Perhaps itself annihilation. But why would this be? Why would saying what you think or what you feel have anything to do with destruction? Well, there are politics of course. And we don’t live in a fair world. We have lots and lots of mafia to deal with all the time and their number just…
It’s a funny thing how people judge each other. It’s very very complicated. It’s so complicated that no one really knows how to do it except those who seem to try really hard and really succeed or just succeed because they’re young and beautiful and they can make absolutely nothing look good. But that is…
From Chabad.org Miketz in a NutshellGenesis 41:1–44:17The name of the Parshah, “Miketz,” means “At the end” and it is found in Genesis 41:1. Joseph’s imprisonment finally ends when Pharaoh dreams of seven fat cows that are swallowed up by seven lean cows, and of seven fat ears of grain swallowed by seven lean ears. Joseph…
I don’t do selfies. Why? Why should I? I quit Instagram because I felt it was very bad for me. It was natural objectification. It was false images from false people and most of it just for money. All of it, the whole of the commercial internet just got too much for me. I wasn’t…
Playing with my phone here at 3:00 a.m. and it seems I have a new assistant. They say it’s name is Gemini. On the internet exactly the last few days were jokes from Saturday night live about Scarlett Johansson. I’m in love with her. It’s true. Actually, I’m not really in love with the 40-year-old…
I found a very brief article on the internet which pretty much stated 90% of the issue as far as I can see it. From thehorizonsun.com The Jewish Point of View of ChristmasSometimes it feels like everyone celebrates Christmas, but you couldn’t be more wrong. From Nadav Golden It was a very short piece that…
It’s the shortest day of the year. There is the least amount of sunlight. The most darkness. It’s not about being further away from the Sun but more of the angle that the sun strikes it. The sun is striking the southern hemisphere now. Over the last couple of years I’ve tried to make ceremonies…
From chabad.org Vayeshev in a NutshellGenesis 37:1–40:23The name of the Parshah, “Vayeshev,” means “And he dwelt” and it is found in Genesis 37:1. Jacob settles in Hebron with his twelve sons. His favorite is seventeen-year-old Joseph, whose brothers are jealous of the preferential treatment he receives from his father, such as a precious many-colored coat…
Well, I said I wouldn’t do it but here it is and we are live for our very first podcast. I’m looking here at the numbers. I know our stream has started. I think we should have visitors here. Anyway, while we are waiting for the visitors to show up. Welcome. I hope we have…
When I first saw this graphic, it really grabbed my attention. Scripture. Right up there with science and your personal experience. Not how you feel. We are not talking about taking an account of your body’s nervous reaction to stimulus. We’re not asking if you are identifying something good or bad inside yourself. We’re asking…
I have to start this brief narrative with two disclaimers: this is not about psilocybin mushrooms and it is also not about exotica in the fungus world. I am not a mushroom connoisseur. Perhaps, given an alternative life with more sensitivity in it, I might have become a chef. Perhaps I had the patience for…
From chabad.org: Vayishlach in a NutshellGenesis 32:4–36:43The name of the Parshah, “Vayishlach,” means “And he sent” and it is found in Genesis 32:4. Jacob returns to the Holy Land after a 20-year stay in Charan, and sends angel-emissaries to Esau in hope of a reconciliation, but his messengers report that his brother is on the…
Thinking of growing things in my field, I’ve come to understand what has happened to the region over the last couple of decades. Perhaps 15 years ago, we had a similar place in a similar village a similar distance away. And I remember being able to put things in the ground and they would grow….
I find myself stuck in the mirror. No matter how much I simply want to do something, the focus of attention just comes back to me. Not the work. Not the ideas. Not even if it’s fun to read. Nothing. Just staring at me. So it’s about being Jewish in a newly minted anti-Semitic world….
When speaking about my teaching career working with Russian speakers, I always say that there are two parts to the history. The time before the Russians arrived and the time after. The Russians are bullies. There is no other way to say it. You can say Nazi. That’s an irony right there. But they are…
