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?”
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Sound Bites Of Justice
Will crowdfunding change our justice system? Before the internet, a criminally accused individual’s ability to raise legal defense funds was limited. Often, they were supported by their family, friends, and local institutions. With the advent of crowdfunding applications combined with the internet’s reach, an accused’s ability to raise sums has become amplified. Presently, the entireContinue reading “Sound Bites Of Justice”
Tazria: Beyond Comprehension?
Are there matters beyond comprehension? The Torah Portion Tazria’s Circumcision Commandment, when viewed in context, may be one of them. Appearing in Leviticus, the commandment was promulgated post-Exodus and pre-entry into the Promised Land. In a general biblical perspective, a circumcision commandment should be something benign. The instruction was: “[a]nd on the eighth day theContinue reading “Tazria: Beyond Comprehension?”
The Two Dummies
Two ducks made my neighborhood driving problematic last year. The couple- male and female- became middle-of-the-road fixtures. Their inconvenient residence disturbed many. Countless times, I was forced to play a game of chicken with ducks. These two always took their time waddling off quaking nonsense in their defeat. Every time I saw them ready toContinue reading “The Two Dummies”
Shemini: A High Standard?
I grew up in an intoxicated world known as Los Angeles. More likely than not, my contemporaries used drugs and alcohol. Junior High School was when the abuse originated. I recall one classmate having a cornucopia of drugs stored a tin which was then housed in her locker. For another, I recall that even hisContinue reading “Shemini: A High Standard?”
Welcome to The Inner Circle? Tzav
For Kohens-Priestly descendants- the Torah Portion Tzav may be riveting. For commoners, Tzav, a section full of priestly sacrificial instructions and intricacies, is less so. Many find it a painful read. For millennia, the Book of Leviticus- which includes Tzav- has exposed outsiders to the Israelite cult’s affairs. Tzav even takes readers to the innerContinue reading “Welcome to The Inner Circle? Tzav”
Bill & Ted’s Most Excellent Seder
In Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Keanu Reeves’ real co-star was time machine. In the most epic of movies, famous historical figures were taken from the past and transported to San Dimas, California. There, they participated in the most outstanding high school history project ever. Assuming you had a time machine for Passover, which historicalContinue reading “Bill & Ted’s Most Excellent Seder”
Tipping…Point
Some books have an interesting shelf-life. Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point is one of them. His book from 2000 on the viral nature of human interaction is still a worthy read. The book is full of research and observations that remain relevant. Peer influence is the subject for this post. In Gladwell’s book, he madeContinue reading “Tipping…Point”
March Madness, Going Postal In the Most Foolish of Ways
Damn you Mr. Allen Estrin! The “damn”, however, is not full-throated. He deserves a modicum of blame for this March’s “going postal” moment. For those unaware, Mr. Estrin is a co-founder of PragerU. His expert understanding of the entertainment industry transformed a stagnant social media venture into a raging success. One of his suggestions launchedContinue reading “March Madness, Going Postal In the Most Foolish of Ways”
Punishment: Vayikra’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
Punishments are mysteriously absent from the Ten Commandments. The “shall not’s” are not accompanied by prescribed penalties. The Torah Portion Vayikra, however, begins to address commandment violation punishments. The remedies for sin, per Vayikra, are in the form of animal sacrifice and grain offerings. According to Richard Elliott Friedman, the sacrifice’s purpose was to recognizeContinue reading “Punishment: Vayikra’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
The Ten Commandments Project 