Tikkun Olam

I searched for this report on NPR but couldn't find it. What's the reference? This morning--at least, I think it was this morning (I had one glass of wine last night), I heard on Morning Edition (at least, I think it was on Morning Edition. Same reason as above) to which I awaken every morning-because music would send me back to sleep-a very interesting report through my sleepy stupor.  It questioned the premise that positive thinking is best for a good life. Yes, you read that right.  It questioned whether people who are 'glass half full' people really see reality.  It questioned the premise that people who tend to be depressed, are not living in the real world.  You know how psychological gurus, preachers,Chassidic and other spiritual leaders always emphasize the positive? They tell you to 'think positively,' 'don't be negative,' or 'depression is a sin?'  The question was asked, who is in touch with reality more, sad and depressed people,...

Two stories which disgusted me, but we can't hide our heads in the sand (that would be too much like the Catholic church did before the stories of the pedophile priests were revealed), the story must be told.  It is the only way we have a chance at elevating ourselves to be the true "light unto the nations" we are supposed to be.  Excerpts below, first here , and then here . Bnei Brak man suspected of raping young boys in haredi town of Modi'in Ilit By BEN HARTMAN 10/17/2013 Police say father of one victim came forward after meeting with rabbi to ask if he should go to police. modiin ilit Photo: Tovah Lazaroff Modi’in Illit Police have arrested a 20-year-old resident of Bnei Brak suspected of involvement in attacks on several victims, including a sexual assault on a nine-year-old boy. Police noted that the victim’s father went to his rab...

I was still shaking from the horrific terrorist attack on the Israeli tourists in Bulgaria, murdered by a suicide bomber who set off bombs on the buses --when I awakened this morning to the double whammy of the news of the Century 16 theatre murders in Aurora, in which 71 people were shot, twelve of them fatally, in a theatre which my D. H. and I have been to many times. I don't know where to begin, my feelings are all jumbled up and raging, but I will try.  I think Glenn Beck expressed it best, when he made this statement, in his morning show  video , " Let me be the first to say there’s a hole in the soul of America. What is it we’re filling that hole with? ” He nailed it.  There is a hole in America, and we are filling that hole with promoting, for all to see, horrible things that we fear--displaying disgusting human behavior. We have, for decades, been in a culture where violence, hatred, criminal activities and psychopathic behavior are big box...

Haven't blogged in two weeks, so it's time.  Here, Glenn Beck states outright what I have been trying to beat you guys over the head with for years.  I am losing my patience, and my politeness.  For all his foibles, Beck has the courage (or the chutzpah) to say it loud and clear (yes, I know it's an adverb, but "loudly and clearly" just doesn't cut it).  All reasonable, intelligent, informed people should be standing with Israel against the radical Islamists and Islam.

Rabbi Yosef Y. Jacobson of Chabad is a wonderful man and sought-after orator. I personally heard him speak when he came to my town a couple of years ago. I receive his weekly divrei Torah in my email inbox. I was very taken with his dvar Torah which he wrote after the murderous atrocity committed against Westerners and especially Jews in Mumbai two months ago. He called for us to do good deeds and kindnesses and learn Torah, to be sure--but he added something else, very important, which I whole-heartedly subscribe to and have said many times in this blog. It applies to the War in Gaza which Israel is waging defending against its enemies today. He said, sometimes LOVE, is just not enough. Sometimes, we have to FIGHT BACK. Visit his page to hear his shiurim (lessons), here . Read his dvar on evil, here (emphasis mine): The Psychology of Gaza and Mumbai When Love Becomes Evil By Yosef Y. Jacobson Love Vs. Hate After the Mumbai jihad exactly one month ago, we were m...