Can a poem can be reduced to a statistical discourse? While not an eclectic Tom Lehrer composition, a scriptural poem’s profound imagery can be reduced to numbers. For Mr. Leher, his song –The Elements- provides Chemistry Student a tool for memorizing the Periodic Table. For the Hebrew Bible’s Psalm #1, a numerical calculus is suggestedContinue reading “Poetry On Odds?”
Category Archives: personal moral trainer
Of Covenants, Noah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
All creative work is derivative Nina Paley What is new may in fact be old. Painting with a different color scheme; playing music in a faster tempo; or re-purposing medications for a different disease. Incremental innovations can constitute newness. Slight changes may be just as impactful as radical innovation. The latter may, in fact, beContinue reading “Of Covenants, Noah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Ten Commandments’ Secularity Best Explained?
Great things often are set in stone. One of them is a Martin Luther King, Jr. quotation. It may best explain the Ten Commandments’ secular value. While recently in San Diego, I came upon it in a park filled with his quotations. “Morals cannot be legislated but behavior can be regulated,” he declared. This quoteContinue reading “Ten Commandments’ Secularity Best Explained?”
A Mensch’s Day Off?
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, offers the universal message of humility. On a day meant for the garden variety sinner, the day of reflection perhaps is strikingly different for the mensch. Who is a Mensch? According to The New Joys of Yiddish, a mensch is a human being; an upright, honorable, decent person; orContinue reading “A Mensch’s Day Off?”
The Most Important Parental Advice? Rosh Hashonah’s First Day Reading
Is there one piece of parental advice that reigns over all others? The answer is emphatically “yes”. This masterful advice emanates from the Book of Genesis. The specific passage is part of the Torah portion read on the first day of the Jewish New Year. In it, the Jewish People’s first Matriarch, Sarah, initiates aContinue reading “The Most Important Parental Advice? Rosh Hashonah’s First Day Reading”
A Success Story: Ki Tavo
To get a good job, with a great starting salary Dean Van Horne, Accepted As the Pentateuch’s calendar year reading rapidly nears completion, the Torah Portion Ki Tavo answers an essential Ten Commandments’ question. While the Portion Ki Tavo is packed with a rich multitude of Decalogue topics, one passage answers a query which isContinue reading “A Success Story: Ki Tavo”
Polemic Pedagogy: Learning from The Hebrew “Greek Tragedy” of Chukat
Animal species’ ability to teach creates a competitive advantage. Outside of Humans, Parrots and Corvids most notably enjoy success by their ability to share and transfer knowledge. One comical moment of this pedagogy comes from African Grey Parrots. At an animal park, some salty speaking African Greys caused problems. After these foul-mouthed birds realized thatContinue reading “Polemic Pedagogy: Learning from The Hebrew “Greek Tragedy” of Chukat”
Life As a Game, Batter Up!
Did a Prophet’s message have the dynamics of Coaching Little League Baseball? Can a Parent’s words of encouragement to a young budding athlete can have the same effect as holy words delivered by a Prophet? To explore this notion, an observation must be made with respect to a little leaguer readying for an “at bat.”Continue reading “Life As a Game, Batter Up!”
Who Do You Think You Are?
my brother and i got into a fight and stopped talking. while i have no recollection as to what started the conflict, i remember its end; my brother asked “who do you think you are?” i confessed to him that i was a horrible person. he was disarmed. he believed that my offending actions wereContinue reading “Who Do You Think You Are?”
Things, Words & Actions: D’varim
either we are told or we come to our senses, it is time to act. enough! life is full of game changing moments. major moves must happen. the torah captures abraham at the beginning of his grand venture. he and sarah are told to get up and go. in lech lecha, the two’s move, however,Continue reading “Things, Words & Actions: D’varim”
The Ten Commandments Project 