wisdom

The Role of the Elite

What does it mean to be an “elite?” Recently, the term has come to be much derided by people on ...

Is Schadenfreude a Jewish Value?

My one-week vacation in the United States was a breath of fresh air. A whole week of conversations with family, ...

Who Knows Four?

What number comes to mind when you think about a Passover seder? Probably four. Four cups of wine. Four questions. Four sons. Especially those ...

Ouch! That Felt Great!

We have all seen some great Vaudeville or movie clip of someone being caught unaware, getting acquainted with a 2 x 4 ...

Choking on the Apple

I wasn’t at The People’s Climate March in New York on Sunday. I wanted to be, but I was, instead, ...

Is Torah Just For Jews?

Unless we’re talking about jury duty, it’s generally nice to be noticed as unique and special; to be chosen. Except ...

Silence or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the NSA

Sooner or later, everything you say or do will be recorded.  The internet, like an elephant, never forgets. I’m sure ...

Is Freedom A Jewish Virtue?

Are you on the freedom bandwagon yet? Celebrations of the concept of freedom seem to be permeating the cultural-political zeitgeist ...

The Urgency of Civility

It seems to me that we do not do a lot of talking to each other anymore. There is lots ...