The Iranian Government’s insolent march towards nuclear capability together with its intolerant and belligerent president has presented the world with a dangerous crisis. On the one hand the United States seems to be completely taken up with the war on Iraq to the extent that it can ill afford to…
David Blaine: Is There Another Way?
David Blaine is currently encased in a human aquarium at Lincoln Center in New York City doing another one of his stunts. Although I am not impressed by the showmanship of the man what he says does impress me. When asked about his 44-day stay without food in a box…
Should We Compartmentalize?
A number of years ago while visiting the beautiful Grand Choral Synagogue in St. Petersburg I got talking to an American tourist who told me that he was an orthodox Jew and a scientist. Then he proudly announced that he is able to compartmentalize. “What do you mean by that?”…
A Profoundly Moving Interfaith Seder Experience
It felt like any other communal Passover Seder. The tables were set with Matzah, wine, horseradish and Charoset and there was a nice sprinkling of children in attendance. However, this Seder was different. It took place a week before Passover and most of the participants were not Jewish or to…
Passover Emancipating Ourselves To Reach Our Full Potential
Freedom is a huge issue in America today. Indeed, some maintain that we are currently fighting a war to preserve our freedoms. But how many of us actually appreciate what this freedom means? How many of us ensure that we use this privilege to the best of our ability? Passover,…
Life Transforming Contemplative Seder
The Passover Seder is a time when families get together. However, often because of the long readings from the Haggadah the Seder can become difficult – people become edgy, arguments can break out and the whole experience can become rather disheartening. In order to ensure that the Seder can be…
Israeli Election Results – We Must Regain Our Fighting Spirit
As the polls close in Israel I am reminded of when, in February 2001, Ariel Sharon became Prime Minister. Sheindy and I were living in Israel at the time. As I left my apartment in central Jerusalem the morning after Ariel Sharon’s overwhelming victory I was stopped by a television…
God: The Prototype Husband
My wife Sheindy has a simple philosophy for increased productivity: “People should first do the necessary and essential chores they do not enjoy and only then go on to do the more pleasurable jobs.” She maintains that having something to look forward to when one is done infuses the chores…
Cartoon Riots and An Interfaith Dialog
This week in Lahore, Pakistan, religious parties protesting the publication of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad by various European newspapers ransacked a McDonald’s outlet and set fire to the outlets of KFC and a foreign cellular service provider. Demonstrators also burned vehicles and about 2,000 sat near the Punjab Assembly, followed…
Deconstuctionist Judaism – When Is It Authentic?
Since The Algemeiner Journal published my article about Chasidic reggae singer Matisyahu entitled, “Matisayhu: Rabbi or Rebel” the article has appeared on a number of Internet blogs. First it appeared on a well known virulently anti- website where the author tried to use my article to compare to Sabbatianism and its successor…