The Rabbi and I

Now that students in Loudoun County Virginia will be given Narcan to carry incase a friend overdoses it is time to give everyone a gun! You say no to a gun and okay to Narcan? It’s time to stop waiting for something to be crisis before dealing with the issues. Our students need help before mental health becomes a crisis.

No need to wait for the debate or the election to be over to be unhappy. I haven’t found anyone who has not already made up their mind. I not going to bother watching because the TV station is unfair, the moderator is unfair, the questions are unfair and the candidates are not fair! Boycott the debate!

The first of the 10 Commandments directs us to the one! Different cultures may use a name different from the one we use, regardless we are all directed to the One. Be weary of those who claim to have sole access to the One or special status that you can’t have. The One and only One

The response of “Christian” Republicans to the Democratic vice presidential candidate’s son is a disgrace and insult to God. The attitude of these people does not reflect the teachings that they profess to believe. Trump & Company, please read the Old Testament. We are all created in the image of God.

The 2nd commandment of the 10 is very clear “do not treat a former president as god”. Straight forward, support and vote for your politician of choice doesn’t worship them. A former president is not god!

Stop making lemonade, duck instead. Now that we have entered the season of the presidential election, keep your eyes peeled. What does lemonade and politicians have in common?

This commandment is the second most misunderstood of the 10. You can’t pronounce God’s personal name no matter how hard you try! But you can misuse it for power and control. Politicians have broken all the other commandments and even a presidential felon can’t break this one!

The Westward expansion and immigration to the United States has followed the same pattern. People leave their homes for the same reasons. They are looking for something better than what they have. They take jobs that the local population doesn’t want. Immigrants rarely displace workers!

Sunday is the first day of the week, that makes Saturday the 7th and according to the 10 commandments it is the Sabbath. Relax, you can still go to church on Sunday and observe the Sabbath on Saturday. Observe the Sabbath

Nothing is as it seems. Advertisements, commercials, press releases, even your partner never starts off telling us everything. More often than not the article is not what the headline said. Politicians have made lying an art!

The sky is falling just ask the Republicans. The known universe could end in November just listen to the Democrats. And there is no end to the Christian clergy who tell us that you will not be included in the rapture which is happening next week!The end is coming soon!

Judaism is a series of rail cars linked together to form a train. One can move between the cars. Each car is a branch of Judaism. In one car these people believe they are the only real Jews.

It is frightening how many children, of all ages, choose to violate the 5th commandment. Listen to what it means to honor your parents. How you treat your parents is how your children will treat you.

Is it news, is it entertainment, is it fake? It is getting harder and harder to tell. Be care the media is a minefield. You mean it is news that is for entertainment only!

The 6th commandment forbids murder. Killing is another matter. Understand the distinction. Killing In Combat is not violate the 6th commandment!

The temptation to ignore this commandment is great, don’t give in. Focus on one committed relationship at a time. The burdens of “cheating” far outweigh the benefits.

The blame game started before the sounds of the shots faded. Politicians and their supporters have sown the seeds of fear, hate, anger, and violence. We, the citizens of America, are reaping the harvest.

Organizing our lives around making decisions just to please others is is a fruitless waste of time and energy. My goal in life is to have those who dislike me have the courage to tell me why they dislike me!

When we hear the 8th commandment we think of objects and stop there. We steal spiritual and non material “things” as well. We steal time from ourselves and employers, we steal love and affection from our families and friends, and trust and respect from our supporters.

“Whomever creates problems in his household will inherit the wind”. This proverb is so true today. Politicians are creating problems, then give us solutions, and then we support them! We are fighting each other over made up issues and the real problems are ignored.

Praying and good wishes will not make the United States a better place. Our actions however will make the USA a better place. Don’t be seduced by simple slogans, judge the candidates by how they act.

The commandment that one should not bear false witness does not apply only in a court of law. The 9th Commandment means we should not lie and make statements that are false. Particularly to get elected or for personal gain. God said it, not me don’t lie

The goal is to be able to appreciate what other people have without wanting to possess that object. The desire to have something better than what others have is self destructive. We can never enjoy what we have if something else is always better.

The media reports that older people are invisible are greatly exaggerated. I have been given the attention and concern that a 78 year old deserves. Neither I nor anyone I know personally has been treated as if they were invisible. You are not invisible

Welcome to the 10 Commandments and politicians. In coming episodes we’ll compare Trump’s and President Biden’s behavior to the 10 Commandments. How does Trump and Biden measure up to the TEN

Do you remember Fernando Lamas' famous words? “It's better to look good than to feel good, and darling, you look marvelous!”How you look is the message

Extremism and cultism are the new norm, not good. We are mistaken thinking that electing an autocratic, dictator, seeking revenge will make America great again. Nor will re-electing a far left candidate who is out of touch with the average American make us better. The values of our politicians are not American values.

How did it get to be such a mess and how will it end. Pre World War I colonialism created countries in the Middle East that were not historically countries. Arab nationalism was ignored and land was taken and given without any thought. Palestine and Israel recognizing each other is the only, best, and last hope.

It gets tiresome being bombarded with everything being negative. “Fair & Balanced” has become a meaningless phrase. Not all Democrats are right and all Republicans wrong and vice versa! Why not present your positives & negatives, instead of you are right and they are wrong. The Present President is Always a Bad Choice

Don’t let everything you see, read, or hear cause you to freeze. Inaction results from our being influenced by everything except what we want to do. It is all about you, not about what others say. Be yourself and not anyone else.

Stop saying “good enough”. The word “enough” qualifies the good and diminishes enjoying the good. Judging what we do against all the social media posts creates an unnecessary unhappiness. Things that we do can and are good, no compromise necessary. Something good is good, enough already making it less.

You are not going to Hell. You are not a sinner. A sin is acting in a harmful or destructive way. The key word is act. We are all going to experience envy, whether we sin or not depends on how we respond to our feelings. You are not going to “Hell”

Lusting after things that are unnecessary is definitely missing the mark. What do I need to be happy and satisfied? We can recognize that we want and desire are the result of lust or are they things that would make us happy. How does your lust work for you?

Rituals for both religious purposes and non religious purposes can benefit us or distract us. Rituals are not the end goal. They keep us focused and remind us of our goals. Use religious rituals as intended

Sin is not a state of being, you are not in a sinner who needs to be saved. You just missed the mark! Pride is not the sin, hubris is. We all should take pride in who we are and we do, it is excessive pride that destroys us. Hubris goes before the fall!

Social Truth, Twitter, Facebook, X, CNN, Fox New, Al Jazeera, just to name a few. Let’s sort this stuff out! We have the ability and can do it. Perhaps you can’t handle the truth!”Social Truth” can you handle the truth

Remember sinning means missing the mark, it is not a state of being. So you spent time off task, projects were late, not all the household chores got done and you aren’t a sinner. You set up your work schedule, you decide how to spend your time, and then decide if you followed your plan. A Sin Means Missing the Mark You Set

Our money should not be spent on rebuilding the Key bridge. The owner of the ship is responsible for the damages it caused. Why aren’t we considering the collision a terrorist event. Was the collision of the cargo ship with the Key bridge a terrorist attack?

Just because your religion is perfect for You doesn’t mean it is perfect for me. Every religion is great for someone just not everyone. Stop using politics to promote your religion

This is the sin of excess. Moderation is the goal, enjoying that which is not harmful is not a sin. Too much of anything is not only a sin but is destructive. No one ever sinned by choosing the middle way

Medical science gives us more information than we can use. We have reached the point where our knowledge exceeds our ability to act on that knowledge and information. Do I really need to know that much about my cancer?

Sin in Judaism means missing the mark, it is about our actions. We are not sinners nor are we In a state of sin. We choose to act in ways that result in harming ourselves and others. Actions that destroy and harm are deadly

It has been over 60 years since I voted for a political candidate in any election! I am tired of voting for the least objectionable candidate. We have 2 great political parties, why can’t either of them present us with a candidate that I can support!Democrats and Republicans give me a suitable candidate

A degree in Higher Education has been elevated to an unnecessary position. Most jobs, occupations, and professions don’t need the level of education that is required. Educational requirements are used to exclude Hispanics, Blacks, Gays, Lesbians, Trans, or any one else that the employer doesn’t want to hire

Fear is necessary and important for human survival. We want to avoid that which may kill us. We don’t want to let others control us by using fear. Politicians of all colors use fear to get our votes without concern for how we respond to our fear. Voice mail from President Trump and President Biden: “Be Afraid, details to follow!”

Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, given the war In Ukraine and Gaza I would add to your observation much, much, worse. Politicians and the media are using the wars for self promotion. The wars in Gaza and Ukraine are much worse than Hell.

I am a spiritual and cultural zionist, not a religious or political or practical Zionist. The State of Israel has mixed Orthodox Judaism with secular politics and the result is an unmitigated disaster. Israel as a nation has a right and an obligation to defend itself. Palestine & Israel recognizing the sovereignty and right to exist is the only solution to the war in Gaza.

Reform Judaism has turned the movement into a Pro-Israel movement. Israel is a country that is central to Judaism, but it is not the sumtotal of Judaism. Israel is losing support and the movement is losing members. It is time to put God and Torah back on the agenda and curriculum. Stop politicizing Reform Judaism

In the history of bad political ideas occupying captured territory or a country is at the top of list of bad ideas. Netanyahu and the Knesset have the opportunity not to make a really bad decision. How is the occupation of the West Bank going?

It’s all about the money. It’s not about how, when, or where you earn. It’s who and why. The money trail