If something is wrong, then not only must I not do it, I must—if I can—stop others from doing it. If I fail to do so, then I share in the guilt. Nowadays, we would call this the guilt of the bystanders. It is obvious to me that the perpetrators are far more guilty than…

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In a world full of deceit, uncertainty, goals which we believe will make us happy yet don’t, opinions, political and religious views and divides, pain and suffering, he said and she said, and ultimately a complete lack of clarity, how do we decipher what’s right and how do we find our way? I’m reminded of…

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I’ve always wondered how people can think it’s okay—or even worse, warranted—to kill in the name of God or religion. My teacher, Ted told me recently that most humans, even if faced with being killed, won’t kill another unless their DNA is challenged, which I believe means unless their children, siblings, or other family is…

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When a tragedy happens, it’s common to get depressed, get down, and focus on all the problems. Very often, tragedy, illness, and financial problems can lead to divorce, or alternatively, they can lead to a renewed strength in the relationship.   Additionally, we can see from all those who have suffered a collective tragedy like…

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I know it’s the third week in a row I’m discussing the situation in Israel and anti-Semitism worldwide, yet I will continue to discuss this until the war is over and all people are out of harm’s way. Additionally, I want to help others be aware of what is really going on, so they’re less…

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Today at UCLA, hundreds of students were chanting, “Israel, Israel, you can’t hide, we want Jewish genocide.” This isn’t 1930s Germany–this is 2023 Los Angeles, California. Yesterday, a man broke into a home in Studio City after seeing a mezuza on the door post, intent on killing Jews. For anyone who has ever said that…

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I shared a very similar thought about a year ago around this time, yet it’s currently more important than ever. Who is considered a great leader and what is considered great leadership? Noah, who created the ark and saved his family and the animals from the flood which destroyed the world was considered a great…

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The power of double standards and the power to justify even the greatest of atrocities truly baffles me, amazes me, causes pain deep in my soul, and begs me to ask myself, am I delusional? Where must I show up to be a better human? Israel, my country, the place I consider my ultimate home,…

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Loneliness, fear of missing out, and concern with what others think of us have all been topics that have been on my mind, and have also been brought up by many of the folks I have the privilege of spending time with. I think these are all actually very similar feelings which come from the…

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I have been thinking about all of the suffering around us, all the pain in the world and all the recent tragedies, and I’ve been wondering about the why. If God is infinite and can do anything and everything, why is there evil, why is there suffering, and why is there so much destruction? Truthfully,…

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