The Rabbi on the Beach at the Shul on The Beach
Grant Desme: Is he looking heavenward?
The two most popular posts on this blog are variants of one common theme.
Athletes as Role Models.
It makes sense. I enjoy sports, I am passionate about education and I love the moral tension created by appreciating both of those areas of life. It appears that people like reading about it as well.
Learn about what I think by reading these posts (in order of popularity): Continue reading →
So like everyone else, I bought into the hype.
I thought the Tebow ad was going to “tell his mother’s story”. It did not.
She still called him a “miracle baby”, but that is not that big a deal.
I apologize for the previous blog post. Continue reading →
A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
The raison-d’être of maaseh braisheis and the essential tachlis of Klal Yisrael is defined in parshas Yisro with the experience of Matan Torah. No other event in world history more profoundly impacted the world for eternity. Continue reading →
This clip was sent my way and I’ve got to admit it is amazing.
American Idol Season ~46,281 is underway and the most memorable moment so far has certainly been the Pants on the Ground phenomena. If you have seen or heard of it – you MUST go here right now and watch it (come back quick).
But as funny and entertaining as Larry Platt was, a different contestant said something that really struck a cord within me. That contestant was Lloyd Thomas. Continue reading →
This post has been crossposted to DovBear. More discussion there.
Since the Earthquake in Haiti many have attempted to figure out “why” the tragedy occurred.
There are 4 prominent versions going around the web right now.
Rabbi Shafran Version 1: God punished the people of Haiti because of evil speech.
Rabbi Shafran Version 2: We don’t know why God punished the people of Haiti but the lesson is that we should learn is not to speak evil speech.
Rabbi Levin: The earthquake and Tsunami and 9/11 happened because of Gays in the military.
Rabbi Feldman: We can’t know why the earthquake happened, but it happened for “a reason”.
What has been missing from this is a more rational approach Continue reading →
Figure skater Johnny Weir set off animal activists with a small fox fur trim on his skating costume.
Most Olympic skaters wear pretty outrageous costumes for their routines during the Olympics and Weir is known for his “over-the-top” designs. His outfit was supposed to have a small trim of fox fur on the left shoulder. After pressure from PETA, Friends of Animals and hate mail as well as threats from less professional activists, Weir has acquiesced and is wearing a faux-fox fur in the place of the original, real fur trim.
What was interesting to me was the way Weir handled the fur wearing issue. Continue reading →
Special thanks to community member Elizabeth Danziger, founder of Worktalk Communications Consulting, for assisting in transforming this sermon from 2009 into an essay for this year.
The most seminal event in world history occurs in this week’s parsha. The Jewish people leave the clutches of the evil Egyptian empire. After ten punishing plagues are rained down upon the Egyptians, the Jewish people are finally free. Their relief is short-lived, however, as they are caught between the proverbial rock and hard place. On one side they are met with the raging waters of the Yam Suf, which is known as the Red Sea. Even worse, rapidly approaching them is an angry Egyptian army. The Egyptians want revenge for the ten plagues as well as the return of the slaves whom they wish to un-emancipate. Continue reading →
A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
The inspiration of Krias Yam Suf was short lived. Almost immediately following the parting of the sea, Bnai Yisrael challenges Moshe (and Hashem Yisborach) with a litany of complaints. First there is no water, then no bread, next ,no meat and then again no water. One complaint after another. Continue reading →
This post has been crossposted to DovBear.
UPDATE: RETRACTION AND APOLOGY HERE
The most well-known athlete in America might be Tim Tebow.
Tebow is possibly the most celebrated, successful college football player of all time. He was a 2 time national champion with the Florida Gators and a Heisman Trophy winner. His success, as well as his good looks and supernatural physique has made him a household name across the United States. Oh, there is one more thing, Tebow is the son of missionaries who is very religious and (at this point) celibate.
Tebow has used his star power to advocate for Christianity. He spent a couple of summers working with missionaries in the Far East and has always been vocal about his religiousness. Tim Tebow is an athlete who is using his star power to make a difference in the world. We may not agree with his message, but he is certainly a better role model than felon Gilbert Arenas or even LeBron James. Continue reading →
Everyone likes surprises, right?
Surprises can be great, but they also take away one of the greatest joys of life. Anticipation.
Imagine you want to celebrate your grandmother’s birthday. Someone suggests a Surprise Party. Someone else with a little more brains says, wait, we don’t want to give grandma a coronary! And someone else with yet a little more brains adds, also, imagine how great grandma will feel the entire time up to a party that we tell her about! Continue reading →
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