writer’s block or blocked writing?
With apologies to the poetry blog Skeptic’s Kaddish for the pun, we must tackle December. Personally, there were trying moments. A serious family issue consumed the month. This later was compounded by a hip problem. And then, with the little other time to write, software gremlins ran amok in my WordPress editor.
Even worse, the creative juices were not working. I wrote some posts but they were nothingburgers. The precious holiday free time to embark on creativity was crushed by tiny high tech monsters and a vacuous mind. I became enraged. I went (not quite) postal!
December
December was the toothpaste tube readying for its tossing into the trash bin. I squeezed out something that still did the job.
The first Post was about introductions. As the Ten Commandments has an introduction, it was worthwhile exploring a Torah Portion that addressed God’s introductory name.
In fear of writing posts that become dated, I hold to philosophy to avoid writing on current events. The UnitedHealthcare CEO’s assassination, however, is one that it is unavoidable.
The painful human reality is that individuals are quick to blame others for their troubles. Most people’s troubles are often multi-factorial. Many times, they are largely caused by the individual. I wish to advance the notion that acknowledging one’s fault is the beginning of problem solving.
Torah Portions magnificently weave together. Idol Reflections discusses this moment. Vayishlach was likely intended as a commentary on intermarriage.
Following up on the Unitedhealthcare CEO assassination, this Post discussed the similarities between the alleged assassin and Moses. Moses’ murder of the Task Master is a morally troubling event. The Torah makes efforts to bring moral understanding to what transpired.
When there are problems, you fix them. While the Health Care System is not perfect, it can yield positive results. There are multitude of people who are contribute to either its success or its demise. The question is, “who do you want to be?” As a trumpet player (and owner of a flugelhorn), it is sad that the Mangione name has been tarnished. The great Chuck Mangione had the hit song “Feel So Good.”
Vayeshev is the greatest non-Ten Commandments’ Torah Portion packed with Ten Commandments’ material. Teachers should mark the calendar and use it. This Post identifies the many issues.
The obligatory Chanukah Post turned to scholarship. Yonatan Adler’s The Origins of Judaism found that, at the time of the Maccabees, Judaism had widespread practice within the archeological record.
In celebrating Chanukah, one must ponder whether the story either documents or initiates formalized Jewish Practices. It should be noted that the Second Book of Maccabees has perhaps the first publication of the word Judaism.
We would like to think that there are many things of the past that society has moved on from. Reading unflattering depictions of past society should be viewed as a moment to reflect that we have moved forward. These facts are pedagogically important on matters of morality and moral vision.
The Torah involves some characters who need to evolve. In Vayegash, Judah once more proves that people can get themselves out the hole that they dug for themselves.
If you have reached this point in the post, I would like to thank you. Hopefully, 2025, will be a successful year for all.
Be well!!
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The Ten Commandments Project 