Notes from the Antipodes

Writing this column soon after Armistice Day, which in America is called Veterans Day, I was again made conscious of the great failure of hope expressed at the end of World War I that it would be "the war to end all wars."

Parsha Perspectiv

For much of our professional lives, we worked as congregational and community organizers. We had an axiom in that work: "Whatever the problem, whatever the solution, do leadership development!"

Jewish America

The health care bill has passed the House and has been delivered to the Senate. In the course of action, the Senate must first approve a bill, and only then will there be a conference committee, which will try to create one bill that can be sent to the president for his signature.

Shipley Speak

One thing we Jews are really good at is forming organizations. We love them. Every time some self-designated community leaders in the U.S. Jewish world decide it is time to take all the compatible organizations with their overlapping fields of interest and bundle them together it is a disaster.

Spoonful of Humor

It was the second night of Hanukkah and the house was full of her excited grandchildren, who shrieked and wailed and chattered like the construction crew that worked on the Tower of Babel. Was it totally random, the old lady wondered, or was there a script for this bedlam? I shouldn't be so cranky, she reasoned. But twelve kids - some exultant with their gifts, some complaining - could shatter the glass in the windows.

Kabbalah of the Month

Many people may have a vision of what they want to do in their lives, yet they hold back, fearing rejection and failure. Because they are doubtful of their capacity to be successful, their self-esteem plummets. If this is true for you, take heart. Kislev is here. Kislev is the month of going forward actualizing one's dreams and it is also a great time for travel.

Funsmith

Hello again, Mr. Funsmith. First of all, how are you already? And before I forget, thanks for your insightful, dast I say, brilliant comments about that whole Fun IQ thing. Fun. Fun way to think about fun. Intelligent, even. So, I thought, since we're corresponding already with such productivity, that I'd ask maybe if you could delve a little into this "deep fun" thing you spend the whole article talking about. When it comes to deep, what kinds of fun do you think are really deep, if you know what I mean, and I really hope you do.

Adventure Rabbi

At this time of year, when the sun sinks faster and the nights grow longer and colder, Jews around the world commemorate, through narrative and ritual, the ancient story of Chanukah - a tale of our forbears' triumph on the battlefield and of the miracle of oil when the Temple was reconsecrated. For eight nights, we illumine our homes with light. We exchange gifts. We sing songs that celebrate our survival.

Wiener's Wisdom

Here is Hanukkah. And we retell the stories of the occurrences that took place 2,174 years ago. We remember the salvation of a people and their faith that resonates to today. Truth be told, if it were not for Hanukkah there would be no faith to cling to.

Jewish Educator

I did something this week that I haven't done in a long time. And while what I did was not a crime, it made me feel like committing one by the end of the day. I spent the afternoon shopping for Hanukkah gifts at the mall.