in and fit oneself into the prevailing culture, which may be difficult or not even possible. The other way is to accept the differences instead of hiding them, flaunt them by being even more of an outlier. [Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D]

Memoir: A Social Worker’s Life in Switzerland Read More »

International, Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and Food

Abraham, Sarah provided signposts for humanity

Everything accomplished by the Patriarchs and Matriarchs is a signpost for us going forward. They demonstrated the correct path and help us along it by having been trailblazers. Sarah didn’t truly die because her progeny are still alive. Sarah had a glorious career during which she and her life partner brought the awareness of the One G-d to a scattered and morally bankrupted populace. She helped changed the world. This can be seen because she successfully reared Yitzchak. Yitzchak would do Avraham and Sarah proud – he carried on with their legacy, successfully passing it on to Yaakov, father of the 12 Tribes of Israel. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

Abraham, Sarah provided signposts for humanity Read More »

Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi