Pacific Jewish Center | Rabbi » apology

Silver Linings: An Explanation and an Apology

rabbifink — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:48:21 +0000

I am an optimist. When the glass is half full (or half empty), to me, it’s like 90% full.

Upon discovering the horrific events of last week, I, like every other normal human being had a visceral reaction to the news. It hurt. It was more emotional pain than I could remember in a long time. That was the only reaction I thought possible in the moment.

But my optimism kicked in and I recalled the Mishna I quoted last week that obligates Jews to bless the bad like the good. But how? I thought. How is it possible to find the good in this tragedy. The answer, to me, was that we cannot. There is no good in a tragedy like this. But what of the Mishna? How are we to bless the bad like the good? My answer was that if we, the ones affected by this tragedy, were able to make our own blessing, make our own changes, improve ourselves and our communities, we would be blessing the bad. By not wallowing in self pity, by not allowing ourselves to be debilitated by our pain and sorrow, we could take the worst of times and use them to make better times in the future.

This is a novel explanation of the Mishan. I admit it. But I think it is appropriate under these circumstances.

I call this a silver lining.

As per the GoEnglish.com Idiom Dictionary: “be hopeful because difficult times always lead to better days…”

According to this explanation of the metaphor, a silver lining (the good thing) is not innate to the cloud (the bad thing). It means that bad things can eventually lead to good things. Look at the picture above. The dark cloud has a silver lining. But from does the silver lining come? Not from the cloud. From something behind the cloud. Something external to the cloud. The sun. Eventually the cloud dissipates and the sun remains. Eventually the pain dissipates and there can be good. For most people that would entail waiting around until the good thing kicked in. Not for me. I believe it means we should proactively make good in the wake of bad.

However, some people took issue with my use of the Idiom.

They felt that silver lining meant that there was “something good” about the death of a poor innocent child. There is nothing good about that. If you understood me that way what I said was obscene and heartless.

To you, I apologize. That was never my intention. Nor was I aware that some people would interpret the idiom in that way. But I now understand that some people interpreted silver lining in that way and the usage of the silver lining idiom caused people unnecessary pain and outrage. For that, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I hope that you will all find a way to forgive me for that. I am sorry.

I hope this clarifies my position and we can all try our best to implement something positive into our lives and communities and turn the bad into a blessing.

I will be footnoting the mention of silver lining in both of the previous posts to indicate the usage of this idiom is explained in this post.

An Apology to Two Commenters But Not to Glenn Beck

rabbifink — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:57:56 +0000

Due to an easy to make error, I mistook two commenters for the same person. In my Disqus Comments Dashboard, it appeared that the two commenters had one IP address. Upon further investigation, they in fact have two IP addresses. The fact that they both do not provide their email addresses complicated things and I recommend using an email address to comment so I can communicate with you all off blog as well.

Unfortunately, I accused them of being one and the same.

They are not.

I apologize for my mistake. I deleted all comments that were a result of my error. None and bayshanimrachmianim, I am sorry.

I HATE deleting comments. I cringe when I click that delete button. But in this instance it was necessary. I apologize for deleting the comments as well.

But, I do reserve the right to delete comments that are personal attacks against me. I am the judge of what I feel is a personal attack and if you attack me personally, you may be deleted and eventually banned. Yes, I can do that.

Most importantly I don’t believe that a person’s name or prior opinions or credentials make an argument. Arguments or opinions should be judged and discussed on their own merit. Discuss the ideas on this blog. Don’t discuss who said the ideas.

On that note I would like to thank Glenn Beck for his unabashed support of the victims in Itamar killing. Mr. Beck makes some incorrect points (as per usual) but his support and compassion are greatly appreciated.

Does this mean that I retract previous statements about Beck? No. Do I think I should apologize to Beck for calling him out on another occasion? No.

It means that I judge his commentary, not him. Sometimes he is right. Sometimes he is wrong. I don’t believe anyone is always right nor is anyone always wrong. I believe ideas should be discussed civilly and vehemently.

That is what this blog is all about. I share my thoughts and you think about them, criticize them if you want and consider them for yourselves. I invite you all to continue spending some of your valuable time reading and commenting. I hope that I will not make the same mistake I made today again.

Watch Glenn Beck on the Itamar murders:

RETRACTION: Tim Tebow Ad WAS Harmless NOT Reckless

rabbifink — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:38:50 +0000

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. I wrote what I wrote based on speculation that others made about the content of the ad. They were wrong.

But I am leaving the previous post up. The reason for that is that in my opinion Focus on the Family wanted us to think they were going to send the message that was speculated. They wanted us to form opinions and discuss the potential ramifications of an ad featuring a “miracle baby”.

I had an opinion and I stick to it, despite the ad falling short of what everyone assumed it was going to say.

And I am not going to Focus on the Family’s website to read the Tebow’s story. I don’t really care.

The actual ad is below. Judge for yourself…

…And We're Back

rabbifink — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:52:38 +0000

Yes, it is true, the finkorswim blog is back in business.

I apologize for this blog’s brief hiatus into the black hole of cyberspace.

We were mining through a severe technical issue related to things I know little about, but from what I hear it involves viruses, malicious attackers and a little bit of H1N1.

Things are honky-dory now, so there is no need for concern. But please do come back for fresh content coming shortly.

Yom Kippur Wishes

rabbifink — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:15:53 +0000

On behalf of myself, my family and the entire Pacific Jewish Center Community, I wish everyone a year of blessing.

If I have insulted or hurt you in any way whatsoever. please know that it was unintended, I deeply regret it and I hope you can forgive me.

To all who are fasting this Yom Kippur, I hope the fast is not too difficult and you are able to maintain your health and strength.