Beautiful video showing that good can overcome evil.
Next video is where the woman (empowered) takes down the would be attackers herself--with a big time, well-deserved smackdown!
Where on the right track. ;-)
Showing posts with label Morality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morality. Show all posts
August 1, 2015
Good Can (And Will) Overcome Evil
Beautiful video showing that good can overcome evil.
Next video is where the woman (empowered) takes down the would be attackers herself--with a big time, well-deserved smackdown!
Where on the right track. ;-)
April 22, 2015
Might Does Not Make Right
"Do what is right--the others be damned!"
And this is right on the money.
You should always follow the dictates of your conscience.
Do not worry about pressure from others or what others will do that you cannot control.
My dad (A"H) used to say:
"YOU do what is right--YOU be the example!"
He was my example, and I will always follow in his footsteps. ;-)
(Source photo: here with attribution to cursedthing)
April 12, 2015
Live To Live or Live To Die?
The resume virtues are the skills you need to get ahead in the marketplace, and the eulogy virtues are “whether you were kind, brave, honest, or faithful.”
While we'd like to believe that most feel that being a decent human being is more important than how much money we earn, unfortunately our education and economic systems are geared far more toward the latter, where it's widely acknowledged that "money makes the world go round!”
In fact, many will often sacrifice the moral high ground for landing on a bigger, cushier hill of worldly possessions and pleasures.
Interestingly enough, my daughter asked me last week, whether it is better to personally live a happy life but die with a horrible reputation or to live selflessly, struggling with life challenges, but be revered after you die?
To me the answer was simple--live, learn, and grow regardless of momentary personal happiness. Do what’s right, period--honor and chivalry is alive and well.
But my daughter told me that over 90% of people polled chose their happiness in life as their #1 goal.
I suppose it's easy to say what's the point of leaving a legacy if you were not happy living your life every day, but I would counter with what's the point in chasing life's daily pleasures, if you were a bum and everyone knows it?
The point isn't even what people say about us when we are alive or dead, but rather that we know that we tried our best to live as decent, ethical human beings and that hopefully, we left the world a better place than when we got here.
Sure, there is no blessing in being poor or unhappy--but living purely to satisfy one's voracious materialistic appetite is just being a selfish little pig--come on admit it!
On your deathbed, will you wish you that in your life you had more money and status or that you had been a better, more giving human being?
I say forget the resume and the eulogy, just think about what will really gives you peace of mind and inner happiness and it's more than any amount of money can buy or any seduction you can imagine. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 4, 2014
100 Times Harassed!
After my last blog on stopping sexual assault, a colleague brought this other video to my attention.
32 million views and 120 thousand comments and counting.
This young lady walks around the streets of New York for 10 hours in jeans and a t-shirt and is verbally harassed a 100 times--not including winks and whistles.
Women (and men) should not have to live in fear, shame, or be abused doing nothing but living their lives peacefully and respectfully.
Darn, can the folks out there show some respect and decency.
This could be your mother, wife, sister, or daughter...think about it.
Video sponsored by IHollaback.
Stop Sexual Assault
Saw this poster coming off the Metro today in Washington D.C.
"It's on all of us to stop sexual assault."
It reminded me of this article I read in the DailyMail about this father of a 14-year girl in India that was raped in her home by a medical supply salesman.
The young girl was raped and impregnated by a 45-year old man who boasted that he was "too well-connected" to ever be prosecuted.
After some time passed, the father invited the rapist to dinner!
The rapist came.
The father overcame the rapist, and repeatedly burned the man's genitals with hot thongs.
The rapist died.
This one rapist will certainly not be doing this again.
While blatant violation of the law and vigilantism is not okay, the poster is right that we need to "stop sexual assault."
Statistics in this country are that 20% of college women are sexually assaulted before they graduate.
Unacceptable!
Laws protecting women (and men) from sexual assault need to be strengthened, penalties stiffened, and we all need to be on the lookout for inappropriate behavior and speedily report this to law enforcement.
And no one should be above the law and basic morality.
"It's on us."
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 29, 2014
From Hymietown To Chickenshit
In 1984, Rev. Jesse Jackson (later the democratic Presidential candidate) referred to the Jewish people and New York as Hymietown.
Roll forward to 2014, and we have "senior administration officials" who have called Israel's heroic Prime Minister Netanyahu a "Chickensh*t."
In 1624, Rembrandt painted this beautiful work from the Bible of Balaam riding on the way to curse the Israelites.
The problem for him was that an Angel of G-d stood in his path--his donkey saw it, but not Balaam! (Numbers 22:21-39)
In Genesis 12:3, God says to Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse."
Of course, the Israelites have to be deserving of this and act according to G-d's word and by a strict moral code.
For those who act shamefully, with arrogance before G-d, and unapologetically, and use their political platform to name-call, curse, and degrade Israel, no man ultimately needs to answer this, G-d provides the answer himself.
Kudos to House Speaker John Boehner for speaking up against this grotesque, "disrespectful rhetoric" unbecoming the leadership of the United States of America.
Congress should take up a vote unanimously condemning these disgusting, derogatory, Anti-semitic remarks--for those who bless Israel shall be blessed! ;-)
(Source Photo here via Wikipedia)
"Chickenshit"?
Yes, it's in the Washington Examiner today.
Forget about being completely rude and disrespectful--how utterly impolitic!
Sinking to new political lows globally with our friends and allies--while the ratings sink (and sink) to new lows for these politicians.
Imagine, Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu defends his nation by putting real boots on the ground in Hamas-run Gaza for the 50-days of fighting rocket barrages and terror tunnels, and builds apartments in Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel--Sorry, that is not Chickensh*t.
While domestically, we have been seen as in full global retreat, abandoning our bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, carpet bombing from the air in Syria and not punishing chemical weapons use (remember the "red line"), leaving key portions of Ukraine in the hands of Russia, seeking to forge WMD-losing deals with the devils in Iran, and watching the situation deteriorate as we "Pivot East" to Asia, and as we all know, much more.
- Finanically--we can't balance a budget,
- Ebola Epidemic--we can't put together a sensible quarantine policy (while the States fill the void)
- Imigration--we can't muster a realistic bill
- Veterans--the scandal of not caring for our veterans is still scathing.
And the list goes on, virtually without end.
Horrible name-calling and snubbing leaders on the world stage, let alone of our best allies and friends, is not only politically immature, but morally disgraceful--but psychological projection is a very real possibility.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 28, 2014
Asleep During The Speech
The man talked about the speeches the clergy gave and how he only understood the basics, and the rest was sort of over his head (hey, I can definitely relate to that too...we all can).
Perhaps, this points to how important it is to talk to the people (and not over the people)--making it relevant and stirring--although it's probably not easy to give a speech that resonates well with everyone.
Anyway, there are good speeches, and then let's face it, there are speeches that could be better.
Afterward, my dad and this man joked about how they've seen some people actually fall asleep during the clergy's speech...yes, this is obviously not very respectful, but sometimes people just doze off perhaps because it's hot inside with all the people, and they work so hard during the week that they just are relaxed and off they go.
My dad goes on to tell this joke:
The clergyman is giving a speech from the pulpit.
All of a sudden he notices this guy sleeping in one of the pews.
The clergy says to the man's neighbor sitting next to him, "Can you please wake him up?"
The worshipper responds, "You put him to sleep, you wake him up."
Then my dad let out a really nice, healthy laugh...it was good to hear (the other guy was laughing with him).
On a side note, my dad said something else funny and insightful today:
"It's not easy getting old...it takes many years!"
Amen to that. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 29, 2014
From Holocaust To Nation State
Where the Jewish people went from the fiery depths of the Holocaust to the rise of a modern democratic nation state of Israel.
We are the same sons and daughters of Israel, but no longer exiled from the Holy Land and paraded like sheep to the slaughter from the hate mongers de jour.
On the right are represented generations, who with the rise of every crazy demagogue that needed to blame their religious, political, social, and economic problems on a scapegoat, the Jewish people suffered at their bloody hands, discriminatory expropriation and expulsion, tax and torture, rape, pogrom, and slaughter.
On the left are shown the Jews from a free democratic State of Israel who are proud to seek a life of peace and security from persecution and who can chart their own course for their people and be a light unto nations for doing what is right and moral and contributing to the world in every significant development and advance of humankind.
As the Jews went from slavery to freedom many thousands of years ago with the Exodus from Egypt and settlement of the land of Israel, so too today, we can count on the miraculous transition from exile to promised homeland and from persecution to self-determination. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Eliyokim Cohen)
July 24, 2014
Israel's Near Pearl Harbor
While perhaps not a true existential threat to the country, the death and destruction that Hamas could've inflicted via the terror tunnels and missiles at their own time and choosing could have been a Pearl Harbor or 9/11 event (or worse) for the State of Israel.
Rather, than the United Nations Human Rights Council members and others decrying Israel's self-defense while protecting civilians (in spite of Hamas blatantly using them as human shields), they should be applauding Israel's true morality!
But anti-semites and hate mongers, don't savor Israel's safety, security, or continuity as a Jewish and democratic state, they just seek an excuse, like Hitler, to attack whether by tunnels, missiles, boycotts, or resolutions to discriminate and obliterate those that they perceive as historically inconvenient and whom they simply want dead.
________________________________
Provided by Matti Follman
Analysis of the Situation: The State of Israel was facing an existential threat for the first time since the War of Independence. By their deaths, the three youths saved the State of Israel.
The dozens of tunnels that had been dug from Gaza to the southern cities of Israel were not tunnels for the purpose of terrorism – they were the infrastructure for the occupation of the Land of Israel. If we had not surprised ourselves with the severe response to the kidnap and murder of these boys (of blessed memory), Hamas, at a time that would suit them, would have sent thousands of soldiers through the tunnels to occupy cities and military posts; thousands of soldiers wearing the uniform of IDF soldiers, to kill, to conquer and to kidnap, and the IDF would have had no time to organize, and protect the nation. At the same time, Hamas would have fired off barrages of hundreds and thousands of missiles at the center of the country, paralyzing Israel’s organizational ability to defend itself against invasion. What were they waiting for? Maybe a rainy day? Or, most likely, the recovery of Hezbollah, in order to coordinate an integrated attack of missiles from the north. . . and possibly tunnels dug towards the northern cities too. . .
In Israel, in such a situation, there could be tens of thousands of deaths, the complete breakdown of national systems, and the need to build protection at the neighborhood and street levels. This, on the presumption that the Arabs of Judea & Samaria, and some Israeli Arabs, would not join in the fray. Of course, IAF counter-attacks would be futile when the enemy was well entrenched underground and laughing all the way to Jerusalem! The best case scenario - international forces would come in to disarm the country, take our nuclear capabilities, and the dream of the Jewish State would crumble for another thousand years.
We were saved thanks to two things they did not believe would happen, because we also did not believe it: we did not believe that the abduction of the three boys would unite the nation in such a way that it would lead to massive air assault, the return of political prisoners to jail, and preparation for a ground offensive into the wasps’ nest they had built. And we had not believed that the Iron Dome would work. In other words - all of us, those to the right and those to the left, had disdained the Islamic-psychopathic rhetoric calling for the conquest of Jerusalem, had ignored the determination of the psychopaths in Iraq and Syria, and did not want to comprehend that they had built a smart, strong and - in fact - quite an excellent military system with almost no flaws, which was capable of crushing the State of Israel. We had all seen how ten fighting men had exited a tunnel in just a few minutes. What would have prevented two hundred soldiers from exiting a tunnel on any given day, and many thousands altogether from all of the tunnels - including hundreds of commandos landing on the beaches at the same time, and missiles landing in the heart of the country? The truth is that if, now, there were not tens of thousands of Israeli troops in the south, nothing could have prevented the next step in realizing the Islamic dream - the destruction of the Zionist nation, and marching into Jerusalem.
Eyal, Naftali and Gilad - by dying, they saved our country, our freedom and our lives.
Danny Gold - who developed the Iron Dome – may you live a long and healthy life.
And to all of the soldiers – we love you and embrace you. Muster courage and be brave! All the Jewish people, the whole world - and most of all, many of the Arab countries and the sane Muslims - are praying for the craziness to be overcome. Yes, even Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). Thanks to those poor boys, we caught them with their pants down, when the timing and the conditions don’t suit them. Our State has survived and now is the time to settle accounts with the murderers, to the very last man.
And a word to citizens on the home front – when you hear the sirens, go into the shelter or your safe room and smile! When you hear the "boom" – laugh! These noises are the screams of frustration of the psychopaths in Gaza, whose ingenious plan to crush Israel was prematurely exposed. All of the damage that we are suffering now is nothing compared to what they had been planning.
(Source Photo: here with attribution to the IDF)
July 22, 2014
Time To Get Up
The quiet and complacency of this person just sitting there was a stark contrast to the big train coming down the tracks.
I wondered if this is not a sign of our times where the world is moving large and fast in turmoil:
- With big airliners with hundreds of passengers being shot of the sky
- Thouands of rockets and dozens of murder tunnels aimed at cities full of civilians by terrorists hiding in hospitals, mosques, and playgrounds,
- Six year old girls raped by their roller-skating instructors
- Women being stoned to death for alleged adultery.
...but where we are sitting here quietly and contemplatively as the big train rolls over any vistages of moral decency left in humankind.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 15, 2014
Fighting With A Fear Of G-d
Amazing video from Al Jazeera Arabic that praises the Israeli and French militaries for respecting and protecting civilians.
This, in contrast--as Al Jazeera reports--to Hezbollah, Syria, and others extremist militants that deliberately target civilians and use them as human shields.
We've heard in recent days again, how the IDF continues to go to great lengths to avoid hitting mosques, hospitals, and even trying to warn residents before an attack to save their lives.
While mistakes happen in fighting and war, I must say how proud I am of the IDF for their efforts to act humanely under inhumane circumstances, while attacks are underway across the nation, and to always consider the moral implications of what they do.
In the Wall Street Journal today, Bret Stephens states, that the weakness of the Israel is only through moral defeat, because the Jewish people "favors moral self-regard over normal self interest."
Similarly, Woody Allen's frequent humorous portrayal in the movies of Jewish introspection is funny, because it resonates so true for a people always trying to do and make right.
Again today, we saw that Israel, not wanting to fight unless absolutely necessary, respected the ceasefire with Gaza, while Hamas outright rejected it and continued shooting off volleys of missiles indiscriminantly into Israel.
As Hamas has themselves stated about their waves of suicide bombers, rocket launches at population centers and critical infrastructure, and other dirty tactics, "We love death more than you love life."
The IDF is an inspiring example of fighting with ethics, dignity, and ultimately a fear of G-d more than any enemy could evoke.
May 9, 2014
# Bring Back Our Girls
After torching their village market, killing more than 300 people, razing 100 houses, destroying 500 vehicles, and attacking their boarding school, Boko Haram is threatening to sell these innocent children.
Please speak up for those who can't!
We need to defend human rights and support women's and children's rights.
No more abuse, no more discrimination, no more hurt. ;-)
(Source Comic: Andy Blumenthal)
April 4, 2014
For The Love Of Animals
What is amazing about this is:
1) Shechita is known as one of the most humane ways to slaughter animals for food. It involves a single rapid uninterrupted stroke across the throat with a super sharp knife. One of the reasons this method is used is precisely so that the animal does not feel any pain. This is unlike other common practices for slaughtering animals which include clubbing, electrifying, shooting, suffocation, and more.
2) Denmark while prohibiting Shechita, permits bestiality/Zoophilia (human sex with animals). So bestiality, a very pagan-like practice, is legal in Denmark, even though it is prohibited under the penalty of death (for the person and the animal) in the Bible.
So animal rape is okay in Denmark. And Judeo Christian laws and beliefs are not, especially when they actually protect the animals. Uh, something is rotten in the barn here. Or put another way:
Animals in the bedroom--Oh, no, no, no.
Animals ritually slaughtered for dinner--moo, moo, moo. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Ed Schipul)
December 6, 2013
Adaptability And Integrity In The Face Of Catastrophe
The big question raised was can people change?
The Governor went through a seeming metamorphosis after the destruction of his prior town and murder of his people (by his own hand) and now he has a newfound family and tribe.
When he comes to attack Rick and the prison to take it for the protection of his own people, Rick says let's just share it, it will be hard to overcome old rivalries, but we can do it--we can change!
But the Governor, yells in a blood curdling voice, "Liar!" and proceeds in a craze to chop off Hershel's head.
What is particularly dramatics about this--aside from their opposing views of change--is that Hershel is the doctor who not only takes care of the physical health of his people, but also is the conscience of his group seeing that they don't lose their moral way.
The Governor is a cold killer that truly can never change--and he not only executes Hershel, but screams "Kill them all!"
He also kills his newly adopted daughter after she is bitten by one of the walkers..he shoots her right in the face.
At first, this seems like the Governor has changed, he can kill a Walker even if it's from his new family, as opposed to his own real daughter that he kept (unwilling to let her go) until Michonne kills her.
But this was not real change for the Governor, because as he told Hershel about attacking and killing someone else's children to survive, "they aren't mine!"
The Governor is all about himself and will do anything selfishly to survive without consideration of others--this does not change.
On the other hand, Rick and others survive by their ability to change and grow--they kill when they must, they have empathy when they can, they live by a code of right and wrong--in every situation, they adapt.
For example, in a prior episode, Carol is forced to leave Rick's group because she brutally killed and burnt two of people in the prison when they got sick and were a threat of spreading the disease. However, Rick understood that this was wrong and banished her for what she did. Not all killing is justified, even if it helps you survive.
The Governor (and his new cohorts) are finally killed off in this episode, and although the safety of the prison is gone, and Rick and the others must leave and wander again, they continue to survive another day--changing with ever new challenges and adhering to an informal code of conduct that they maintain, even in the face of a world catastrophe.
(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
November 17, 2013
Some Game This Is
I remember as a kid, my grandfather lived down the block from us on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.
He was old and not in the best of health with a heart condition, hearing aids, and more.
One day, he was coming home from the bank, and he went into the elevator in his building.
He was followed by a punk, who after the elevator door closed, proceeded to grab my grandfather and choke him until he was unconscious.
The thug took his wallet and left my grandfather on the floor of the elevator.
Now, today I saw on the news about the Knockout Attack Game--and some "game" this is.
The attacker runs up behind the person unbeknownst and with full force slams their fist against a person head, knocking them unconscious, and when successful, this is done with one punch!
In other cases, an entire gang will attack, punching and kicking a victim until they stop moving.
While I couldn't locate the exact video that happened in a neighborhood in NY to a Jewish woman, this video of an attack on a Muslim girl in London about a year ago, approximates it very closely.
While some victims of these attacks end up with broken jaws, skulls, shattered teeth, internal injuries, bleeding and more, others are not so lucky and end up dead.
I never forgot what happened to my grandfather and the cowardly schmuck that attacked this old, helpless man--but at least, he apparently did it for the money.
In these knockout attacks, when they ask the attackers why they do it, the response is for the fun and laughs.
What a commentary of our society, when people brutally attack other people--not for money, revenge, self-defense, or principle--but simply to see others needlessly suffer and to take a form of intense joy in it.
Perhaps, there are certain crimes for which the L-rd above must look down and mete out his own version of justice, in a way that restores order to this world of hope and despair.
October 26, 2013
Smartphones, Dumb People
It says: "Look up! Watch where you are walking."
This is a good reminder, especially on the corner, right before you step off and possibly walk into some ongoing traffic.
People get distracted walking and even texting while driving and they can have big accidents because of this.
But an article by Christine Rosen in the Wall Street Journal takes this notion quite a bit further.
She proposes that people are so busy on their smartphones and tablets that they are either "oblivious to their surroundings" or more likely to want to film emergencies rather than get involved and help someone in trouble.
She has examples including in December 2012, when a freelance photographer took a photo of a man run over by a train instead of trying to help him off the tracks.
However, I am not convinced that it is the computing devices that make people into "apathetic bystanders" or "cruel voyeurs" any more than the salons in the Wild West made people into alcoholics, gunslingers, and patronizers of prostitutes.
Let's face it, people are who they are.
Things do not make us do bad, but lack of self-control and base impulses, poor moral upbringings, brain chemistry and brainwashing, and psychological problems and disorders cause people to behave in antisocial and immoral ways.
If people weren't filming someone being attacked on the subway, then very likely they would be running out at the next available stop or changing cars as soon as they could get that middle door opened.
Those helpful people, good samaritans, and even heroes among us, are not there because they left their iPhones at home that day, but because their conscience tells them that it's the right thing to do, and perhaps that they would want someone to help them or their family member if the situation was reversed.
People like to blame a lot of things on technology, but saying that we are "losing our sense of duty to others because of it" is absurd.
The technology doesn't make the person; the person makes the technology!" ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 4, 2013
What Will Do You For Cake?
Cake and eat it too...get it?
Here is a link to my article in Public CIO Magazine called "How Hungry Are You?"
It's about how some people will literally sacrifice their souls for success, while others put their humanity and decency above it.
Hope you enjoy!
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 31, 2013
Should Or Shouldn't The U.S. Attack Syria
As the hour approaches for a punishing U.S. attack on Syria, here are some thought on why or why not to do it:
Reasons Not To Attack Syria:
War-weary--The U.S. has been fighting back since 9/11 2001, how much more blood and treasure should we spend in a war that has brought limited results with over 5K dead and over 50K wounded Americans and costing almost $1.5 trillion dollars so far.
World policeman--No country alone, including the U.S. can be the policeman for the world. We cannot get involved in every war and skirmish: we can't afford it; it is a distraction from our full slate of pressing domestic issues, and we ourselves are not perfect.
International Discord--Russia and China, two other U.N. Security Council members are not on board with us in punishing Syria for use of chemical weapons or for ending the conflict there. Even the U.K backed out of the operation.
Potential backlash--Syria, Hezbollah, or Iran may lash out at American interests, including neighboring Israel, embassies/posts worldwide, oil infrastructure, and more.
Limited strike, limited benefits--With all the media and lack of secrecy on this operation, the Syrians have had the notice and time to vacate suspected target attack sites and move critical equipment out. Also, we have already ruled out attacking the chemical weapons themselves due to fear of collateral damage. Plus, we have already said that we are not going to try and unseat Assad or end the fighting. So will hitting some empty buildings in a civil war that has already been going for more than 2 years have anything but symbolic impact?
Reasons To Attack Syria:
Morality--We can't stand idly by while Assad indiscriminately is killing civilians (including women and children).
Norms of War--We must send a message that use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) is horrific and a precedent that is unacceptable.
Red Line--We drew a red line and now we must adhere to it; our words and deeds must be consistent or else we lose credibility.
Punish bad behavior--The Syrian civil war has cost over 100,000 lives so far and displaced millions, torturing and executing civilians and using chemical weapons is bad nation state behavior and must be punished to mete out justice, as a deterrent, as a rehabilitative action, and to reimpose some equality back in the fight.
Protect Ourselves--Being clear and sending a global message that use of WMD is unacceptable helps in the end to protect us from being victims of such a dastardly deed as well. It is in our own national self-interest.
Axis of Evil--Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah are working together to spread Anti-American and Anti-Israel hatred, terrorism, and to develop WMD (including Nukes) to threaten us and establish a greater stranglehold on the Middle-East as well as Europe. This is a war that is not desired by us, but one that has been thrust upon us by adversaries seeking our destruction.
Closing Thoughts:
If we do it, then we should do it right.
"Sending a message," in Syria rather than fighting to win something strategically meaningful and tangible continues to leave us vulnerable and just having to fight another day.
We can't straddle issues of morality, norms of war, and defense of our nation and way of life--either take out Assad, end the bloodshed, and establish a peaceful, democratic government or what is the point?
Obviously, there are arguments to be made on either side.
But what is frustrating is that making a decision after we've concluded wrongdoing, and doing something positive is seeming to take too long, and strong leadership is required to bring resolution and greater good.
Moreover, we need to look at the greater threat picture, so while sending Tomahawk missiles to Syria for their chemical weapons use, what about doing a full stopover in Iran with some Bunker Busters to put an end to their menacing and blatantly genocidal nuclear WMD program.
Wishy washy isn't going to make us any righter or safer, definitive results-oriented action can.
(Source Photo: here with attribution to zennie62)
June 28, 2013
Ten Commandments - Good News, Bad News
When Moses was coming down from Har Sinai, he said to the people of Israel, "I have good news and bad news."
"The good news is I kept him down to ten."
"The bad news is adultery stays!"
Aside from the joke, the editorial posited why there are so many Jewish comedians--from Jackie Mason to Joan Rivers, and from Jack Benny to Jerry Seinfeld?
But maybe it should've asked, why do all the Jewish Comedians names seem to start with a J.
Thinking this through a little more, I realized so many other Jewish comedians out there--Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Billy Crystal, Chelsea Handler, Gene Wilder, George Burns, Jack Black, Larry Fine (from the Three Stooges), Mel Brooks, Rodney Dangerfield, Seth Rogen, The Marx Brothers, Woody Allen, and so many more.
So what is it that makes the Jewish people so funny?
Ms. Wisse, the author postulates that maybe it has to do with the dichotomy of the Jewish people being historically chosen to receive the Torah and hopefully serve as good examples of G-d's law and morality while at the same time "being targeted by some of the world's most determined aggressors"--Oy vey! and this list is even longer than that of the comedians!
So as Ms. Wisse points out, the Jewish people are on one hand "exalted" by G-d, but attacked by the wicked among nations.
I guess that would give just about anybody a severe complex--where do I find this one in the DSM?
Up, down, rewarded, punished, chosen, reviled--can make anyone's head spin--maybe that is why we wear Kippot (head coverings)--I was always taught it was to remember that G-d is above us and always watching and guiding us, but maybe it's also to help us keep our heads on straight with all the mixed messages we get in the world.
People mistake what "chosen" means--they think maybe Jews think they're better than others, but this is a mischaracterization.
I learned in Yeshiva--that chosen means we have a great burden to bear in fulfilling G-d commandments--when we do it well, things are good, but when we fail, we learn the hard way.
It's good to be Jewish--and it would be even better, if Jews accepted themselves and each other.
None of us are perfect--some of us are more imperfect than others.
But we are still brothers and sisters.
There is a Torah, but even the most righteous among us, don't do everything right--is anyone free from sin?
I always believed that religion is our guidepost, but as we are taught "every person is a world unto themselves" and that there is room for all of us to serve Hashem.
We each have to find the spark within and fulfill Hashem's destiny that he has for each of us--we all have what we can give and we should do it with a pure heart. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Home Videos)
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