We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Declaration of Independence Beyond the Passover Seder’s Four Questions- the Ma Nishtanah, there is another question to be asked: whatContinue reading “A Ultimate Passover Insight?”
Category Archives: politics
To Err Is Divine: The Tetzaveh Haftarah
When it’s time to change, you’ve got to rearrange The Brady Bunch Mistakes happen. How do they happen? And when they do, what are the dynamics of change? This Post analyzes these questions in the context of a divine mistake. A massive error threatening the Israelite’s newly enacted political reconfiguration. This miscue required change atContinue reading “To Err Is Divine: The Tetzaveh Haftarah”
Shoftim: A Ten Commandments’ Modification?
“Appoint a man over the congregation who will go out in front of them and who will come in in front of them and who will bring them out and who will bring them in, so the Lord’s congregation won’t be a sheep that don’t have a shepherd.” Numbers 27:16-17 The Torah Portion Shoftim illustratesContinue reading “Shoftim: A Ten Commandments’ Modification?”
The Secular Ten Commandments: Core Community Values
Out of a fiery Mt. Sinai, the Ten Commandments forged a covenant set in stone. At the moment, there was an accord. After that moment, it became something else. Since Mt. Sinai to the present, the Decalogue has become valued as an individual’s code of conduct. It remains, however, serving a greater purpose. The covenantContinue reading “The Secular Ten Commandments: Core Community Values”
Thoughts About “Revenge of The Tipping Point”
Author Malcolm Gladwell’s Revenge of the Tipping Point examines viral phenomena. Within it, he introduces the concept of the “superspreader.” He posits that “superspreaders” can create viral events. Superspreaders possess unique characteristics that make them capable of creating a viral effect. One aspect of this concept is that even one individual is needed to igniteContinue reading “Thoughts About “Revenge of The Tipping Point””
We Had a Chance, And Then We Didn’t
For the loser now will be later to win for the times they are a-changin Bob Dylan Our community’s Fourth of July annual dog pageant was met with great anticipation. Would this be the year that our Yorkie, a two-time loser, take the prize? While she has no repertoire of tricks- in fact none- sheContinue reading “We Had a Chance, And Then We Didn’t”
Separation of Power? Bechaalotecha
Institution powers “will find a way. ” Dr. Ian Malcolm’s “life finds a way” from Jurassic Park rings true when political forces encroach upon the established powers. Professionally, I have witnessed existentially threatened institutions both re-invent and assert themselves. The results were shockingly successful. “Finding a way” is so powerful that even the dinosaurs foundContinue reading “Separation of Power? Bechaalotecha”
The Politics of Breaking Bread: A Second Chronicles’ Ten Commandments’ Moment
Is it possible both religion and politics can be discussed at dinner? Can there be such a thing as “breaking bread” diplomacy? King Hezekiah, in the Second Book of Chronicles, masterfully engineered such a meal. This meal, for the purposes of this blog, amounts to a Ten Commandments’ moment. While it is intimately related toContinue reading “The Politics of Breaking Bread: A Second Chronicles’ Ten Commandments’ Moment”
The Book of Chronicles’ Ten Commandments’ Moment
“…one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” The United States’ Pledge of Allegiance What does it mean to be a nation “under God”? In Book of Chronicles, the Israelite Kingdom’s political structure was further defined. In the first book of Chronicles, the nation is abuzz. A Temple in Jerusalem was toContinue reading “The Book of Chronicles’ Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Exodus and Revolution: A Book Review
Before I embarked on the Ten Commandments Project, reading Michael Walzer’s Exodus and Revolution would provided context as to how the Torah shaped Western Civilization’s Politics. Walzer’s text details how the Exodus narrative influenced the entire spectrum of political thought. Mr. Walzer frames the Exodus into components- Bondage, the Wilderness, the Covenant and the PromisedContinue reading “Exodus and Revolution: A Book Review”
The Ten Commandments Project 