Lev Echad

I'm not sure, but it is known that the Chofetz...

2012-03-23T00:06:32.447-06:00

I'm not sure, but it is known that the Chofetz Chaim closed his store down when he realized that it was taking business away from another merchant in the same neighborhood.

Was it the Chofetz Chaim or another Rav who only o...

2012-03-22T00:43:22.926-06:00

Was it the Chofetz Chaim or another Rav who only opened his business enough to earn that day's parnassah, so that he could close his shop and return to his Torah learning?

Indeed, there needs to be a balance :)

2012-03-16T06:03:24.799-06:00

Indeed, there needs to be a balance :)

Similarly, too many Nurses, Hairdressers, Caregive...

2012-03-16T01:51:46.832-06:00

Similarly, too many Nurses, Hairdressers, Caregivers, and Boxers is also bad for a nation's economy.

Gevaldig d'var! What a lesson to take with me....

2012-03-01T11:10:02.038-07:00

Gevaldig d'var! What a lesson to take with me. I am going to print this one. It is very inspiring!

AMEN

2012-03-01T09:55:20.757-07:00

AMEN

You're welcome, James. I'm glad you enjoye...

2011-12-20T20:12:28.418-07:00

You're welcome, James. I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

Excellent blog today. Thanks.

2011-12-20T06:17:53.883-07:00

Excellent blog today. Thanks.

You're welcome, James. Intermarriage can be a ...

2011-11-23T20:18:02.173-07:00

You're welcome, James. Intermarriage can be a very difficult issue to deal with, from both a religious and emotional standpoint. Nevertheless, I wish you and your wife (as well as your blog) nothing but the best.

It may seem odd that a Jew is writing favorably...

2011-11-23T07:25:02.773-07:00
It may seem odd that a Jew is writing favorably about a Christian, but it really shouldn't be that way. If we were to actually start making moral judgments of behavior rather than petty remarks about our differences, we will have taken a giant leap toward a better world.

Thank you for your remarks. I'm a Christian married to a Jewish wife and I know how "uncomfortable" it can be when both of those worlds meet. I try to promote a peace between Christianity and Judaism on my own blog, but as you have pointed out, it isn't always easy to get past cultural and theological matters.

But as you have said, if we can focus on living a life of charity and goodness, as God desires of all of us, then it really would be a better world.

You're welcome, Karen. And thanks for the kind...

2011-11-20T00:12:42.543-07:00
You're welcome, Karen. And thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoy it :)

Just found your blog for the first time....I love ...

2011-11-18T07:43:05.019-07:00
Just found your blog for the first time....I love it!...I love your intend and ideas...thanks for doing the good work!

Karen

You bring up a great point, Bill. Technically, an...

2011-09-27T22:05:40.288-06:00
You bring up a great point, Bill.

Technically, anyone who overcomes their inclination to do something wrong is a hero. However, those who overcome their inclination of self-preservation in order to save others are in a heroic league of their own. Both types of people had to battle strong inclinations, but the latter completely cast aside ego and benefit. That's why I mentioned that Corporal Meyer is in a category of his own. Not only did he meet Chazal's criteria, he exceeded it.

Dear Sir or Madam: I wuld wish to reply to the po...

2011-09-27T16:07:38.497-06:00
Dear Sir or Madam:

I wuld wish to reply to the post "Are You a Hero"? I concur that the demonstration of heroism does not require the performance of prodigious feats of physical strength and courage. A hero, as Chazal state, is the man or woman who overrides his or her inclination. Rousing oneself to visit a hospitalized friend when it is more enjoyable to repose on the couch to view a good ball game on television. Relinquishing the fur coat or vacation or installation of an inground pool and remitting the earmarked funds to tzedaka. forgiving an insuklt and coming to the aid of someone in distress. All of these acts I would characterize as heroic.

However, I think that sometimes frum people overlook that acts such as those performed by Corporal Meyer are indeed heroic not primarily for the physical component. self-preservation is perhaps the strongest of inclinations. It is antithetical to human nature to place onself in harm's way if one does not anticipate some reward or benefit. Even the person who engages in seemingly illogical dangerous behavior does so for some perceived benefit. For example, the teenage motorist who speeds and blows stop signs does so for the psychological thrill of driving dangerously or to impress his buddies. Corporal Meyer anticipated no benefit for his heroism. He overcome his inclination of self-perservation to help his comrades. This is the ikar of Corporal Meyer's heroism and it for his mesiras nefesh that he justly desereves honor and emulation.

Yours faithfully,
Bill McCaulley
Lommer deleben Moshiach.

I want to say a kol hakavod to this young man'...

2011-09-11T12:05:03.407-06:00
I want to say a kol hakavod to this young man's parents for raising such an upright, selfless young man. It's says a lot about the people they are. What a heartbreaking loss. This is what a hero looks like.

Similarly, a red flag should be raised when someon...

2011-09-02T10:18:46.243-06:00
Similarly, a red flag should be raised when someone starts to pit Left against Right, Democrat against Republican, or Secular against Observant ~ they are not qualified to lead, but feed on the wind.

Exactly. Technology is what people make of it - an...

2011-08-22T21:55:27.590-06:00
Exactly. Technology is what people make of it - and a reflection of the individual.

Technology just provides another opportunity for p...

2011-08-22T07:47:20.416-06:00
Technology just provides another opportunity for people to express their natures, for good and for ill.

Along these lines, there are those women who insis...

2011-08-02T05:53:12.143-06:00
Along these lines, there are those women who insist on marrying ONLY a Kollel guy. Of course these young women aren't thinking very much into the future when most of them one day will want their future husbands to do something more to make a half decent living than receiving peanuts for sitting in Yeshiva all day. But the big Chutzpa is when they complain that their dream Kollel guy hardly does anything to help out in the house. True, a Ben Torah who is a true mentsch will spend time helping his wife. But in my opinion, if these so called righteous women aren't happy with their Kollel husband because he doesn't do a little work around their house, then they had no business demanding from the Shadchan to marry such a person anymore than a observant Jew who received a college degree so he can support a family. Truly, these type of women don't really want a Kollel for the true worth of Torah like Rachel who married Rabbi Akiva when he was first an ignoramous, sacrificing her father's support for marrying him, and then willing for her husband to learn Torah away for home for 24 years - all they want is the honorable status of being married to a Kollel guy to show off. It's this type of attitude that unfortunately some in the Yeshiva world have that makes them look down on others who aren't like them because they are "Modern Orthodox" or are college educated instead of learning several years in Yeshiva after college.

The cases of Gilad Shalit or Jonathan Pollard do n...

2011-08-01T15:15:11.202-06:00
The cases of Gilad Shalit or Jonathan Pollard do not fall in the category of pidyon shevuyim. The term specifically applies to situations where people are kidnapped for monetary ransom, although it is true that in "olden times" being jailed was purely for ransom and not as punishment for crimes. As for Avraham Avinu, he did not pay ransom to free Lot, but rather went to war to get his release and defeat armies that had gone to war against his kin.
In the case of judicial process, such as Pollard, or acts of war, in the case of Shalit ... other principles and halachot apply. Notwithstanding the issues of morality or human justice with regards their captivity, to misapply the pidyon shevuyim concept does not help the matter. As for debate on this matter; modern responsa published in Hebrew from renowned Israeli Zionist Rabbi's speak directly to this issue in great detail.

I'm glad to be one of many people to tap into ...

2011-07-12T21:58:31.091-06:00
I'm glad to be one of many people to tap into this idea. Looking for the good in others - and treating them accordingly - is one of the most difficult tasks in life. But to do so is to emulate the characteristics of God.

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman said virtually the same thing. Extending the sentiment beyond Judaism, how wonderful it would be if all people could see each other the way God sees us...and then treat each other accordingly.

You're welcome, James. In many instances, sile...

2011-06-15T19:25:34.184-06:00
You're welcome, James. In many instances, silence really does speak louder than words.

Thanks for posting this. The message is one that f...

2011-06-15T08:30:25.020-06:00
Thanks for posting this. The message is one that flies in the face of how most people behave and is one that absolutely needs to be told. It is possible (and perhaps more effective) to tell a story in silence.

The reason I focused on the military was because o...

2011-06-03T06:03:40.520-06:00
The reason I focused on the military was because of the recent memorial days. In previous posts, I've focused on some of the other people you mentioned. Still, without someone standing on the front lines, the freedom to raise a family, work in the medical field or do just about anything else wouldn't exist.

But your point is well-taken; they all deserve recognition.