Ten Commandments’ Values

Laws signal societal values. For instance, Driving While Intoxicated Laws message many societal values. Human life and private property are to be valued; they speak to decency and disfavor with public intoxication as well. Arguably, they offer a faint endorsement for sobriety. The Decalogue promotes values as well. The Ten Commandments are endowed with aContinue reading “Ten Commandments’ Values”

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”

The Societal Literacy Project: Vayelech

Societal literacy? Is it possible to instill a nation’s rules, morals and values upon all residents? Why do it? The Torah Portion Vayelech offers insight into the how and why? The Setting Vayelech’s events occur while the Children of Israel camped out on the other side of the Jordan River. They are awaiting entry intoContinue reading “The Societal Literacy Project: Vayelech”

Procedural Values

You Can Read The Bill After It Passes Nancy Pelosi The mere act of transmission can impart values. While the Decalogue- stand alone- is rich with laws and morals, the wonderous delivery of Ten Commandments to the Children of Israel at Mt. Sinai provides deep and impactful message. With a Rock Star Prophet-Moses- and aContinue reading “Procedural Values”

Toldot’s Ten Commandments’ Moment

the ten commandments didn’t drop down from mt. sinai as a totally unique set of laws. other ancient societies possessed value systems. the torah portion toldot offers a moment of shared societal values. toldot also sheds light on two puzzling passages in genesis. prior to the portion toldot, abraham and sarah-while in egypt- represented themselvesContinue reading “Toldot’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”

A Personal Message To Scott Adams [Which You All Should Read]: A Ten Commandments’ Tale

mr. adams, there are people who think they are very smart and there are people who are actually very smart. intellect does not necessarily translate into correctness in thought. my credentials are that i am smart. my genius i.q. led my to find people who have greater intellect than myself. finding and interacting with theseContinue reading “A Personal Message To Scott Adams [Which You All Should Read]: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”

“Toxic Entitlement” Is Academic: A Ten Commandments’ Tale

a student has been arrested and taken away from her college class. dailymail.com her professor, who ironically is reported to be the co-chair of the school’s political science, history and social justice department, engaged in an argument with the student. it escalated to the point that the police were called to address the matters asContinue reading ““Toxic Entitlement” Is Academic: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”

The Intentional & Unintentional Manufacturing of Conflict: A Ten Commandments’ Tale

our actions and others create conflict. much conflict is of one’s own, conscious or unconscious. the vayeishev torah portion for this week shows how prior event and actions create major conflict. vayeishev famously contains the tale of the “coat of many colors” and, for this post, joseph being subduing by his brothers and being takenContinue reading “The Intentional & Unintentional Manufacturing of Conflict: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”

A Life Without Consequences: A Ten Commandments’ Tale

my generation is in part responsible for moving society towards a life “without consequences.” the underlying concept is that people are free can do whatever they please with no repercussions. legalization and decriminalization of marijuana was on of the efforts. my generation needed their guilt free and consequence free marijuana. part of my generation apparentlyContinue reading “A Life Without Consequences: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”