As an interested party, I am delighted at the rejuvenation of Torah in Judaism and the increase in commitment of a very significant section of it. Yet I am very worried about the drift to the right primarily because of its anti-intellectualism, conformism, and fundamentalism. But I have always maintained that this is a phase and it will pass. Very…
General Topics
Ken Loach and Friends
Golda Meir is reported to have said, “I can forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but I cannot forgive them for making us kill theirs.” My variation of this is to say that I can forgive the apparently rational enemies of Israel for criticizing and pillorying the state beyond the bounds of logic and equity, but I cannot forgive…
Computer Games
Many of us “older” people are totally unaware of the most powerful, the most widespread and the most wealthy religion in the world today. It is a religion that attracts as its devotees virtually all the young people on our globe. They spend more time deep into the night on it than on any other single activity–and often more than…
The Grand Old Duke of York
Oh the Grand Old Duke of YorkHe had ten thousand menHe marched them up to the top of the hillAnd he marched them down againAnd when they were up they were upAnd when they were down they were downAnd when they were only half way upThey were neither up nor down. Now, I know I am no military expert. I…
Prejudice
I guess the media (and I) needed a break from Lebanon, since they have got so excited over Mel Gibson’s drunken outburst against Jews for running the world and being the cause of all human suffering. You mean you didn’t know that that’s what millions of people really think? Three years ago I was invited to a private screening of…
To Be Or Not To Be
Reflections whilst fasting on Tisha B’Av. The superstitious side of me (yes I do indeed have that little irrational spirit sitting inside my brain that needs to be swatted regularly) says that of course the war would be tough during the Nine Days, but that as soon as it is over and the Shabbat of Comfort begins everything will get…