It's Not That Simple

Jewish School Tuition Crisis: Parents Feeling 'Priced Out' of Their Religion

2011-03-24T17:26:00.001-04:00

I respect anyone who lives an honorable life. However, don't for a second believe that people who can't afford to send their three kids to yeshiva (Jewish day schools) live any less honorable a life or are any less willing to sacrafice their own wants for their children. They don't all have condos in FL, drive fancy cars, take trips to Europe or schnoor (beg) off of relatives. The vast majority are living tenuous lives, are seriously afraid of ever losing their jobs and many have had to actually calculate if they could afford to have more kids (unfortunately, many times the answer is, no).

Yeshiva is the single greatest form of Jewish birth control known to man.

Do the math.... 3 kids at over 15k each per year (that's conservative!), after tax money. That's only for tuition! Most people save for a lifetime in order to afford to send their kids to university but the Jewish community is almost expected to be able to afford this for each kid from the time they enter kindergarten!

I don't know your brother and I hope nothing but the best for him and his children, but believe me when I tell you, he is in the top 5% of earners in one of the richest nations on earth. Mazal tov.
About Judaism
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Law, Ethics and Jewish Divorce

2011-01-11T16:16:00.002-05:00

Law, Ethics and Jewish Divorce - Rabbi Mordecai Finley - Spiritual leader, Ohr HaTorah Synagogue

[Below is my response to Rabbi Finley. Please see link above for complete article and our posts to each other.]

I understand your point Rabbi and I hope you understand that I meant no disrespect at all. The lessons that we learn from the Torah are, however, supposed to be eternal lessons. Unfortunately our interpretations of those laws sometimes get caught up in deference to our elders instead of constantly learning and building upon the knowledge of those who came before us.

Would Beethoven only use a piano if he were alive today? I doubt it. Today the ‘classics’ are rightfully revered, but shouldn’t we also understand that those people used the most advanced instruments known to them at the time? Isn’t it that way throughout mankind’s history in all segments of our population and all industries? Why did we all of a sudden stop expanding our horizons and stunt our growth? Why do we feel that we are showing the utmost respect to our elders or teachers who came before us, if we simply follow in their footsteps and claim that they were smarter and therefore we cannot change what they have taught us? That seems like an insult to those great minds instead of respect. I apologize in saying this but I feel that we have become intellectually lazy by NOT continuing to grow. I look at this as a parent does with their children. We impart our knowledge to them in the hopes that they not only avoid the mistakes we made but also to learn and go further in their development than we were capable of doing ourselves.

Isn’t it about time that we begin to interpret “man” to be “mankind”? Shouldn’t our understanding of equality be extended to our understanding of the Torah?

P.S. You say “virtuous behavior is the desired norm”. I couldn’t agree more!!

Obama: Reforms, Economy Are 'Moving In The Right Direction' (VIDEO)

2010-09-21T10:00:00.001-04:00

One of the most poignant summations of the "Obama Dilemma" was made by (I can't believe I'm saying this!) Jon Stewart: “Obama ran as a visionary and leads as a legislator... People were open to major changes, and they didn’t get it."
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Employers Pushing Health Care Cost Increases Onto Workers, Report Shows

2010-09-03T09:20:00.001-04:00

Even though we all must understand that the health care reform passed by congress has very little to do with this increase, this is still further evidence of a missed opportunity. Obama never got into the fight and without the full weight of the White House behind true change, it didn't have a chance.

Congress worked tirelessly and diligently. They deserve much more respect for their accomplishments. Obama on the other hand deserves our derision and scorn for being so timid in a time of real need and opportunity.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Democrats Unlikely To Repeal Bush Tax Cuts

2010-09-01T22:53:00.001-04:00

It disgusts me that Democrats have zero guts and even less discipline. They have a mantra that they can easily use over and over ("Do you want the Bush economy or the Clinton economy?") and can't even stick to the script!

This is so pathetic its infuriating!!!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Palestinians Crack Down On Hamas After West Bank Shooting

2010-09-01T16:34:00.001-04:00

You need to think like Hamas. They take pride in killing. Hamas uses them for their own promotion! Palestinians in the street, as reported by numerous agencies, look up to Hamas for these murders.

Their mentality is completely different than ours and not recognizing that is simply pulling the sheets over our eyes and making us look very naive in that part of the world.
About Hamas
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U.S. Tells Israel That Iran Nuke 'Dash' Could Take A Year

2010-08-20T11:43:00.001-04:00

You bet I'm a Zionist and proud of it.

I'm also proud that the US, unlike other nations, has stood up for Israel, liberal ideals and democracy instead of bowing to the OPEC cartel. Its something to be proud of. I wish we would push much further in that direction and tell OPEC that they can drink their oil, that we're going for American fuel - wind, solar, and yes, nuclear..... It's time for a new economy and the first one there is going to own a big part of it.

Try being a woman (can't drive in Saudi Arabia and much lower literacy rates throughout Arab world), a homosexual (care to get stoned?), a person of any other religion other than Muslim in the Arab world (2nd class anyone) and then tell me what life is like and if their culture, morals, ideals are the same as ours in the US. I'm not judging them. It's their country and they can do as they wish. What works for us is not necessarily what works for everyone else. But don't lie to me and say that we are closer to the Arab world culturally, democratically....than Israel. It just isn't true.

Unfortunately many democrats in these chat rooms have become reactionaries. "Anything that GB2 was for, I'm against". Grow up children! Presidents of both parties have supported Israel because our interest are congruent and when they have diverged we are able to work things out.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Federal Reserve's Low Rate Policy Is A 'Dangerous Gamble,' Says Top Central Bank Official

2010-08-13T21:18:00.001-04:00

"Hoenig said the next crisis will depend on the leadership atop the regulatory agencies."

Are you listening President Obama?

It was bad enough that you didn't put the weight of the White House behind the bill as it was being written (you even pushed back AGAINST many of those points that would have made it a better bill!). None of us can blame Congress. They did one heck of a job considering they got no assistance from you.

Thankfully, however, you CAN still make your mark if you appoint a person who is serious about financial regulation to head the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. The most qualified person is Elizabeth Warren. You know it. I know it. We all know it.

Don't give us "Warren Light". Give us the real deal.

SHE'S the one we've been waiting for!!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Goldberg: Israel Likely To Attack Iran

2010-08-11T17:07:00.001-04:00

Just think about what the middle east would look like today if Iraq, Iran, Syria, had nukes over the past 40 or so years. If the Arabs had the opportunity, Israel would have been wiped off the map Meanwhile Israel, which does have the capability to wipe its enemies off the map, and has probably had it for quite some time now, has not done so.

No knee-jerk reactions here... seriously. Just play Monday morning quarterback a bit. What do you think would have happend in the Middle East?

You still think Israel should just give up their nukes?

I don't either.
About Israel
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Goldberg: Israel Likely To Attack Iran

2010-08-11T17:00:00.001-04:00

Actually no. Israel's warheads have posed no threat to Iran in the last 40 or so years, proven by the fact that they remain in their silos. Iran on the other hand has expressly called for Israel's destruction on numerous occasions. Now that they are on the cusp of attaining the means to carry out those intentions, it is potentially a new ballgame.

That is why both Republican and Democratic presidents have recognized that a nuclearized Iran is simply not acceptable. Iran's neighbors are even more scared than Israel at the prospect of a nuclearized Iran which is why they have expressed extreme anxiety and foreboding to Iran acquiring nukes.
About Israel
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My Experience With the ADL

2010-08-10T14:04:00.001-04:00

LOL!!! Stockton, do you anything at all about the ADL? Anything at all? Your measure of how serious the ADL is, is when and how they criticize Israel or those who support Israel.

Let me hear something from you. How about someone, anyone, show how the Palestinians are their own worst enemy. How about someone, anyone, talk about how they could easily help themselves by taking some responsibility for themselves.

That would be a monumental change.
About Israel
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

My Experience With the ADL

2010-08-10T07:29:00.001-04:00

After starting with an obligatory politically correct statement like "The aim of this blog is not to pile it on the ADL" the author continues to do exactly that. Sorry Mr Kuttab but just because you start with that statement does not give you carte blanche to spew lies willy-nilly about one of the only organization that has stood up for so many deserving causes/minorities all over the world regardless of the political heat it was taking. From Jews to homosexuals, from blacks to immigrants, from all kinds of hate crime victims to yes Muslims, the ADL has been there to show its support to those who are oppressed and who's right are being violated.

To say that the ADL "has little tolerance for the suffering of any group other than the Jewish population" is simply a lie and everyone knows it. It takes away any credibility that you might have had to argue otherwise.

Shame on you.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Prop 8 OVERTURNED: Gay Marriage Ban Struck Down In California

2010-08-04T21:08:00.001-04:00

As many of you have already mentioned here, I'm afraid the Roberts court will overturn this equal rights decision.

On the bright side, perhaps this will remind the electorate just how important it is to have a Democrat in the White House right now. Liberals are already in the minority on the court but imagine the Supreme Court with a 7-2 conservative tilt!

As bad and wimpy as Obama is, it could have been worse.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Arabs Don't Care About Palestine? Don't Bet on It

2010-08-03T21:17:00.001-04:00

It is completely against the Arab ruling regimes' interest to see an independent Palestinian country. They have used the Palestinians as a diversion from their own failures for decades. As the rest of the world has marched forward the Arab world remains a backward wasteland devoid of any real hope, crippled by the petrodollars crutch. They use the despair of their own citizens and deflect it against Israel and the rest of the world instead of ameliorating their own position with the help of their natural resources.

They have no interest in seeing a liberal, educated and fairly democratic... (by Arab standards at least) Palestine. How would the monarchy in Jordan react to a democratic Palestine on its western border? How would Saudi Arabia react to a relatively secular Palestine? Understand?

The Arab world's support for the Palestinians has been almost zero. Some countries in the Arab world (yes, I'm generalizing a bit here, forgive me) don't allow Palestinians to get health-care like many of its own citizens. Their movements are restricted. They have limited civil rights and are generally treated as second class citizens at best even though, for many of them, the local country is the only country they've ever known!

The record of the other Arab countries helping the Palestinians is dismal at best. They are simply used as pawns. That's it.

I will double down on my bet that the Arab world will do nothing to materially help the Palestinians.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Elizabeth Warren Backed By Coalition Of Academics To Head New Consumer Agency

2010-08-03T16:40:00.001-04:00

If the Obama administration is looking for a way to energize the electorate for the coming mid-term elections, I see no better way than to have Elizabeth Warren head the new Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

When congress put together the new Wall St. reform legislation, the main criticism was that it didn't have teeth - on its own. It all depended on who would lead the CFPB. Basically, many were left wanting b/c the Congress 'passed the buck' instead of having some backbone. The head of the CFPB, however, has ENORMOUS power. Nothing would show that this reform was meant to be serious more, than having Elizabeth Warren as its head.

Congress has done its job Mr. President. Now its your turn. Show some guts! Shooting for the middle just won't get people energized and out voting in droves like they did just two years ago. Show people that they weren't wrong to work so hard to get you elected. YOU are now the person we've been waiting for.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

'Just Say Now': Left-Right Coalition Launches Campaign To Legalize Pot

2010-08-03T14:27:00.001-04:00

End prohibition NOW!!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Mosque at Ground Zero

2010-08-03T13:10:00.001-04:00

If a group of radical Christians bombed a location within Baghdad and killed thousands of people then the answer would be, YES! The Iraqis would have every right, just like the Poles did outside of Auschwitz regarding the building of a proposed convent, to ask that they build on a different location.

No one is saying "don't build". They are simply saying "not there!" I'm fairly sure everyone understands the difference.

Being sensitive to the feelings of victims is not something that we should be condemning.

The rush to judgment of one of the premier anti-bigotry organization is what is truly shameful!
About Islam
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Israel To Expel Children Of Migrant Workers

2010-08-02T21:34:00.001-04:00

EVERY country on earth has immigration laws. Every one. Every one of them will have laws governing work visas as well. Every one. It is the right of every host country to expel workers and their families when they illegally over stay their visa . Every one. These visa are basically 'guest passes'. Nothing more. Well, when guests overstay their welcome it is the right of the host to ask them to leave.

So my question to everyone here is why are you angry at Israel? Are you all against immigration laws in principal? Should all countries allow all people to come and go without any regard for their own citizens? Do any other countries behave differently? US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, etc.....? Should they all scrap their immigration departments? Should they allow anyone and everyone to come and work in their countries without any limits?

Obviously not. So please ask yourselves, why this is even being talked about!?
About Israel
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Israel To Expel Children Of Migrant Workers

2010-08-02T13:08:00.001-04:00

No mostlyharmless. Unfortunately, hypocrisy abounds among the liberal population here on HP. We expect nothing of the Muslim world and don't even bat an eyelash when we hear of the most grotesque atrocities. The Muslim world is held to the lowest of standards and is habitually excused for actions against women, gays and children. Actions that should make liberals' blood boil.

However, when dealing with Israel, liberals jump to condemn, totally disregarding all facts.

If you want proof, just look at how many UN sanctions have been called again all of the Muslim countries combines vs. how many have been called against Israel. You just cannot defend the record without resorting to double standards and hypocrisy.
About Israel
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Catholic Patriarch Blasts Israel For Allowing Gay Parade

2010-08-01T21:24:00.001-04:00

WOW!! What are the commentators on HP supposed to do? Do they actually support Israel? Ohhhh. The horror!! That must be so painful...

For all those Israel bashers out there, can you please answer me this:

Where else could you have a gay pride parade in the Middle East? My guess is that in almost all of the other countries in the Middle East the parade would involved stoning the homosexuals to death. So why don't you all just think all little bit about the region where Israel located...before you throw stones.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anti-Defamation League Comes Out Against Ground Zero Mosque

2010-07-30T22:54:00.001-04:00

As a New Yorker, a liberal, and in the same vain of other historically tough liberals like Presidents Roosevelt & Truman, I say, it is the aggressor who continues to bear the onus of outreach, understanding and forgiveness to the rest of us. The onus is on Muslims to ask for forgiveness for their radical brethren, to explain their behavior and ask forgiveness for what their coreligionist have wrought.

Democrats used to believe in a resolute and tough foreign policy. It was Roosevelt/Truman that brutally fought and won WWII and it was that kind of tough mindedness along with promoting democratic values abroad that enabled the Democratic Party to dominate national politics.

Does it need reminding that 9/11 happened BEFORE we bumbled our way into 2 bad wars? What's going on in Afghanistan and Iraq have nothing to do with this and we have nothing to apologize for regarding what is or is not built at ground zero.

Could any of you imagine a Japanese museum being built anywhere near Pearl Harbor so soon after WWII? 9/11 wasn't that long ago. Just build the mosque somewhere else. If the Muslim community cared about other peoples' feelings maybe THEY would understand, and move.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Harry Reid Complains Obama Avoids 'Confrontation' And Should Be 'More Forceful' With GOP (VIDEO)

2010-07-12T19:08:00.001-04:00

Many people are historically accustomed to criticizing Congress for everything but in this case I have to say that Congress has been the institution that has battled and it's the White House is the "do nothing" character. They have been on the sidelines for every important battle and never once went to bat publicly for any big policy issue to date.

The White House should have taken Rahm Imanuel's advice to never let a crisis go to waste but instead it tried to play peacemaker with a contra party that had no intention of making peace!

Obama could very well go down as a president who squandered away a once in lifetime opportunity to make real change...change that we used to believe in.

I'm glad to see that Reid is finally seeing the light... albeit too late.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

A Final Letter to Alan Dershowitz (for Now)

2010-04-26T16:27:00.001-04:00

Why are Arabs given a complete free ride when it comes to their policies? Why are they allowed to run an international cartel operation with no consequences? Why the double standard? Has anyone seen some of the cartoons in the Arab world that pertain to Israel? Has anyone seen how they treat their own people, let alone Jews or Christians living in their countries? Do you know how they treat their women?Why are the Arabs held to a lower standard. Isn't THAT racists!?

It's never considered anti-Semitic to criticize Israel. But when you single out Israel for criticism and use a double standard then you most definitely open yourself up to being labeled an anti-Semite. And rightfully so.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Goldman Sachs Emails: Firm Had 'The Big Short' As Economy Fell

2010-04-24T21:55:00.001-04:00

Unfortunately, there isn't enough money to buy Obama some balls (even Goldman Sachs doesn't have THAT kind of money, LOL). He will simply defer to Congress like he has done on almost every other big piece of legislation so far. He hasn't taken a real stand on anything of substance yet and it's not like he hasn't had a plethora of opportunities either!

Obama is like a choir boy; sounds great but no real balls.

This is why I might just stay home come election time. I'm seriously disappointed in the lack of real change that I thought I was voting into office last year.

I would have been prepared to lose some battles but I was completely unprepared for Obama not even putting up a fight!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Israel Angered At British Ad Ban

2010-04-17T22:22:00.001-04:00

momma you're absolutely right. You all fail to notice the reality of what has just happened! A commercial was just taken off the air because it was, in Britain's view, not factual/ Give me a break. Even if that had a shred of truth, that East Jerusalem wasn't part of Israel, who's influence do you think got the add pulled?

You should all be ashamed. A short while ago there were riots all over Europe over a silly cartoon because it was against Sharia law and seen as insulting Islam. Now something else upsets Moslems, that being Jews praying in Jerusalem, and the ad must be pulled!

Be careful of the road you're driving on. Your hatred of Israel is getting the better of your so called "values".
About Religion
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