I wonder if Jews would act differently if each day was Yom Kippur. Would Jews stop to atone for the sins that they did the day before and not commit new sins since it was "Everyday Yom Kippur"? Or, would Jews continue to sin on "EverydayYom Kippur" and seek to atone on "Everyday Yom Kippur" for the very sins they did that very day.
I have come to the conclusion that there are some Jews that simply do not believe that they must atone for anything, because they are above reproach. They do not make mistakes and they do not have to follow the rules since they simply do not apply to them.
So, the concept of "Everyday Yom Kippur" would be a complete waste of time for these people that are clearly better than the rest of us. In fact, the real Yom Kippur is probably just an opportunity for these individuals to look around and see the people that are sinners, because they simply are not.
I petition all of you regular everyday Jews, who try to follow the rules, to think about the fact that only G-d is perfect. Only G-d makes the rules and governs. No one human is perfect. Those who live in glass houses simply should not throw stones.
I would hope that before any more stones are thrown by anyone, they first think about the potential broken glass that is going to be everywhere.
Shalom. Jeremy
Friday, April 28, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
CPR and lifesaving training at FHC
No, this individual is not kissing a manequin. He is demonstrating mouth to mouth rescusitation (sp?) during the CPR class held this past Sunday.I am enjoying the course and I thank the Bikkur Holim Comm for sponsoring it.
The item shown is a portable automatic diffibulator(sp?) that can shock a person's heart back to life and is a preferred method to performing CPR. The cost of this item has gone down substantially and would be a wonderful lifesaving device for FHC where we have persons of all ages and conditions.
It may be time to hold another cocktail party to "Shock FHC party" in order to raise the money to have this item to save lives.
One may ask why we need such an item and the real question is what would happen if we needed the item and we did not have it. One successful use of the item (and it is pretty much idiot proof) makes the item worth its weight in gold.
(I took additional pictures from this weekend at FHC, but I have provided them to the Bulletin.)
Shalom. Jeremy
Friday, April 14, 2006
The News cycle...
A reviews of some recent news stories can leave a reader exhausted. Everything from renaming concentration camps, reinvading Gaza, threats of annihilating Israel, nuclear proliferation, threats of invading Iran... not to mention energy prices, the loss of American manufacturing, the US Car industry; what does it all mean and what can we do about it?
Well, I suggest that to improve the world, we have to start at home. Think about what we can do to make our own homes and community better. Think about and act upon what can make our lives have more meaning and purpose.
What can we, as Jews and residents of Westchester and Putnam Counties do to make our part of the world a little safer, a little sweeter, a little kinder and a place where we can seek shelter from the storms of the outside world?
As a rabbi's son, I may, from time to time, come across as someone who wants to sermonize and use this blog as my pulpit. Certainly, a portion of this blog is devoted to persuasion and trying to provoke thought. I will concede that. But so what?
I am not using this blog to attack people. I am not using this blog to find fault with specific members of FHC. I am using this blog to express opinions and ideas that many of you, I am pleased to say, have told me are correct and must be said.
So, if we all would try a little compassion, decency, understanding, forgiveness and respect, we may be able (like this blog, free of charge), feel that the crazy, dangerous, violent, thoughtless, disrespectful, unforgiving outside world is not invading our homes, our community and our house of worship.
We must never quit, never resign ourselves to defeat in our search for a better world.
Shalom. Jeremy
Well, I suggest that to improve the world, we have to start at home. Think about what we can do to make our own homes and community better. Think about and act upon what can make our lives have more meaning and purpose.
What can we, as Jews and residents of Westchester and Putnam Counties do to make our part of the world a little safer, a little sweeter, a little kinder and a place where we can seek shelter from the storms of the outside world?
As a rabbi's son, I may, from time to time, come across as someone who wants to sermonize and use this blog as my pulpit. Certainly, a portion of this blog is devoted to persuasion and trying to provoke thought. I will concede that. But so what?
I am not using this blog to attack people. I am not using this blog to find fault with specific members of FHC. I am using this blog to express opinions and ideas that many of you, I am pleased to say, have told me are correct and must be said.
So, if we all would try a little compassion, decency, understanding, forgiveness and respect, we may be able (like this blog, free of charge), feel that the crazy, dangerous, violent, thoughtless, disrespectful, unforgiving outside world is not invading our homes, our community and our house of worship.
We must never quit, never resign ourselves to defeat in our search for a better world.
Shalom. Jeremy
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Passover, some thoughts.....
Last year I made a comparison between Passover and Baseball. The comparison can be seen in the archives in April 2005.
This year I think of Passover in a slightly different light.
As you are aware, Passover is both an historical and religious holiday because it presents the story of how the Jews were slaves in the land of Egypt and how they were freed from bondage. That is the historical aspect of the story. The religious aspect of the story of Passover includes divine intervention to free the Jewish people from their tyranny.
Tyranny has caused the Jewish people to suffer throughout the ages. Tyranny is, in essence, a sense of empowerment over someone else or some other people to impose your will upon the oppressed. After innumerable experiences in history of being the oppressed people, controlled by the tyranny of the oppressor (and in many ways, we remain an oppressed people), we must never lose sight of our need for compassion and empathy for those who are also being oppressed throughout the world.
Passover, in my opinion, is a time of reflection to consider why we, as humans, must stop being oppressors. We must ask what is in the human make-up that makes it essential for certain people to dominate and rule over others (like the Egyptians over the slaves) and to impose their will.
When Moses requested "Let my People go", was he in essence asking the Egyptian Ruler to provide the Jewish people compassion and to forget their enslavement and to allow them to live as a free people.
Of course, the request was ignored and the divine intervention portion of the Passover story tells how the plagues made the Egyptian people suffer for the tyrannical evil of its ruler.
As a Jewish people we should not permit ourselves to suffer from either external or even internal tyranny. We should remember that Passover is a time to remember that compassion, for your fellow human being is the Jewish and morally proper thing to do.
Shalom. Jeremy
This year I think of Passover in a slightly different light.
As you are aware, Passover is both an historical and religious holiday because it presents the story of how the Jews were slaves in the land of Egypt and how they were freed from bondage. That is the historical aspect of the story. The religious aspect of the story of Passover includes divine intervention to free the Jewish people from their tyranny.
Tyranny has caused the Jewish people to suffer throughout the ages. Tyranny is, in essence, a sense of empowerment over someone else or some other people to impose your will upon the oppressed. After innumerable experiences in history of being the oppressed people, controlled by the tyranny of the oppressor (and in many ways, we remain an oppressed people), we must never lose sight of our need for compassion and empathy for those who are also being oppressed throughout the world.
Passover, in my opinion, is a time of reflection to consider why we, as humans, must stop being oppressors. We must ask what is in the human make-up that makes it essential for certain people to dominate and rule over others (like the Egyptians over the slaves) and to impose their will.
When Moses requested "Let my People go", was he in essence asking the Egyptian Ruler to provide the Jewish people compassion and to forget their enslavement and to allow them to live as a free people.
Of course, the request was ignored and the divine intervention portion of the Passover story tells how the plagues made the Egyptian people suffer for the tyrannical evil of its ruler.
As a Jewish people we should not permit ourselves to suffer from either external or even internal tyranny. We should remember that Passover is a time to remember that compassion, for your fellow human being is the Jewish and morally proper thing to do.
Shalom. Jeremy
Thursday, April 06, 2006
"Have you no sense of decency"
"(Roy)Cohn: No, sir.
(Special Counsel) Welch: I meant to do you no personal injury.
(Roy)Cohn: No, sir.
(Special Counsel)Welch: And if I did, I beg your pardon. Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator.
(US Senator Joseph)McCarthy: Let's, let's --
(Special Counsel)Welch: You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency? "
In one of the most memorable exchanges in the history of the US Senate, if not US history, one attorney had the "cohones" to actually stand up to a bully, US Senator Joseph McCarthy. As you may recall, US Senator Joseph McCarthy was on a witchhunt. Joseph McCarthy was a pathetic specimen for a human being. He, a raging alcoholic, along with others like Richard Nixon and Roy Cohn, teamed up in a conspiracy and used vicious lies and deceit to destroy people's reputations and careers, in a disgraceful attempt to advance their own careers.
"Have you no sense of decency" became part of the lexicon of America and this exchange essentially ended the witchhunt advanced by Joseph McCarthy.
When do the Welch's of the world finally have to raise their voices to the absurd, pathetic Senator McCarthy's and Roy Cohn's of the world?
When does character assassination become something that we, as citizens, find so reprehensible that we decide to rise up against people like the small pathetic Joseph McCarthy who had nothing on his agenda other than to destroy people for his own benefit and advancement.
People like Joseph McCarthy only seek to destroy. They have no desire to repair, rebuild, improve the world.
One attorney, Mr. Welch, with six simple words, spoke to a nation which was in need of decency. Decency, integrity, playing by the rules; these are things we should be striving for, not unilateral character assassination. Not taking the rule of law into one's own hands, with total disregard for proper procedure and due process. Sometimes, decency prevails. G-d willing, decency, and playing by the rules, will defeat the indecency of people like Joseph McCarthy.
Shalom. Jeremy
(Special Counsel) Welch: I meant to do you no personal injury.
(Roy)Cohn: No, sir.
(Special Counsel)Welch: And if I did, I beg your pardon. Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator.
(US Senator Joseph)McCarthy: Let's, let's --
(Special Counsel)Welch: You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency? "
In one of the most memorable exchanges in the history of the US Senate, if not US history, one attorney had the "cohones" to actually stand up to a bully, US Senator Joseph McCarthy. As you may recall, US Senator Joseph McCarthy was on a witchhunt. Joseph McCarthy was a pathetic specimen for a human being. He, a raging alcoholic, along with others like Richard Nixon and Roy Cohn, teamed up in a conspiracy and used vicious lies and deceit to destroy people's reputations and careers, in a disgraceful attempt to advance their own careers.
"Have you no sense of decency" became part of the lexicon of America and this exchange essentially ended the witchhunt advanced by Joseph McCarthy.
When do the Welch's of the world finally have to raise their voices to the absurd, pathetic Senator McCarthy's and Roy Cohn's of the world?
When does character assassination become something that we, as citizens, find so reprehensible that we decide to rise up against people like the small pathetic Joseph McCarthy who had nothing on his agenda other than to destroy people for his own benefit and advancement.
People like Joseph McCarthy only seek to destroy. They have no desire to repair, rebuild, improve the world.
One attorney, Mr. Welch, with six simple words, spoke to a nation which was in need of decency. Decency, integrity, playing by the rules; these are things we should be striving for, not unilateral character assassination. Not taking the rule of law into one's own hands, with total disregard for proper procedure and due process. Sometimes, decency prevails. G-d willing, decency, and playing by the rules, will defeat the indecency of people like Joseph McCarthy.
Shalom. Jeremy
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
A reply to a comment: How do we change from a Survivor religion to flourishing religion
A person who quits (a quitter) because he/she does not get his/her way is not my idea of a future leader. A person who threatens to leave an organization or movement because their personal needs are not fulfilled is not a future leader (at least of that movement). I have no problem with constructive criticism and discussion. I do have a problem with kvetches who find pleasure in kvetching about things and bringing nothing constructive to the table except constant personal attacks. Jews have been doing this for too long throughout history and continuing today. We have not grown because we, in my opinion, as a people, are chronically discontent.
We have to get beyond that and change the kvetch mentality to a productive proactive change mentality. If we could change this apparent mindset, maybe, we could expand our agenda from being a "survivor" religion to a flourishing religion.
Shalom. Jeremy
We have to get beyond that and change the kvetch mentality to a productive proactive change mentality. If we could change this apparent mindset, maybe, we could expand our agenda from being a "survivor" religion to a flourishing religion.
Shalom. Jeremy
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Why can't Jews get along and grow the community?
Below is a clip from another web-site indicating that the total world Jewish population is about 15 million. I ask the following questions?
Why is it so difficult for Jews to get along?
And why is it so difficult to grow the Jewish community? Maybe these two questions are intertwined.
Look at the Israeli government. It is a bunch of minority parties that simply do not get along.
Jews in this country and some even here in FHC, for whatever reason(s), cannot get along.
In the NY Times today there was a front page article about local Jewish congregations pulling out all the stops to bring in members since membership figures are down.
It appears that Jews cannot work together for positive goals unless, perhaps, when there is a true crisis.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get along, use our time and energy in a positive way, use contructive criticism instead of hurtful attacks, grow the Jewish community, instead of complaining about the loss of members and/or finding scapegoats for a widespread problem, stop the internal bickering that occurs on both the national level in Israel and on the local levels here.
Will there come a time of reconciliation and compromise instead of obstinate and defeatist behaviour.
Finally, anyone, be it a member of Likud, Labor, Kadima, or a member of FHC, if you quit because you do not get your way, then in my opinion, get out of the way, because you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem and the Jewish people need problem solvers instead of more kvetches.
Shalom. Jeremy
Country
Population (2005E)
% Jewish
Estimated Jews
Afghanistan
29,928,987
0.000003307
1
Algeria
32,531,853
0.0003%
100
Argentina
39,537,943
1%
395,379
Armenia
2,982,904
0.025%
750
Australia
20,090,437
0.45%
90,406
Austria
8,184,691
0.1%
8,184
Azerbaijan
7,911,974
0.1%
7,911
Belarus
10,300,483
0.7%
72,103
Belgium
10,364,388
0.5%
51,821
Bolivia
8,857,870
0.006%
500
Bosnia and Herzegovina
4,025,476
0.025%
1,006
Botswana
1,640,115
0.006%
100
Brazil
186,112,794
0.051%
95,125
Bulgaria
7,450,349
0.031%
2,300
Canada
32,805,041
1.2%
393,660
Chile
15,980,912
0.131%
20,900
China
1,306,313,812
0.00008%
1,000
Colombia
42,954,279
0.008%
3,436
Congo (Kinshasa)
60,085,004
0.0002%
120
Costa Rica
4,016,173
0.06%
2,409
Croatia
4,495,904
0.04%
1,798
Cuba
11,346,670
0.013%
1,500
Czech Republic
10,241,138
0.03%
3,072
Denmark
5,432,335
0.13%
7,062
Dominican Republic
8,950,034
0.001%
100
Ecuador
13,363,593
0.007%
935
Egypt
77,505,756
0.0001%
100
El Salvador
6,704,932
0.001%
100
Estonia
1,332,893
0.136%
1,818
Ethiopia
73,053,286
0.027%
20,000
Finland
5,223,442
0.021%
1,110
France
60,656,178
1%
606,561
Georgia
4,677,401
0.17%
7,951
Germany
82,431,390
0.13%
107,160
Greece
10,668,354
0.05%
5,334
Guatemala
14,655,189
0.008%
1,172
Hungary
10,006,835
0.6%
60,041
India
1,080,264,388
0.0005%
5,401
Iran
68,017,860
0.03%
20,405
Iraq
26,074,906
0.0004%
100
Ireland
4,015,676
0.03%
1,204
Israel
6,276,883
80%
5,021,506
Italy
58,103,033
0.052%
30,213
Jamaica
2,731,832
0.011%
300
Japan
127,417,244
0.0008%
1,002
Kazakhstan
15,185,844
0.027%
4,100
Kenya
33,829,590
0.001%
400
Korea, South
48,422,644
0.0002%
100
Kyrgyzstan
5,146,281
0.018%
926
Latvia
2,290,237
0.397%
9,092
Lebanon
3,826,018
0.003%
100
Lithuania
3,596,617
0.1%
3,596
Luxembourg
468,571
0.14%
655
Macedonia
2,045,262
0.005%
100
Mexico
106,202,903
0.05%
53,101
Moldova
4,455,421
0.7%
31,187
Morocco
32,725,847
0.016%
5,236
Namibia
2,030,692
0.006%
115
The Netherlands
16,407,491
0.2%
32,814
New Zealand
4,035,461
0.135%
5,447
Nigeria
128,771,988
0.00008%
100
Norway
4,593,041
0.027%
1,240
Panama
3,039,150
0.33%
10,029
Paraguay
6,347,884
0.016%
1,015
Peru
27,925,628
0.01%
2,792
Philippines
87,857,473
0.0001%
100
Poland
38,635,144
0.065%
24,999
Portugal
10,566,212
0.007%
739
Puerto Rico
3,916,632
0.038%
1,488
Romania
22,329,977
0.027%
6,029
Russia
143,420,309
0.5%
717,101
Serbia and Montenegro
10,829,175
0.016%
1,732
Singapore
4,425,720
0.007%
300
Slovakia
5,431,363
0.056%
3,041
Slovenia
2,011,070
0.005%
100
South Africa
44,344,136
0.2%
88,688
Spain
40,341,462
0.12%
48,409
Suriname
438,144
0.046%
200
Sweden
9,001,774
0.2%
18,003
Switzerland
7,489,370
0.2%
14,978
Syria
18,448,752
0.0005%
100
Tajikistan
7,163,506
0.001%
100
Thailand
65,444,371
0.0003%
199
Trinidad and Tobago
1,088,644
0.1%
1,088
Tunisia
10,074,951
0.018%
1,813
Turkey
69,660,559
0.025%
17,415
Turkmenistan
4,952,081
0.01%
495
Ukraine
47,425,336
0.3%
142,276
United Kingdom
60,441,457
0.5%
302,207
United States
295,734,134
2%
5,914,682
Uruguay
3,415,920
0.9%
30,743
Uzbekistan
26,851,195
0.065%
17,453
Venezuela
25,375,281
0.1%
25,375
Yemen
20,727,063
0.001%
200
Zimbabwe
12,746,990
0.006%
764
Total Population
6,430,856,221
0.227%
14,596,017
Why is it so difficult for Jews to get along?
And why is it so difficult to grow the Jewish community? Maybe these two questions are intertwined.
Look at the Israeli government. It is a bunch of minority parties that simply do not get along.
Jews in this country and some even here in FHC, for whatever reason(s), cannot get along.
In the NY Times today there was a front page article about local Jewish congregations pulling out all the stops to bring in members since membership figures are down.
It appears that Jews cannot work together for positive goals unless, perhaps, when there is a true crisis.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get along, use our time and energy in a positive way, use contructive criticism instead of hurtful attacks, grow the Jewish community, instead of complaining about the loss of members and/or finding scapegoats for a widespread problem, stop the internal bickering that occurs on both the national level in Israel and on the local levels here.
Will there come a time of reconciliation and compromise instead of obstinate and defeatist behaviour.
Finally, anyone, be it a member of Likud, Labor, Kadima, or a member of FHC, if you quit because you do not get your way, then in my opinion, get out of the way, because you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem and the Jewish people need problem solvers instead of more kvetches.
Shalom. Jeremy
Country
Population (2005E)
% Jewish
Estimated Jews
Afghanistan
29,928,987
0.000003307
1
Algeria
32,531,853
0.0003%
100
Argentina
39,537,943
1%
395,379
Armenia
2,982,904
0.025%
750
Australia
20,090,437
0.45%
90,406
Austria
8,184,691
0.1%
8,184
Azerbaijan
7,911,974
0.1%
7,911
Belarus
10,300,483
0.7%
72,103
Belgium
10,364,388
0.5%
51,821
Bolivia
8,857,870
0.006%
500
Bosnia and Herzegovina
4,025,476
0.025%
1,006
Botswana
1,640,115
0.006%
100
Brazil
186,112,794
0.051%
95,125
Bulgaria
7,450,349
0.031%
2,300
Canada
32,805,041
1.2%
393,660
Chile
15,980,912
0.131%
20,900
China
1,306,313,812
0.00008%
1,000
Colombia
42,954,279
0.008%
3,436
Congo (Kinshasa)
60,085,004
0.0002%
120
Costa Rica
4,016,173
0.06%
2,409
Croatia
4,495,904
0.04%
1,798
Cuba
11,346,670
0.013%
1,500
Czech Republic
10,241,138
0.03%
3,072
Denmark
5,432,335
0.13%
7,062
Dominican Republic
8,950,034
0.001%
100
Ecuador
13,363,593
0.007%
935
Egypt
77,505,756
0.0001%
100
El Salvador
6,704,932
0.001%
100
Estonia
1,332,893
0.136%
1,818
Ethiopia
73,053,286
0.027%
20,000
Finland
5,223,442
0.021%
1,110
France
60,656,178
1%
606,561
Georgia
4,677,401
0.17%
7,951
Germany
82,431,390
0.13%
107,160
Greece
10,668,354
0.05%
5,334
Guatemala
14,655,189
0.008%
1,172
Hungary
10,006,835
0.6%
60,041
India
1,080,264,388
0.0005%
5,401
Iran
68,017,860
0.03%
20,405
Iraq
26,074,906
0.0004%
100
Ireland
4,015,676
0.03%
1,204
Israel
6,276,883
80%
5,021,506
Italy
58,103,033
0.052%
30,213
Jamaica
2,731,832
0.011%
300
Japan
127,417,244
0.0008%
1,002
Kazakhstan
15,185,844
0.027%
4,100
Kenya
33,829,590
0.001%
400
Korea, South
48,422,644
0.0002%
100
Kyrgyzstan
5,146,281
0.018%
926
Latvia
2,290,237
0.397%
9,092
Lebanon
3,826,018
0.003%
100
Lithuania
3,596,617
0.1%
3,596
Luxembourg
468,571
0.14%
655
Macedonia
2,045,262
0.005%
100
Mexico
106,202,903
0.05%
53,101
Moldova
4,455,421
0.7%
31,187
Morocco
32,725,847
0.016%
5,236
Namibia
2,030,692
0.006%
115
The Netherlands
16,407,491
0.2%
32,814
New Zealand
4,035,461
0.135%
5,447
Nigeria
128,771,988
0.00008%
100
Norway
4,593,041
0.027%
1,240
Panama
3,039,150
0.33%
10,029
Paraguay
6,347,884
0.016%
1,015
Peru
27,925,628
0.01%
2,792
Philippines
87,857,473
0.0001%
100
Poland
38,635,144
0.065%
24,999
Portugal
10,566,212
0.007%
739
Puerto Rico
3,916,632
0.038%
1,488
Romania
22,329,977
0.027%
6,029
Russia
143,420,309
0.5%
717,101
Serbia and Montenegro
10,829,175
0.016%
1,732
Singapore
4,425,720
0.007%
300
Slovakia
5,431,363
0.056%
3,041
Slovenia
2,011,070
0.005%
100
South Africa
44,344,136
0.2%
88,688
Spain
40,341,462
0.12%
48,409
Suriname
438,144
0.046%
200
Sweden
9,001,774
0.2%
18,003
Switzerland
7,489,370
0.2%
14,978
Syria
18,448,752
0.0005%
100
Tajikistan
7,163,506
0.001%
100
Thailand
65,444,371
0.0003%
199
Trinidad and Tobago
1,088,644
0.1%
1,088
Tunisia
10,074,951
0.018%
1,813
Turkey
69,660,559
0.025%
17,415
Turkmenistan
4,952,081
0.01%
495
Ukraine
47,425,336
0.3%
142,276
United Kingdom
60,441,457
0.5%
302,207
United States
295,734,134
2%
5,914,682
Uruguay
3,415,920
0.9%
30,743
Uzbekistan
26,851,195
0.065%
17,453
Venezuela
25,375,281
0.1%
25,375
Yemen
20,727,063
0.001%
200
Zimbabwe
12,746,990
0.006%
764
Total Population
6,430,856,221
0.227%
14,596,017
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