The Rabbi and I

An Israeli cabinet minister put out a government plan this week to move most of Gaza's population somewhere else. He's calling it voluntary.Palestinian officials, Arab governments, and international law scholars say a choice made under blockade, with 80%+ of buildings destroyed and no way home, isn't really voluntary.The core dispute is whether ‘voluntary’ holds up under the actual conditions in Gaza — and Jewish tradition doesn't settle that for you either way.

I open with a claim: the word 'Zionism' has stopped doing the one job it was created to do. And I'm going to make that case using the Torah and the Talmud, not a communications consultant.Matthew Berger, a communications consultant, was hired by the Jewish Federations of North America to figure out what language actually works when Jewish groups talk about Israel and antisemitism. He got fired two weeks ago for saying avoid using the word 'Zionism.' His reasoning was that the word confuses more people than it persuades.#Zionism#Palestine#Israel#antisemitism

The 1988 founding covenant of Hamas explicitly called for the destruction of the State of Israel through jihad (holy war). In 2017, the group issued a new policy document that was nothing more than a public relations stunt. Hezbollah is a surrogate for Iran and Iran has sworn the destruction of Israel. First remove both if there’s to be any peace. Second everyone has a valid argument why they are right and the other side is wrong. If there’s to be any peace everyone needs to stop the futile game of my reasons are better than yours. Third accept the reality that Israel Is a legitimate country and here to stay and that the Palestinians are entitled to home not controlled by terrorist groups.

Real antisemitism looks different from anti-Israel: blaming random Jews for a government's choices, claiming American Jews are secretly more loyal to Israel than their own country, reviving blood libel language — or being fine with every other people having a homeland except the Jewish one. This is antisemitism.

The founding of the State of Israel held the promise of creating a country that was guided by Jewish values. American Jews were proud of the accomplishments of Israel as it took its place among the world’s nations. Unfortunately politics and survival in the real world took Israel away from being a spiritual and cultural home for all Jews and not just for for a select group favored by the government. It is time to separate Judaism as a religion from a political entity.American Judaism is a religion not a political lobby!

Iran's been building a nuclear site buried deep inside a mountain — deep enough that normal bombs might not crack it. U.S. officials, including the President, have floated using a small — 'tactical' — nuclear weapon to destroy it instead.I'm not here to tell you what the Pentagon should do. I'm going to show you how our own tradition would build both sides of this argument.

Each country is spending upwards of 50 million dollars on advertising to convince us that their version of the war is the correct one! The goal is to sway public opinion not with facts and accuracy rather with sound bites and incomplete quotes. Whether you approve, agree, or disagree with these endless wars don’t believe any of the advertisements. And don’t depend on any one source for your information. There are Lies, Dam lies, and advertisements

The word "Zionist" is being used by different people to mean completely different things. To one person, "Zionist" just means "someone who supports the existence of a Jewish state." To another person — including, sometimes, other Jews — "Zionist" has become a coded way of saying something much uglier. Same word. Opposite charge. And in between those two poles is a genuine, decades-old argument inside the Jewish people about what Israel is, what it's for, and whether it's living up to what it claims to be.What does "Zionist" actually mean, and how did it get weaponized?

Now that celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country is over go forth and live the message of our founders. The consent of the people is needed not only to make the government legitimate it is also needed to support the government in power. Here in DC "No taxation without representation" is not simply about taxes. It is about dignity and the insistence of the citizens that no government has the right to demand loyalty, resources, or sacrifice from people who have no voice in choosing it. For those living outside the District it means be careful who you elect, politicians often don’t deliver on their promises!

Don’t be tempted to declare that the glass is half empty or half full. The size of the glass does not determine the amount of liquid. The real question is do you want more or is it enough? Don’t let the size of the glass trick you. It is the same way with the media, they package the message so that we focus on the package and not the message! Is your life half empty or half full!

Semper Fi, children welcome to boot camp, this is my house and you will do what I say. You need to move away from the idea that being a gunnery sergeant makes you a good father. Going to the other extreme of being an enabler and letting the kids do what ever doesn’t make you a good father either. We are neither our children’s best friend nor their gunny. Instead let’s be a parent to our children.

Don’t let jumping motorcycles and gladiators in a cage distract you from the importance of our flag. Honoring and respecting what our flag represents is a 365 day tradition. And one day a year we highlight the symbol of our Republic. Mickey shows his respect in his unique way!Today we salute the United States of America

The system is rigged. We have been brainwashed into thinking that we don’t have the brains to make our own decisions. Or the heart to treat each other with kindness and compassion. Or that to be a politician you need to lack the courage to follow your brain and heart. And the rest of us are following a road that leads nowhere good.It is time to get off The Yellow Brick Road!

Being ambitious is a positive attribute and leads us to doing great things. Avarice or greed is destructive and leads us to perdition. Unfortunately we can’t tell when ambition becomes greed. I know that I always see myself as ambitious and never greedy. But I can always tell when you have crossed the line. And there in lies the answer. Each of us needs a friend to tell us when we have chosen self destructive behavior.

Whenever I hear or read someone telling me that they know what God wants and it is not what I think, I am reminded of a baseball game!Someone in the nose bleed section of the bleachers screams at the plate umpire: “are you blind, that was a strike!” From 240 yards away this spectator can see better than the umpire standing right behind the plate!Amazing isn’t it!

Israel Right or Wrong - Is that Wrong or Right?Judaism is not a Political Action Committee (PAC) for the State of Israel! Judaism is supported by God, Torah, & Israel. The first 2 are easily understood it is the third that has become used and abused. It refers to the people Israel and not to geopolitical entity. Israel the country is not the same as Israel the people!

We definitely need a “God the Mother” day. Since the “One” is unknowable then it is appropriate that we refer to “a higher Power” as either male or female. We can only know what God is not and we can know God’s attributes!God is the Father & the Mother

Hints, hacks, and tricks you can use to avoid being drawn into hating. Pundits and influencers use subtle and not so subtle ways to lure us into joining their campaign of hate. Here is my vaccine to inoculate you so that you won’t be infected with hate.

In “the world to come” you will be asked if you denied yourself any pleasures or indulgences that your faith community permits or allows? “And God looked upon creation and declared it good”. Over Doing Destroys Any Pleasure

In high school, college, and professional sports sports everyone wants God on their side. In business negotiations, a divorce, or any competition everyone wants God on their side. Needles to say both sides in war want God on their side! I am glad that I am not God constantly taking sides. Don’t put God in the middle!

I heard a famous podcaster call the Holocaust a lie, he said that only 40,000 Jews were murdered and not 6 million! According to him it is okay to murder 40,000 innocent people. I find his morality suspect! The 6 million Jews murdered stand for the million of Poles, the priests, the nuns, the Soviet people, the Gypsies, and the disabled, among 12 million more murdered. The holocaust is not just about Jews, it is about the persecution of the innocent. Remember to stop the “legal”persecution of those who are singled out just because!

Yes, the things around us would make us all give up. And everything around us would still be depressing if we give up our faith. Each of us needs a strategy to enjoy what we have and live each day. Use your faith and not someone else’s to live one day at a time. I still believe the sun is shining even when I cannot see it!

Using Sacred Literature to promote war, conquest, and death has never had a good outcome. Political leaders use sacred literature to gather support and power for wars that only they and their supporters consider valid. Stop distorting the teachings that would unite us. Do not use God and prayer to justify your political position!

Iran has been using its proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Ansar Allah to kill, murder and create instability in the Middle East. These proxies were abetted by countries other than Iran in the area. Iran’s plan was not only to eliminate Israel but to conquer and control the other Muslim countries in the Middle East. Iran is now attacking the Muslim countries that are its neighbors. One can no longer pretend that Iran’s goal was solely destroying Israel. Stop Iran from its expansionist policy!

Christian Zionism is not fringe. It is organized, funded, politically sophisticated, and deeply sincere. And its view of Iran is not primarily strategic — it’s prophetic. That changes everything about how its members engage with policy.We need to understand them. Because if we want to make sense of why U.S. policy around Israel and Iran looks the way it does, we can’t ignore the millions of Americans who believe they’re watching biblical prophecy unfold on the evening news.Christian Zionists claim that Armageddon has BEGUN!

“War is worse than Hell, the people in Hell deserve to be there, in war innocent people die along with the guilty!” Said “Hawkeye” Pierce to Father Mulcahy. Iran had to be stopped and contained. Even the great deal maker couldn’t make a deal with Iran! What choice did he have. Does he have a plan or how to end the war?Starting a war is easy, ending it not so much!#Iranwar#iran#israel

We all do it, except the birds and the bees don’t, the animals in the forest don’t, only humans use social media to avoid reality. How does “doom scrolling” work for you. Time to stop focusing on our under 18 youth and focus on all of us. Drugs, alcohol, rock & roll, social media are all ways to keep our attention off of what surrounds us. Social media is not an acceptable diversion when it prevents us from being engaged in our lives.

Israel has been steadily moving towards annexing The West Bank. The passage of the most recent legislation is one step away from Annexing The West Bank. With a wink and a nod from the United States Israel will annex the West Bank. Israel is preparing to annex the West Bank

At some point in your coming of age your parents or grandparents said to you “What were you thinking”. When you make jokes, use cartoons, or substitute language you are actually expressing what you really believe. Mens Rae, your guilty mind!

It is not too late to revise your Holocaust observance statement to include the reality that the Jews were the victims of Nazi antisemitism. Your opinion matters and what you don’t say is as important as what you do say. So say it now “the Nazis murdered Jews and those who helped and defended them”. And in the end over 30 million other innocent people were murdered.

The shofar, a ram’s horn, is blown at the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur), serves as a call to wake up to the results of our actions during the past year. Four sounds are blown to wake us up. The Tekiah, a long, loud blast, gets the listeners attention. The Shevarim, 3 broken sounds, calls for repentance. The Teruah, 9 staccato notes, wakes the soul. And finally the Tekiah Gedolah, a long sustained blast, calls us to live our religious teachings. Wake up and live the teachings of Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, etc.

ס'וועט גאָרנישט העלפןגאָרנישט העלפןGar nicht helfen" or “gor nicht helfn” in Yiddish means "nothing helps" or "beyond help," expressing that a situation is hopeless or that efforts are futile, often with a sense of resignation or a recognition that intervention isn't useful. We do however have another option. Do what MacGyver did! He looked at the tools and things he had around himself and used what was at hand to solve the problem!Feeling news overload, be MacGyver!

I had a sign on my computer in my Hospital office that read: “You Are Going to Have A Good Day Because You Found Someone to Blame For Yesterday’s Mistakes!”That is exactly what we hear from Orthodox and Conservative Rabbis. Interfaith marriages are destroying Judaism! Rather than addressing their failure to present a positive, spiritual, and guilt free Judaism they choose to blame others.

Your company your rules. If you accept outside funding it is no longer your company. The distinction is important!

Joe and the Rabbi discuss the 10 events of the year 2025 that require our attention. In the year 2025 humankind survived

Merry Christmas and a joyous Chanukah 365 days a year! There is no need to limit good will and peace on earth to just one day. Let’s take the holiday message seriously and include it every day. ​EX 22:20 “You shall not wrong a stranger, nor oppress them for you were strangers in the land of Egypt”.

Laws need to be in place concerning firearms of all types. The sale, use, and ownership of guns should be regulated for public safety. Gun laws will not stop angry, hateful people from massacring and killing. Stopping using anger and hate to get elected to public office will. We are harvesting the seeds of hate that we planted!

Drug use and abuse have reached a new high. Availability is not the cause it just fuels our inability to deal with our lives. Perhaps if drug escape is less available we will be forced to develop strategies for dealing with what is. Using drugs has never had a good outcome.

President Trump’s peace plan requires an International Stabilizing Force (ISF) without a referee Israel and Hamas will keep fighting each other. The Arab League needs to step up and supply personnel. Stop blaming Israel & Hamas, ask where is the all important ISF!

We have only ourselves to blame when the Terminator comes calling. It’s not too late for us to control AI and it will be soon! Watch the movie “I, Robot”

Let’s put aside the history of how the Judeo-Christian developed and changed and realize that it is time for a change. “There is a time for everything under the heavens” and now is the time to recognize that there are as many ways to unite with God as there are blades of grass on the fairway. We are all God’s children and no one religion has a monopoly. We all don’t need to have the same religion to make America Great!

Hate speech is free speech! What do you think we should do about it? Listen to the hate spewed forth from talk show hosts and then notice who doesn’t object. The Orcs are massing and Saruman is rising!

In his first term as president Trump said that he had “A Big Beautiful Health Plan”. Now it is time to bring it out and show the Democrats that there is something better than the “Affordable Care Act”. Reopen the government now. The Democrats are holding the country hostage.

Heaven is not owned by any one religion, it is God’s personal property. There are as many ways to get into heaven as there are blades of grass on the fairway! There are organized religions, individual paths, and group spirituality that can help us find our path to what happens next. Your journey to Heaven is waiting

Yogi Berra said it best: “when you come to a fork in the road take it!” Peace in Gaza and the Middle East is upon us. It can really happen. Gaza peace and Israeli security

The return of the hostages accomplished. Next comes nation building. Let’s not lose sight of the peace agreement; safety and security for everyone in the region. Hostages Home! Peace and safety. Next,

Anti-Semitic lies & rumors go and prosper on Social media. TikTok provides fertile ground for people to make irresponsible and inaccurate statements about Jews. Anti-Muslim content enjoins free rein. T Gaza peace plan is. ..

A new influencer tells what misconceptions are in the media about Jews. We discover that ignorance and antisemitism are mixed. He has the initiative to a Rabbi to help sort out truth from lies. Antisemitism is rampant

Of course we disagree when it comes to religion and politics. We disagree about movies, videos, and food. To disagree is human but hate is a choice and so is murdering someone because they disagree with you. The survival of our democracy depends on freedom of speech. Using hate as a political tool and weapon will do what our enemies have been unable to do, destroy our democracy. I want to be free to listen to those I agree with and those that I don’t agree with!

Whose first? Whose second? Who cares? Israel is a country that has a right to exist and defend itself. People were displaced when Israel was founded and now need a permanent home. Let’s solve the problem The Philistines were first that is why it is called Palestine