Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Biblical debt jubilee may be the only answer

I thought this was really interesting - from the Daily Telegraph:

In the end, the only way out of all this global debt may prove to be a Biblical debt jubilee


article here.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Needed: A Miracle in Gaza

This morning, as I recited the Shirat Hayam (the Song of the Sea), I marveled at how the story describes the waters parting for the Israelites and then closing in again on the Egyptians:

The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. (Exodus 15)

Israel survives, its enemies perish, and - with today's Gaza war in mind - only its enemies perish.

How desperately we need a miracle like that now.

There is a midrash that asks - Why did God put Israel in a situation where they were being chased by an army from behind them, and faced a sea in front of them? It answers simply - so that they would pray. Perhaps, in these tough times, Shirat Hayam can be that prayer.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Rav Mickey Rosen z"l: The Quest for Authenticity



I often daven on Friday nights at Yakar, and I have not mentioned the passing of Rav Mickey Rosen z"l, the Rav of the shul. It might be best for me to mention Rav Rosen's z"l book, about chasidut - The Quest for Authenticity: The Thought of Reb Simhah Bunim. I bought it for my dad erev Yom Kippur and only gave it to him Neilah time so I had a good chance to browse through it. Suffice to say that I think it will become considered required reading. Although I can't say that I knew Rav Rosen z"l personally, I do remember his glowing face the Friday night of the week the book went to market. I believe it was deeply personal for him, and a major accomplishment, and perhaps we should be thankful that he accomplished it in his lifetime.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

The Value of Time

He who knows the value of time always has enough; not being able to lengthen it, he intensifies its value; and first of all, he does nothing to shorten it.

- A.G. Sertillanges, O.P.