As I write these words, The New England Patriots football team is about to observe a ‘Moment of Silence' in memory of Ezra Schwartz, a native of Sharon, MA, who was killed in a terror attack on Thursday. The Moment of Silence originates with the Quakers. Since silence contains no statements or assumptions concerning beliefs and requires
As I glanced at the news this morning I could not help but notice the headline: “Miracle Mets are Headed to the World Series!” The New York Mets would be heading to the World Series for the first time since 2000. Although it's been years since I have followed baseball, as I looked at the headline my mind waxed nostalgic as I recalled
“‘I Have a Dream’ is a public speech delivered by American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963, in which he calls for an end to racism in the United States. Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, the speech was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement” (Wikipedia).

There has been much discussion over the years regarding the issue of entitlement. I openly admit that I speak without scientific results and without the benefit of any extensive or exhaustive research study. Nevertheless, I feel strongly that we live in a time of when the feelings of entitlement continue to grow and grow. Many people feel they 'have the right' to express themselves and their lifestyles in whatever way they want.

The last Mishnah in Ta'anis states: Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel says, "There were never happier days for the Jews like the fifteenth of Av and Yom Kippur for on those days the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards…" "Tu B'Av" - the fifteenth day of the month of Av is a day which after the difficult and painful days of Tisha B'Av is supposed to be a day of unity and of joy. It
There are a lot of good things about cell phones; however, there are also lots of problems with them. Mind you, I am not referring to 'Internet usage' … that is a totally different question. And I am also not referring to their ability to disturb davening which is a big problem. Rather, I am just talking about the fact of having a cell phone! There is much discussion about 'Kosher' cell phones and that is good