(Religious) State of the Union

From the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, a highly-respected polling organization, comes these new statistics.

The poll... found that nearly half of the public, 49 percent, report having a "Religious or mystical experience… a spiritual awakening." That's up from 22 percent in 1962.... And 29 percent of Americans say they've felt in touch with someone who died -- that's up from 18 percent in 1996.

The poll went on to find that, "nearly six in 10 Americans from all religions blend their faith with New Age and Eastern beliefs, and....yoga." It's comforting to know that, from the perspective of Jewish Tradition: "More than one path leads to the top of Mt. Sinai."


You can read the article here:
Americans and Faith

Elie Wiesel Continues to Inspire

Elie Wiesel, noted author, human-rights advocate, and Holocaust Survivor, isn't "bitter" about loosing millions (of his charitable foundation's money, as well as his own) to Bernard Madoff's far-reaching and devastating Ponzi scheme. He says:

"I decided I will not to let anyone destroy what I have done with my life ... I am not bitter."

Incredible.  The man has faced - and faces - loss of all types and magnitudes with humility, determination, and courage. He continues to inspire.

Read the article below:

Elie Wiesel 'not bitter' about losing millions to Madoff - Haaretz - Israel News

How to Pray, an Introduction

Welcome to our first installment in the series, "How to Pray."

Our first lesson comes from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, Poland, who was a great-grandson of The Baal Shem Tov, (the illustrious founder of vibrant, spiritual, and mystic Chasidic Judaism). He pioneered the practice of hitbodedut (secluding oneself in meditation and prayer, preferably surrounded by nature's beauty).

Rebbe Nachman once directed his pupils:

"Talk to God as if you would talk to your very best friend. Tell The Holy One Everything."

In this way, our relationship with God is one of friendship, with whom we can share anything, at anytime, in anyplace. "How to pray?" Start by being honest. 


Lesson One, concluded.


[Mykoff, Moshe, Naḥman, and Breslov Research Institute. The Empty Chair: Finding Hope and Joy: Timeless Wisdom from a Hasidic Master, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Woodstock, Vt.: Jewish Lights Pub., 1994.]

Israeli Rock Stars... on iTunes?!

Yes, it's true - there's plenty of Israeli musicians on iTunes. Here's just a sampling, available by clicking below:

Israeli Rock on iTunes

Another tremendous source for Israeli music of all kinds (and movies) is:

http://www.israel-music.com/

In my opinion, the rock band, Synergia [Synergy] puts out some of the finest, loudest, most intelligent ROCK, from Israel, or elsewhere for that matter.

"Miriam," What a Name...

The most popular Israeli baby names for 2008 are, for girls:

Noa, Shira, Yael, Tamar, Maya, Talia, Hila, Michal and Adi.

 Most popular for boys:

Noam, Itai, Daniel, David, Idan, Moshe, Yosef and Yonatan.

What is MOST interesting, however, is the third most popular name for Muslim, Israeli girls: Miriam. That's right: "our" Miriam, Moses' sister - her name is not only claimed by Muslim women, but is popular too. Could it be Miriam's selflessness, leadership, courage? Whatever it may be, it's only one more aspect of ourselves which we share with each other.


Read the article here: 
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128828.html

"Never...!"

The Great, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (Poland, late 18th century) wrote:

"Never despair. Never! It is forbidden to give up hope."

The Man, Bruce Springsteen, writes, in his most recent song, "Wrecking Ball,"

"Yeah, we know that come tomorrow, none of this will be here / So hold tight to your anger / Hold tight to your anger / Hold tight to your anger / And don't fall to  your  fear / Bring on your wrecking ball"

His song - Bruce's, that is - is available here, on iTunes. This song closed five nights at New Jersey's Giants Stadium - and was the arena's final performance, ever. "Never despair," indeed.

[Mykoff, Moshe, Naḥman, and Breslov Research Institute. The Empty Chair : Finding Hope and Joy : Timeless Wisdom from a Hasidic Master, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Woodstock, Vt.: Jewish Lights Pub., 1994. ]

WSJ: "Where's the outrage for Ramallah's atrocities?"

From The Wall Street Journal:

"Senior PA official Haitham Arar was quoted in the Daily Mail more than a week ago openly discussing the abuses. That follows a Mail On Sunday report in January that detailed the Authority's regular use of beatings, whippings, attacks with electrical drills, and other methods of torture doled out to anyone seen threatening the authority of Fatah, the party of President Mahmoud Abbas. Murder and rape are also commonplace."

Read the op-ed piece below:
Palestine's Missing Critics

"500 tons of weaponry en route to Hizbullah"

Iran is at it again - Another severe violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1747.

"On Tuesday (November 3, 2009) a special Israeli naval force detained and boarded the Francop, a merchant ship flying the flag of Antigua, about 100 miles west of the coast of Israel and destined for the Syrian port of Latakia. Hidden among the dozens of other containers on board, and disguised as civilian goods, the ship contained thirty-six shipping containers with 500 tons of weaponry en route to the Hizbullah terrorist organization in Lebanon. A total of about 9,000 mortar bombs of different types were seized, along with about 3,000 Katyusha artillery rockets, 3,000 recoilless gun shells, 20,000 grenades and over a half million rounds of small arms ammunition."

See all the proof, at the link below, courtesy of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you'd like their official email correspondence with links to all the photos and video, just email me.

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Iranian-exported_weapons_seized_4-Nov-2009.htm

Judaism and "La Cosa Nostra"

Rabbi Boteach makes an excellent point in the following op-ed piece:

"Peoplehood comes first and is completely independent of any kind of religious affirmation. Jewishness is not something that can be lost and it is not something that can be renounced. In this sense, Judaism is radically different from Christianity, which requires a conscious act of affirmation."

Judaism, in this regard, is not unlike La Cosa Nostra, the Mafia. Once you're in, even (and perhaps especially) by conversion. You're in. And when you think you're getting out (by converting out), Jewish Tradition considers you to still be a Jew. In other words, you're never getting out. Just like the Mob.


Read the rest here: 
http://www.jewishjournal.com/rabbi_shmuley/item/the_british_dare_to_determine_who_is_a_jew_20091109/

This is a Test

This is a test. If anyone is reading this, I'd be amazed.